It’s been a fantastic year for Spanish football at international level and, as you might have expected, that is reflected in my pick of the best players from the past 12 months, but it’s at club level that Spain is best represented in my XI: with five players from La Liga making it in to an attacking 3-4-3 formation. There are a couple of Italians, a representative from the Bundesliga and just two Premiership players.

I’m fairly certain that quite a few of you are not going to agree with me, but let’s face it, there’d be something wrong if you didn’t. I’m looking forward to reading your line-ups or even if you just want to take me to task over some of my selections, please leave your teams and comments here. I’ve added a team from my friend Rafi Honigstein at the bottom, just to get us started, and we’ll compile a reader’s XI in the New Year.

Guillem Balague’s Team of 2008:

(3 -4-3 formation)
 
Pepe Reina (Liverpool): He has become the best goalkeeper in the world; It’s such a shame that with Spain he cannot perform regularly as the reputation and influence of Casillas gives the Madrid keeper priority.
 
Chiellini (Juventus): Even Ancelotti says publicly he is the best defender in Italy. That says it all. He could improve playing the ball, but defensively he is a rock.
 
Pepe (Real Madrid): If he didn’t have so many injuries, he would be considered the best in the world. Fast, strong, clever and can play the ball. All you need from a centre back in a team that leaves the defence exposed.
 
Marquez (Barcelona): He is not as quick as he used to be, but now he replaces that with intelligence. And he is the first forward when he recovers the ball, there are always good intentions in his passes.
 
Ronaldo (Manchester United): If Cristiano was a bit more humble I would like him to win all the accolades around because he is the kind of player that makes things happen. But I still put a question mark next to him, apart from his personality –or maybe because of it – he still doesn’t make an impact in all the big games: unlike Messi who does.
 
Xavi (Barcelona): A friend and a player I admire. I love chatting football to him, he is a clever man but this year he has added goals and leadership to his game, making him one of the top midfielders in the world.
 
De Rossi (Roma): The all rounder. The player any manager would like to have in his team. Obedient, hard worker and lots of quality with the ball.
 
Iniesta (Barcelona): Used on the left, he is one of the top left sided midfielders in the world. Used in the centre, in the right of the midfield, or the right of the attack, he is also one of the best in the world. He has a rare quality: to be an 8 out of ten in any position on any given day.
 
Messi (Barcelona): The only player of this generation that will belong to the Olympus of di Stefano, Pele, Cruyff, Maradona and Zidane. Wait and you will see.
 
Del Piero (Juventus): This could have been Benzema, Kun Aguero, Eto’o even. But Del Piero has had an unexpected resurrection and I always have a soft spot for people that reinvent themselves.
 
Ribery (Bayern Munich): He is a step above anybody in the Bundesliga, only Luca Toni comes close. As direct as usual, fast, aggressive and cheeky. Can take Bayern to the next level if they had better defenders.

And don’t forget to let me know your choices, or even if you just want to tell me what you think of one of mine, you can do that here. Who have I missed out and who should never have been included?  And Just to get the debate started, here’s a team selected by my friend and colleague, Rafi Honigstein (co-founder FOOTBO)

Rafi’s Team of 2008

Edwin van der Sar: Not always totally convincing but in terms of success and titles,  nobody came close to him in 2008. 
 
Christian Panucci: Got Italy to the Euros and was probably their best player in the tournament. one last hurrah for the ever-green. 
 
Nemanja Vidic: Makes Rio Ferdinand look alert and world class. Best centre-back in Europe last year. 
 
Philipp Lahm:  Peerless as left-back . And right-back.
 
Xavi: The brain behind Spain and Barca. 
 
Marcos Senna: Made Spain, the incredible passing machine, run smoothly at the Euros.
 
Andrei Arshavin: Despite the hype. Won the UEFA Cup and lit up the Euros. 
 
Franck Ribery: The last anarchist in European football. Simply wonderful. 
 
Bastian Schweinsteiger: Mr  Consistent. One of only a handful of players who did well in 07-08, at the Euros and in the first half of 08-09.
 
Cristiano Ronaldo:  Pompous, arrogant, annoying and self-righteous but unquestionably THE player of 2008. 
 
Fernando Torres: Exceeded all expectations at Liverpool and scored a pretty important goal in Vienna. And don’t forget to let me know your choices, or even if you just want to tell me what you think of one of mine, you can do that here. Who have I missed out and who should never have been included?


Originally posted here on my site GuillemBalague.com