EVERYONE A STAR GO ALL THE WAY

CHRIS DUNLAVY LOOKS BACK OVER THE SEASON

THE players have spoken. The PFA team of the year is in. And let’s be honest – it’s pretty hard to argue with any of their selections. But that isn’t going to stop me trying. Over the course of the last ten months I’ve watched every side in the Championship at every ground from Pride Park to Portman Road.

And in that time I’ve seen some wonderful performances although, admittedly, not at Charlton v Millwall back in early September. If you were there and paid money to get in, I can only offer my deepest sympathy.

Anyway, here is my pick for the team of the year, craftily arranged into a fashionable 4-3-3:

At 35 the pace he never had is now entirely absent but the organisation and positional sense means Upson never looks in danger. Unfortunately, that was too often the case for Brighton’s opponents too. LIKE team-mate Trippier, Shackell made the official team of the year. And like Trippier, it’s impossible to leave him out of this one.

For the last four years – at Barnsley, Derby and now Burnley – Shackell has been one of the most consistent centre-halves in the division. He isn’t spectacular; if you want last-ditch tackles and goal-line heroics, look elsewhere.

But if you want to see a guy who is always in the right place and fills everybody in his side with calm assurance, look no further. A class act who is finally getting his reward for years of graft.