Terry Gibson selects his La Liga Team of the 2016/17 Season so far
By Terry Gibson
Last Updated: 21/12/16 1:07pm
Sky Sports' Spanish football expert Terry Gibson has picked his La Liga Team of the 2016/17 Season so far, and there are some interesting selections...
It has been another captivating campaign in Spain so far, with Real Madrid currently leading the way as they look to get their hands back on the title, while champions Barcelona are close behind their rivals.
Gibson, though, is keen to stress that his 4-2-3-1 line-up is not simply a collection of the best players in La Liga this season.
"There are a lot of players who are not in my half-season team because they have been injured," Gibson told the La Liga Weekly podcast. "People like Andres Iniesta would be in my team, but have been too injured to be selected."
So, check out Gibson's picks and then let us know if you agree or disagree by leaving a comment at the bottom…
Goalkeeper: Sergio Asenjo
You look at the other goalkeepers in the league and talk about Keylor Navas being injured, and we traditionally give it to the goalkeeper who has conceded the least goals, which is normally an Atletico Madrid goalkeeper. But on this occasion it is Villarreal, who are the best team defensively in La Liga this season.
Three cruciate knee ligament injuries means Asenjo has really had to work hard, and I am not just saying that lightly, as he really has had to work hard to fight back from three potentially career-ending injuries. And to also fight back from being released from Atletico Madrid, then ending up on loan at Malaga and Villarreal, not always being first choice at Villarreal.
So to see him succeed, I am really pleased about that.
Right-back: Mario Gaspar
Because of the part he has played in all 16 games, he has been ever present in La Liga, while only letting in 11 goals. Gaspar got the nod over Dani Carvajal, who only played 10 games in La Liga.
Centre-back: Gerard Pique
In a Barcelona team that has stuttered this season, he has been outstanding at the back. And he has tried to lead them in games where they were struggling, getting forward and trying to get a goal, like against Celta Vigo and Malaga, where he got himself in the penalty area for the last 10 minutes. So he has been in really good form.
Centre-back Sergio Ramos
A player I have criticised, other people have criticised for being a little bit too complacent, but at long last - as no one has doubted his ability - he is showing some maturity. It was either him or Victor Ruiz and Ramos was my borderline cut-off point in terms of appearances.
We cannot ignore the impact he has had this season, despite making nine La Liga appearances out of 16, including four goals. And in the space of a week he got the equaliser against Barcelona to deny them two points. Then against Deportivo, when at one point it looked like Real Madrid would be fortunate to get the draw, he pops up with the winning goal, so another couple of points added. His impact has been too much to ignore.
Left-back: Marcelo
The one player at Real who has probably been fit this season is Marcelo and it is clear. Madrid are unbeaten and top of the league. Normally in this situation you would have six or seven Real players, like we have in the past with Barcelona, but this season has been based around a squad and they have had to make the most of the whole squad. That has been their strength this season.
Central midfield: Steven N'Zonzi
I just think he has been outstanding in a really good Sevilla team this season and I cannot believe he has not been capped for France. I am really hoping Sevilla stick to their guns and keep him, rather than being another one of those players who gets sold off. If they do have to sell him, then I hope it is for the value of his buyout clause, as he has been terrific this season.
Central midfield: Toni Kroos
This is surprising - not surprising because he is a brilliant, world-class player - but surprising because he had that injury and only started 11 games. So that was enough for me to suggest he has been rested in some games, he had that injury but then missed the international break, so that gave him two weeks to recover and he did not miss any games. I think he has played enough football and been at the top of his game for Real Madrid this season for me to pick him.
Right wing: Yannick Carrasco
On the right, and the only Atletico player I considered, which is a surprise as normally their entire back four gets chosen! He has been their star this season. It is always good to see a player improve as well, and improve an aspect of his game that was an obvious weakness and needed improving. The fact he has started 11 games and scored six goals, made a couple of goals, means he is the player who has made the most impact at Atletico.
Left wing: Kevin Prince Boateng
I have picked him for a couple of reasons, one because he is a Las Palmas player, and as a tribute to the player who scored THAT goal against Villarreal, and who has surprised me. He will play on the left and eyebrows were raised when he ended up at Las Palmas. I think if we are all being honest, we thought he was finished and his best days were behind him, probably that was a point of view that was accepted by most people in football, hence the reason he ended up at Las Palmas, with all due respect.
And now he has ended up as a real asset to the club, I enjoy watching him play and have seen him play more than ever. I like his style and he fits in perfect with the style of Las Palmas and the Brazil team of the 1970s. That goal, I do not think I have seen a better goal, certainly a team one with that number of passes, a back-heeled cross and a scissor volley.
Playmaker: Lionel Messi
Playing in his new position of wherever he likes. There has been this narrative put out, for some reason, that Messi has not been at his best this season. He has got 23 goals now in all competitions and that was his 13th game [on Sunday night against Espanyol] and his 12th goal, and add on the other assists as well. There is this feeling that Messi has not been his usual self this season, but even before Espanyol - this is not based on that - he was the obvious one.
Striker: Luis Suarez
My other dilemma was the centre forward as there are a number of players who could have been chosen, William Jose, Iago Aspas, and then the obvious two, Cristiano Ronaldo, who I must admit I first put in. And then, before Sunday night's game, I decided to go with Luis Suarez. I looked at the games and appearances this season: Ronaldo has made 11 appearances, missing five games, scoring 10 goals, three of which are penalties, meaning he has actually only scored in five games. So there are a number of games he has not scored in.
Luis Suarez has played 15 games, 12 goals, no penalties, and he has scored in nine of those games. So I looked at it and thought that is the player who is doing it on a regular basis, so I went with him in the end based on those stats. It was a question at this time of year of picking those who have played enough games - you know I love my stats - and who have contributed in the way they should have done. And I think Suarez has done that. He is still the pick of the bunch when it comes to centre forwards.
Terry Gibson's La Liga Team of the Season
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