My Premier League team of the season

The 2012/13 season wasn’t the best Premier League season, but it was definitely a season where some players made their name and are reportedly attracting interest from big European clubs.

I start with the best goalkeeper of the season: there have been some great individual performances of the season by number 1’s. I think that the best goalie this season, although I hate to say it coming from an Albion fan, is Brad Guzan. De Gea did well along with Petr Cech, but Guzan has been one of the few Villa players that can be proud of this season. Without Guzan in the side, although they would have had Given, I think they would have been in the Championship next season.

At the end of last season, Guzan was released by Aston Villa but with the arrival of Paul Lambert, the American renewed his contract and grabbed the number 1 shirt from Shay Given. Guzan’s best performance of the season was against Chelsea when Villa lost 8-0 before Christmas, without the American I think it could have been 15-0, no exaggeration.

The best right back was fairly easy to choose because there wasn’t a lot of competition for Pablo Zabaleta. Zabaleta was one of the few Man City players who can say they did their best this season. He was one of the players that put in 100% into every game and showed some leadership qualities in the big games.

One of the best centre backs this season was Rio Ferdinand who has had his best season in a Utd shirt, which is why it was so easy for new manager David Moyes to give him a new one year contract. Utd didn’t have their best season although the title race was over in February, after bowing out of the Champions League to a controversial referee decision, and crashing out of the FA Cup after a dull replay at Stamford Bridge.

Ferdinand provided experience at the back this season for Utd, who have started to introduce Evans, Buttner, Smalling and Rafael to the back four this season. Ferdinand has been a regular this season and he rounded off a great season with a rocket from close range to win Ferguson’s last home game in his career. That goal was his first goal in over 5 years.

The centre I have chosen to partner Ferdinand is Jan Vertonghen. Vertonghen has had a near perfect debut season in the Premier League with Spurs, he defended well and also scored a couple of goals in the process. He got a brace in the defeat at Anfield, but he has also built a strong partnership with Michael Dawson.

At the start of the season, Vertonghen was reportedly on his way to the Emirates but he decided to move to White Hart Lane. His decision to go to Spurs has definitely proved a successful one, especially because he is now a fan favourite.

The best left back was difficult to choose because there wasn’t a lot to choose between Baines and Evra. They both defended well and have both scored goals. It was a tough decision, but I have chosen Leighton Baines. Baines won Everton’s player of the season, and he was the only outfield player to play every minute of every game this season.

He is also starting to break into the England team and providing tough competition for Ashley Cole. He also got his first goal for his country with a typical free kick against Moldova. I think that if the three lions qualify for Rio, that Baines could be England’s number one left back.

My central midfielder of the season was an easy decision, it simply had to be Michael Carrick. Carrick is pushing for a place in the England starting 11, he was a vital part of the Man Utd team, this has been his best season of his career. He likes to keep the play simple when needed, but he can also pick out a pass to start an attack. He has also been a back up for Utd’s defencive injuries earlier in the season, this just shows how much Alex Ferguson values Carrick. I’m sure he will be banging on the door for a place in England’s world cup squad.

My left midfielder was initially going to be Gareth Bale, however, because he has switched position this season I have chosen to go with Juan Mata. Mata has been one of the key men in Chelsea’s season with his ability to not only create goals but score a few of his own as well. He was Chelsea’s Player’s player of the year so this shows how much his team value his presence. The Spaniard set up the winner in the FA Cup quarter final, he also provided the winner in the Europa League final. He also scored the winner at Old Trafford to all but confirm their place in the top four.

He is one of the three number 10’s in the Chelsea team, but Mata is the one wearing the number 10. Mata has been the best out of the Chelsea attacking three with Oscar and Hazard the two summer signings.

My right midfielder is Hazard because he has shown why he attracted the two Manchester clubs along with Madrid and Barcelona. He is in my team for the same reasons Mata is in my team. He has had his ups and downs this season, with the ball boy incident in the League Cup semi final at Swansea. However, he has also showed why Chelsea spent 32 million Euros on him with him creating and scoring goals.

This was shown in the FA Cup quarter final at Old Trafford. Chelsea were 2-0 down when Rafa brought on Hazard who inspired a Chelsea comeback to salvage a replay. Hazard scored a goal of his own and also provided an assist for Ramires.

My central attacking midfielder was the easiest decision to choose because he has won award after award after award this season. Gareth Bale is not only in my team but he is my player of the season. Bale had changed his shirt number from 3 to number 11 this season to show that he wasn’t a left back anymore. This season he has shown no signs of going back to being a left back at all. He has scored 26 goals this season for Spurs, with 21 coming in the league and all of them have been memorable.

He has scored vital goals in Spurs’ season with him scoring winners against West Ham, Southampton and most recently Sunderland to keep their Champions League dream alive. He was Tottenham’s striker this season with Adebayor being a big let down following his move from Man City, and Defoe having been injured for a couple of months. Without Bale this season, I think that they would have finished seventh just below Liverpool who have had a main man this campaign.

My first striker in my team is Luis Suarez who was proved to be Liverpool’s best player. Suarez has got a total of 30 goals this season for the Reds with 23 coming in the league. He has shown why he is the club’s number 7 which was previously worn by club legend Kenny Dalglish.

However, all this class comes with a price for Liverpool. Yet again he has always been the centre of attention for good or bad reasons. In the FA Cup when Liverpool knocked out Mansfield, he appeared to have handled the ball before scoring the decisive goal in the tie. This wasn’t the end of the Suarez controversy because when Liverpool hosted Chelsea he bit, that is right, bit Ivanovic’s arm. It wasn’t noticed by the officials so he faced the FA who gave him a 10 match ban and a fine. Who in their right mind would bite another person, he would have got arrested for it if it was on the streets.

He has got to be the Premier League’s most controversial player, and one of the best as well.

My second striker is Robin Van Persie who transferred from Arsenal to Man Utd in the summer for £24m. He was the league’s top scorer for the second season running and was the goal scorer in the title winning team with 26 goals. That was four less than last season, he obviously needs to improve.

RVP scored a hat trick in the game against Villa to seal the Premier League title, he also scored a great goal which is my goal of the season.

He also scored the winning goal in the Manchester derby to end City’s unbeaten home record which extended beyond that season. He has scored lots of important goals, he is exactly what you want in a striker.

There were lots of contenders for the strikers this season with Benteke, Michu, Lukaku and Berbatov. It was simply because Suarez and RVP have that extra something than those mentioned above don’t have, although Benteke, Michu etc have had a great debut season.

Overall it hasn’t been a great season, but there have been some memorable moments for good and bad reasons. From Bale rescuing Spurs from the dead, to Suarez taking a chunk out of Ivanovic. Roll on August, I can’t wait.