Gareth Bale Named To UEFA.com's Team Of The Year 2011

by Bryan Ashlock on Jan 18, 2012 2:15 PM GMT in Tottenham Hotspur News

When UEFA.com held a fan vote to determine who would be in their team of the year most people could pretty well guess who was going to be in it. If you assumed that the team would consist of a collection of players mostly from Barcelona and Real Madrid, you would be correct. If you had told me that Tottenham Hotspur winger Gareth Bale would make it into the team, I would have laughed in your face.

Bale, however, proved everyone wrong and did manage to make it into the first XI; beating out the likes of Eden Hazard, Juan Mata, Angel Di Maria, and Ashley Young for the spot. Bale is the only English based player in the squad and also the only player from the UK in the team. I'm willing to bet that Bale's performances in the Champions League last season are what put him in this position.

Congratulations to Gareth Bale and the rest of the UEFA.com Team of the year, I'm sure this is a nice achievement.

Check out the full team after the jump

Goalkeeper - Iker Casillas
RB - Dani Alves
CB - Gerard Pique
CB - Thiago Silva
LB - Marcelo
RM - Arjen Robben
CM - Xavi Hernandes
AM - Andres Iniesta
LM - Gareth Bale
ST - Lionel Messi
ST - Cristiano Ronaldo
Coach - Pep Guardiola

Thoughts? Who's in your UEFA Team of the Year for 2011? What if I said your team of the year couldn't include anyone from Barcelona or Real Madrid, who would be in it then?

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Praise Weezus! But...

I’m sorry, this is just ridiculous. Not to take anything away from Bale. I love the guy and he’s a helluva player. But this selection really just puts a fine point on how ridiculous these kinds of lists are.

He’s been good. Very good. But not THAT good.

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by Uncle Menno on Jan 18, 2012 2:24 PM GMT reply actions

The fans have spoken

Suns & Spurs (not San Antonio) fan.
twitter.com/williemcquaid

by Willman on Jan 18, 2012 3:04 PM GMT via mobile up reply actions

well he couldnt even put it on target regularly in the last few games….maybe im nit picking. i guess the others at LM could be guilty of that at times..
especially di maria

"a bit of love"

by chrisj on Jan 18, 2012 3:06 PM GMT up reply actions

I was unaware that Ronald was a striker

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by theroosevelts on Jan 18, 2012 2:31 PM GMT reply actions

CR7 is whatever he wants to be

"a bit of love"

by chrisj on Jan 18, 2012 3:03 PM GMT up reply actions

If Alves is a right back then C-Ron is a striker.

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by Bryan Ashlock on Jan 18, 2012 3:17 PM GMT via iPhone app up reply actions

Yawn

With or Without the H

by johnf34 on Jan 18, 2012 5:06 PM GMT reply actions

Nine of the 12 spots are Real Madrid or Barca

I know they’re both really good and all, but there are good players who play for other teams.

by nathangiannini on Jan 18, 2012 5:14 PM GMT reply actions

Gotta love fan votes

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by Willman on Jan 18, 2012 5:24 PM GMT reply actions

Since no one is bothering to answer my question, I'll answer on my own.

My Non-Madrid/Barca UEFA XI

GK – Edwin van der Saar (he played in 2011, shut up)
LB – Phillip Lahm
CB – Thiago Silva
CB – Nemanja Vidic
RB – Darijo Srna
LM – Eden Hazard
CM – Marek Hamsik
CM – Yaya Toure
RM – Nani
ST – Edinson Cavani
ST – Moussa Sow
Coach – Jurgen Klopp

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by Bryan Ashlock on Jan 18, 2012 5:43 PM GMT reply actions