Paying due homage to the rulers of the fantasy world, however, the Files have embarked on a second try to select the EPL team of the season. This time with one precondition ? no more than two players can come from one club (including a substitute and a manager).

Playing in 4-4-2 formation, here is the Giles Files' EPL side of the year..

In goal, Jerzy Dudek and Nigel Martyn are obvious choices, both posting a league-leading 17 shutouts. Statistics don't always reveal the full story though, as Shay Given will tell you. Honorable mentions also go to Carlo Cudicini and Ian Walker, for smiling in the face of adversity.

The gloves, though, go to Blackburn's Brad Friedel. Despite just seven shutouts (as few as Leicester or Derby), the American has been rock solid, ever-present and a big reason the Rovers aren't going down.

Funny how Gary Neville's season ending injury didn't make many headlines. Right back just isn't the most glamorous of positions.

Danny Mills has added some spice to the role and I've a lot of time for Sebastien Schemmel. But the pick here is Arsenal's Lauren. The Cameroonian has been playing out of position, but his presence makes the Gunners look so much better. Lauren can also take the penalties.

On the left, another out of position player, Sylvain Distin, has been impressive, along with Mickael Silvestre. Ashley Cole's been better defensively this season, but then how could he not have been. John Arne Riise would be first choice but I'm saving him for later.

It has to be Southampton's Wayne Bridge. Making it from the Saints to England's World Cup team has been a quite phenomenal journey. His name is also a boon for writers (a Bridge too far, etc).

In the center of the defense, England has a host of candidates, with Sol Campbell and Rio Ferdinand certainly at the forefront of Sven G?ran Eriksson's thinking. At the other end of the table, Chris Riggott did his utmost in an unsuccessful battle against the drop.

There is no better partnership than Liverpool's Stephane Henchoz and Sami Hyypi?, but with only two Reds allowed, the Swiss man gets preference over the Finn, simply because he was never this accomplished before. Plus you need someone who never crosses the halfway line.

Alongside Henchoz, Middlesbrough's Gareth Southgate captains the team. Apart from hardly putting a foot wrong for Boro, Southgate is that novelty ? a footballer with a brain off the field as well as on it. Indispensable.

Looks solid enough at the back. Now for the midfield.

Steven Gerrard? Too injury prone. Nolberto Solano? Mad as a fish. Jason McAteer? Can't cross the ball. Kevin Nolan? One for the future. Simon Davies almost nicks the wide right spot, as he creates more for Spurs than any other player, but the Welshman can't edge out Manchester United's David Beckham. You just can't cook without the Spice.

Left wing may be the England national team's soft spot, but the EPL has an embarrassment of riches. Ryan Giggs, Damien Duff and Laurent Robert are all crowd pleasers and game turners. Robert Pires surpassed them all, but unfortunately, injury rules D'Artagnan out.

That leaves the berth free for the non-stop running and all-round ability of Liverpool's Riise. At just over $5 million, the Norwegian has to be the bargain buy of the season. Apparently, John Arne is pretty handy at volleyball too.

Central midfield always causes the most controversy. It has to be Patrick Vieira and Roy Keane, surely?

No. The Giles Files insists on a counter-attacking style and putting the accent on youth. Plus, Vieira and Keane never contribute enough goals. David Dunn has had a breakthrough campaign, but he'll have to wait another year, along with Joe Cole.

First up, I'll take Fulham's Steed Malbranque. Virtually unknown on the English side of the Channel when he came over from Lyon, the 22-year-old has carried his more experienced colleagues this season, and leads the Cottagers in scoring.

The fans also love Steeeeeed, as they do Arsenal's Fredrik Ljungberg, whose hair means that Red Stripe is no longer just a strong Jamaican lager. After six goals in the last five games, the Swede has almost single-handedly taken the Gunners to the EPL title, and is now the league's top marksman from midfield, with 12 goals. That'll do for me. Ljungberg also means ?heather mountain?. Nice.

Matt Holland and Thomas Gravesen, incidentally, were the only candidates from their clubs, as was Jason Euell, which brings us to the forwards.

With my Arsenal and Liverpool quota used up, Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp and Michael Owen have to take a seat. Robbie Fowler and Alan Shearer were tempting options, but not this time. Unlike the Newcastle striker, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Eidur Gudjohnsen seem to have gone off the boil too.

The Devils have the best tunes, and the best strikers, but since I can't have both, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has to make way for Ruud van Nistelrooy, despite the Dutchman's outrageous dive at Ipswich last weekend. Yet for movement, touch and finishing ability, van the Man makes the team.

The second nod goes to Aston Villa's Darius Vassell. Some strikers just have the knack of finding the goal and doing it at international level is pretty handy too. Watch out for Vassell in Japan, and for the unstoppable Van-Vas combo in the Giles Files' eleven.

As for the twelfth man, his mission is to come off the bench and score in a matter of minutes. This is best accomplished by Mikael Forssell, or West Ham's Jermain Defoe, who may well be a starter next season.

To manage this malleable mix, it can be no other than Newcastle's Bobby Robson. His achievements this season aside, Robson just has that twinkle in his eyes, the spark that says ?I love this game?.

Arise, Sir Bobby.

When not researching selections for his soon-to-be-announced World Cup fantasy team, Giles Elliott can be reached at gelliott@foxsportsworld.com