i have something to say: April 2007

I received a text message from a friend in the early morning, seconds after Rooney's magnificent winnner. It read simply, "MAGICAL!"

What if Chelsea players defected to Manchester United? The most formidable team ever?

The team of the season? At the moment, Chelsea and Manchester United are presenting pretty compelling cases, intent on securing an historic quadruple and treble respectively.

A select 11 comprising of the finest players from both would therefore (logically, anyway) be nigh-on unstoppable. In the selection process, however, egos would be ruffled, some of the stand-out performers reluctantly omitted and Kieran Richardson discarded as rapidly as possible.

But who would make the final cut? The first choice is perhaps the simplest. Edwin van der Sar is probably Manchester United's best goalkeeper since Peter Schmeichel yet, as his recent fallibility illustrates, he is no Petr Cech. The man Jose Mourinho trumpeted as the world's leading keeper did not concede a Premiership goal for three months before Carlos Tevez drew the rarest of errors; had Cech been fit all season - and given that he has only let in five league goals in the campaign - Mourinho's suggestion that Chelsea would be leading the title race is not too fanciful. Chelsea also possess the most buccaneering, brilliant right-back. Except that Michael Essien, the man who earned them their place in the Champions League semi-finals from that position, has only started there twice, even though he has often been moved to the right flank during proceedings. Given right-back is Chelsea's problem position and that it has been another season of quiet consistency from Gary Neville, the Manchester United captain is an automatic selection. On the left, there are four alternatives. Ashley Cole's admirers are never slow to describe him as the world's best, yet his Chelsea form has been no better than that of his supposed deputy, Wayne Bridge. A personal preference is for the rugged combativity of Gabriel Heinze, but for much of the season he has understudied Patrice Evra, so the Frenchman gets the nod, just. In the centre of defence, there are three regular partnerships to consider, including that of John Terry and Rio Ferdinand. However, their international alliance is much the least convincing of the trio, though all are composed of an aggressive, ball-winning centre-half complemented by a silkier, smoother partner, who has a greater emphasis on reading the game. Given Ferdinand's improvement can be attributed to his pairing with Nemanja Vidic - though the Englishman can remain annoyingly casual - the Serb's influence should not be underestimated. Ricardo Carvalho, meanwhile, has often been the undervalued member of the Chelsea couple at the back before recognition came from Mourinho, calling him the finest central defender in world football. There is a hint of hyperbole, but praise was due and the Portuguese forms a new duo at the back with Vidic in this team. The central midfield positions are as fiercely contested, pitting elegance and invention against energy and effectiveness. Manchester United offer rhythm, cohesion and a dedication to passing in the shape of Michael Carrick and Paul Scholes. Chelsea provide other qualities. With Claude Makelele on the wane, John Obi Mikel emerging and Michael Ballack yet to replicate his Germany or Bayern Munich form on a regular basis, their strongest contenders are Essien and Frank Lampard. The Ghanaian has dynamism in abundance, his indefatigability, remarkable stamina and versatility making him one of the season's stellar performers. Lampard's contribution can be measured in statistics; 21 goals, even before his assists are counted. If his gracelessness and refusal to accept criticism hardly endears, he edges out Scholes with Essien preferred as the ball-winner.

On either flank, and while selecting a regulation 4-4-2 - and not any of Mourinho's many midfield configurations - may favour United, the choices are simple. Injuries have meant that Joe Cole and Arjen Robben's contributions to the campaign have been too sporadic, so Ryan Giggs and Cristiano Ronaldo it is.

The beguiling, enchanting Portuguese has captivated and his choice here is another, less prestigious, accolade for the Player and Young Player of the Year. Giggs, however, has had almost the same significance to United, accompanying the pace and dribbling ability he always possessed with enduring class and the development of other aspects of his game. In attack, and unusually for successful sides, there is a shortage of out-and-out strikers. Henrik Larsson has departed, Alan Smith's season is belatedly starting and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Salomon Kalou, though at opposite ends of the age spectrum, are equivalents, substitutes when it matters most. Didier Drogba's imposing physicality and hitherto undiscovered (in England, anyway) productivity in front of goal mean his selection cannot be queried, and he should benefit from the service of the two wingers. Despite glimpses of the real Andriy Shevchenko in 2007, the Ivorian will be in tandem with Wayne Rooney, whose form has fluctuated but whose talent is undeniable. That means the majority of the side are plucked from Manchester United. But, as AC Milan and Liverpool attempt to end the duopoly of the Premiership's big two this season in the Champions League semi-finals, they should at least be grateful that they are not facing all of the following 11: Cech (Chelsea); Neville (Manchester United), Carvalho (Chelsea), Vidic (Manchester United), Evra (Manchester United); Ronaldo (Manchester United), Essien (Chelsea), Lampard (Chelsea), Giggs (Manchester United); Drogba (Chelsea), Rooney (Manchester United).

Personally, i don't agree with Lampard. It should have been Scholes instead.