Pablo Zabaleta named in PFA team of the year

Pablo Zabaleta was the sole City representative in the PFA team of the year that was announced last night at a ceremony where Gareth Bale took home both the Player of The Year and Young Player of The Year awards.

Truly humbled to be included within the @pfa Team Of The Year.It's an honour to play and be named alongside such great players. Thanks.

— Pablo Zabaleta (@pablo_zabaleta) April 28, 2013

There was a lot of talk in the wake of the shortlist being announced that Zabaleta was indeed unlucky not to make the final shortlist for Player of The Year and it is difficult to argue a case for there being a better right-back elsewhere this season.

Despite the consternation that these types of announcements bring I don' think there is a huge amount wrong with the XI that has been selected:

David De Gea (Manchester United); Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City), Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United), Leighton Baines (Everton); Michael Carrick (Manchester United), Juan Mata (Chelsea), Gareth Bale (Tottenham), Eden Hazard (Chelsea); Luis Suárez (Liverpool), Robin van Persie (Manchester United).

If I was to argue, however, I would go for Michu over Eden Hazard and whilst the merits of the inclusion of United duo David de Gea and Rio Ferdinand can be debated, who would the alternatives be? In goal, possibly Peter Cech or Simon Mignolet and in defense, who? Phil Jagielka, David Luiz or even Matija Nastasic? Perhaps it just hasn't been a vintage year for defenders in 2012/13.

Thoughts?