Football League Championship - Team of the Year

Championship XI
By Chris O'Brien
April 26 2005

After a poor season at the wrong end of the FL Championship, and relegation still a possibility, Cardiff City have no inclusions in the PFA's team of the year. Sunderland and Wigan Athletic dominate the XI.

The Football League Championship team of the year has been announced by the Players' Football Association. It is little surprise that no Bluebirds have been named in the XI with Cardiff City having spent the entire season battling against relegation back into England's third flight.

Already-promoted Sunderland dominate the line-up along with Championship title chasers Wigan Athletic. the league's top two have three players each amongst the eleven, with every player coming from a club in promotion contention.

Jason Roberts and Nathan Ellington, who have netted a combined total of ?? league goals this term, form a formidable strike partnership for the Latics and are both named in the line-up. Jimmy Bullard, who will be playing alongside Graham Kavanagh for the rest of the season, is also in the side. As for the Black Cats, Gary Breen and George McCartney are named in the backline with Julio Arca an attacking presence in midfield.

In a fairly average Championship, this is a very impressive team. In the realm of fantasy land, it would be interesting to see how such an XI would fair in England's top flight. Congratulations to all. The team is as follows:

Football League Championship XI:
Kelvin Davis (Ipswich)
Graham Alexander (Preston)
Tom Huddlestone (Derby)
Gary Breen (Sunderland)
George McCartney (Sunderland)
Jimmy Bullard (Wigan)
Steve Sidwell (Reading)
Julio Arca (Sunderland)
Inigo Idiakez (Derby)
Nathan Ellington (Wigan)
Jason Roberts (Wigan)

Meanwhile, the XI's named by the PFA from the other Football Leagues are below. Luton Town have an incredible six players named in the Football League One team, whilst two Jack bastards are amongst the XI selected from England's measly basement!

Premiership XI:
Petr Cech (Chelsea)
Gary Neville (Manchester United)
John Terry (Chelsea)
Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United)
Ashley Cole (Arsenal)
Frank Lampard (Chelsea)
Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)
Arjen Robben (Chelsea)
Shaun Wright-Phillips (Manchester City)
Thierry Henry (Arsenal)
Andy Johnson (Crystal Palace)

Football League One XI:
Marlon Beresford (Luton)
Ryan Taylor (Tranmere)
Curtis Davies (Luton)
Chris Coyne (Luton)
Warren Cummings (Bournemouth)
Stuart Elliott (Hull)
Paul Merson (Walsall)
Ahmet Brkovic (Luton)
Kevin Nicholls (Luton)
Steve Howard (Luton)
Leroy Lita (Brizzle City)

Football League Two XI:
Chris Weale (Yeovil)
Sam Ricketts (Boo, Hiss - Swansea)
Adam Barrett (Southend)
Andy Crosby (Scunthorpe)
Michael Rose (Yeovil)
Lee Johnson (Yeovil)
Darren Way (Yeovil)
Kevin Maher (Southend)
Peter Beagrie (Scunthorpe)
Phil Jevons (Yeovil)
Lee Trundle (Boo, Hiss - Swansea)