We’re at that time of the year where EA let the fans decide by vote who gets makes their team of the year for FIFA Ultimate Team, with each winning player earning themselves an ultra-expensive and sought after blue card with bolstered stats.
Here at Vendetta we thought instead of the generic team of the year post, relying on the biased opinion of a singular writer, we would have a roundtable so there is a fair representation of differing opinions.
Max Everett ¦ Tottenham Fan
I started my picks with Champions League winning captain Manuel Neuer, who led Bayern Munich to a quadruple (Champions League, Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal, DFB Supercup) with 22 clean sheets in all competitions. With goalkeepers, it was an obvious battle between the German and Liverpool’s Alison Becker who kept it neat at the back for Liverpool’s Premier League winning season, but Neuer edges it with the sheer amount of silverware he led his team to.
Up next was the future in their respective full-back positions, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Alphonso Davies. TAA continued his already trophy laden career by capturing the Premier League with Liverpool, contributing 4 goals and 15 assists in 49 appearances in all competitions.
Alphonso Davies was also instrumental in Bayern’s silverware conquest, which is why he becomes the 2nd player to make it into my team ahead of a Liverpool player, beating Andy Robertson. With terrific performances against Barcelona and PSG in the Champions League, Davies became the first Canadian international to win the Champions League and placed 3rd in the European Golden Boy.
Presnel Kimpembe places in my team for his impressive performances for PSG en-route to their Champions League final, as well as winning the Ligue 1 and Coupe De La Ligue. Kimpembe helped PSG to the Champions League final playing in 10 games and contributing 6 clean sheets. Van Dijk in defence is one of the main reason Liverpool have asserted dominance domestically, playing all Premier League games and contributing 15 clean sheets.
De Bruyne is the best midfielder in the world hands down, every time he touches the ball Manchester City look dangerous and it is shown with 16 goals and 23 assists in 48 appearances in all competitions, City only won the EFL Cup last year in a season that would be considered successful for many others, but De Bruyne still showed his class with every touch and pass. Kimmich was yet another quintessential piece of the Bayern Munich puzzle and helped Bayern transition from defence attack seamlessly.
Heung Min Son makes my side not only because I am a Spurs fan, but because in a period of transition from Pochettino to Mourinho, Son has been a pillar of the Tottenham rebuild, earning the Puskas Award and a ridiculous amount of Goal of the Month awards for his offensive efforts.
Erling Braut Haaland exploded onto the scene for Salzburg in the Champions League, and furthered his form and undoubted future for Dortmund in the Bundesliga. In a season where he hasn’t slowed down even despite pressure growing, Haaland has all the makings of a future Ballon D’or winner and wouldn’t look out of place in any top European team.
Harry Kane makes the cut as another integral part of Tottenham’s rebuild, and even despite critic predictions that Kane will not flourish under Mourinho, has managed to score game after game, and chases goal-scoring records for both club and country. Lewandowksi is the best striker in the world at this time, notching 55 goals in 47 appearances in all competitions and spearheading the attack of a quadruple winning team, it’s a robbery that the Ballon D’or was cancelled following a season where there could only ever be one pick.
Gavin Daly ¦ Luton Town Fan
Despite Liverpool running away with the Premier League, I couldn’t bring myself to pick more than the obvious two of Allison and Virgil Van Djik. Alphonso Davies has the potential to be better than Trent Alexander-Arnold so I’m thinking long term. Plus he was one of three players I chose that won the Champions League last season.
Thiago, who played with Bayern Munich last season before moving to Liverpool, and Robert Lewandowski were the other two Champions League winners chosen. The fact Thiago moved to Liverpool hurt me but there is no denying his importance to Bayern Munich last season. As for Lewandowski If you don’t believe he is the best out and out striker currently in the game then I’m afraid you don’t know the game.
I went with the PSG partnership of Thiago Silva and Marquinhos to join Davies and Van Djik in defense. Their lack of Champions League success undermines just how good and important they were to their side last year. Sure PSG were free flowing and attacking but only conceding 24 goals in 27 games shows how solid they were at the back.
Midfield was probably the easiest to pick. Bruno Fernandes has shown since joining Manchester United last January he is a major reason they are doing so well this season. Meanwhile, you could make the case Kevin De Bruyne is the best player in the game never-mind midfielder.
Up front I struggled again with the amount of ability available to partner with Lewandowski so. Ultimately I went for Cristiano Ronaldo, a pretty safe pick, and a player I believe will one day win the Ballon D’or Erling Braut Haaland. Unfortunately for Dortmund fans, I don’t think he’ll be their player when he does.
Jarrod Prosser ¦ Everton Fan
Alisson, Virgil Van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold make the cut as Liverpool’s Premier League title winning defensive stalwarts. Sergio Ramos captained Real Madrid to La Liga and Supercopa De España triumphs. Alphonso Davies broke into the first team to earn continental and domestic domination for Bayern Munich.
Joshua Kimmich is yet another Bayern player instrumental to their success, making the transition from defence to attack. Bruno Fernandes transferred to Manchester United in the January transfer window and has brought a new culture into the team, working hard in the midfield transition and saving Solskjaer from the sack a multitude of times.
Kevin De Bruyne cemented his position as a fantastic playmaker for Manchester City and perhaps the best midfielder in the world, capturing the league cup in an otherwise disappointing season for City. Lionel Messi is a player who needs no introduction, and even despite his age continues to carry Barcelona on his back. Even despite a dismal season for Barcelona, Messi still scored 25 goals in 33 appearances in the Spanish League. Christiano Ronaldo has Benjamin Button’s disease surely, the Portuguese captain led Juventus to yet another Serie A title with 31 goals in 33 appearances, as well as scoring his 100th international goal for Portugal.
What do you think of our picks? You can vote yourself here and let us know where you differ or agree on Twitter and Instagram
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