Our Premier League XIs of 2011/12

It was down to a whisker, but Stewart just missed out

So it's that time of the season. We all cast a nostalgic eye back across the thousands of hours of Premier League football that has been played in this most remarkable of seasons. Recall the effortless brilliance of luxurious Spanish playmakers. Remind ourselves of the breathtaking tactical efficiency that sprouted in the most unexpected corners of South Wales. Awaken long forgotten memories of Welshmen, Dutchmen and the occasional Englishman bestriding our overblown, and often overrated, behemoth of a division and attempt to decide which of these sporting giants make our team of the season. And conclude, as we do every year, that there really are no good right backs in English football.

Nick Croft-Simon


Goalkeeper: Joe Hart, Manchester City
I've had an affinity for Joe Hart ever since I saw the video of him dancing on Soccer AM. He has an impeccable attitude, and he is consistently outstanding for City. Most importantly, he seems to lack the 'let's turn into Hereulho Gomes as soon as we get an England call-up' gene which has seen so many of his predecessors fall, despite their promise. His being English makes me very happy.


Right Back: Kyle Walker, Tottenham Hotspur
Sometimes the best form of defence is offence, and to quote Harry Redknapp, Walker's pace is "frightening". Positionally he is getting better with age, and his marauding runs down the right flank have pinned back the opposition time and again. He is ultra-competitive and I think he's a future star. He scores the occasional wordly too.


Centre Back: Thomas Vermaelen, Arsenal
The epitome of the modern centre-back, Thomas Vermaelen has a bit of everything. At 5 foot 10 he may be smaller than many of his Premier League equivalents, but he is undoubtedly technically gifted. Arsenal fans are far more confident when he starts. With him, they win 63% of their games, without him: 47%. He is extremely mobile and has a great left foot which has seen him net 6 goals this season. He is a classy centre back, and he is good enough for my XI.


Centre Back: Vincent Kompany, Manchester City
Amidst petulant Argentinians and downright bizarre Italians, stands the unassuming Belgian. He wins, but he wins right. All his talking is done on the pitch, and he leads by example. You get the impression that City's dip in form would've happened far sooner had they not had him to lead their characters. Further, his towering header may have just won them the league. A true professional.


Left Back: Leighton Baines, Everton
I always think very good left backs are hard to come by. The obvious choice here would be Evra, but I'm going to give it to Baines. He is solid enough in defence, and a threat down the left with a good end product. He ain't bad at free kicks either.


Right Wing: Clint Dempsey, Fulham
Clint Dempsey has been absolutely sensational for Fulham this season. Chipping in with 16 goals and 6 assists, he has provided much of their attacking threat. He can dribble, he has great vision and his positioning is second to none. There is no doubt that his performances have played a massive part in Fulham's league position.


Centre Mid: Yaya Toure, Manchester City
Special mention goes to Scott Parker who has been fantastic for Spurs on a number of occasions. Yet at the end of the day only one of these men has played for Barcelona, and it shows. I just feel that Toure is a classier player and as such, has that bit extra in his locker. Unlike Parker who mostly sticks to short passing, Toure's range is excellent, and I believe this is the reason he has 4 more assists to his name than the Englishman. Further, Toure's ability to run with the ball and get himself into attacking positions has got him 4 goals to Parker's none. Toure is the most complete defensive midfielder in the league.


Centre Mid: David Silva, Manchester City
This was the most difficult decision by far. For me, none of the attack-minded centre midfielders in the Premiership have been consistent enough. Purely by virtue of the fact he was so good for the first half of the season, Silva just about edges it for me over the course. I hope he finds his form; at times he is an absolute joy to watch


Left Wing: Gareth Bale, Tottenham Hotspur
Bale's form faltered along with the rest of the Spurs team. At times it looked as if he was playing for himself, and his decision making was selfish at moments. Yet Bale seems to be slowly finding his feet along with the rest of the players, and over the course of the season he has been outstanding. I still think he has a lot to learn. He doesn't yet have the know-how to be as threatening when he drifts around the final third of the pitch. It took Giggs his entire career to have the maturity to play that role. For now, he needs to stick to what he knows best - beating opposition full backs down the left.


Forward: Wayne Rooney, Manchester United
Raw stats aren't quite as impressive as RVP's; 26 goals and 4 assists. However, what Rooney gives you is a striker who is capable of winning the ball back and putting in a defensive shift for the team. He has an unbelievable engine and he gives you the ability to defend from the front. In my humble opinion, United would not have had the credentials to be a title winning side without him.

Forward: Robin van Persie, Arsenal
Easiest choice of the lot. 28 goals, 10 assist. Would walk into any team in the Premier League, and possibly the world. He is Arsenal's most valuable asset and as long as they keep hold of him they have the potential to compete.

Mark Heffernan


Goalkeeper: Michel Vorm, Swansea City
Swansea are great aren't they? The problem is, while they pass like Barcelona, they often defend like Brentford. Thankfully, they have the big Dutchman in goal to keep the score down. Something of a revelation this season, Vorm must bemoan the fact he has to compete with Tim Krul and Maarten Stekelenburg at international level. One of the division's best.


Right Back: Micah Richards, Manchester City
In and out of the City team at times, at his best Richards has been the player he promised to be when he burst so energetically onto the scene over 5 years ago. He has added defensive resoluteness to his attacking threat, and must surely be considered England's best right back in a strong field.


Centre Back: Jonny Evans, Manchester United
United sold Gerard Pique on the basis of the young Northern Irishman's potential; a decision which at points has looked as wise as asking John Terry to mediate in the Israeli-Palestinian crisis. Yet, since being dominated by Manchester City back in the autumn Evans has grown into a mature, ball playing centre half worthy of his place in a competitive field at the club. United's defensive rock this season, he has even managed to make Rio Ferdinand look more than the sum of his creaking parts.


Centre Back: Vincent Kompany, Manchester City
Now more like Nemanja Vidic than Nemanja Vidic is, Kompany has been utterly magnificent this term. Imperious in defense and majestic in his role as captain at England's most volatile club, he merits every plaudit which has been thrown at him this season. Deserves to lift the Premier League trophy when City finally stumble across the line.

Left Back: Leighton Baines, Everton
This year's winner by default? Mr. Reliable down the Everton left. As Patrice Evra has diminished as a force and Ashley Cole has been remarkably unreliable by his high standards, Baines has put in his customary consistency in a most inconsistent team. Will never be World-class, but his defensive nous and wicked left foot have been crucial to the Toffees this term. There's no shame in being England's number 2.


Right Wing: Antonio Valencia, Manchester United
What's most remarkable about Valencia is his predictability; he lacks trickery, instead forging a muscular path down the right towards his inevitable inviting cross. Yet, despite having an extra few months to muse on him during his time on the sidelines, defenders across the land have still failed to crack the secret of stopping the Ecuadorian. That he has almost as many assists as Silva in half as many games is remarkable. That he very nearly drove a creaking United team to the title is spectacular.


Centre Mid: David Silva, Manchester City
I don't blame Silva for his burn-out. In truth, his excellence has meant Mancini has had no choice but to feature him as much as possible, so central is he to City's attacking threat. A technical genius, Silva runs the show when he is in the mood, skills reflected in his place in the greatest international midfield in a generation. Nasri must do more next season to ease the burden on one of the league's few genuine superstars.


Centre Mid: Michael Carrick, Manchester United
"Bias", you scream, "madness". Well maybe. But Carrick deserves a mention in one of these teams if only to reward his understated value to the Manchester United midfield. England cry out for a cultured midfielder yet have one at their disposal but never used. Carrick runs the show in the red half of Manchester, and a pass completion rate above that of Xabi Alonso, Pirlo and Schweinsteiger suggests he is not quite the slouch he is often painted as in an unforgiving press.

Left Wing: Gareth Bale, Tottenham Hotspur
As hard as it is to ignore the claim of Stewart Downing (who can forget how he so tormented Oldham in the League Cup in providing his one assist this season), Bale has again proved himself untouchable down the left. Perhaps not quite the superstar he is often lauded as, Bale is nonetheless increasingly consistent down his favourite flank, though his forays into the middle have been somewhat less impressive. Spurs will struggle to hold on to him over the summer should they fail in their pursuit of Champions League football

Forward: Robin van Persie, Arsenal
The best striker in the World. A privilege to watch.


Forward: Demba Ba, Newcastle United
So he hasn't scored in weeks. So he has been overshadowed by Cisse. So what? For most of the season Ba has been a force of nature, at times single-handedly dragging Newcastle forward in a relentless pursuit of glory. His physicality is matched by remarkable technical ability, and he must genuinely be considered among the great bargains of recent time. How the physios at Stoke must rue turning him down.


Will Roome



Goalkeeper: Tim Krul, Newcastle United


Right Back: Danny Simpson, Newcastle United


Centre Back: Jonny Evans, Manchester United


Centre Back: Thomas Vermaelen, Arsenal


Left Back: Benoit Assou-Ekotto, Tottenham Hotspur


Right Wing: Antonio Valencia, Manchester United


Centre Mid: Yohan Cabaye, Newcastle United


Centre Mid: David Silva, Manchester City


Left Wing: Clint Dempsey, Fulham


Forward: Robin van Persie, Arsenal


Forward: Demba Ba, Newcastle United




Rory Campbell



Goalkeeper: Joe Hart, Manchester City


Right Back: Branislav Ivanovic, Chelsea


Centre Back: Vincent Kompany, Manchester City


Centre Back: Martin Skrtel, Liverpool


Left Back: Leighton Baines, Everton


Right Wing: Clint Dempsey, Fulham


Centre Mid: Yaya Toure, Manchester City


Centre Mid: Gylfi Sigurdsson, Swansea City


Left Wing: David Silva, Manchester City


Forward: Robin van Persie, Arsenal


Forward: Wayne Rooney, Manchester United




James Burford (FootyMatters.com)



Goalkeeper: Tim Krul, Newcastle United


Right Back: Branislav Ivanovic, Chelsea


Centre Back: Jonny Evans, Manchester United


Centre Back: Ashley Williams, Swansea City


Left Back: Leighton Baines, Everton


Right Wing: Clint Dempsey, Fulham


Centre Mid: David Silva, Manchester City


Centre Mid: Mikel Arteta, Arsenal


Left Wing: Victor Moses, Wigan Athletic


Forward: Robin van Persie, Arsenal


Forward: Sergio Aguero, Manchester City