TEAMtalk’s Top Men: Loving the Latics

Every Tuesday, we’ll pick our Premier League team of the weekend, explain our selections and then invite you – our loyal army of readers – to pick your team of top men who caught your eye with dazzling displays or powerful performances from Saturday April 14 – Monday April 16.

You can choose any formation and there’s no limit on how many players you can pick from each team – so have a think, then get involved.

TEAMtalk’s Top Men (4-3-1-2): Al Habsi; Rafael, Caldwell, Dawson, Clichy; Scholes, Allen, Dorrans; Moses, Aguero, Di Santo.

Selected by Simon Wilkes and Ian Watson

Goalkeeper

Ali Al Habsi (Wigan): If Wigan do pull off another great escape, then few at the DW Stadium will have done more to preserve their Premier League status than the Omani goalkeeper.

His defence did a wonderful job to ensure Al Habsi was not overworked by Arsenal’s in-form attack, but when the Latics needed him, the former Bolton benchwarmer was there. Yossi Benayoun saw two first-half headers diverted over the Wigan bar, the second of which was swatted away from the top corner by a quite wonderful one-handed flying save. Ian Watson

Defenders

Rafael (Manchester United): The more prominent half of the Da Silva double act was back in the United starting XI after being left out of the defeat at Wigan following an erratic display against QPR. But the Brazilian showed Sir Alex Ferguson that his lesson had been learnt by turning in a fine performance against beleaguered Villa.

Alex McLeish’s side offered little in an attacking sense, but Rafael displayed an assuredness in his defending that is often lacking. Going forward, Antonio Valencia had the beating of Eric Lichaj all afternoon, but Rafael’s runs beyond his winger often left the Villa full-back without back-up in his bid to stop the Ecuadorian flier. IW

Gary Caldwell (Wigan): The manner in which the Wigan defender put Andy Carroll on his backside before slotting the winner through Pepe Reina’s legs in front of the Kop a fortnight ago surprised many people, and the Scottish centre-half stunned a few more on Monday night with his shackling of Arsenal dangerman man, Robin van Persie.

The 34-goal striker was restricted to just a single shot on target by Caldwell, who was ably assisted by Antolin Alcaraz and Maynor Figueroa in keeping the Gunners at bay.

Wigan had only 36% per cent possession at The Emirates, but Caldwell – never likely to be mistaken for Franz Beckenbauer in terms of technique – was often as adventurous in his passing as he was with his forward runs. Roberto Martinez has stamped his mark all over the Latics, with few buying into the manager’s philosophy more than the Scotland stopper. IW

Craig Dawson (West Brom): The Albion youngster gets the nod ahead of Swansea’s Steven Caulker, who arguably had an easier afternoon against a toothless Blackburn outfit.

Dawson, at just 21, is still learning his trade but was thrown in at the deep end against QPR by Albion gaffer Roy Hodgson after star centre-back Jonas Olsson suffered an injury in the warm-up.

His last appearance at The Hawthorns was “one of the lowest points of my career” as his mistake gave Norwich a 2-1 FA Cup win.

But the England Under-21 defender rose to the occasion and helped to keep Bobby Zamora and co at bay as the Baggies all-but secured survival. Simon Wilkes

Gael Clichy (Manchester City): Clichy endured a miserable return to Arsenal last week, thanks in no small part to Mario Balotelli’s defensive disappearance, but with more support from Samir Nasri against West Brom and Norwich, the left-back has played his part in hauling City back into the title race with two big wins in four days.

Clichy rounded off a solid 180-minutes’ work with a delightful touch to lay on a goal for Adam Johnson at Carrow Road as City scored their 10th in two games. IW

Midfielders

Paul Scholes (Manchester United) It was no coincidence that while United turned in their worst performance at Wigan last week, Scholes was watching from the stands instead of pulling the strings in midfield. The 37-year-old was back to glue the Red Devils together against Villa, though, as United brushed aside McLeish’s men.

Scholes rolled back the years in the first half to teach Stephen Ireland a lesson in keeping the game simple. When Villa backed off the midfield maestro – understandable, perhaps, given he was still suffering the after effects of Gary Gardner’s attempted reducer – Scholes pinged a sublime 50-yard heat-seeker that Danny Welbeck failed to make the most of.

Whoever takes the England job this summer should beg Scholes to end his international exile in time to anchor the Three Lions midfield in Poland and Ukraine. IW

Graham Dorrans (West Brom): The Scotland international has had a torrid time with injuries over the last 12 months – but looks to be getting back to his best, which is great news for the Baggies.

The 24-year-old has only featured 12 times this season, netting twice, with his latest goal worthy of winning any game as he found the net with a stunning right-footed thunderbolt from 30 yards out.

He was the driving force behind the promotion campaign under Roberto Di Matteo and is a clinical set-piece taker, as well as being tough in the tackle.

Looks set for a strong end to the season – and could well attract envious glances from suitors in this summer’s transfer window. SW

Joe Allen (Swansea): Gylfi Sigurdsson quite rightly hogged all the headlines after netting his seventh goal in 15 appearances in the win over Blackburn – but we’re giving a pat on the back to his midfield comrade Allen.

The diminutive dynamo’s influence on Swansea’s style of play is almost as strong as Scholes’ on United, and it was his sublime floated pass which created the chance for Sigurdsson’s sumptuous opener.

At 22 it is scary to think how good he could become in future years, and it’s not that outrageous a suggestion to think he could well fill Scholes’ boots at United when the veteran hangs up his boots ‘again’. SW

Forwards

Victor Moses (Wigan): Moses’ directness frightens defenders, but the 21-year-old appears to be adding an end product to his driving runs. The former England Youth international played a major role in both Wigan’s early goals; playing Jordi Gomez into space for the first, just a minute before terrorising Bacary Sagna and delivering a low cut-back that was eventually finished off by his Spanish team-mate.

Moses had Arsenal running scared all night and could have notched a goal of his own in the second half. Wojciech Szczesny denied the left-sider on both occasions: the first followed another strong entry into the box; the second after he burst though Johan Djourou and Andre Santos before his weak shot failed to catch out the Arsenal keeper.

Moving to Wigan always seemed to be a stepping stone for the Crystal Palace academy graduate, and Dave Whelan may have to spend another summer fending off interest from bigger clubs in his attacking prospects. (IW)

Sergio Aguero (Manchester City): Carlos Tevez seems the obvious choice to lead our forward line after his dazzling display and hat-trick heroics at Carrow Road – but I’m taking the moral high ground, omitting him following his golf-swing celebration, after which he was promptly removed by Roberto Mancini, who sent on Micah Richards for him on 80 minutes.

Instead we’ve plumped for Tevez’s Argentinian team-mate Aguero, who has pulled on the City shirt with pride all season and added another two goals to his brilliant debut haul of 21 in 27 appearances, which has seen him make the six-man shortlist for the PFA Players’ Player of the Year award.

Aguero gave Canaries keeper John Ruddy no chance at all with two unstoppable strikes, and although he is likely to miss out on the PFA gong to van Persie, being named a TEAMtalk Top Man should soften the blow. SW

Franco Di Santo (Wigan): As Martin Tyler said in commentary, Di Santo is not a natural finisher. But the Argentine striker kept his composure to give Wigan a shock lead at The Emirates, before playing his part in Jordi Gomez’s winner just 60 seconds later.

As much as his goal, Di Santo’s hold-up play contributed in large part to the Latics’ victory. The former Chelsea forward only has five goals to his name this season but, like many of his players, Martinez has persevered in trying to mould Di Santo into the type of striker he wants to lead his three-pronged attack. IW