PFA Team of the season 2011-12

[Sooda]

JOE HART: The undisputed number one for club and country, Hart has enjoyed another standout season for Manchester City. The 24-year-old has been an ever-present for the Blues in their Premier League title quest, providing a reliable last line of defence. He has been beaten just 27 times in 34 appearances and has picked up 14 clean sheets along the way. Roberto Mancini may have struggled to keep others inside the Etihad Stadium camp in check this season, but knows he will never get any trouble from Hart. Supremely confident and a man who never gives anything less than 100 per cent, Hart will be hoping that another productive campaign ends with him collecting domestic honours with City and international accolades with England at Euro 2012. KYLE WALKER: After being snapped up by Tottenham in 2009, Walker must have wondered whether the path to first team football at White Hart Lane would ever open up in front of him. With experienced international stars ahead of him in the Spurs pecking order, it looked like taking something special for him to force his way through. Walker is a special talent, though, and he has been able to do just that. A loan spell at Aston Villa last season allowed him to cut his Premier League teeth and proved to those back at Tottenham that he was the way forward. Harry Redknapp has offered the 21-year-old regular opportunities this term and he has rewarded his manager's faith with a number of assured displays - which have included a match-winning performance in a derby duel with Arsenal back in October. Walker has also won two England caps and found himself billed as the new Roberto Carlos by the Spanish media following a friendly outing against Spain. LEIGHTON BAINES: The affable Evertonian may play understudy to Ashley Cole on the international stage but according to his fellow professionals there hasn't been a better left-back this season. In short, he's the quintessential modern day full-back; as happy bombing forward as he is carrying out his defensive duties. Baines possesses the proverbial wand of a left foot, with his set-pieces again proving to be a key weapon in Everton's attacking armoury in a campaign where goals have proven hard to come by. To date the five he has contributed puts him joint-top of the club's scoring charts, while countless others have been created courtesy of his pinpoint dead ball deliveries. VINCENT KOMPANY: Of those names missing from the PFA shortlist for the senior award it was Kompany's that many feel is the most glaring omission. The Manchester City captain has again enjoyed another imperious campaign with few likely to contest the view he is the Premier League's outstanding centre-half. Alongside Joleon Lescott the Belgium international has formed an outstanding partnership at the heart of a City backline that has kept 14 cleans sheets and conceded just 27 goals in 34 Premier League games. In the few games he has missed through injury his absence has been sorely felt, with his presence in front of Joe Hart giving the rest of the City side confidence to go about their attacking work without worrying about what is going on behind them. FABRICIO COLOCCINI: When the Argentine put pen to paper on a new long-term contract earlier in the season the sigh of relief was audible in neighbouring Sunderland and Middleborough. The squad rebuilding work Mike Ashley and Alan Pardew oversaw in the summer was heavily criticised by Newcastle supporters who felt the sales of Joey Barton, Jose Enrique and Kevin Nolan would leave them facing a facing a relegation scrap on the back of a solid return to the big time the previous season. Further doubts were raised when Coloccini, for all his qualities, was handed the captain's armband. Such reservations have proven to be unfounded as both Newcastle and Coloccini have been outstanding in a campaign at St James' Park that has exceeded all expectations on Tyneside. The classy stopper exudes all the physical prowess one would expect from a South American centre-half, while at the same being in possession of a deft touch and ability to take the ball forward. If Newcastle can keep hold of Coloccini and bring in more of a similar ilk, the sky's the limit for those in black and white. DAVID SILVA: When Manchester City burst out of the Premier League blocks back in August, it was Silva who was calling the shots and giving opposition defences nightmares. The Spanish schemer was at his elusive best, with much of the Blues' best work going through his wand of a left foot. He was lauded as one of the finest players on the planet by Roberto Mancini after guiding City to the top of the table and was rightly recognised with the Premier League Player of the Month award in October. It was always going to be difficult for him to maintain those impeccably high standards, but Silva remains the biggest creative threat in City's ranks. He has provided a divisional-high 13 assists in the Premier League this season, and a further four in cup competitions, to underline his value to the Etihad Stadium cause. SCOTT PARKER: Tottenham may have suffered a wobble at just the wrong time but for three-quarters of the campaign Parker looked to be the missing in piece in Spurs' jigsaw. Plenty of big clubs looked at the reigning Football Writers' Player of the Year in light of West Ham's relegation last season but it was only Harry Redknapp who was prepared to open the chequebook. At Ž£6million he'll likely never secure a better bargain. Parker's infectious enthusiasm and ceaseless work-rate complements Luka Modric's more eye-catching talents and when the pair are on pomp there are few better midfield pairings in European club football. Such has been Parker's success at Tottenham he is now seen as not just a key man in North London but also for England. Under Stuart Pearce's interim rein he has been handed the captaincy and if Redknapp, as favourite for the England post, does indeed get the nod then few would bet against him taking the armband on a permanent basis. YAYA TOURE: More than a few eyebrows were raised when Roberto Mancini elected to use Toure in an advanced role upon acquiring his services from Barcelona but then that's why he's a top class manager and the rest of us are hacks/fans/armchair pundits. Toure has enjoyed another memorable campaign at Eastlands and is arguably now City's most influential player. When the giant Ivorian hits his stride, rampaging through the centre of the field at a frightening pace, there is very little the opposition can do to stop him. When City are struggling it is Toure they encourage to set the tempo with a driving run, while eight goals to date are testimony to an ever improving finishing ability. Like with Kompany, many feel he should have been on the shortlist for the individual senior prize. GARETH BALE: The reigning PFA Player of the Year, Bale's efforts this season have once again been recognised by his fellow professionals. The jet-heeled Tottenham winger continues to torment Premier League defences and is now considered to be one of the most devastating wide-men in European football. He is still only 22 years of age, yet is already reported to figure prominently on the transfer radars of some of the continent's biggest clubs. Spurs will not want to part with his services any time soon, though, with the north London outfit determined to ensure that it is they who benefit from his on-going development. Bale has already matched his goal return from last season in 2011/12 - finding the target 11 times - and has provided eight assists for grateful team-mates in Premier League competition. WAYNE ROONEY: There is every chance that the 2011/12 campaign will go down as the most productive in Rooney's glittering career, on a personal level. Manchester United may have to make do with just the one piece of silverware - or maybe none at all - but whatever happens, Rooney can rest easy knowing that he has done all he can to bring success to Old Trafford. The Red Devils continue to look to their battering ram of a frontman for inspiration, and he continues to deliver. Rooney was among the goals in United's opening game of the season at West Brom and has gone on to register 24 times in the Premier League and 31 times in all competitions. Were he to find the target on a further four occasions before the season is out, Rooney would set a new personal best when it comes to goals scored. Among those he has already added to his tally is his 150th for United, while he has also passed the 350-appearance mark for the Red Devils this term. ROBIN VAN PERSIE: When Cesc Fabregas headed for the Emirates Stadium exit last summer, bound for Barcelona, Arsenal found themselves shorn of a talismanic skipper and creative force. Fortunately for them, they had a ready-made replacement already on their books. Van Persie's ability has never been in doubt, but his fitness and temperament have been called into question down the years. Not any more, with the deadly Dutchman having matured into one of the finest frontmen around. He has led from the front this season as Arsenal have, at times, wandered off the beaten track. Van Persie's presence has offered assurance to those around him when they have needed it most and he has embraced his promotion to the role of head Gunner. A remarkable strike rate has seen him plunder 34 goals in all competitions, and it appears almost certain that he will land the Premier League golden boot. http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/12040/7684680/PFA-Team-of-the-Year No Micah Richards, thats surprising...and maybe Juan Mata...

[Sooda]

SCOTT PARKER: Tottenham may have suffered a wobble at just the wrong time but for three-quarters of the campaign Parker looked to be the missing in piece in Spurs' jigsaw. Plenty of big clubs looked at the reigning Football Writers' Player of the Year in light of West Ham's relegation last season but it was only Harry Redknapp who was prepared to open the chequebook. At ŽÂ£6million he'll likely never secure a better bargain. Parker's infectious enthusiasm and ceaseless work-rate complements Luka Modric's more eye-catching talents and when the pair are on pomp there are few better midfield pairings in European club football. Such has been Parker's success at Tottenham he is now seen as not just a key man in North London but also for England. Under Stuart Pearce's interim rein he has been handed the captaincy and if Redknapp, as favourite for the England post, does indeed get the nod then few would bet against him taking the armband on a permanent basis. :D