The Frankly Football All Good-Pickup Team for 2009-2010.

We all went through the Summer of 2009, with all the crazy transfer activity, and gushed over how great this move was for Team A or how this team will be sorry for buying Player X. Now that the club season is over (save for a really important game on May 22nd), it's time to take a look at the team of players who panned out the best.

I was going to make this a team of players that were purchased, but decided to qualify players who were either playing on loan or arrived on a free as well. As the season was winding down to a close, I was able to narrow things down to about 25 players for the 11 places. Some positions were certainly harder to fill that others.

Real Madrid had an awfully heavy influence in the 2009 Summer transfer market. Six out of eleven players that were part of Real Madrid's transactions make this list, pretty staggering when you consider that many other players had good seasons in their new homes.

This season's Good Pickup team also suggests if you want to win the UEFA Champions League, you better be ready to buy. 5 players on this team play for the two finalists, Bayern Munich and Inter Milan.

After really looking closer at things, I left all Manchester City arrivals off the list as well. While you'd think Carlos Tevez would be a shoo-in, a couple other strikers stepped in and scored more meaningful goals in the campaign. If I had a bench, Tevez would be on it. Kolo Toure was another consideration, as was Gareth Barry. If they cracked the top 4, at least one of them would have been included. In fact, the lowest ranked team from any league represented is Napoli, who finished 6th in Serie A.

Alright, I am done blabbing about who didn't make it, here is your 2009-2010 all good pickup team. As decided by me, in a 4-4-2 setup:

GOALKEEPER: Morgan de Sanctis
Napoli from Sevilla
This was a pretty difficult position to find. Most of the teams who were successful this season to one degree or another didn't rely on a new custodian. If you go back to Summer 2009, one would not have been unreasonable in projecting up-and-coming Spaniard Sergio Asenjo to win this position. However he flopped and lost out to his backup, who went on to win the Europa League. De Sanctis came cheap, under 2 million Euros, and he delivered 15 clean sheets, as well as a 6th place finish to qualify Napoli for the Europa League next season. His performances merited him a callup to the Italian National provisional squad for the World Cup.


DEFENDER: Gabriel Heinze
Marseille from Real Madrid
Didier Deschamps brought in 11 new players in the Summer of 2009 to strengthen his squad, and Heinze was a rock in defense for them (don't laugh United and Real supporters. Marseille's GAA in Ligue 1 was 0.95 per game). A regular in the team that won French Ligue 1. In addition, he has six goals to his credit this campaign.

DEFENDER: Lucio
Inter Milan from Bayern Munich
It probably helps his cause that arguably the World's best goalkeeper plays behind him for club and country, but Lucio is easily a better option in the center of the Nerazzurri defense than an aging and erratic Marco Materazzi. Helped to marshall an Inter defense that was best in Italy this season and has been key in the Champions League run-up.

DEFENDER: Raul Albiol
Real Madrid from Valencia
While the attention was on superstars like Ronaldo, Kaka, and Benzema, Raul Albiol was a safe purchase for Florentino Perez and proved a source of stability in the Real Madrid defense, making 41 total appearances. Part of a defense who recorded the 2nd fewest goals against in La Liga this season and had to do much of it without Pepe from Portugal, who missed a huge portion of the season through injury.

DEFENDER: Aly Cissokho
Lyon from FC Porto
Much is made about the performances that Lisandro Lopez and Michel Bastos had for Les Gones in their first season, but I was quite impressed with Cissokho's first run through Stade Gerland. Funny how he ended up in Lyon, as AC Milan actually had a deal in place to sign him first. However, he failed his physical, as there was something in his teeth that indicate potential for spinal trouble (a spinal cord specialist needs to explain this to me). Milan's loss was Lyon's gain, as Cissokho appeared in 48 matches in all competitions. Included in that were all 14 matches of Lyon's memorable run through the Champions League semifinals.

WINGER: Arjen Robben
Bayern Munich from Real Madrid
Arrivals of the new cast of Los Galacticos in Madrid meant that Dutch winger Arjen Robben would be surplus to requirements. A nice surplus indeed, as Robben has played his way into 2010 World Player of the Year discussions (Messi still has an edge, but Robben should be invited as of now). His arrival in Bavaria meant the introduction of Robbery, the combination of Robben and Franck Ribery occupying the flanks.The Dutchman ended up having one of his best seasons, scoring 23 times in all competitions, including some breathtaking finishes to see off Fiorentina and Manchester United in the Champions League. His individual performances have the German outfit on the doorstep of the Treble.

MIDFIELDER: Xabi Alonso
Real Madrid from Liverpool
I'm probably going to get some arguments about this one, most coming from those who think Gareth Barry should make this list. However, I'll go with Alonso for the simple fact that he and Lassanna Diarra were essential in gluing the Madrid midfield together. Aside from their struggles with Barcelona, Milan, and Lyon, Los Merengues were as dominant as you can be without winning anything. Alonso's tackling and ball-winning abilities were useful for The White House, and sorely missed by Liverpool.

MIDFIELDER: Wesley Sneijder
Inter Milan from Real Madrid
I'll continue with another player who was surplus at Real Madrid, and is playing his way into the World Player of the Year discussion. Sneijder seemed to be a perfect fit for the Nerazzurri from the start. A link between the hardline midfield stoppers and the flashy stikers that Jose Mourinho had on offer. Sneijder was dangerous from a variety of positions on the pitch, creating and scoring goals alike this season. 8 goals in all competitions for the Dutchman who, like Robben, has Inter at the doorstep of a Treble.

WINGER: Cristiano Ronaldo
Real Madrid from Manchester United
If you wanted any indication of how valuable Ronaldo was to Los Merengues this season, just have a look at the first Sevilla game and the two Milan games where he was out through injury. No wins, two defeats, and a draw. Add the first of the two Clasicos where he tried to come back and was ineffective after attempting to play for 60 minutes. Nothing changed with the former World Player of the Year. 33 goals in all competitions and in a variety of ways.

FORWARD: Ivica Olic
Bayern Munich from Hamburg
Meet the only player on this list who was not purchased. Olic arrived on a free, and the Croatian International scored 20 goals in all competitions. You tell me a goal that Carlos Tevez scored this season that was more valuable than either of the goals Olic netted against Manchester United, or the hat trick against Lyon............... don't worry I'll wait...........................

FORWARD: Diego Milito
Inter Milan from Genoa
Diego Milito caught everyone's attention with his performances for Genoa last season, most importantly the attention of Jose Mourinho. 28 goals in all competitions this season, and many thought that Samuel Eto'o would be the new Inter striker to make this list. Perhaps none more important than the cool finish in Siena to win Inter a 5th consecutive Serie A title. Milito also netter the winner in the Coppa Italia final over Roma.

So there you have it, the team of good pickups for 2009-2010. Someone get snubbed? You have a different list than mine? You're more than welcome to drop a comment.