Premier League Team of the Year 2016: Full Lineup, Reaction and Analysis

The 2015-16 Premier League Team of the Year was named on Thursday, with title front-runners Leicester City dominating the lineup alongside Tottenham Hotspur.

Professional Footballers’ Association Player of the Year nominees Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy, Riyad Mahrez, Dimitri Payet and N’Golo Kante each made the cut, in a year when the league’s perceived “big clubs” were conspicuous by their absence.

West Ham United winger Payet and Arsenal right-back Hector Bellerin are the only two outfield players selected not to hail from the King Power Stadium or White Hart Lane, while Manchester United’s David De Gea lines up in goal.

The PFA’s official Twitter account confirmed the 2015-16 lineup:

The PFA Barclays Premier League Team of the Year 2016 #PFAawards: pic.twitter.com/Ffp9GTTMN2

— PFA (@PFA) April 21, 2016

Read on for a breakdown of which stars blazed a trail into this season’s Premier League Team of the Year, and be sure to comment who you feel should have booked a spot in the lineup.

 

Goalkeeper: David De Gea

After coming within inches of leaving Old Trafford for Real Madrid last summer, David De Gea stormed back into Manchester United’s plans this season and enjoyed arguably his most impressive season to date.

The Spain goalkeeper has once again been responsible for single-handedly earning the Red Devils his share of Premier League points this term, keeping the club within reach of a top-four finish.

Despite starting the campaign on the bench, De Gea has now kept 14 clean sheets in league competition this term, forming the foundation of a stingy Red Devils defence that’s been key to their season.

 

Left-Back: Danny Rose

Amid the glitz and glamour of Spurs’ attack lays a steadfast defence that’s quietly gone about its business, of which left-back Danny Rose has played a crucial role.

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino has breathed a new lease of life into the defender’s career, and Rose may even expect to be England’s No. 1 choice at left-back for UEFA Euro 2016, so great has his turnaround been.

The 25-year-old former Sunderland loanee has notched three assists and scored one goal in 21 league outings this season, succeeding in 64 per cent of all his dribble attempts, according to Squawka.

 

Right-Back: Hector Bellerin

The fastest feet in the Premier League continued to blaze a path down Arsenal’s right wing this season, as Hector Bellerin took steps toward advancing his reputation as a cemented Premier League figure.

The Spaniard displaced Mathieu Debuchy from manager Arsene Wenger’s lineup last season and has notched four assists in the Premier League this season, giving his manager a long-awaited solution at right-back.

Barcelona native Bellerin has shown himself to be a rounded asset at full-back, winning 55 per cent of all his duels, per Squawka, and his recovery pace is essential to the Gunners’ back four.

 

Centre-Back: Toby Alderweireld

Pochettino has taken steps to transforming the north Londoners into title challengers this season, and at the heart of that metamorphosis has been the stingiest defence in the …

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