An alternative team of the season

Under The Spotlight: Matt Watts picks an alternative EFL XI for the 24/25 season.

Welcome to Under The Spotlight, a written spin-off to our Under The Lights podcast, helmed by Matt Watts. This column is all about interrogating the topics and themes of individuals and teams that shine bright in the EFL.

The Championship, League One and League Two Teams of the Season were revealed on Sunday ahead of the annual EFL Awards. As always, the selections received mixed approval ratings on social media. While many of the complaints are often misguided, it’s clear that the process is flawed – largely due to the footballing calendar and the EFL’s understandable desire to have as many winners in attendance as possible.

Unfortunately, this means that selections are often made a month or so before the end of the season (and April is quite an important month!). But who are the players who missed out on selection but deserve to be given their flowers?

Here is my alternative EFL Team of the Season.

The criteria are as follows:

• The players can’t have been selected in their division’s Team of the Season at the EFL Awards;

• There can be only one player from each club;

• There can be no more than four players from each league;

• The manager can’t have been shortlisted for Manager of the Season at the EFL Awards.