The following is my team of the season, they are not necessarily the best players in the Premier League, but simply the ones who have impressed me the most. I’ve decided to do an entire 25-man squad to get as many players involved as possible, but obviously the focus is on the starting XI. Yes, they play a 3-5-2, it probably wouldn’t be applicable in real life, but hey, it’s my team! The following may raise a few eyebrows...
Goalkeeper: Joe Hart
Roberto Mancini’s decision to drop the experienced Shay Given in favour of the young Englishman has been well and truly vindicated. City’s number 25 marshalled the joint best defence in the league this season and won the Golden Glove award for most clean sheets. Still only 24, the man could be England’s number one for the next decade and a half.
Defender: Brede Hangeland
The giant Fulham centre-back has been nothing short of sensational this season. The former Copenhagen man weighed in with six goals from centre-back and made an incredible 424 clearances in the league this year, the second highest number in the whole division. Fulham’s eighth place finish was due in no small part to the Norwegian, and their place in the Europa League via the fair play table will be a worthy reward.
Defender: Rio Ferdinand
His Manchester United captain and defensive partner Nemanja Vidic has been raking in the majority of the plaudits, but the role of Ferdinand in United’s title charge should not be under-estimated. Missing through injury during United’s February/March rough patch (defeats at Wolves, Chelsea and Liverpool), his return could not have come soon enough and his calmness on the ball and incredible positional sense were vital to United’s steady end of season form. The main difference between Ferdinand and Vidic is the former’s sense of calm. A real character off the pitch, as Twitter users will know, the Peckham-born centre-back almost never puts a foot wrong in matches, giving away fouls and getting booked less often than United get beaten at Old Trafford.
Defender: Leighton Baines
One of only two outfield players to play every minute of every match this season, Everton’s left-back and free-kick specialist is putting pressure on Ashley Cole for his England spot. Eleven assists, many from set-pieces, were not all the ex-Wigan player had to offer as he weighed in with five league goals and claimed the Everton players’ player of the year award. Solid defensively, Baines has been linked with a move to German giants Bayern Munich this summer. Should he leave, it will be a big blow for David Moyes’ men.
Midfielder: Nani
The Portuguese winger ( and occasional dramatist) has admittedly been forced out of the team by Antonio Valencia in recent weeks, and since his Jamie Carragher-induced injury at Anfield hasn’t quite been the same player as he was until then. But he makes this team on the basis that for the first seven months of the season he carried Manchester United when the likes of Wayne Rooney were simply not performing. With eighteen assists to his name, he deservedly claimed the United players’ player of the year award and was unlucky to miss out on the PFA shortlist. Creating some true moments of magic in the Autumn and Winter, if it wasn’t for him United may well have gone the same way as Chelsea during the cold months.
Midfielder: Charlie Adam
Blackpool’s captain was the main reason the Seasiders managed to stay out of the relegation zone until so late in the season. The Scotsman put in an outrageous number of outstanding performances throughout the season weighing in with goals, assists and a fantastic range of passes. It was hard to believe that at 25 this was his first ever Premier league season. Blackpool were lucky to hold onto him during the January transfer window, but with Ian Holloway’s men heading back to the Championship, there is no doubt that the midfield magician will be seeking a move to a bigger club.
Midfielder: Yaya Toure
After playing as a defensive midfielder during his years at Barcelona, the younger brother of Kolo has come into his own as an attacking midfielder in England. Big, strong, with a powerful shot and great stamina, the Ivorian was the key force in Manchester City’s first trophy winning campaign for 35 years and he will be right at home in the Champions League next season. Showed he is a big game player with winning goals in both the FA Cup semi-final and final at Wembley.
Midfielder: Jack Wilshere
The young Arsenal midfielder played more minutes than any of his team-mates this season and looks well placed to develop into the ‘English Xavi’ as has been touted by many involved in the game. Still 19, the Englishman was certainly the biggest positive in what was an otherwise disappointing season for his club. Incredible passing ability and a tenacity that has been lacking in recent Arsenal midfields will ensure that Wilshere is integral in England’s Euro 2012 campaign next year. If he could add a few more goals to his game then the diminutive midfielder will be on the road to greatness.
Midfielder: Rafael van der Vaart
When Tottenham Hotspur signed the Dutchman from Real Madrid for a cut-price £8m on transfer deadline day last summer, little did the White Hart Lane faithful know how great his debut season would be for the Lilywhites. 15 goals, many of which were spectacular, and a fantastic understanding with Peter Crouch were key factors in Spurs early season form and success in Europe. If it wasn’t for injury to the Dutchman, as well as team-mate Gareth Bale, Harry Redknapp’s squad may well have caught Arsenal and achieved Champions League football again next season. Holding on to van der Vaart next season is vital to Spurs’ prospects.
Striker: Peter Odemwingie
The Nigerian forward has taken to the Premier League like a duck to water. After racist Russian fans disgracefully waved a banner with a picture of a banana on it and the words ‘Thank you West Brom’ on his sale to the Hawthorns’ club, the pacy striker successfully put the ill-taste behind him and broke a club record by netting fifteen Premier League goals. The only footballer to win the player of the month award twice this season, his consistency was vital to the Baggies’ rise up the table under Roy Hodgson. A natural goalscorer with pace to burn, it’s a shame that it is only now, at 29, that he has arrived in England.
Striker: Robin van Persie
The most prolific goalscorer of the season, averaging a goal every 98.2 minutes (ahead of Manchester United duo Dimitar Berbatov [110.5] and Javier Hernandez [114.3]) the Arsenal forward was in imperious form from New Year’s Day onwards. He in fact equalled Cristiano Ronaldo and Alan Shearer’s record of 18 goals from that point, and would undoubtedly have scored many more had he been fit for the first part of the season. Setting a record of his own by scoring in nine consecutive away games, the Dutchman deserved much better from his team-mates who simply couldn’t match his standards when it came to the crunch.
SUBS:
Edwin van der Sar
A true phenomenon, even at the age of 40, van der Sar will be sorely missed by everybody at Old Trafford.
Vincent Kompany
The converted defensive midfielder was a true rock at centre-back for City this year despite a fair few changes to his defensive colleagues, inspirational at times.
Cheik Tiote
A fantastic acquisition for Newcastle United, Tiote’s game is all about getting stuck in, but he can pass well too and, just ask Arsenal fans, can hit a very very good volley.
Florent Malouda
Arguably not as good as last season but Chelsea’s French winger finished as their top scorer and created plenty of chances, notably in their defeat at Birmingham City in November, where his team-mates let him down badly.
Luka Modric
Spurs certainly don’t lack creativity these days and that owes a lot to the clever play of the Croatian playmaker. Like van der Vaart he is vital to Spurs’ prospects next season.
Carlos Tevez
The Manchester City captain has been fantastic this season, scoring some truly wonderful goals and is only kept out of the starting XI by his disappointing non-committal attitude.
Dimitar Berbatov
The stylish forward finished top scorer along with Tevez and would have scored plenty more if Sir Alex Ferguson could figure out a way of shoe-horning him into the team alongside Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez. A class act.
Rest of the squad:
Javier Hernandez, Samir Nasri, Kevin Nolan, Charles N’Zogbia, Nemanja Vidic, Branislav Ivanovicand Robert Huth. All these players have put in outstanding performances for their respective clubs and could easily have made the starting XI. Plenty more exceptional players didn’t even make the 25-man cut. All in all, a vintage season for the Premier League with outstanding performances from players at both ends of the final table.
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