2022-23 English Football XI

With a pulsating 2022-23 English Football season now over, here is a look at a mixed XI of the campaign.

From Brentford’s shock double over Manchester City to unexpected title challenges across Premier League and Women’s Super League and even unexpected rises following managerial changes, there has been plenty of surprises to enjoy this season.

Luton even completed a fairytale rise from their slump into Non League football to the top-flight with a brilliant season, which culminated in a penalty shootout triumph at Wembley in Championship Play-Off Final.

Considering that this campaign was unique with the men’s game disrupted by an enforced mid-season break due to 2022 FIFA World Cup, several players managed to produce incredible consistency especially against top-quality rivals yet stand out for their own performances.

All things considered, there are plenty of stars worthy of a spot in this XI but the eventual 11 have all punched above their weights with stunning performances, and even broken records in the cases of some players.

Now, here is the 2022-23 English Football XI of the Season with full explanations below plus Manager of the Season and substitutes who just missed out on .

 

Goalkeeper

David Raya (Brentford)

In a campaign full of stunning goalkeeping moments, Brentford’s David Raya has been the clear stand-out goalkeeper with plenty of fantastic saves and goalkeeping performances, especially during a 12-match unbeaten league run between October 2022 – March 2023.

Raya’s stats in terms of saves, high claims and passes are the best in the Premier League even against quality goalkeepers like Jordan Pickford, Alisson and Ederson, especially when we consider that this is only Raya’s second season of top-flight football after an injury-hit 2021-22 campaign.

Raya even managed clean sheets in wins at home against Manchester City and Manchester United this season, which is an impressive feat for any goalkeeper and shows why Utd plus Tottenham are eager to sign him this summer.

Quite simply, Raya has been a consistent stand-out even when the Bees hit mini-ruts at various parts of the season, which ultimately cost them European qualification despite keeping that dream alive until the final day of this season.

 

Defence

Kieran Trippier (Newcastle)

Having endured a rough return to the top-flight in the second-half of last season due to a foot injury, Kieran Trippier has been resurgent this season in his performance as he helped Newcastle finish fourth in the Premier League and become runners-up in the Carabao Cup.

His on-field performances in particular have been incredibly consistent for any 32 year-old right-back with only three players having more touches on the ball in the top-flight this season, whilst he has provided seven assists – more than any other right-back in the league’s top-four teams.

Trippier’s leadership skills also shone through this season because a team like Newcastle not used to a serious top-four challenge would of imploded, yet Trippier’s experience helped guide his team through a mid-season rut to finish fourth with just five league losses all season.

 

Ona Batlle (Manchester United)

Although Man Utd’s Ona Batlle is primarily a fullback, I personally found it hard to leave her out of this XI because she has been mightily impressive in the Red Devils’ WSL title tilt this season with her consistency.

From a WSL high 224 progressive carries to producing more assists than any other defender, Batlle has been a stand-out performer as she helped Utd concede just 22 goals in all domestic competitions and finish runners-up to Chelsea in WSL and FA Cup this season.

Her statistics in terms of assists also speaks for itself because she has produced nine WSL assists, of which those nine assists were for seven different teammates underlining how well she has performed this season as a team player to create chances for various teammates.

Utd though will definitely miss Batlle if she does indeed leave on a free transfer to join Barcelona this summer, because she leaves a huge creative role to fill at right-back especially as the Red Devils prepare for their first foray into UEFA Women’s Champions League next season.

 

Ben Mee (Brentford)

Having suffered relegation with Burnley last season where he was team captain, Ben Mee has been an unbelievable free signing for Brentford at 33 years-old with incredible consistency in defence.

Mee has even chipped in with three goals and two assists and has been dominant in terms of blocks and interceptions amongst Brentford players, as well as the league’s best player in winning aerial battles.

Such has been his consistency this season is that Mee has even been Brentford’s best defender in terms of attack, topping the shots, passes and touches which is to his credit because Mee has always been a consistent if underrated player often overlooked for England call-ups.

We also musn’t forget how impressive Mee’s season has been considering that he was part of Burnley’s relegated team last season, yet he rebounded back with one of his strongest top-flight seasons yet at 33 years-old so has more than earned his spot in this XI.

 

Pervis Estupinan (Brighton)

Having arrived as Marc Cucurella’s replacement following the Spaniard’s move to Chelsea last summer, Pervis Estupinan has certainly been a surprise package in the left-back position this season.

Estupinan arrived from Villarreal in August 2022 yet the Ecuadorian has more than paid his £15m transfer fee with his consistency, because he has constantly been an energetic threat for Brighton in attacking intensity and creativity with five assists and one goal in 41 appearances.

The 25 year-old even had to handle a change of manager just under a month since he arrived at Brighton, yet he seemed to benefit from that managerial change because he has been a huge regular presence in the Seagulls’ successful push for European qualification.

You therefore have to be hard pressed to think of a left-back who has enjoyed a more impressive season, aside from Newcastle’s Dan Burn, who has been excellent at left-back this season but just not as sensational as Estupinan has been.

 

Midfield

Martin Odegaard (Arsenal)

With 15 goals and seven assists for Arsenal this season, Martin Odegaard has enjoyed a strong season as the Gunners’ beating heart of midfield with only Bukayo Saka enjoying more goal involvement than the Norwegian – having been involved in 26 goals compared to Odegaard’s 22.

It would of therefore been super easy to nominate Saka purely on his stronger overall form but Odegaard has instead been the more forward in his attacking play, with more through balls than any other Arsenal player whilst trying to dictate play and put himself into space around the pitch.

Odegaard even managed to create more crosses than several winger or fullback players – aside from Saka and Gabriel Martinelli, which is reflective of how versatile he has been in his play this season more than in his previous two seasons at Arsenal.

In fact, this has been a huge breakthrough season for the 24 year-old who has absolutely stepped up his game to a new level, which ultimately is another aspect as to why he has got the nod over Saka who was pretty much nearing that level more last season.

 

Alexis Mac Allister (Brighton)

In a stunning campaign for Brighton, Alexis Mac Allister has been one of the breakthrough midfield stars with a series of stunning displays to help the Seagulls achieve European qualification – having provided 12 goals and two assists in all competitions.

Mac Allister also translated his club form onto the world stage with a series of hard-working midfield displays, as he helped Argemtina win the World Cup in Qatar.

Although Pascal Gross and Solly March have had more goal involvement than Mac Allister, the Argentinean has been a constant presence with his ability to play a mixture of passes to carve open oppositional defences, whilst his dribbles have also proven problematic for opposition.

Mac Allister’s tactical awareness has also been a huge part of his breakthrough development this season given his midfield versatility, whilst he also took that form into the World Cup with Argentina which proved to be a huge aspect of their ultimate run to the title.

The big questions now is just how better can he get now that he has sealed a move to Liverpool under a top-quality manager in Jurgen Klopp, who should be able to extract more performance from a versatile midfielder who is yet to hit his prime years.

Mac Allister’s performances consequently don’t deserve to go unnoticed in this end-of-season XI because of how consistently brilliant he has been, even if his out of possession play on the defensive side is still in progress but he is a proven attacking threat which teams have struggled to handle.

 

Guro Reiten (Chelsea)

A mainstay of Chelsea’s flanks in the winger position in recent seasons, Guro Reiten has simply enjoyed a stand-out campaign with involvement in 31 goals in 39 appearances across all competitions.

That stat in particular is pretty incredible for any player of which 18 of her goal involvement came from assists, underlining how brilliant Reiten has been in her technical attacking ability in both providing assists and scoring herself with 13 goals – only second best to Sam Kerr this season at Chelsea.

Just to further emphasise Reiten’s impressive season, she is one of three players in Chelsea’s women team who managed more goals than the top goalscorer of the men’s team  – Kai Havertz and Raheem Sterling who both managed nine goal apiece.

Reiten therefore deserves massive respect for her performances which have been consistent, whilst her goal involvement stats simply made it hard to leave her out of this XI.

 

Forward 

Erling Haaland (Manchester City)

There are very few words left to describe Erling Haaland‘s awesome debut season in the English game with 52 goals and nine assists in 53 appearances across all competitions.

From a brace on his league debut away at West Ham to five separate hat-tricks – which all came at home, Haaland has been just unbelievable in front of goal which was exemplified by a five-goal display in City’s 7-0 second-leg mauling of RB Leipzig in Champions League’s Round of 16.

Even off the ball, Haaland has been just amazing in terms of how he has maintained a strong presence in how he isn’t afraid to drop deep when necessary, whilst having enough agility and pace in his runs to recover position to try and finish off attacks in and around the box.

Haaland even broke the record for most league goals in a 38-game Premier League season with 36 goals in total amongst various records, which is a reflection of just how awesome his football has been this season especially for a player enjoying English Football for a first season.

In fact it is testatement to Haaland’s form that teams have had to adapt their defensive tactics to kepe him quiet, even if he has scored just one goal in his last eight appearances suggesting that oppositional defences are only just starting to work out how to isolate him.

Nevertheless, this has been a stunning campaign for Haaland with various records broken which made him the obvious pick up front in this XI and at 22 years-old, he surely will go on to achieve further success next season if his football continues to evolve and get more fearsome.

A special shout out however must go to Wrexham’s Paul Mullin and Notts County’s Macaulay Langstaff in the National League, who have both enjoyed similar form to Haaland but miss out purely on their poor assist record in comparison to other forwards.

 

Chuba Akpom (Middlesbrough)

Having began the season within the Under-21s set-up at Middlesbrough, Chuba Akpom has certainly been the suprise package of the campaign across England’s professional game.

Putting that into context, it is hard to think of a 27 year-old who has gone from being demoted to Under-21 level to being one of the second-tier’s top goalscorers nine months later, underlining how incredible a job Akpom has done to score 29 goals in 42 appearances across all competitions.

Just to furthr emphasise Akpom’s season into perspective, 25 of his 29 goals were scored under manager – Michael Carrick who took over in October, showing the importance of what having a manager whose style suits the player can do if maximised to full effect as Akpom achieved this season.

Ten of Akpom’s 29 goals also weren’t scored via a direct assist which is another positive for the ex England youth international, although Ryan Giles, Riley McGree and Cameron Archer deserve credit for being the teammates who played the biggest roles in Akpom’s goals in terms of assists.

You would therefore have to be mad to snub Akpom off this XI based on his impressive season given where he started, especially once looked at the wider picture of the campaign as a whole.

 

Rachel Daly (Aston Villa)

Known mainly for her left-back exploits on the international stage for England, Rachel Daly has enjoyed a memorable permanent return season to the English game – having spent the last six years in US with Houston Dash, aside from a loan stint at West Ham in first half of 2020-21 season.

Involved in 35 goals for Villa and England up front across the season, it is little surprise that Daly finished as the WSL top goalscorer and is favourite to lead England’s attack at this summer’s Women’s World Cup such has been her form all season.

Daly also possesses a unique quality in that she can play across the entire outfield, yet she has been at her very best up front in the forward positions, with impressive consistency for someone adapting back to English football.

Throw in the fact that she is the WSL’s top goalscorer and first English player to win the WSL Golden Boot since Ellen White in 2017-18 season, there is no doubt that Daly deserves to be on the list especially in a campaign where she has adapted back to the WSL as a permanent player.

 

Manager 

This year has seen no shortage of outstanding managerial performances from Emma Hayes’ double-winning Chelsea Women to Eddie Howe’s Newcastle finishing fourth in Premier League and finishing as Carabao Cup runners-up.

Shout-outs also must go to Roberto De Zerbi and Unai Emery for coming into Brighton and Aston Villa during the season, yet somehow managed to get their teams into Europe ahead of Tottenham and Chelsea.

Brentford’s Thomas Frank meanwhile would be Manager of the Season in any other year, given what he has done with the Bees this season; which included becoming the only team to do the double over Man City plus league double over UEFA Europa Conference League winners – West Ham.

Pep Guardiola though has been in a whole different dimension this season whilst maintaining City’s relentless high intensity press mainly in 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 formation, with occasional deviation to 3-4-3 or 4-4-2 formations en-route to the treble.

The turn of this year however saw Guardiola transition his team to an innovative 3-2-4-1 formation which proved a masterclass, because it could of easily backfired and cost them the league title if the players didn’t adapt to the change aimed at creating more fluid movement and versatility.

Instead he managed to make it somehow work effectively even with John Stones embracing a new midfield pivot role, which has quietly been one of the stand-out decisions which propelled City to the treble such has been his consistency and adaptability in that position.

In fact it is Guardiola’s credit that only Brentford managed to beat City when they deployed this formation, in-turn underlining just how bold and unbeatable this style of play has made Guardiola’s Cityzens that only Frank’s Bees managed two wins over the treble winners this season.

Guardiola’s treble achievement therefore made it impossible to not name him as manager of the season, because he has been just brilliant in guiding City to three titles this season, especially given how fierce the league’s title race against Arsenal proved to be until the closing weeks.

We also can’t ignore Guardiola’s squad management with how he managed his players across 61 matches in all competitions, especially when factor in the mid-season break for the World Cup from which they returned to an intense schedule of nine games in 31 days.

The only blemish on an otherwise sensational season is a shock defeat at Southampton in the Carabao Cup Quarter-Finals, where the team were surprisingly lacklustre because if they had won then they surely could of gone on and achieved the quadruple.

On that note, there is very little words to describe’s Guardiola management this season across various obstacles, yet he somehow has come out with a second European treble of his managerial career.

 

Substitutes

Goalkeeper: Mary Earps (Manchester United) – Having delivered cracking performances at UEFA Women’s Euro 2022, Earps has maintained her quality throughout this season with a league-high 14 clean sheets in the WSL as Utd finished runner-up in WSL and Women’s FA Cup.

Defender: Ashleigh Neville (Tottenham Hotspur) – Despite Spurs’ struggles this season, she has nevertheless been as consistent as always even despite constant snubs for England selections.

Midfield: James Maddison (Leicester City) – Despite Leicester’s struggles throughout the season which saw them relegated, Maddison has been an excellent creative spark in midfield with consistency and a real threat in goal to earn himself a recall to England’s senior setup.

Forward: Harry Kane (Tottenham) – Kane has enjoyed another excellent record-breaking season in a surprisingly lacklustre team but his achievements felt more expected than Akpom and Daly’s, particularly if put them into context of expectations.