It's what you've all been waiting for...the sixth annual Narey's Toepoker SPL team of the year.
Here's the previous ones:
2007/08: Allan McGregor, Alan Hutton, Carlos Cuellar, Lee Wilkie, Lee Naylor, Barry Robson, Stephen Hughes, Barry Ferguson, Aiden McGeady, Scott McDonald, Steven Fletcher
2008/09: Lukasz Zaluska, Andreas Hinkel, Gary Caldwell, Lee Wilkie, Sasa Papac, Scott Brown, Bruno Aguiar, Pedro Mendes, Andrew Driver, Scott McDonald, Kris Boyd
2009/10: John Ruddy, Steven Whittaker, David Weir, Andy Webster, Sasa Papac, Steven Davis, Morgaro Gomis, James McArthur, Anthony Stokes, Kris Boyd, David Goodwillie
2010/11: Marian Kello, Steven Whittaker, Daniel Majstorovic, Michael Duberry, Emilio Izaguirre, Steven Naismith, Beram Kayal, Alexei Eremenko, David Templeton, Nikica Jelavic, David Goodwillie
2011/12: Cammy Bell, Adam Matthews, Carlos Bocanegra, Charlie Mulgrew, Paul Dixon, James Forrest, Victor Wanyama, Ian Black, Dean Shiels, Jon Daly, Gary Hooper
This time around, I thought it only appropriate to seek the advice of the Old Firm managers on who should be in the side. I wanted some expert guidance...but I couldn't find it, so I went to them instread.
Ally McCoist advised that what I really needed was a Brazilian central defender, a Greek full back and nine Lee McCulloch's. Though he was really more concerned on whether I would be popping past Greggs in the next hour or so and could I pick up a couple of pies for him please?
Neil Lennon, fresh from slaughtering the PFA player of the year shortlist, suggested the XI should be Forster, Matthews, Ambrose, Wilson, Izaguirre, Commons, Ledley, Wanyama, Mulgrew, Samaras and Hooper - after all, the inclusion of non-Celtic players would be "abysmal" and a sign that I was picking "the most improved player" rather than the best. At least, I think that's what he said to me. It was hard to decipher it amid the swearing and the spittle.
The trouble is, in the spirit of the PFA shortlist, I have a worrying feeling that Celtic won't have the most representatives in this team. If this is the case, I'm sure I will be given plenty of 'constructive criticism' by their supporters. Each of the first five names on the list makes the side for the first time. And yes, at last, there is an Inverness Caley Thistle player. So sue me.
GOALKEEPER: Fraser Forster (Celtic)
Honourable mentions: Darren Randolph (Motherwell), Ben Williams (Hibernian)
It was very difficult to choose between "The Wall" (as the Spanish call him at least, after his magnificent performances against Barcelona) and the very reliable Randolph, who will surely leave Fir Park for greater things this season. You could toss a coin to pick between them. I can't remember whether in previous years I've only considered domestic performances, or European ones too. Regardless, I'll choose Forster, since becoming England's number two keeper whilst playing in a diddy league is no mean feat. Plus, given Neil Lennon's response to the PFA player of the year shortlist, I'm a bit scared that the Celtic boss will hunt me down if I don't pick enough of his team.
RIGHT BACK: Mihael Kovacevic (Ross County)
Honourable mentions: Adam Matthews (Celtic), David Raven (Inverness)
Former Dundee United defender Kovacevic was being kept out of the Staggies team by Ross Tokely at the start of the campaign, but he's been terrific since he got in the side. He's built like a central defender, yet has the pace to get forward and provide some attacking width too. Matthews has played very well for Celtic this season on either side of the pitch, but he's had a few injuries and I don't think I can justify including someone who has only started 18 SPL games.
CENTRE BACKS: Gary Warren (Inverness), Mark Reynolds (Aberdeen)
Honourable mentions: Andy Webster (Hearts), James McPake (Hibernian), Grant Munro (Ross County)
These were the most difficult choices I had to make this year. Inverness' poor defensive record cannot be blamed on Warren. The ex-Newport County man has stayed under the radar despite being consistently excellent, both defensively and as a goal threat at set plays. I could have chosen any one of about half a dozen players to partner him. Reynolds gets in because he has anchored a decent Aberdeen back line - the problems at Pittodrie are further up the pitch. The Dons rate him so highly that they gave him a 4 and a half year contract in January - unheard of outside of the Old Firm these days! Webster and McPake both started the season well but have lost form since the winter break, while Grant Munro has been solid for County.
LEFT BACK: Stevie Hammell (Motherwell)
Honourable mentions: Charlie Mulgrew (Celtic), Evangelos Oikonomou (Ross County)
There's something comforting about Stevie '7 out of 10 every week' Hammell, who's as reliable as a German automobile. It's a position where there aren't too many stand outs, though Oikonomou (is that how you spell it?) has looked good since arriving in January. As for Charlie Mulgrew, where on the pitch should I put him? Left-back? Centre-back? Left midfield? Centre midfield? He's started 46 games this season, and last season's player of the year has probably played in 46 different positions...
Right, that's the defensive side of things sorted. In the next few days, I'll reveal the rest of the lineup. A couple of wee clues for you - firstly, Colin Nish isn't up front (bet you're shocked by that!), and secondly, this year I'm using a 4-3-3 formation...
L.
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