Team of the Season

Keeper - Michelle Vorm - You could make any good number of cases here for Friedel, Krul, Hart, but I'll go with the Dutchman for not only his acrobatics, but outstanding statistical record before Swansea tailed off after March.  

Right Back - Kyle Walker - Probably the easiest inclusion in this XI. Which is to say I don't really see any other candidates. Zabaleta and Simpson also had solid seasons, but Walker was superb at both ends of the pitch. 


Left Back - Benoit Assou-Ekoto - I'd probably rather have either Jose Enrique or Leighton Baines in my XI, but BAE turned a huge corner in 11/12 along with the rest of the Spurs defense. He's already talking up himself for a big money move to a bigger club. But considering City bought Clichy for a kings ransom, (I mean 7 million pounds my god) just last summer, he probably isn't going to do any better than spurs for the moment. (such is the life of a left back).  

Center Back - Vincent Kompany & Fabricio Coloccini - Martin Skrtel, Laurent Koscielny, Younes Kaboul all made personal improvements. But these two were the most integral to their teams' success. And Kompany seems one of a few halfway decent guys on what will only become a more odious Man City side in the coming years.  

Left Mid - David Silva - Pity to see him sputter out of gas like that at the end of the season, and it nearly cost his team the title. But he was in a class by himself in the whole league for the first few months, and will hopefully feature in the Spanish XI in Ukraine. Same holds true for Juan Mata, who adapted to life in the Prem ludicrously fast, but never quite reached the heights of his compatriot  

Center Defensive Mid - Scotty Parker - New club. New lease on life. Maybe I'm being naive, but I can never remember Scott Parker playing the cliche role of "works his socks off" with such eagerness and tenacity at any of his previous clubs. Played his way right into the England midfield and would be my vote for captain. Honorable mention goes to the ever tireless Alex Song, who got Arsenal out of jail on countless occasions this year with his tackling and inspired lofted through balls to Van Persie.

Center Mid - Yaya Toure Ramires- Oh, you mean, you didn't happen to catch more than the last two games of the year. Then you're probably a bit confused as to why I'm not throwing heaps of praise like the rest of the football and punditry when it comes to the most overrated Toure brother since Kolo. I just don't get it. Yes, he pops up and scores goals, but he is a defensive liability, and one of the reasons they crashed out of Europe. Ramires on the other hand is basically the reason that Chelsea are still in Europe and the antithesis of Yaya Toure. And he's done it all while wearing braces!

Right Wing - No One - If you put a gun to my head, I'd probably say Victor Moses, but that's pretty soft. Nathan Dyer, Valencia, Seb Larsonn? Were clutching at straws here.

Strikers - Sergio Aguero & Robin Van Persie - People forget that this was RVP's first full season healthy. It's never been a question of ability with Robin, just fitness (and a bit of temprement). You might argue for Grant Holt, Cisse, Suarez, Rooney, or Adebayor even, but Aguero was another to make the impressive transition to the premier league withough missing a beat.

Manager - B.Rodgers 
Goal - Ben Arfa
Clown - Joey Barton/Ballotelli
Stunt - Rando handcuffing himself to the post.