Team of the Week

February 12, 2006
By Alex Sharratt
(Archive)

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Jussi Jaaskelainen

Gareth Southgate 
Sami Hyypia  Ricardo Gardner 
Fabio Rochemback Joey Barton
Cristiano Ronaldo


James Beattie

Daryl Murphy
  Heidar Helguson     Collins John
Steve McClaren

Here are the eleven individuals we here at ESPN Soccernet deemed worthy of a place in our legendary and highly-influential Team of the Week.

Bolton goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen had an excellent match as Bolton came within a minute of beating Arsenal for the third time this season.

The Finnish stopper was finally beaten by Gilberto Silva as the referee contemplated three toots on his whistle, but had earlier kept his side in front with a number of impressive saves.

Team-mate Ricardo Gardner also had a stand-out game in the Bolton defence, while Sami Hyypia earns his spot for showing the mis-firing Liverpool strikers how it should be done by tucking away a great left-foot volley to earn his side three points against Wigan.

Middlesbrough veteran Gareth Southgate completes our defensive line. The former England centre-back had issued a mid-week rallying cry to the Boro fans, and the 35-year-old led from the front as his side shocked Chelsea with a 3-0 win.

In to midfield, where Southgate's Boro colleague Fabio Rochemback is selected after a fine display and impressive early goal against the champions-elect at The Riverside Stadium.

Young Daryl Murphy earns praise after he came off the bench to earn Sunderland a point in their match against high-flying Tottenham on Sunday, holding off Paul Stalteri before poking a shot past Paul Robinson.

Joey Barton demonstrated just why he believes he should be the top earner at Manchester City with a dynamic display in their thrilling home win against Charlton Athletic.

Barton also scored what turned out to be the winner, and a sure contender for goal of the month, when he crashed a 30-yard shot in to the top corner during a pulsating second half at the City of Manchester Stadium.

And Cristiano Ronaldo takes his place in our Team of the Week after scoring twice in Manchester United's victory over Portsmouth, his first a 25-yard shot that rose late and zipped past the goalkeeper's head before he had a chance to react.

Fulham's Heidar Helgusson scored twice and will have a third goal ruled on by the Premier League's disputed goal panel after the Cottagers ran riot in a 6-1 win against West Brom.

Team-mate Collins John lines up alongside Helgusson after he came off the bench to score two late goals in the same match.

And James Beattie scored the only goal of the game as Everton beat north-west rivals Blackburn 1-0, despite playing most of the match with only ten men after the early dismissal of young goalkeeper Iain Turner.

Well done, everyone.

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