FIVE reasons this West Ham star should’ve been in the PFA Team of the Year

Going through the list of decent Premier League left back’s that have performed exceptionally throughout the season has become extremely hard.

Chelsea’s Cesar Azpilicueta has gone under the radar, Manchester United’s Luke Shaw has failed to live up to his price tag, while Southampton’s Ryan Bertrand has done reasonably well since rekindling his career at St. Mary’s.

In the PFA Team of the Year, Bertrand was the player named in the illustrious XI.

However, quite frankly, it should have been West Ham’s Aaron Cresswell. Here are five reasons why…

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Consistent Performances

Players getting injuries and suspensions are an all too common occurrence across all four divisions of English football.

However, for Cresswell, the left back has not missed a minute of action for West Ham.

Once more, not only has he played in every game for the Hammers this season, Cresswell has very rarely had a bad game. His goals against Newcastle United and Stoke City at Upton Park show exactly the quality he has.

Even the biggest of names in the world of football have a bad game once in a while; however, Cresswell has not been far off perfect.

Price Tag

Luke Shaw’s transfer from Southampton to Manchester United cost the Red Devils £31m, Liverpool forked out a whopping £18m for Alberto Moreno from Sevilla, while Atletico Madrid sold Filipe Luis to Chelsea for £15.8m.

While Moreno has failed to live up to his price tag, both Shaw and Luis have made a disappointing combined total of 25 appearances for their respective clubs.

Cresswell cost a bargain £4m and has made almost double the appearances Shaw and Luis have made in all competitions this season.

Ask any avid fan of the Premier League who they would pick in their PFA team of the year and most of them would undoubtedly pick Cresswell.

Previous clubs

On the back of a disappointing 2013/2014 campaign, the Hammers needed instant success this season. This meant a successful summer of spending.

Allardyce turned to a player who had not played at the top tier of English football, with his previous clubs being Tranmere Rovers, who recently lost their 93 year Football League status with relegation to the Conference, and Championship play-off hopefuls Ipswich Town.

For a left back that had never been involved in top flight English football until this season and performed excellently regularly surely deserved some recognition.

Style of Play

When people think of a ‘Sam Allardyce team’, defence minded, with tall and aggressive players across the starting XI immediately springs to mind.

However, Cresswell has been the modern day full back West Ham have been searching for. Not only does the Liverpudlian put a shift in at the back, but also is a so called ‘second winger’ when bombarding the opposing full back on the left flank.

Once more, his technique at crossing and having a pop at goal is mesmerizing, almost Cristiano Ronaldo-esq.

His two goals against Newcastle United and Stoke City proved that and is the reason why Cresswell has become the Hammers first choice free kick taker.

Potential England call-up

Looking at the current England squad and the English players available to play for the nation, a plethora of left back’s spring to mind.

Southampton’s Ryan Bertrand, Arsenal’s Kieran Gibbs, Tottenham Hotspur’s Danny Rose, Manchester United’s Luke Shaw and of course Everton’s Leighton Baines, the Three Lions’ current number one choice on the left side of the defence.

Based on the quality and performances this season, Cresswell deservedly should be in front of all of the players listed above, but England Manager Roy Hodgson thinks otherwise, giving the likes of Rose and Shaw a chance to shine, making 25-year old Cresswell sixth choice.