SBI European Best XI (September)

September was a month to remember in European soccer. From Lionel Messi's heroics to Cesc Fabregas sudden goal-scoring prowess, there were plenty of players who stepped their game up and made the game a joy to watch.

How do you pick the very best players for the month of September? The first thing you do is accept the fact that there is no such thing as a perfect selection for a Best XI. it's totally subjective and, in the end, all you can do is select a squad of players who you can make good arguments for. What you can also do is pick the brains of people who follow these leagues closely, be they players or fans.

I didn't make it a prerequisite that players in the SBI European Best XI for September had to play for SBI European Top 10 teams but it just worked out that 10 of the 11 choices came from the Top 10. Top teams have top players. That's no secret.

So here it is, my take on the European Best XI for September:

SBI European Team of the Month

GK- Gianluigi Buffon, Juventus. Juve only posted two shutouts in September but Buffon gets the nod over Edwin Van Der Sar because he has saved Juve's season even as its defense struggles. Buffon has kept his team in games and won others that they probably shouldn't have won. It shouldn't be too surprising. He is, after all, the best goalkeeper in the world.

D- Nemanja Vidic, Manchester United. How good was ManU's defense in September? How about zero goals allowed in five league and Champions League matches. Rio Ferdinand is a solid defender but Vidic is the anchor in the back for the Red Devils. The Serbian center back has shut down some top strikers and even contributed his own game-winner against Everton.

D- Kolo Toure, Arsenal. The new Arsenal captain has provided the veteran presence on defense that has allowed the Gunners to maintain a strong back-line while also attacking in waves. The Ivory Coast center back is just 26 but has the instincts of a a seasoned veteran and is developing into one of the world's best defenders.

D- Jan Kromkamp, PSV Eindhoven. PSV has allowed just one goal in six league matches this season (it happened to come in the final match of September) and Kromkamp has been a key reason for that stinginess. The Dutch defender and former Liverpool man helped PSV post four shutouts in September and he also showed his offensive touch in delivering the game-winning assist in PSV's 2-1 Champions League win against CSKA Moscow.

M- Wesley Sneijder, Real Madrid. The top team in Europe has been lead by the best signing of the summer. Sneijder's dynamic play in midfield has catapulted Madrid to the top of the La Liga standings and has Real Madrid looking like a Champions League favorite.

M-  Cesc Fabregas, Arsenal. Thierry who? Fabregas has helped Arsenal fans forget about departed French star Thierry Henry by adding a fierce goal-scoring touch to his already impeccable passing ability. The result is four goals and three assists in September, helping Arsenal post a perfect 5-0 month in league play and Champions League.

M-  Franck Ribery, Bayern Munich. Who would have ever thought a Frenchman would become the most beloved player on Bayern Munich. Ribery's speed, passing touch and relentless approach to the game have won over Bayern fans and made the Bayern Munich attack one of the most potent in Europe. Miroslave Klose and Luca Toni are flourishing and it is due in no small part to Ribery's work in midfield.

M-  Diego, Werder Bremen. The only player in the Best XI not on a Top 10 team, Diego has been simply superb for the German club, delivering goals and assist in bunches. He orchestrated Bremen's 8-1 thrashing of Arminia Bielefeld and gave Real Madrid all it could handle in their Champions League encounter. The Brazilian playmaker is outgrowing Bremen and this could be the final year before he makes a move to a big club.

F- Lionel Messi, Barcelona (Player of the Month). How hot as the little Argentinian been? Try six goals in league and Champions League action in September. He has single-handedly revived Barcelona's attack and is the most dangerous attacking player in Europe right now. Here's a question. Will his brilliance be dimmed when Ronaldinho returns to the lineup?

F- Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Inter Milan. The Swedish giant has been thoroughly unstoppable for Inter, posting a European-best seven goals in September. The enigmatic striker has been scoring and setting up goals for an Inter team that has rebounded well from its disappointing Champions League loss to Fenerbahce. The question with Zlatan, as always, is whether he can keep it up and avoid the funks that have made him one of the most frustrating players to follow.

F- Miroslave Klose, Bayern Munich. The unquestioned leader of Bayern's high-flying attack, Klose has been the best of his team's three off-season signings. Luca Toni has been stellar and Franck Ribery has become a fan favorite for his skill and tenacity, but it is Klose putting the ball in the net with regularity. His six goals in September led Bayern.

HONORABLE MENTION: Edwin Van Der Sar, Sergio Ramos, Bacary Sagna, Jolean Lescott, Elano, Maicon, Phillip Mexes, Marco Senna, Kenneth Perez, Pasquale Foggia, Francesco Totti, David Trezeguet, Karim Benzema, Luca Toni, Emmanuel Adebayor, Adrian Mutu

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i'm sure I forgot tons of candidates but my ultimate goal was to expose some of you to the best players in Europe. This Best XI is pretty solid but I'm sure I could have chosen different players in some cases.

Let me know what you think. Share your thoughts on the SBI European Best XI for September below.

Comments

[tmc]

I can't really quibble with your list Ives, but since you have been keeping Fiorentina in your "also receiving votes" category for you SBI European top 10, I think a couple of their players merit consideration.

First, Sebastien Frey is a phenomenal goalkeeper. Fiorentina's defense has not gotten off to a great start this year (they conceded the fewest goals in Serie A last year), but Frey has made many jaw-dropping saves. He's the best goalkeeper in Italy aside from Buffon.

Second, Adrian Mutu has matured and taken the leadership role in the attack for the Viola. He has 4 goals so far and has been instrumental in creating several others.

[Franck]

Kromkamp? Ha ha ha ha!

Donkey.

[emilio]

You forgot 'kun' aguero of ath. madrid

[Tim]

Fernando Torres has been worth the money Liverpool paid. At least when Rafa plays him.

[Nic]

Kolo Toure is the stand-in captain, as William Gallas (the official captain) and Gilberto Silva (the vice-captain) have been out with injuries.

[Brandon]

Even though i'm biased, at this point I say you have to put Elano in this Top XI

[sean]

I think Elano and Adebayor deserve honorable mention.

[sean]

oh, nevermind, Elano is in there.

[Ives]

Folks, Elano has been great, but he hasn't been consistent. He's had amazing games and games where he's been invisible. A little more consistency and he's in the Best XI. As it stands he just missed it for me.

Adebayor is a similar story, not nearly as consistent as the forwards on this list.

[Mike]

I like the mention for Sagna. He is one of the best bargains of the summer.

[Tim]

Adebayor leads the premier league in goals; is the issue that he scores the goal in bunches?

[Fireball]

Can't a great argument be made for Fernando Torres, at least for honorable mention? 6 goals in 10 games, hat trick, and Liverpool is a scarier team when he is in. Once again left off because of too many strikers? :)

I hate Luca Toni, but love the way he's been playing. My list would easily have had three players from Bayern, 4 from German teams!

[YankatOxford]

As I posted earlier when you mentioned the subject during the club top 10: (repost from two days ago)

Nice to see Shakthar getting some love, way to take a look Ives. We'll see they how they hold up on the road against an up and down Benfica.

I'm curious to see the Euro best XI, because balancing quality of opposition versus form could be tough. I think Diego Forlan may get in the conversation in a few weeks based on strikes like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGEhZJPchwU

Elano at Man City is playing blinder after blinder; Petrov would make my bench too at this rate.

The In Form XI
So in a 4-4-2
Van der Sar (Manchester United)
Has conceded twice in over 9 games, in the new look one to nil United. (possibly injured)
Alan Hutton RB (Rangers)
Dangerous thundering up the flank, or right through the center.
Eric Addo at CB (PSV Eindhoven)
Finally making his mark.
Manuel Frediech (Bayern Leverkusen) CB
Outstanding position and prowess.
Patrice Evra, LB (Manchester United)
Looks great moving forward, while the man he marks disappears.
Elano CMF (Manchester City)
While pulling Strings for Sven, he is making ManU's signing of Anderson look childish.
Cesc Fabregas CMF (Arsenal)
Looks sublime
Messi LMF(Barcelona)
...
Ribery RMF(Bayern Munich)
Bayern's engine; Sneidjer is right with him from Real.

Benzema (Lyon)
9 Goals in 9 League Games
Ibrahimovic (Inter Milan)
Simply indefensible when he wants it, and it seems he wants goals bad right now.

Bench/Squad:
Frey (Fiorentiena)GK
Khan (Bayern Munich)GK
Brown (Manchester United)LB
Toure (Arsenal) CB
Cambiasso (Inter Milan) DMF
Petrov (Manchester City)LMF
Sneijder (Real Madrid) RMF
Mancini (AS Roma)AMF
Trezeguet (Juventus)S
Anelka (Bolton)S
Aguero (Atletico Madrid)S
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar(Ajax)S
This weeks future honorable mention recommendation goes to: Lyon, for retaking Lique 1, albeit in a far from convincing fashion. (hopefully Beasley torches them for the CL)

Put simply your selections are all on the money.. although I haven't seen enough of Diego. One of the few players in Europe I have missed :). I also feel Addo has been more influential for PSV on the defensive end.

[Joamiq]

Adebayor puts the ball in the back of the net, and at the end of the day that's the most important thing, but I certainly do not think he has Best XI class. He makes up for a lack of technical skill with overpowering strength and speed.

I don't think anything can dim Messi's brilliance.

Yank: Beasley does indeed seem to have engaged in said torching :) The early returns on his move to Rangers are very, very positive.

[feilhaberzabeast]

christiano ronaldo?
how could you not even mention him?

[tito]

Please. Andrea Pirlo cannot be left out of this discussion.

[tito]

Please. Andrea Pirlo cannot be left out of this discussion.

[YankatOxford]

This is not a best player in Europe thread, its a best on form at the moment discussion.

C. Ronaldo has played ok, but he has only scored twice this season, no doubt he will be on my list at some point. He was suspended for three league games and didn't feature in Carling Cup, so he didn't play much the last month... so he didn't make the cut.

Pirlo was brilliant in the one Champions League match Milan have played, but Milan have been shaky in Serie A, especially on the road. Maybe he warrants an honorable mention anyway.

Anyone see a really shining defensive midfielder/holding midfielder out there? I felt my analysis on that position was weak. So more thoughts?

[Steve W]

Good list Ives, but I think N'Zogbia merits a mention for the bench.

[Jon G]

What? Why no players in MLS?

Like Chris Leitch.