'Outside of the Big Six' 11 - Could they challenge for the title?

by Chris

For the last three or four years, we've seen minimal change in the top six of the Premier League. Of course, the emergence of miracle-workers Leicester City and Dimitri Payet inspired West Ham in 15/16 did disrupt the norm, but overall we usually see Manchester United and City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham vacating the six spots in the upper echelons of the Premier League. Here I have conflated an eleven which dwell outside of the big six, and evaluate how they would do in combat with any of the top sides.

Formation: 3-4-3

GK - Nick POPE (Burnley)

Pope in action against Everton

What a season this man has had! Pope, a low-level 'keeper for the likes of Charlton Athletic in recent years, has replaced the injury stricken Burnley legend Tom Heaton with great ebullience and has flowered. 

The chant 'Nick Pope, in the middle of our goal', to the tune of Madness's 'Our House', certainly infuriated me when Burnley came to Anfield to steal a draw back in September, as the Soham-born 'keeper kept out efforts from Salah, Solanke and the like to earn the Clarets a point.

He for me has the edge over Kasper Schmeichel on form. If this had been any other season I'd have gone for him, or perhaps Jordan Pickford, but Pope's state has seen them belittled below him in the list.

CB - Harry MAGUIRE (Leicester City)

Maguire sweeping home past David de Gea

This has a very familiar feel to the England squad i picked for the previous internationals. Maguire has been nothing short of solid and consistent for the Foxes this season. Another who impressed me seriously at Anfield, as he glided through the line between defence and midfield luxuriously.

'18 million for Maguire! That carthorse from Hull! The worlds gone mental!' I believe were the words I used when being informed of this transfer, but Maguire has scored vital goals and has shown shades of an in-form Leonardo Bonucci. 

Maguire is one of three who could cause scepticism, but I think he is a certainty in the XI. Maguire would most certainly get in 4 out of the top 6 sides in my opinion, but may struggle to get in the City and Spurs sides.

CB - Jamaal LASCELLES (Newcastle United)

The Newcastle United skipper has been a bright spark in what has been a season of mediocracy for Rafa Benitez's men. A leader of men and linked with Chelsea, Lascelles has seriously too the bull by the horns and one could say if it wasn't for him, Newcastle would certainly be in a lousier position than they are in now.

People do say he is unfortunate to not make the England squad last time out, and I could certainly see the ex-Forest man making the final cut if he has a strong finish to the Premier League season.

The only criticism I would have of Lascelles is his footballing ability. Is he really a Premier League quality footballer? For me, no. But his character and leadership is one of a Champions League, World Cup winning veteran, so I guess that balances out. 

People say Lascelles's finest moment was his open criticism of his fellow players on their way down to the 2nd tier in 2016. This widely recognised him as a strong leader and Benitez made him captain ahead of Jonjo Shelvey almost immediately afterwards.

CB - Alfie MAWSON (Swansea City)

Another seemingly unfashionable English centre back, Mawson had to be included in this team for his excelling performances in the white of Swansea this season.

A likeable character who built his career on being released by Reading as a youngster, Alfie carved out his career in the lower leagues with Brentford and Barnsley before moving to Swansea two summers ago. 

Mawson stabs in a winner against Liverpool, to VVD's disgust!

He has always been a goalscoring threat too, already scoring 24 goals in his professional career, not too bad for a centre back!

Mawson, Maguire, and Lascelles made it in my back three, but here's a few honourable mentions who didn't make it.

• Winston REID (WHU)
• Steve COOK (BOU)
• Nathan AKE (BOU)
• Wes MORGAN (LEI)
• Lewis DUNK (BHA)
• James TARKOWSKI (BUR)

LWB - Ryan BERTRAND (Southampton)

A Champions League winner and a solid full back, its a mystery in itself why Bertrand and his team find themselves in 18th place in the current moment. But on the bright side they are in the FA Cup Semi-Finals, so could they do a Wigan Athletic?

In October, I had Bertrand to be the starting left back at the coming World Cup. Six months later, I still think he should be in the squad on pure quality. For me he is still the best left back/ left wing back outside the top six. I would say that there is only 4 better in the league at the moment (Alonso, Robertson, Young, Kolasinac), and if the Saints do go down he's sure to stay up with another side in a mid-table or higher situation.

Any honourable mentions? I don't think so, perhaps Leighton Baines, but on athleticism in the wing-back role I would have to edge toward the ex-Chelsea man.

RWB - Kiko FEMENIA (Watford)

Kiko Femenia is a player who not many would've heard of before the start of this season, making a move from high-flying Alaves, under Mauricio Pellegrino, to the Hornets last summer. Considering this status, it's remarkable his impact.

Making marauding runs between midfield and defence, and crossing to a 26% accuracy this season, which is the most outside the top six this season. Femenia also impressed recently against Bournemouth which caused me to think of him as the prominent right wing back for this eleven.

Honourable mentions for this position again include an Evertonian,(this isn't bias I promise!) Seamus Coleman, who's returned to the eleven as he left it, as solid and consistent as ever, and Burnley's Matthew Lowton, who's performed certainly better to when he scored that absolute banger for Aston Villa, then did nothing and performed poorly for the rest of the season!

CM - Wayne ROONEY (Everton)

There had to be an Evertonian here somewhere, and who better than Wayne Rooney who for most parts has carried the Toffees this season. Scoring stunning efforts against West Ham and an extremely important penalty at Anfield to rescue a point in the derby, Rooney has certainly proved his worth after questions about his durability.

The Scouser has 10 goals this season including the two mentioned, and has settled into his new role in the centre of midfield with utter aplomb. Does he have the capacity to beat Alan Shearer to become the Premier League's highest ever goalscorer? Being 52 goals behind, I highly doubt it, but it is a danger to write off Rooney as he has proved people wrong repeatedly throughout his astonishing career.

CM - Abdoulaye DOUCOURE (Watford)

A player linked heavily with teams in the top six, Doucoure has been nothing but superb for Watford this season, topping club charts for goals, chances created, distance run, sprints, and passes.

A player who has recently expressed his long-term desire to play for Liverpool, I would be very pleased to see the powerful Frenchman in the midfield at Anfield. I would certainly have him over the surely departing Emre Can, and perhaps over ponderous captain Jordan Henderson. I would liken him to Georginio Wijnaldum but just the six inches taller, so perhaps more use in the air, although Wijnaldum was a keen gymnast as a child and has the leap of a salmon.

Honourable mentions for this list is a long one so here goes!

• Wilfred NDIDI (LEI)
• Will HUGHES (WAT)
• Idrissa Gana GUEYE (EVE)
• James McARTHUR (CRY)
• Luka MILIVOJEVIC (CRY)
• Mario LEMINA (SOU)
• KI Seung-Yeung (SWA)
• Jonjo SHELVEY (NEW)

RW - Wilfried ZAHA (Crystal Palace)

'La la, la la la la, hey hey hey, Wilfred Zaha' - a chant which has caused much pain for us Scousers in the previous few years, as Crystal Palace, until this season, have beaten us (or drawn from 3-0 down) at least once in the past 4 seasons, and this man has been key for them in all of those performances. 

Zaha is now by far and away the best player in the Palace team, so much so that they haven't won a game without him featuring since September 2016. He's scored 11 since then and assisted 11, which combined is only bettered by Christian Benteke, but his majority came with his 17 goals last season. 

Alternatives to this position will be after the next player on the list, under a wingers category!

LW - Riyad MAHREZ (Leicester City)

So Mahrez has been trying to escape the chains of Leicester for the past 12 months and appeared to be heading to Roma in the summer, and then Man City in January, but he remained at Leicester and been competent this season, hitting 10 goals and providing 8 for his teammates in 29 matches. 

The Algerian will no doubt leave Leicester this summer, but what a servant he's been to Leicester since arriving for just £400,000 from Le Havre. Where will he go? Man City, PSG, Man United? Nobody knows, but I'm sure wherever he goes the skilful winger will produce on the very highest level.

Honourable mentions (wingers)

• Theo WALCOTT (EVE)
• Marc ALBRIGHTON (LEI)
• RICHARLISON (WAT)
• Xherdan SHAQIRI (STO)
• Johann Berg GUDMUNDSSON (BUR)
• Eric-Maxim CHOUPO-MOTING (STO)

ST - Jamie VARDY (Leicester City)

Jamie Vardy would certainly be having a party with the service he'd be getting from his current teammate and Wilf Zaha, and he would certainly add to his already very good tally of 15 goals this season. 

Always sniffing around for trouble, Vardy peels off the back of defenders like skin after sunburn and has been crucial in Leicester's very consistent season under dry Frenchman Claude Puel, who I did say would be a success on one of the very first Lowdown's, and my goodness me I was right! Guiding Leicester from 18th to 8th, and pushing for European football, he certainly has enhanced his reputation since his undulated spell with Southampton.

Vardy's rise to stardom has been well documented, but people need to remember he is seriously a quality player. He has scored 57 Premier League goals and it wouldn't surprise me if he didn't reach 100 by the time he leaves the League, and considering he is 31 now it is a credit of his late development.

Honourable Mentions:

Troy DEENEY (WAT)

Glenn MURRAY (BHA)

Charlie AUSTIN (SOU)

Baye Oumar NIASSE (EVE)

Cenk TOSUN (EVE)

Callum WILSON (BOU)

Thanks for reading, and for the support recently on the Lowdown. I'll see you all soon!