Fulham and Birmingham City have been the surprise packages this season in the Premier League. Both sides were tipped to struggle to retain their Premier League status but here we are in the middle of February and both Roy Hodgson’s and Alex McLeish’s men are sitting pretty in the top half of the table.
The Cottagers’ small squad wasn’t expected to be able to cope with the demands of European football while Birmingham were predicted to go straight back down but Hodgson and McLeish have defied those gloomy forecasts to give their fans a season they’ll never forget.
This weekend they square up at the Cottage with three crucial points up for grabs. A win for the home side would see them go level on points with the Blues but victory for Big Eck’s side would see them keep the pressure on for European football next season.
Hodgson and McLeish have assembled two talented and hard working squads, but who would make it into the ultimate starting XI? Here is what I believe is the best starting XI from the two squads available to play in a traditional 4-4-2 formation.
Goalkeeper
Both Mark Schwarzer and Joe Hart are brilliant shot stoppers with excellent reactions but I only have room for one number one. Schwarzer is now 37 and has bags of top flight and international experience while Hart is just 22 but has a great future ahead of him.
Schwarzer has conceded 28 goals this season in the league and kept nine clean sheets in the process. Meanwhile Hart, who was born in Shrewsbury, has let just 26 efforts go by him and managed eight clean sheets. It is easily the toughest call to make it this team but I think I will have to go with the experienced head of Schwarzer.
Defenders
It makes a change to have a battle between two English players for the coveted left-back role. In the white corner we have Fulham’s Paul Konchesky and in the blue corner it’s Birmingham’s Liam Ridgewell. Both Konchesky and Ridgewell are strong and resolute defenders although Ridgewell, signed from rivals Villa in 2007, is traditionally a central defender. Konchesky, 28, is in the prime of his career while Ridgewell, 25, still has a lot to learn about the game. However, Ridgewell’s goal return just nicks it ahead of Konchesky for me.
Brede Hangeland cost Roy Hodgson just £2.5 million in 2008 and he has proved to be one of the bargain buys of the past 10 years. Strong in the air, quick on the ground and a good organiser, Hangeland has caught the eye of a number of Premier League bosses. The big Norwegian is a definite starter in my back four. Lining up alongside him is Birmingham’s Roger Johnson. The former Cardiff City star signed for the Blues in the summer and has thrived on testing himself against the biggest names in the game. A real no-nonsense defender, Johnson snuffs out danger and doesn’t dwell on the ball too long.
Completing my back four is Birmingham’s Stephen Carr. The former Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur defender arrived at St Andrews on a free transfer last January and has been given a new lease of life under McLeish. The former Republic of Ireland international still has bags of pace and has been a vital cog in Birmingham’s impressive form this season.
Midfielders
The first name on my team sheet would have been Fulham’s goalscoring midfielder Clint Dempsey but injury has put paid to that. Fortunately there are a number of quality players from both squads to choose from.
First up I’d have to go for Barry Ferguson to marshal the back four. The former Rangers captain has been a revelation at St Andrews and proved all the doubters who thought he was past it wrong. A great passer of the ball and decision maker Ferguson can collect his shirt. Alongside him I have to go for former Liverpool and Spurs midfielder Danny Murphy. The 32-year-old has one of the best football brains in the game and is deadly from the penalty spot. He may be less than a month away from his 33rd birthday but Murphy can still split a defence and has a good few years ahead of him at the top.
Ferguson and Murphy have all the experience and skill needed to succeed but you really need some legs in there to get down the flanks, hence why I’m plumping for the services of Damien Duff and Sebastian Larsson.
Duff, who will turn 31 in March, has grabbed five league goals this season – a feat he hasn’t managed to replicate since he scored six for Chelsea five years ago. The former Newcastle United ace is comfortable on the ball and loves to take defenders on. He has repaid the manger’s faith in him with goals and he is always a threat on the break.
Completing my midfield is Birmingham’s Swedish international Larsson. The 24-year-old started his career at Arsenal but was unable to break into the first team. However, he has established himself into a quality player at St Andrews. His execution at free-kicks is second to none and is rated as the most accurate free-kick taker in the top flight. He is always useful to have around at set-pieces.
Strikers
Zamora for England! Granted Bobby has been a bit of a dazzler for Fulham this season but he hasn’t been that good! The former West Ham and Spurs striker has found the back of the net 13 times this season in all competitions and has been Hodgson’s main striking threat. Physically and mentally strong, Zamora can hold the ball up and bring his team-mates into play and is not afraid to try and catch the opposing keeper off guard.
Lining up with Zamora is Birmingham’s Cameron Jerome. The former Cardiff man has bags of strength, loads of pace and an eye for goal. His blistering strike against Liverpool earlier this season was simply sensational. Jerome is Birmingham’s top scorer in the league with five and always puts himself about. I’m pretty sure Zamora and Jerome would forge a good partnership.
So my team is:
Schwarzer
Ridgewell
Hangeland
Johnson
Carr
Duff
Murphy
Ferguson
Larsson
Zamora
Jerome
Well that’s my ideal starting XI. Does it match yours? I’d love to hear from you.
