The first half of the season flew by like a house sparrow fiending for some freshly toasted sesame seeds. As with any period of football, there were times of shock, ire, fear, and cheer. What delights us most, though, is the race for the top of the table is very much on. Well…if you support a team floundering in mid-table abyss, you might not find much solace in a thrilling top 4 battle. If nothing else, you can be happy you’re not Chris Wilder. Many players have stood out so far this season, so feast your eyes on this gorgeous, objectively inarguable top XI:
Goalkeeper:
Going to keep this one short(ish). Emi Martinez. Save percentage 2nd in the league behind Hugo Lloris, who does not deserve this spot for one reason and one reason only: he can’t teach Dier and Aurier to defend. Upon reflection…can anyone?
Defense:
This is a ball-playing back four to be sure. Yes, Walker-Peters is an ex-Spur, but let’s all get over that sleepy storyline and consider he’s a fixture of one of the best defenses in the EPL, hasn’t missed a minute of league football, and has an excellent tackle rate. A young player with a lot of promise, I look forward to seeing Walker-Peters continue to shine (and hopefully return to Spurs??).
As a CDM playing CB, Fabinho has shown a level of composure and intelligence many teams would love to have fortifying the central defense. It seems very natural for Fabinho to slot in since defenders who can play with their feet are in high demand in the modern game.
Dias was brought in to lead a backline that couldn’t figure out if they should defend or attack. Dias decided to do both. He has an excellent understanding of how and when to spring the counter, or play the simple ball going forward. He is a force in the air and has pace to recover. In the absence of an established leader in the back, Dias has gathered an army of loyal teammates in just a few short months. Oh, and he knows how to introduce himself in the Twittersphere:
Robertson is a joy to watch. There has not been a left-sided player in the EPL with this much pace and power since Gareth Bale left. “Gareth Bale is in the EPL right now!” says the fastidious reader. I calmly reply, “Is he actually, though?”
Midfield:
Hojbjerg in CDM for obvious reasons. Name one better defensive middie and I’ll gladly render your argument into a thousand insignificant pieces of dusty molecules.
De Bruyne continues to be the most dynamic midfielder in the game of football. He has an astounding combination of technique, IQ, strength, and pace. And, of course, don’t forget a sprinkle of stubborn determination to win matches. A manager’s dream player, a teammate’s safety net, and an inarguable talent make De Bruyne a top XI player this year and surely for years to come.
Let’s be clear, Grealish is no DeBruyne. However, Grealish carries more weight in his calves than a rhinoceros. That fact itself should awe any casual watcher of his suave style of play to appreciate the work he puts in to his Villa squad. Sometimes leadership means screaming your teammates back into position or scoring a ridiculous amount of goals a la Mo Salah. But sometimes, leadership is earning buckets of yellow cards for the opposition, running until the final whistle blows, and/or banging in the occasional stunner.
Attack:
This isn’t the best argument, but basically Zaha is a special player and I want him to go to a competitive side (sorry Palace supporters, but even you must know there’s only so much he can do there). Is he the most dispossessed player in the league? Maybe. Does that matter? Nah.
Bruno is the top scoring midfielder, with Zaha in 2nd. The impact Bruno has on Man U is undeniable. His savvy exploration and exploitation of a defense’s weak points is why that squad is top of the table at the midpoint.
Jamie Vardy won the league for Leicester five years ago at age 29. At age 34, he is sitting two behind the league leader in goals, sitting in 3rd place in the league, and wondering how he spent so much time in non-league football while the English Premier League so badly needed a player of his style to electrify the top tier. Anyway, he deserves a spot. And I couldn’t choose Kane or Son out of respect for the rest of the league’s strikers.
Top of the Table 