In a season which sees Leicester top of the table at Christmas, it's no surprise that the team of the season so far includes a few players who not many would have expected to be lighting up the Premier League to the extent that they have.
With that in mind it's no surprise that Jamie Carragher and last night's guest pundit Thierry Henry agreed on the likes of N'Golo Kante, Riyad Mahrez and Jamie Vardy. Elsewhere on the guaranteed inclusions was Arsenal's Spanish fullbacks Hector Bellerin and Nacho Monreal while assist machine Mesut Ozil couldn't be left out. Toby Alderweireld was also rewarded for his stellar form for Spurs.
After that, there was a debate to be had over the four remaining positions. Carragher outlined his selections, Henry outlined his but ultimately it went down to a public vote and there were a couple of contentious decisions.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoxbxRKS3eg
After all that, here's the final selection.
And here is the Team of the Season so far, as chosen by Henry, Carragher and you!
Thanks everyone for voting #MNF pic.twitter.com/saCOugNcFK— Sky Sports Retro (@SkySportsRetro) December 21, 2015
While Ross Barkley is probably a bit lucky to get in at central midfield, the big question surely comes down to Alexis Sanchez. The Chilean hasn't been at his very best this season and while Carragher was adamant that Dmitri Payet should have been included, we're going to have to make a case for squeezing Romelu Lukaku in there some way or another.
Granted, they may have settled on a 4-2-3-1 but the Everton striker has been near unplayable at times this season. He's never getting in there ahead of Vardy but he deserves a mention at the very least.
And while we're at it, it's worth taking a look back at what the same team looked like last year. At the same point of the season there was (relative) uproar that Morgan Schneiderlin was included ahead of Cesc Fabregas. There probably should have been seven Chelsea players in there, instead there was a mere six.
Fast forward twelve months, Jose Mourinho is gone and the likes of Terry, Hazard and Costa have looked shadows of their former selves.
What a difference a year makes is one of the most inane and pointless clichés going. Nevertheless, what a difference a year makes.
