It's that time of year again - the fourth annual Narey's Toepoker team of the year!
Here's a quick reminder of the previous "winners"...
2009/10 - Ruddy (Motherwell), Whittaker (Rangers), Weir (Rangers), Webster (Dundee Utd), Papac (Rangers), Davis (Rangers), Gomis (Dundee Utd), McArthur (Hamilton), Stokes (Hibs), Boyd (Rangers), Goodwillie (Dundee Utd)
2008/09 - Zaluska (Dundee Utd), Hinkel (Celtic), Caldwell (Celtic), Wilkie (Dundee Utd), Papac (Rangers), Brown (Celtic), Aguiar (Hearts), Mendes (Rangers), Driver (Hearts), Boyd (Rangers), McDonald (Celtic)
2007/08 - McGregor (Rangers), Hutton (Rangers), Cuellar (Rangers), Wilkie (Dundee Utd), Naylor (Celtic), Robson (Celtic), Hughes (Motherwell), Ferguson (Rangers), McGeady (Celtic), McDonald (Celtic), Fletcher (Hibs)
So only Lee Wilkie, Scott McDonald, Sasa Papac and Kris Boyd have ever made the lineup twice in the three years; Wilkie has retired, and Boyd and McDonald are down south, so can Papac, Rangers' Bosnian left back, become the first player to make my team of the year three times? Read on to find out.
Or, if you can't be bothered reading on - no, he doesn't.
GOALKEEPER: Marian KELLO (Hearts)
Honourable mentions: Darren Randolph (Motherwell), Allan McGregor (Rangers)
The quality of the SPL may be dropping everywhere else on the pitch, but in goal standards are as high as ever, for me - Celtic's Fraser Forster, Ryan Esson of Inverness and Killie's Cammy Bell were also candidates. Kello shades it - the Lithuanian goalie spent last season warming the bench but has shone this season for Hearts. When his side upset Rangers at Tynecastle a couple of months ago, he looked simply ubeatable. His opposite number that day, McGregor has had another good season, though he made a couple of high-profile Old Firm errors, while Randolph of Motherwell was an excellent find from Charlton Athletic last summer and will go on to better things.
RIGHT BACK: Steven WHITTAKER (Rangers)
Honourable mentions: Mark Wilson (Celtic), Jamie Hammill (Kilmarnock)
Admittedly, since Christmas Whittaker has played more often at centre-back or in centre-midfield than in his preferred position, whilst this season he turned out for Scotland on the opposite flank. But, aside from a shocker in the euro 2012 qualifier with Spain, he has been consistent and solid for Rangers, and over the last 18 months his defending has improved immeasurably. He was a shoo-in for this position, though after several injury-hit years Celtic's Mark Wilson finally looks like the player he was expected to become.
LEFT BACK: Emilio IZAGUIRRE (Celtic)
Honourable mentions: Sasa Papac (Rangers), Paul Dixon (Dundee Utd)
As mentioned above, Papac is pipped this year...by the little Honduran Izaguirre, who may yet end up Player of the Year. He has been sensational, with craft, skill, a good delivery, pace to burn, and yet a solid defensive sense. He cost what, £600,000? Celtic might yet get ten times that much for him this summer. As for the rest, Papac has been solid, and no-one else really stands out - Dixon makes the shortlist having looked decent at left back and centre half for United.
CENTRE BACKS: Daniel MAJSTOROVIC (Celtic), Michael DUBERRY (St Johnstone)
Honourable mentions: Marius Zaliukas (Hearts), Madjid Bougherra (Rangers), Darren McGregor (St. Mirren)
Purists are going to slag me for picking ex-Chelsea and Leeds veteran Duberry, who can't do anything except head the ball miles away and punt the ball miles away. But he does it so well that I'd kill to have him in the Caley back four. As for Majstorovic, he's become Celtic's David Weir - a guy well into his thirties, picked up on a free as a stopgap solution, who has been absolutely sensational. He also has the scariest looking eyebrows in Scottish football. Zaliukas nearly got in, while McGregor of St. Mirren has been wonderful since Xmas, only a year after he was playing for Cowdenbeath.
That's the end of part one. What will the rest of the team be? Has Nikica Jelavic done enough to get in, despite being injured for months? Who will play in the cursed left midfield position (i.e. there wasn't one last year)? Can I spuriously squeeze a Caley Thistle player into the team? And will El Hadji Diouf be picked? (I think you know the answer to the last question)
Stay tuned!
L.
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