TT's Prem Top Men: Midfield of dreams

Arouna Kone and Romelu Lukaku lead the line in our latest Premier League Top Men line-up, with Gareth Bale providing midfield creativity.

Last Updated: 26/02/13 at 12:26 Post Comment    Bet with SkyBet  Premier League Top 4 Finish 12/13. Click here to bet.

Manager Specials

So who will replace David Moyes as manager of Everton after his appointment as Sir Alex Ferguson's successor at Manchester United? Wigan's Robert Martinez heads the betting. Check out the latest odds

Manager Specials

So who will replace David Moyes as manager of Everton after his appointment as Sir Alex Ferguson's successor at Manchester United? Wigan's Robert Martinez heads the betting. Check out the latest odds

After every round of Premier League fixtures, we pick our team of the weekend, explain our selections and then invite you - our loyal army of readers - to pick your team of Top Men.

We're looking for the players who caught your eye with dazzling displays or powerful performances on Matchday 27 (February 24-26). 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 (3-5-2): Schwarzer; Debuchy, Bassong, Figueroa; Cazorla, Wilshere, Y Toure, Giggs, Bale; Kone, Lukaku.

Mark Schwarzer - Fulham

Dimitar Berbatov may have grabbed the headlines for his winner in the 1-0 triumph over Stoke but Schwarzer was a solid presence between the sticks to provide the foundation for the success, claiming his sixth clean sheet of the campaign. The Australian keeper's most crucial contribution came in the second half when he kept out Jon Walters' penalty, while he earlier denied Peter Crouch with a quick-thinking save.

Mathieu Debuchy - Newcastle

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew couldn't praise January signing Debuchy enough after the welcome 4-2 win over Southampton, naming the French right-back his man of the match. The defender was consistently solid at the back as he fought to keep the lively Saints at bay, while also providing a constant threat getting forward to keep youngster Luke Shaw and his replacement Danny Fox on their toes.

Sebastien Bassong - Norwich

Bassong put in a diligent shift at the back as the Canaries snatched a hard-fought 2-1 triumph over Everton at Carrow Road, winning some important challenges to help keep his side in it and continuing to build on his solid partnership with Michael Turner at the heart of defence. He put the icing on a fine display late on when he nodded on Russell Martin's deep cross to set up Grant Holt's late winner.

Maynor Figueroa - Wigan

Figueroa was a force to be reckoned with at both ends of the pitch as Wigan enjoyed a 3-0 win at Reading. The defender helped keep the Royals subdued in the first half before setting up Arouna Kone to apply the easy finish to the opener just before the break. Figueroa didn't let his performance drop in the second half as he added Wigan's third goal just after the restart to seal the win and give their survival hopes a boost.

Santi Cazorla - Arsenal

Cazorla was at the double for Arsenal against Aston Villa with a goal in each half to give the Gunners some welcome relief after a nightmare week. The midfield ace needed only six minutes to grab his first when he caught his rebounded shot sweetly to curl past goalkeeper Brad Guzan, then saved the day for Arsene Wenger's men five minutes from the final whistle when he converted Nacho Monreal's cross. Between those two strikes, Cazorla cut a classy figure in midfield, impressing with some pinpoint passing.

Jack Wilshere - Arsenal

Wilshere partners Arsenal team-mate Cazorla in the middle of the park as another key performer in the Gunners' 2-1 win. The youngster continued to shine at the heart of Wenger's side as he bossed proceedings in midfield, always fighting for the ball and providing much of the Gunners' creative spark. The England international also hit the superb floating pass which allowed Monreal to set up Cazorla for the winner.

Yaya Toure - Manchester City

City noticeably missed midfield talisman Toure during his stint at the Africa Cup of Nations last month and the Ivorian continued to re-establish himself at the heart of the side in the 2-0 win over Chelsea. City couldn't make the breakthrough in a goalless first half at the Etihad Stadium but Toure found a way just after the hour mark, jinking into the box and making space to curl a low shot past Petr Cech.

Ryan Giggs - Manchester United

At 39 years of age, Giggs showed he can still make the difference for Manchester United as he played a vital role in their 2-0 win at struggling QPR. The veteran Welshman was continually involved throughout the 90 minutes as he pulled the strings in midfield and crowned his display with an 80th minute goal, drilling a shot past the exposed Julio Cesar.

Gareth Bale - Tottenham

Bale is becoming a regular fixture in our team of the week as his stunning form for Spurs continues. The Welsh winger put in another superb display at West Ham on Monday night, adding a further two goals to his tally for the season, making it nine in Tottenham's last six games in all competitions and 19 overall. Bale got things rolling in the 13th minute with Spurs' opener then had the last say in dramatic style as his stoppage-time strike sealed the 3-2 win.

Arouna Kone - Wigan

Kone was another star performer as Wigan swept Reading aside, bagging a double as the Latics lifted themselves out of the drop zone. The Ivorian ran the Royals' defence ragged throughout, with his second goal particularly catching the eye as he pounced on a slicing through ball from Jean Beausejour and chipped his effort over goalkeeper Adam Federici with apparent ease.

Romelu Lukaku - West Brom

At only 19 years old, Baggies loanee Lukaku is making a big impact at The Hawthorns and his two goals in the win over Sunderland did no harm to his rising stock, while parent club Chelsea will no doubt be sitting up and taking notice. The Belgian's first came from the penalty spot in the first half as he coolly slotted home, then the powerful striker doubled his haul 15 minutes from time when he capitalised on a sketchy back pass from Titus Bramble.

That's out team - now pick yours!

TEAMtalk Facebook Fan Page

The TEAMtalk fan page is a great place to meet like minded people, have football related discussions and make new friends.

Related News

Sky Bet

    • Retrieving latest Sky Bet odds

Most Commented

Readers' Comments

I

m curious as to what image Real Madrid are trying to re-establish as I always thought their pre-Jose image was one of a bunch of a classless bullies tapping up whoever they wanted while living it large on borrowed money they're never going to pay back.

john matrix
Perez Will Spend Big To Forget Jose...

A

t the start of the season, after the RVP transfer, I confidently claimed that Arsenal would finish above United. I now regret it immensely.

Fuzzy_Dunlop
Reflecting On The F365 Pre-Season Predictions

D

aniel Storey generally did very well, going against the City won it last year so they're bound to win it this time grain. As for John Nicholson, I wouldn't trust him to predict correctly what day of the week it will be tomorrow.

Griff
Reflecting On The F365 Pre-Season Predictions

Footer 365

Bastian Schweinsteiger aiming to treat Wembley to footballing perfection

Bayern Munich's Bastian Schweinsteiger aims to treat Wembley to footballing perfection in the Champions League final.

Pardew to remain at the helm

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew will remain in charge at St James' Park after holding talks about his future with owner Mike Ashley.

LB: Toffees won't come unstuck

Leighton Baines insists the upheaval of losing manager David Moyes to Manchester United after 11 years in charge will not derail Everton.

Mail Box

More Scared Of Losing AVB Than Bale...

We thought we would have to resort to another mailbox about maths but we've had some grand opinions about Man United, Newcastle, Tottenham and more. Oh and maths...

An Ode To Rafa And Loads More Mails...

We have one Chelsea fan who recognises the job done by Rafa Benitez while there's maths from Liverpool, Newcastle and Manchester. And Shawcross to Arsenal? Nah...

© 2013 British Sky Broadcasting Ltd. All Rights Reserved