Controversy as Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher choose their Premier League teams of the season

Controversy as Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher choose their Premier League teams of the season on the Monday Night Football special.

The Sky Sports pundits each selected their player of the season, young player of the season, signing of the season and manager of the season for the 2020/21 Premier League campaign.

They also named their teams of the season, read on to see their selections in full, followed by the fan reaction online…

Carra’s player of the season: Ruben Dias

“I said on this show at the start of the season that if this signing didn’t work, it would be the end of City and Pep. You might think that’s a huge statement, but he was a £65m defender. They never replaced Vincent Kompany and last season that was a huge blow for them but he has come in and been the best defender in the league – and for me the best player.

“He’s like Puyol. The amount of blocks he made in the Champions League game the other day, it reminded me of John Terry. Also, his leadership qualities for such a young player. To go into that big a team and look like the leader of the team, I think that’s pretty special.”

Neville’s player of the season: Ruben Dias

“Dias has surprised me, dominating like he has for someone so young. I played with Jaap Stam, Gary Pallister, Steve Bruce, Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand… Dias is one of those who makes the rest of the team safe.

“The impact of the great centre-back is not just what they do in terms of their own performance, they impact everybody else in that back four and the people in front of them. Dias is exceptional.

“At the start of the season I didn’t think there was any way that City back four could win the league, so for him to do what he’s done, he’s been the most important player this season.”

Carra’s young player of the season: Phil Foden

“He is a player who is classed more as a midfielder, but wide left is the position he has played for Pep and it’s his actual performances there where you are thinking ‘wow’. He’s not just a great player, we have lots of great players, but he is different – and not just in terms of being English, but in the Premier League.”

Neville’s young player of the season: Phil Foden

“When was the last time we saw an exceptional English talent like Phil Foden? Wayne Rooney? Foden is a once-in-a-generation type player, he’s that good. He’s unbelievable.

“Let’s not forget, he’s played at Manchester City, to get into that team, with that manager, you’ve got be something unbelievably special. Foden could be something outrageous in the coming years if he gets it right on and off the pitch.”

Carra’s signing of the season: Tomas Soucek

“I’m just thinking about the impact of West Ham. I must say that he had a taste of the Premier League before, he was on loan last season. But he is a typical David Moyes player and he has had a huge impact.

“The goals he gets from the midfield and the combination with Declan Rice. We can talk about teams having great seasons, but the turnaround at West Ham has been huge.

“This is a team that was fighting relegation now going for the Champions League and I think he, for me, is possibly the most important player around that and what he is like in both boxes, which is a huge part of West Ham’s success.”

Neville’s signing of the season: Edinson Cavani

“If Cavani hadn’t worked and it had become another Falcao then they would have become a laughing stock – ‘United have got it wrong again’. It was such a risk, they must have been a little anxious. There was a risk and it has paid off handsomely.”

Carra’s manager of the season: Pep Guardiola

“If you go back to the last game of last season for Manchester City, that Champions League defeat to Lyon, it was a real bad one. Everyone blamed Pep Guardiola for that. They came back for the following season without having much break.

“When Leicester beat them 5-2, as a Liverpool supporter I fully expected Liverpool to win the league, the problems were there for City and I didn’t expect to see what they have done this season.

“I actually think this is one of Pep’s greatest achievements because that spine of Vincent Kompany, David Silva are not there and even Sergio Aguero hasn’t played that many games. The legends who have built City’s success over the last decade are not there, Pep has created something different.”

Neville’s manager of the season: Pep Guardiola… or Thomas Tuchel!

“If Tuchel wins the Champions League, the FA Cup and Chelsea finish in the top four then it’s him. If you said to me three or four months ago that Chelsea would win the FA Cup, the Champions League and finish in the top four, I would have said ‘no chance’. To win a Champions League is a massive thing.

“Brendan Rodgers has done brilliantly and you do have to balance off the budget and the players these managers have. Rodgers and Sean Dyche are exceptional managerial performances – and David Moyes at West Ham has been exceptional too.

“But I would still go with Guardiola or Tuchel because to win the Champions League and the league in the same season takes some doing.”

Carra’s team of the season

Carra’s XI: Martinez, Coufal, Stones, Dias, Shaw, Kante, De Bruyne, Fernandes, Foden, Son, Kane.

“It would have been easy to go for Ederson in goal, he’s got the most clean sheets, but I think he’s had very little to do because City’s back four has been so strong. But if I think of a team who almost went down to a comfortable top-10 team, Aston Villa, their goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez jumps to mind. He’s had 17 clean sheets, the best saves-to-shots ratio in the league and he’s just been a brilliant signing and one of the top goalkeepers in the league.

“At right-back I’ve gone for Vladimir Coufal, I love him. He plays week in, week out, has been brilliant and typifies West Ham’s season. Then there’s Luke Shaw at left-back, he’s been absolutely outstanding.

“In midfield I’ve gone for N’Golo Kante, who since Thomas Tuchel has come in has been as good as any player in the league – some of his Champions League performances have been outrageous!

“And up top, I went for Heung-min Son. I know Mohamed Salah is top scorer but in terms of goals and assists, Son has more. Next to Son I’ve gone with Harry Kane, both of their numbers are brilliant considering they’ve played most of the season in a team which is defensive.”

Neville’s team of the season

Neville’s XI: Mendy, Walker, Dias, Maguire, Shaw, Gundogan, De Bruyne, Fernandes, Rashford, Foden, Kane.

“For me, it’s Eduoard Mendy in goal because I think, with the goalkeeper they had, Chelsea had massive issues and would not be where they are now. Since Thomas Tuchel has come in, their fortunes have changed defensively and he’s been a big part of that.

“Kyle Walker has become an outstanding performer in a defensive position for Manchester City. He’s been a lot more disciplined in how he’s played. I think he’s been an important part of what they’ve done.

“I think John Stones has had a fantastic season, but he’s ‘cuddled’ by Dias and Walker and that’s a big thing – the pace on one side and Dias outstanding on the other. I think Harry Maguire is the outstanding centre-back other than Dias in the league and that’s nothing to do with him being Manchester United. I think he’s been reliable, he’s been consistent, he’s started to show authority and I think Manchester United have got a very good player there. If City had him and Dias together, they would be almost unstoppable.

“The reason I went for Ilkay Gundogan is that I think he transformed Manchester City’s season. At the period when they weren’t playing well, in that two or three-month period, I thought he was the main man. He was absolutely out of this world in this period and what they’ve gone on to do since is because of him.

“On the left, I went for Marcus Rashford. When he was doing all that stuff off the pitch, which was incredible, I thought there must be a consequence of that on the pitch, that he would start to falter and that the injuries would pick up or he would be distracted. But he just kept going and kept performing and he’s still there. Sadio Mane has obviously been outstanding for the last three weeks, Son is a brilliant player, but I went for Rashford because of his overall contribution on and off the pitch. Maybe there’s a bit of emotion there.”

Fans reacted with controversy as Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher choose their Premier League teams of the season…

I don’t think Neville knows West Ham and Leicester play in the PL lmao

— 🐐🇩🇪 (@its_me_axad) May 10, 2021

i’m sorry but have you watched ruben dias?

— Marshy (@Marshy44) May 10, 2021

My young player of the season pic.twitter.com/qaVxzjfxKB

— ChelseaArmy FC (@CFCARMY11) May 10, 2021

@AVfc_PL: Is Emi Martinez playing basketball?

@BrandonUtd_: do they realise dias was bought this season so he should be signing of the summer if he’s poty

@CFCKonny_: Cavani signing of the season 😂😂

@CallumWill_02: He’s 34 and was signed for free by far the best signing of the season

@bludclart11: Dias came into the best defensive team and the team with the most clean sheets last season and now suddenly POTY? 😭 Kane and Bruno should be the top 2

@malthe_02:
Player of the year: Kane
Manager of the year: David Moyes
Young player of year: Foden/Saka
Signing of the season: Emiliano Martinez

The fact he chose Coufal just shows how much he really knows, easily been the best right back this season, I love Pablo when he played for us but I’ve gotta be honest Coufal is better then prime Zabaleta ⚒

— Ross ⚒ #GSBOUT (@rjnwhu3) May 10, 2021

@Rinuom8: Kante great player but that is so reactionary over the last month. He hasn’t had a better prem season than Gundogan or Pogba

@CFCJoel__: Foden has been good, but let’s not be ridiculous.

@TedJoyce_: Most of his good games have came in the cups, especially the Champions league

@0161Darren: Gundogan robbed

@mickycantwell: Such a recency bias. Kante and Foden didn’t do as much in the early part of the season. Grealish has to be in there for me. He was the best player in the league until his injury.

@Flaw1x: Even as a United fan I have to admit Salah should be there

@LFC_Luke1: son over salah very debatable

@YousifKayed: Son LW and Salah RW. Foden out, god knows why he’s there, definitely wasnt better than Salah. Cancelo and Coufal are debatable, Magure and stones debatable. The rest is spot on

@CathalRobinson: No Salah, who has 20 league goals again and only a goal behind Kane who is in the team 🤔

@JayDalgarno: Some terrible picks. Has @Carra23 only watched footy for the past 2 months? No way should Kante, Coufal, Foden & De Bruyne be in there. Gundogan, Cancelo, Salah & Grealish for me

@CormieD123:
DLC – 22 Goal involvements
Vardy – 27 goal involvements
Bamford – 25 goal involvements
You also have Grealish, Raphinha, Watkins… they’re seriously tough choices

@padderr: How the fuck has Cancelo missed out do these lot just watch highlights of games they dont commentate on 😂

At least @Carra23 gave us 2 out of 11! @Other14The

— TheOther14 (@Other14The) May 10, 2021

@DerronUtd: Why is Rashford there over Salah? I mean Salah has had a better season than Rashy?

@Davies43648358: Foden had only played 26 games this season in the league and in 11 he came on as a substitute. I’m biased but Mason Mount should be in ahead of him been outstanding all season

@GoalsGaloreIzzy: 10 goal rashford, take away his free school meals and he’s just Nathan Redmond in a better team…

@simonyemane: Son: 17 goals and 10 assists in the prem alone. Yet Rashford takes that spot 🤔

@afczak_: Rashford over Salah 🤣

@SilkyCyrus_74: RASHFORD AND MAGUIRE AHAHAHHAHAAHAHAHAH

@UtdCathal: Funny how you’re laughing at Rashford but not Foden being there

@dj_mitosis: Where tf is Salah 20 PL goals in a side that’s massively underperforming. The agenda is so real

@RobCain101: Marcus Rashford has consistently been absolutely unbelievably bobbins… all season… I can’t remember one stand out performance in the league that would warrant this… he’s been about the same level as Zaha this season. I’m beyond baffled by his selection.