Opinion: La Liga All-Star Team

Hassan Chamas

The league season is pretty much over in Spain. Real Madrid won their second consecutive-title, making it a record 31. On the other side of the table, luck abandoned Real Murcia and Levante, who are now doomed to play next season in the Segunda division, with a relegation ticket still undecided.

Here is a list of 23 players who helped their teams win trophies, or have left their fingerprints on this season, one way or another:

Starting eleven (4-4-2): Iker Casillas; Sergio Ramos-Ezequiel Garay-Pepe-Joan Capdevila; Simao-Ruben de la Red-Yaya Toure-David Silva; Dani Guiza-Luis Fabiano.

(GK) Iker Casillas (Real Madrid): Honestly, were you expecting someone else? We all talked about how Casillas was great in saving Real Madrid from shameful results in the previous seasons, and this year too. However, the Spanish number one has taken his game to the next level this term, cementing his place as one of the best goalkeepers in the world. Surprisingly, “Saint Casillas” will receive his first personal award this season, the Zamora trophy, given to the best goalkeeper in the league.

(RB) Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid): One of the best – if not the best – defenders in the world today. The lad can attack, defend, and has an eye on goal. Ramos displayed his full potential this season at Madrid. Whenever Ramos was absent, he was sorely missed. No wonder that Chelsea are ready to break the bank for the young Andalucian, a transfer that if approved would have made him the most expensive defender in history. However, Madrid will most certainly reject any approach made for one of their crown jewels.

(CB) Ezequiel Garay (Racing de Santander): You’d think that a central defender doesn’t manage to score a lot. Well, Garay has just managed to do that. His team’s most dangerous dead-ball player, Garay has been on the score-sheet on numerous occasions, without forgetting his initial defending job. No wonder that Barcelona were interested in him. And with the impressive run that Santander had this campaign; Garay has surely earned a place in the central berth.

(CB) Pepe (Real Madrid): €30 million is not your everyday price for a defender, and many have truly questioned the ability of such a relatively unknown player to make an impact at an intimidating venue such as the Santiago Bernabeu. Yet, despite his frequent injuries, Brazilian-born Portuguese defender Pepe managed to repay his new club every penny, by displaying nearly excellent performances all season long, and one of the best central defending lessons La Liga has seen in recent years.

(LB) Joan Capdevila (CF Villareal): After seven years at Deportivo La Coruna, Capdevila moved to Valencia to try a new challenge with the Yellow Submarine, Villareal. There, he managed an excellent first season, where he quickly won the trust of manager Manuel Pellegrini, and disputed all the matches except for one. He soon became important to Luis Aragones and the national team, where he displayed excellent performances, most notably in a friendly against France back in February, where he managed to paralyze Franck Ribery’s movement along the flanks, and eventually scored the winning goal.

(RW) Simao Sabrosa (Atletico de Madrid): Many experts questioned Simao’s willingness to carry on when he transferred to Atletico this past summer, and his ability to play at the top level, in the presence of the many stars that the club bought. Simao managed to shut his critics up by managing an excellent season with his new team, eventually netting seven times in 28 appearances.

(CM) Ruben de la Red (FC Getafe): The Santiago Bernabeu reject had a thing to prove to his previous club, and managed to do so: At Getafe, de la Red managed to impose himself as one of the team’s most important players, eventually guiding the small shy club, to the final of the Copa Del Rey. His efforts did not go unnoticed by Spain’s manager Luis Aragones, who awarded him a place in the squad that will challenge for Euro 2008 come this June.

(DM) Yaya Toure (FC Barcelona): One of the few bright lights in what has been a disappointing season for the Catalan giants. Toure imposed himself as one of the best holding midfielders on the continent. Now, he has all the big bucks ready to be splashed at him, with a vast array of teams waiting at the ready for the slightest chance to get his signature.

(LW) David Silva (CF Valencia): The hottest Spanish prospect that Los Che have to offer at the moment. Equipped with great speed and pace, Silva flourished this season at Valencia, after a couple of seasons on loan, guiding the troubled club to cup success. Perhaps Valencia knew early on how important he was, and have quickly moved to bind him to a lengthy contract.

(ST) Dani Guiza (RCD Mallorca): Like the goalkeeping position, there really was no competition in the forwards’ place. Guiza has simply been the top striker of La Liga this season, with an impressive 26 goals this term. We all remember how he denied Frank Rijkaard a proper farewell from the Camp Nou by defeating his team 2-3 last Sunday, earning Mallorca a rare and historical away win. He will be pretty busy come the summer, as he will travel to Austria and Switzerland to play the European Championship, only to deal later on with a lot of transfer rumors that will involve him.

(ST) Luis Fabiano (FC Sevilla): Luis Fabiano has been the best player Sevilla had to offer in a season to forget for them. The Brazilian hit-man has been a total revelation in front of goal, with 24 goals to his credit so far. And with his striking partner Kanoute suffering a dip in form, Fabiano seems like the right man to guide the Andalucians back to winning ways.

Squad players: Abbondanzieri, Victor Valdes, Daniel Alves, Fabricio Coloccini, Raul Albiol, Marcelo, Juan Mata, Albert Riera, Fernando Gago, Marcos Senna, Raul, Sergio Aguero.

Roberto “Pato” Abbondanzieri has been like fine wine over the years: he can only improve with age. As for his Barcelona counterpart, Victor Valdes has put on strong displays all season for his team, even though he still is a nominee for the potential gaff of the campaign.

People who thought Coloccini a bit “overrated” had to think again this term. After several seasons of being loaned from one club to another, the curly-haired defender settled at Deportivo La Coruna. And despite a below par season for the Basque outfit, Coloccini has been a true rock at the back. At Valencia, Raul Albiol has established himself as his team’s first center back choice, eventually becoming a starter for the national side.

On the flanks, Daniel Alves has re-discovered his abilities, ones that labeled him as the “best right-back in the world”. On the other side, Marcelo has greatly blossomed under the guidance of Bernd Schuster, at times surprising his own manager. He is steadily growing to become the new Roberto Carlos.

Juan Mata has been in good form for Valencia this season, and he has certainly lived to all the hype that was attributed to him since his departure from Real Madrid’s Castilla last summer. Albert Riera has also been in good form, establishing himself as an essential player for both club and country.

In the center of midfield, Fernando Gago became the first-choice defensive midfielder for Real Madrid, relegating players such as Mahmadou Diarra to the bench. Marcos Senna proved to be crucial for Villareal this season, guiding them to second place in La Liga. With the goal he scored from the center of the pitch against Real Betis some weeks ago, Aragones could not resist the temptation of calling up the Brazilian-born Spanish international to his squad of 23 that will play the Euros.

Up front, Raul has been a major factor in Real Madrid’s capture of their league title this season. The restless skipper has added a sixth league title to his vast array of accolades. With 18 goals this season (second place behind Guiza), it is really a shame for him not to go to Euro 2008. As for Aguero, well “Kun” has been an absolute revelation since joining Atletico de Madrid, in the process forming a deadly striking relationship with former Pichichi winner Diego Forlan.

Unfortunately, the squad can only contain 23 players. But numerous names have missed out that could very well be included. Honorable mentions are Almeria’s duo of Diego Alves and Alvaro Negredo, Barcelona’s young Bojan Krkic. Inconsistency denied Guti a place in the squad, while Raul Tamudo had an excellent season with Espanyol.