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The Top 6 sides in the Premier League have created a real niche for themselves by forming a bracket with huge financial resources or a brilliant academy and manager. The calibre of players they attract is high and they generally employ the best players in the league.
Here we move away from the hegemony of the Top 6 clubs to find the best XI from the rest of the league.
1. Goalkeeper- Tom Heaton
In truth, there are many options for this slot with the likes of England no 1 Joe Hart (on-loan at West Ham Utd), Everton's Jordan Pickford and Bournemouth's Asmir Begovic.
However, Heaton's position at Burnley and the role he played in Burnley's survival see him take the spot. He stood out last season with a Man of the Match performance away from home at Old Trafford which puts him ahead of Begovic. Begovic did not start too many games last season, while Joe Hart's gaffes and poor form has led to his exile from Man City.
Heaton beats Pickford on experience and the Everton man can soon hope to overthrow his compatriot for the No 1.
2. Right Back- Seamus Coleman
Coleman is among the best right-backs in the league. He is a natural starter because of his ability to score crucial goals.
Coleman's pace allows the side to stretch opposition defenders and gives space for the more advanced players to operate. Another key feature of Coleman's game is his incredible work rate and never say die attitude that landed him the role of Ireland captain.
With over 200 league games for Everton, the Irishman is comfortably ahead of his nearest competition- Craig Dawson who has morphed into a regular right-back at West Brom where he is essentially a solid player in the side.
3. Left Back- Ryan Bertrand
This was an extremely close call between Seamus Coleman's teammate Leighton Baines, who also has the added advantage of being a set piece expert.
Bertrand gets the nod because of his quicker legs and younger age. The Southampton full-back has also demonstrated a decent crossing ability and is reliable as a defender. The former Chelsea player sneaks into the eleven ahead of the much more experienced Baines on the back of his consistency over the last few years.
He is first choice for England and first choice for us beating the other option- Stoke player Erik Pieters.
4. Centre Back- Ryan Shawcross (c)
Ryan Shawcross is highly regarded by the Stoke hierarchy despite his recent injury record. The 30-year-old Manchester United graduate has spent the lion's share of his career at Stoke City.
Shawcross is aggressive and determined and a natural leader. One of the most commanding centre-halfs in the league, Shawcross is great in the air and effective in corner/free-kick conversions.
The Stoke man is a legitimate choice as captain for this side having both experience and quality having also been capped by England once in 2012.
5. Centre Back- Jonny Evans
Pep Guardiola was ready to spent upwards of 30m this summer for the West Bromwich Albion defender. He was also linked to Arsenal and has grown in stature since his exit from Manchester United.
A player rated highly by defensive mastermind Tony Pulis, Evans also is good on the ball and has displayed his leadership qualities at West Brom, where he is captain.
Evans can carry the ball from the back and is also decent at hoof-ball defending should the situation demand it. The Northern Ireland star also is experienced at the International level having amassed 63 caps for his country.
6. Right Winger- Matt Ritchie
Matt Ritchie's versatile style of play and movement on and off the ball meant that Newcastle's promotion push was on the back of some excellent performances by himself among others. Ritchie has an eye for goal and his crossing ability is excellent.
The Scotsman surprised many when he chose to leave Premier League Bournemouth for relegated Newcastle but has justified his decision in style by excelling first in the Championship and carrying on his form this season already providing 4 assists in 7 games for the Magpies.
He beats off competition in the form of Shaqiri-whose inconsistency costs him a spot and the injured Wilfried Zaha who admittedly might have had a greater say if he wasn't injured.
7. Left Winger- Eric Choupo-Moting
Stoke City recruited a left-sided winger this season- Eric Choupo Moting to replace Marko Arnautovic who had impressed at the Potters in a four-year spell. Choupo Moting has hit the ground running.
He gets past Arnautovic on the left wing because of his performance against Manchester United and the former's mixed start to life at the Olympic Stadium for West Ham. Other contenders like Kevin Mirallas who has been extremely inconsistent apart from barely playing this season.
Choupo-Moting's two-goal salvo versus United was an indicator of why he was rated highly at Schalke 04. The German-born Cameroon forward has played for the African nation 45 times and has scored on 13 occasions. Bolasie's long-term injury and his questionable end product apart from a preference to play on the right naturally make him miss out.
8. Central Midfielder- Gareth Barry
You don't become the Premier League's most capped player by being average. Barry has stayed a top flight player after 19 seasons managing to adapt to the league and using his intelligence to stay ahead of the competition.
Barry's cool head and positioning can cut off crucial attacks and start off important attacking moves in a matter of seconds. He is also a leader having been captain at Aston Villa and having captained both Manchester City and Everton over the course of his spells at the club.
His influence can be massive as illustrated by Ronald Koeman expressing his sadness at Barry choosing to leave Everton. At 36, he plays as the defensive-minded central midfielder of the side.
His competition is at Everton with Idrissa Gueye but Gueye's poor passing and his teammate Schneiderlein's indifferent form means Barry secures his place in the eleven.
9. Central Midfield- Aaron Mooy
The Australian takes the crucial no.10 role in the side. He has the stamina to be a box-to-box midfielder which is crucial with someone of Gareth Barry's type sharing the central midfielder duty because Barry does not advance too much.
He impressed for Huddersfield last season in the Championship before beginning this season in fine form having already managed a goal and an assist.
While Mooy doesn't have the quickest legs as competition in the form of Wayne Rooney, Gylfi Sigurdsson isn't a natural fit for the deeper no.10 role as Mooy. The others fighting for the spot are Jonjo Shelvey, who loses out because of his poor temperament. Mooy is also good with set-pieces and would be on them in this team.
10. Striker- Joshua King
King spent a large part of his developmental years at Manchester United after joining their youth side from Norway. King played for a host of clubs before joining Bournemouth in their first season in the Premier League.
He had a credible first season at the club before truly sparkling last season with 16 goals.
King beats the competition in the form of Jese- on loan- who has really failed to do much after a goal-scoring debut and Everton's youngster Dominic Calvert Lewin who has been brilliant this season because of his pace and ability to score more often as demonstrated last season.
11. Striker- Jamie Vardy
Has become a part of Premier League folklore after starring in the fairytale Premier League win for Leicester City along with Riyad Mahrez, who misses out because of his disinterested performances of late.
Vardy is quick and good in the air and has a tendency to score screamers. He is also used to playing in a 4-4-2 or a 4-4-2 Diamond which the team would have. The only other real contender for this slot is Christian Benteke, whose goal-scoring has depleted in the recent past because of a variety of reasons.
Many criticised Vardy last season for not scoring enough to compete for the Golden Boot but 13 goals in the league last season was not a horrible return when coupled with the fact that he has scored 5 in 6 games this season.
