EPL All-Name squad

Yesterday was the final day for the 2005 - 2006 English Premier League season. Chelsea, despite losing their final two games, won their second consecutive title. Bolton Wanderers dismal run since March saw them drop to 8th place, and lose out on European competition for next season.

While watching the Newcastle - Chelsea match yesterday, i realized that English football has it all over baseball when it comes to names. Lomana Lua-Lua rolls off the tongue in a way that Tom Glavine doesn't. In fact, i don't think there's been a really great baseball name since Harmon Killebrew retired.

So here's my offering for the best names in the EPL from this past season.

On the bench:

Shaka Hislop   West Ham   Keeper
Gerard Pique   Man U   Defense
Gareth Southgate   Middlesbrough   Defense
Pascal Chimbonda   Wigan   Defense
Muzzy Izzet   Birmingham   Midfield
Harry Kewell   Liverpool   Midfield
Momo Sissoko   Liverpool   Midfield
Nigel Reo-Coker   West Ham   Midfield
Ricardo Vaz Te   Bolton   Forward
Eidur Gudjohnsen   Chelsea   Forward
Collins John   Fulham   Forward
Ole Gunnar Solskja   Man U   Forward
Massimo Maccarone   Middlesbrough   Forward


And the Starting XI:
Jussi Jaaskaalinen   Bolton   Keeper
Sami Hyypia   Liverpool   Defense
Titus Bramble   Newcastle   Defense
Celestine Babayaro   Newcastle   Defense
Sun Jihai   Man City   Defense
Eric Djemba-Djemba   Aston Villa   Midfield
Steed Malbranque   Fulham   Midfield
Papa Bouba Diop   Fulham   Midfield
Xabi Alonso   Liverpool   Midfield
Aiyegbeni Yakubu   Middlesbrough   Forward
Lomana Lua Lua   Portsmouth   Forward