Goal.com's Asian Best XI for March - Shinji Kagawa, Suchao Nuchnum & Koo Ja-Cheol make the team

02-Apr-2012 1:40:00 PM

Goal.com's monthly feature from the world's biggest continent has a new format, drawing on all of our regional expertise to put together a Best XI

Welcome to the March edition of Goal.com's monthly Asian Best XI.

Previously Goal.com produced an Asian Player and Team of the Month feature, but we have changed the format in order to nominate more stars and give our readers more of a voice.

Thanks to our worldwide team, we are able to put together a squad of the best Asian footballers throughout March in a 4-4-1-1 formation. However, to ascertain who is the best Asian player for the month, we are calling on you, our loyal readers, to join in the poll and vote.

Asian Best XI for March

Formation: 4-4-1-1

Goalkeeper - Baba Malick

Lekhwiya

The Senegal-born keeper had a nearly flawless month, repeatedly making great saves in the Qatari Stars League to help Lekhwiya win their second straight title. Since February, the 28-year-old has not conceded more than one goal a game in the league. He also played his part in keeping a clean sheet as they defeated Al Ahli to get off to a good start in the AFC Champions League.

Right-back - Salem Al Dosari

Al Hilal

After scoring his first international goal against Australia at the end of last month, the 20-year-old has continued his fine form in helping Al Hilal surge in to third place in the Saudi Arabian Pro League with an unbeaten run in March. The club had no shortage of goals last month, and Al Dosari recorded his own in their massive 5-0 win at Al Fateh. The youngster continues to impress.

Centre-back - Alex Wilkinson

Central Coast Mariners

The A-League's 'Mr. Consistent' played a typically stable role in the back line during the Mariners' busy period in March, as they began their AFC Champions League campaign and secured the A-League Premier's Plate. While his team had some form issues, the Central Coast skipper barely put a foot wrong during the month. Wilkinson's influence, alongside Patrick Zwaanswijk, was one of the key reasons they clinched the premiership.

Centre-back - Mohammad Nosrati

Persepolis

After serving out a suspension for a controversial goal celebration, the veteran seems to have redeemed himself in the eyes of coach Mustafa Denizli after making his first three appearances of the year in March. A smart technical defender who can assume any position in the back line, Persepolis have showcased their defensive strengths with Nosrati, including a 6-1 thrashing of Al Shabab in the AFC Champions League.

Left-back - Hassan Ashjari

Sepahan

The Iranian club are in the running for their third championship in a row, and Ashjari is a major reason for their success. The 33-year-old has regained the faith of the supporters since his embarrassing own goal earlier this year, earning applause for his assists and defensive efforts. Bruno Correa may be Sepahan's star player so far in the Asian Champions League, but Ashjari's hard work has been a key component to his success.

Right midfield - Koo Ja-Cheol

Augsburg

Koo's creativity has been a key to Augsburg's recent unbeaten run, giving them a fighting chance to avoid relegation from the Bundesliga. His stunner against Mainz earned the team an important victory, and he upped the ante by scoring the first goal in Saturday's win against Koln with a nice low strike from outside the box. Koo's bold play has been a feature on a squad that may yet spend next season in the top tier.

Centre midfield - Pak Nam-Chol I

North Korea

Voted as the Most Valuable Player of the AFC Challenge Cup, Pak scored against all of DPR Korea's group stage opponents and generally dictated his team's pace. Pak created many of DPR Korea's goals with accurate passes and contributed immensely to their berth for the 2015 Asian Cup in Australia after lifting the trophy. The success was a boost for DPR Korea after their failed 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign.

Centre midfield - Shinji Kagawa

Borussia Dortmund

After five goals and several assists in league play, there is no question that the Dortmund playmaker deserves to be on this list. Kagawa's brightest performance came in the 6-1 hammering of Koln where he stole the show, scoring one and directly assisting another two. Having set a new goal-scoring record for Japanese players in Europe at the age of just 23, Kagawa looks set to have many more great seasons ahead of him.

Left midfield - Suchao Nuchnum

Buriram United

The attacking midfielder has been a key part of Buriram's surprise success in the Asian Champions League group stage so far where they've won two from two. Nuchnum played solidly in both March fixtures and scored the opening goal against Guangzhou Evergrande with a penalty kick. He's also been a key part of his side's perfect start to the new Thai Premier League season with three wins from three games.

Attacking Midfielder - Nam Tae-Hee

Lekhwiya

The 20-year-old was one of the key reasons why Lekhwiya were able to win back-to-back titles this term after his mid-season arrival. In a crucial match against Al Sadd that would determine the title race, Nam assisted the first goal and scored the second in a 2-1 victory. Nam, rated as the successor to Park Ji-Sung in Korea, also netted the winner in his side's 1-0 Asian Champions League win over Al Ahli.

Striker - Philip Younghusband

Philippines

The Azkals had to be the biggest story of the AFC Challenge Cup with their run to third place, and the former top scorer for Chelsea's youth team became a hero to his country after netting six goals and earning the tournament's Golden Boot. The 24-year-old striker had a fine tournament, including a decisive double in the win over India, as well as the opener in their semi-final defeat to Turkmenistan.

Manager - Graham Arnold

Central Coast Mariners

Arnold steered his team to the A-League Premier's Plate during March despite the pressure of in-form champions Brisbane Roar, who were close behind them. Arnold admitted it has been difficult to juggle his A-League and AFC Champions League commitments at the crucial end of the domestic season, but the team still came out on top when they needed victory most, a fine 2-1 victory away to Wellington to clinch the premiership.

SUBS

Goalkeeper	Defender	Defender	Midfielder
Ali Al Habsi (Wigan)	Lucas Neill (Al Jazira)	Ahmad Elias (Al Wehdat)	Cho Won-Hee (Guangzhou Evergrande)

Midfielder	Winger/Striker	Striker
Taisir Al Jassim (Al Ahli)	Ryo Miyaichi (Bolton)	Raja Rafe (Al Shorta)

The Goal.com team have had their say, and now it's your chance to vote for who you think should be the Asian Player of the Month!

Do you agree with our Best XI picks? Would you rather swap a player from the bench?
Let us know in our comments!

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