Gary Neville was so close to universal agreement.
With the final few games approaching, Neville was asked to name his Team of the Season ahead of Spurs’ Premier League clash with Watford.
Neville’s side is dominated by players from Manchester City, with five players from the recently-crowned champions earning the appreciation of the former Manchester United right-back.
Only one player from United, David De Gea, has been given the nod from Neville while Liverpool fill out three slots in the team.
.@GNev2 has given us his Premier League team of the season for tonight's #MNFAwards, and here it is!
What do you think?
Watch #MNF live on Sky Sports Premier League now! pic.twitter.com/SSXYof6UC5
— Sky Sports Retro (@SkySportsRetro) April 30, 2018
Harry Kane and Jan Verthongen represent Spurs and, for the most part, supporters are in agreement with the Sky Sports pundit’s opinion.
However the inclusion of Vincent Kompany over Nicolas Otamendi has not gone down well among Monday Night Football viewers.
All-too-familiar injury problems plagued Kompany’s ability to contribute to the City cause in the middle portion of the campaign.
The club captain only made 16 Premier League appearances all season, half of the 32 that Otamendi enjoyed.
“My thinking was that, although Otamendi has had a great season, there’s something that holds me back from fully championing him and liking him as one of the players of the season,” Neville said.
“I have to say that all of the stats point towards Otamendi, when you look at stats in terms of clean sheets and games played.
“But I’m going to go for Kompany, a teammate of Otamendi’s, because while I think City would have always won the league even if Kompany hadn’t played in the last two or three months, what I will say is that he was a strength in these last two or three months when the players in the squad who hadn’t won the league before needed it.
“And I think it was essential that he came in. He made them look better, he made them look stronger, he led.
“He gave captain’s performances. You think about the Carabao Cup final, even though it’s not related to the Premier League, I thought he was big in that match.
“For me, the last two or three months have stuck in my mind. I think if you’d asked me at Christmas, I’d have said Otamendi. But now, it’s just an instinct and something that I’m feeling inside and that’s what I’d do in the dressing room if I was voting for the Team of the Year. I’d go with Kompany because I think, on and off the pitch, someone who’s vital.”
It’s safe to say that fans didn’t agree.
https://twitter.com/40YardGerrard/status/991023706737700865
Otamendi over Kompany but apart from that spot on https://t.co/EBDn8ibl8r
— Kian (@bcfckian) April 30, 2018
https://twitter.com/Naztasic/status/991022436895416321
What did Kompany do this season? Otamendi should be there https://t.co/H0z30vNFFd
— Oaitse Milongo (@Celous_OM) April 30, 2018
https://twitter.com/False11Firmino/status/991021956072984576
Apart from maybe Otamendi over Kompany, this is spot on I'd say pic.twitter.com/xDJ2OM9h1Z
— Laurie (@LFCLaurie) April 30, 2018
How can Neville put Kompany in his Team of the Year 🤦🏻♂️ He’s missed more than half the season. Tarkowski or Otamendi for me #MNF
— Tomas Boyle (@tomas_boyle5) April 30, 2018
Kompany over Otamendi in Team Of The Season hahahahaha lost all respect for you big man @GNev2
— Connor (@Manners16) April 30, 2018
Neville proving his delusion by picking Kompany over Otamendi in his team of the year 😂😂
— DDFootie (@ddfootie) April 30, 2018
https://twitter.com/HUPhred/status/991024831478030338
https://twitter.com/Pxterson_/status/991024811676766208
https://twitter.com/Jvckist/status/991024461834006529
