Premier League Team of the Season (so far)? 1/3

GOALKEEPER:
The season so far has been an encouraging one for us Blues in terms of 'keepers, on two fronts. Most importantly, our number one has continued his excellent form of last season, and in spite of, or in part because of a defence that has at times been outrageously inept. I think it was a drunk from across the road who once said a top goalkeeper can be worth an extra nine points a season. Whilst there's no real science behind that claim, the better sides generally have a great stopper, and Shay continues to prove that he's the best of the lot.

As covered at least once of late, young Joe Hart is earning rave reviews at Birmingham. Behind a defence that somehow, despite compromising of two Championship purchases, the huge muppet that is Liam Ridgewell, and rotund former Newcastle United oxygen thief Stephen Carr, manages to shut sides out week after week. Several rambo-like performances from Hart have made him the flavour of the month, and with David James, Rob Green and Ben Foster being injured, often asleep, and rubbish, respectively, he stands a chance of at least being one of the three picked for South Africa.

Another side with a stern back-line are Brum's neighbours, The Villa. In goal for them, Brad Friedel, a man it's impossible to dislike. Once a Liverpool reserve, he's gone on to be the only one who could seriously be considered a rival to Given as the elite Premier League 'keeper of the last decade. This season he's done especially well to marshall a completely new defence, with Dunne, Collins and Warnock all arriving in the summer, and though he was already there already, a new role for former centre-half Carlos Cuellar. It's hard to believe the American is approaching his 39th birthday; agile as ever he's still in the form of his life.

Honourable mentions must also go to Stoke's Thomas Sorensen, whose penalty heroics have saved his side several times already this season, and Fulham's Mark Schwarzer, a player who we allegedly missed out on signing back in the day for a measly £50 extra a week. If i had a pound for every time i've watched him save Fulham i'd be sat in the pub instead of here. At home especially they're very tight, and his importance can't be easier proven than highlighting the differing fortunes of both his current and former employer since his last transfer.

It's tough to pick one, i think Given and Hart have both excelled, and it's certainly encouraging, even if Joe moves on he's adding to his value on a weekly basis, but if not we've got a natural successor. The reason i think Shay edges it is he's been consistent right since day one, whereas Joe, understandably, took a little time to settle and made a few errors early doors. Both have been worth points on their own.

Pick: Shay Given (City)

DEFENCE:
The first choice for the defence, no doubt about it, Birmingham's Roger Johnson. The lad's a mountain, and it's always nice to see players impressing after working their way up the divisions. Johnson's time at both Wycombe and Cardiff seems to have served him well. On top of being a real unit, and consistent so far, he strikes me as being a real leader, and has a hunger that some of the more high-profile England possibles don't. That might all change when we snap him up for £53m in the summer and give him £95k a week, but still!

Spurs Sebastien Bassong has also surprised. He looked like a good player at Newcastle once he settled down, and after seeing him a few times last season, during which he was the only real positive for the Geordies, i wasn't surprised to see him remain in the Premier League. There was talk of him coming here, don't remember most of us being too enamoured with the idea, but at £8m he's proving one of the bargain buys of the summer. I certainly didn't foresee him being a regular at a top six club so soon, not at centre-half anyway. The form of him and Michael Dawson means Spurs don't really seem to be missing Lesley King or Jonathan Woodgate, both on their day, or more so when walking, as good as there is.

Right-back proved extremely tricky, and i could only think of two possibles. Branislav Ivanovic at Chelsea is another player we've occasionally been linked with in the past. I've always been impressed with him. He's no-nonsense, give me that over a 'footballing' defender any day, though he's no mug going forward either. He didn't endear himself to our supporters during our recent beasting of them, few did, but overall he's stood out. Carlos Cuellar at Villa is another player i've enjoyed watching in the past. At Rangers he was immense, a real rock at the centre of their defence. He took a few months to settle at his new club, looking sluggish last season, but this, and mainly at right-back, he's shone.

Wayne Bridge's much-publicised performance against Burnley and Erik Edman's shocking display at White Hart Lane are perhaps the most high-profile cases of able players showing us how not to defend. It's safe to say that neither of those were really considered, and again two stood out. Whilst he's played well, Ashley Cole hasn't continued the swashbuckling form of last season which earned him so much praise. An England untouchable though he obviously is, it's one of his rivals for the position who has caught the eye since the summer.

Stephen Warnock is considered by many Villa fans to be Martin O'Neill's best signing for the club, which says something about how highly they rate him. Effective in both halves, a great attitude, always gives 100%, and at £7m he's already a snip, and if we are in the market there might not be much need looking further than these shores. The only other left-back considered was Spurs' Benoit Assou-Ekotto, who must be one of the most improved players in the league, surely? From the petulant weak link of his first couple of seasons at White Hart Lane he's made the position his own, and barring the odd blip has had a t'riffic 2009; robust in the tackle and quite cultured, he was excellent during our recent drubbing in London.

This season certainly won't be one remembered for good defending. Most sides seem to have forgotten even the very basics. There is the odd exception to the rule, however, and it would be rude to not mention Richard Dunne. Villa have defended stoutly for the most part, and Dunne has had several outstanding games. The moments of clocking off that ultimately undermine a defender are occasionally still there, but he's generally been a rock, and given our injuries we could have done with him of late, though i'm still of the opinion that a move away was best for all parties.

Scott Dann at Birmingham deserves the plaudits just as much as his aforementioned colleague, he too is looking like money well spent, and is another astute signing by McLeish. Fulham and Arsenal central defensive duos are also worthy of recognition. The towering Hangeland was someone a considerable number of our fans were hoping we'd be in for, and the partnership between him and Hughes is indicative of Roy Hodgson's impact at Craven Cottage. Whilst sometimes caught out defensively, another who will need time to settle, Thomas Vermaelen impresses, and we all love an Ivanov-like goalscoring centre-half. Captain Gallas has also pushed on alongside him, it's not that long ago he appeared certain to be on his way from the club.

Picks: Ivanovic (Chelsea), Johnson (Birmingham),
Bassong (Spurs), Warnock (Villa)

Part 2 to follow...