The Premier League season is finally done and dusted (except for Manchester United’s match) and it is time to pick the Premier League team of the season. There have been some truly amazing performances this season with some unexpected players taking their game to a whole new level.
The team is predictably dominated by Leicester City players. Leicester City were absolutely magnificent this season and scripted one of sport’s biggest fairytales by winning the Premier League title. This team is filled with players capable of scoring and creating goal scoring chances out of nothing. The defence looks impenetrable and these 11 players were definitely head and shoulders above their compatriots.
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We try ti pick the English Premier League team of the season:
Formation ( 4-4-2 diamond)
Goalkeeper – David De Gea (Manchester United)
Manchester United have struggled ever since Sir Alex Ferguson left the club. However, David De Gea has been consistently performing at high levels and has singlehandedly rescued points for the Red Devils on many occasions.
De Gea sometimes has put even Superman to shame with some stunning saves which seem to defy time and gravity. One of the few true superstars in the Manchester United line-up, the Spaniard has already attracted the attention of Spanish superclub Real Madrid.
De Gea’s presence in the team makes a huge difference for Manchester United and he has given some of his best performances against big teams and rivals like Liverpool and Chelsea. The Spaniard’s performance against Chelsea was so good this season, that even Louis Van Gaal who is reluctant to heap individual praise said:
“I have to say he did a couple of saves! I have also said sometimes he is also there to stop shots or headers. But now he was remarkable because they were nearly goals I think. But he did fantastically”.
United will have a tough job keeping De Gea at Old Trafford next season as they have failed to qualify for the Champions League.
Left-back – Christain Fuchs (Leicester City)
Christian Fuchs has been an absolute revelation at left-back for Leicester City this season. Although, the PFA team of the year has chosen Danny Rose as the left-back, Fuchs deserves his place on this team because of his consistency, tenacity and dedication.
Stats wise also Fuchs is way ahead of Danny Rose in all the key defensive attributes such as interceptions, blocks, clearances and aerial duels won. The Austrian has been a willing runner for Claudio Ranieri and has been an ever-present in Leicester’s fairytale season.
Here are the stats which show why Fuchs is selected ahead of Danny Rose:
| Key stats | Christian Fuchs | Danny Rose |
| Interceptions | 98 | 39 |
| Blocks | 11 | 11 |
| Clearances | 175 | 91 |
| Defensive errors | 0 | 1 |
| Tackles won | 77 | 56 |
| Aerial duels won | 49 | 22 |
Christian Fuchs was quite simply absolutely spectacular for Leicester City this season.
Centre-back – Wes Morgan (Leicester City)
Leicester City captain Wes Morgan has been an absolute rock at the centre of the defence for Leicester this season. Morgan has led from the front in this stellar season and has never hesitated to put hos body on the line for his team’s cause.
The Jamaican has been ever present for Leicester City having incredibly played all 38 League games for the Foxes. The Captain also popped up with crucial goals during the campaign, his most notable one being the goal against Manchester United in the 1-1 draw which eventually won them the title.
Ranieri described his importance to the team in his own inimitable style when he said:
"Wes Morgan is Baloo of The Jungle Book. He is a big gentle bear who looks after all the lads. He does not speak so much but when he does speak, everybody listens. He is the perfect captain. I never knew anything about him before I came here. But I watched all the matches, I watched how solid, strong and intelligent he was".
Wes Morgan was an incredible captain for this amazing Leicester City squad this season.
Centre-back – Toby Alderweireld (Tottenham Hotspur)
The Belgian has been key to Tottenham’s defensive displays this season being ever present in the Spurs side. Alderweireld joined Tottenham Hotspur on a five-year contract which runs until summer of 2020 for a transfer fee estimated to be around £11.5 million.
Alderweireld mainly plays as a centre-back although he is also capable of playing in the right-back position.The Belgian has settled in seamlessly at White Hart Lane and he along with Vertonghen have made Spurs a formidable defensive outfit.
Alderweireld has played every minute of the Premier League and Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino has been absolutely thrilled with his new signing praising him as one of the best signings in the Premier League.
“It is obvious that Alderweireld is one of the best defenders in the Premier League,
“It is easy to analyse him now, he adapts and has very good performances with maturity and experience. He is a great man and we are very happy with him.”
Right-back – Hector Bellerin (Arsenal)
Bellerin is such a familiar face in the Arsenal squad these days that you forget he is only 20 years of age. The full-back broke into the first team towards the middle of the 2014/15 season after Mathieu Debuchy was injured.
Since then Debuchy has been loaned out and no other player has been able to knock Bellerin of the right back position. The young Spaniard is another product of Barcelona’s youth system and followed in the footsteps of fellow countryman Fabregas joining Arsenal in 2011.
Bellerin has been a consistent performer for the club and is quickly becoming a very mature player in that role. He has only missed two games in Arsenal's entire Premier League campaign playing the full 90 minutes every time he has started. Along with speed and pace the full-back also has an eye for a pass having notched up 5 assists in the Premier League this season.
Central Defensive Midfielder – N’golo Kante (Leicester City)
Leicester City have captured everyone’s imagination with their stunning performances this season. While Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez have run away with all the plaudits, the importance of N’golo Kante’s performances in the central midfielder’s role cannot be overstated.
The French midfielder arrived from Caen last summer for a fee of £ 5.6 million and it is now looking like one of the bargain buys of this season. Kante’s positional sense and awareness of the game is second to none and he heads the list for most interceptions in the Premier League with a stunning 157 interceptions.
Kante’s ability to regain possession in the centre of the park has been vital, while his willingness to storm forward with the ball at his feet has created many openings for Leicester City this season.
In a recent interview with Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sera, Ranieri praised Kante’s energy, awareness and reading of the game.
“It will not surprise me the day he crosses the ball from the flank and gets into the penalty area to head it,” the Italian said.
“He is someone who knows where the ball will go, knows where the opposition will move, knows everything first.”
Kante has been one of the stars of Leicester City's remarkable season.
Left Winger – Dimitri Payet (West Ham United)
When West Ham signed Dimitri Payet from Marseille, everyone knew they had managed to pull off a coup by signing a player of his calibre, but not even the most optimistic of West Ham fans would have imagined the impact he has had at the Hammers.
The Frenchman has put in some amazing displays for West Ham this season and has become a firm fan favourite. The first truly world-class star to play for West Ham since the departures of Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano, Payet has been instrumental in West Ham’s good showing this season.
His performances have drawn praise from all quarters and the Hammers’ manager showed just how impressed he was when he said:
"I have to get poetry lessons to describe his importance to us," said Croatian Bilic.
"I haven't seen better players than that. He is also doing the dirty work and on the ball he is up there with Luka Modric from the players I have trained so far, Dimitri is one of the best I have trained and every week I want these questions about him to continue, but it is hard to be surprised."
Right Winger – Riyad Mahrez (Leicester City)
The Algerian winger showcased some glimpses of his talent and dribbling skills last season, but, this season he has been simply mesmerising creating numerous chances and leaving the opposition defences flat-footed.
In 37 Premier League appearances this season, Mahrez has scored 17 goals with many of them being simply brilliant solo efforts. He has also been one of the most creative members of this wonderful Leicester side, grabbing 11 assists in a stellar campaign.
Leicester have created history this season and they have the 25-year-old Algerian to thank for. From being relegation contenders to Premier League title challengers, Mahrez has played a key role in Leicester's incredible rise.
His performances have been so good this season that he has been linked with a move to the best club side in the world currently - Barcelona. From playing in Le Havre two years back to a potential move to Barcelona at the end of this season, Mahrez’s rise has indeed been meteoric.
The Algerian has been the best player in the Premier League.
Central Attacking Midfielder – Mesut Ozil (Arsenal)
Mesut Ozil has enhanced his reputation as the assist master. The German playmaker started off the season in stunning form playing many key passes and scoring crucial goals. The left-footed magician seemed to find the gap in the tiniest of spaces making the ball travel in improbable angles.
One of the stars of this Arsenal side, Ozil’s form was so good that many people believed that this would finally be the year that Wenger and his men won the Premier League title. However, Ozil’s form slightly tapered off in the second half of the season and Arsenal struggled to unlock defences without the German pass master.
With a record-breaking 19 assists this season in the Premier League, Arsenal's Ozil has definitely been the creator in chief for the Gunners.
Striker – Jamie Vardy (Leicester City)
The man who took English football by storm this season, Jamie Vardy has been absolutely sensational this year. The England frontman defied all expectations and played like a true champion throughout the season.
Leicester City’s Jamie Vardy broke a long-standing record when he scored in 11 consecutive Premier League games earlier this season. With the work rate of a horse that never sees him tire, the 29-year-old has used his blistering pace to run at defences with a direct approach on the counter-attack to score, set up teammates and even win a penalty or two.
Jamie Vardy’s rise has truly been the stuff of fairytales and he has been one of Premier league’s best strikers this season finishing second in the race for the golden boot, just behind his England team-mate and Tottenham superstar Harry Kane.
Striker – Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur)
Harry Kane has proved this season that he is not a one-season wonder. The Tottenham frontman shouldered the goalscoring responsibility for his team and his goals were crucial in Tottenham’s surprise challenge for the Premier League title this year.
With 25 goals in 38 games, Harry Kane became the first Englishman since 1999/2000 season to win the Premier League golden boot. His intelligent runs, quick feet and clinical finishing has made him the best striker in England.
A front two of Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy can pose problems to any opposition defence in the world, and England will be hoping that the duo continues their good form in Euro 2016.
Although the team has now been selected, the next slide gives the manager, formation and substitutes for this amazing team.
Formation, Manager and Substitutes
For the manager position, there can be only one man this season. Claudio Ranieri has been absolutely sensational this Premier League campaign and like he said himself he has now become the ‘thinkerman’ from ‘tinkerman’.
The Italian’s man-management skills and tactical nous came to the fore and he was largely instrumental in making the Leicester fairytale a reality. The bench for the Premier League team of the season contains some very good players who missed out on a spot in the team narrowly.
Here are the 7 substitutes for the team:
Petr Cech
Robert Huth
Danny Rose
Dele Alli
Kevin De Bruyne
Kyle Walker
Sergio Aguero
The team lines up in a 4-4-2 diamond formation. The goalkeeper is the ever dependable David De Gea. The back 4 looks formidable with a centre-back pairing of Wes Morgan and Toby Alderweireld. The full backs Cristian Fuchs and Hector Bellerin are full of energy and running and both of them are capable of supporting attacks as well as help out defensively.
The role of the destroyer is taken up by arguably the best midfielder of the season – N’golo Kante. The left midfield and right midfield role is taken up by West Ham's Dimitri Payet and Leicester City's Riyad Mahrez. In the number 10 position, we have assist king Mesut Ozil.
The front two is made up of England’s two best strikers currently – Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy.
