NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Sport / Football / English Premier League

Christopher Chang: Team of the season

Herald online
24 May, 2012 12:00 AM5 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Opinion

Chris Chang takes a look back at his Premier League team of the year.

The Professional Footballers' Association announced their team of the year in April, but there were still plenty of major games left to play. Here's my team of 2011-2012, in a classic 4-4-2 formation.

Goalkeeper: Tim Krul,
Newcastle United
He may be third-choice 'keeper for the Netherlands, but Krul was a revelation in the Premiership this year. The 6ft 4ins shot-stopper played in every league game this season and kept 15 clean sheets, just two less than Joe Hart. He's come from being a virtual no-name to the best goalkeeper at Tyneside since Shay Given. Hart was fantastic for City, but he also had a colossal defence in front of him.

Right Back: Branislav Ivanovic, Chelsea
The Chelsea right-back was part of the side that overcame the mighty Barcelona in the Champions League semi-final. He also had his dreams crushed on live television by Sky reporter Geoff Shreeves, who reminded him that the yellow card in the second leg meant he'd miss the final. But I'm not giving out sympathy points here. Chelsea were average in the league, but Ivanovic was solid and served to remind everyone why Jose Boswinga should not be starting for Chelsea.

Centre Back: Vincent Kompany, Manchester City
Man mountain, captain of the champions, and a big reason why Joe Hart looked so good this year. Kompany led the City defence that conceded only 29 goals all season, the best of any team. It's hard to believe he was one of former manager Mark Hughes' cheaper buys at only £6m.

Centre Back: Fabricio Coloccini, Newcastle United
The Newcastle skipper led his team back into Europe with some nervy displays at the back and was rewarded with a four-year deal with the Magpies in March. Newcastle's hopes looked bleak at the start of the season, but Coloccini took up the captaincy and led with distinction.

Left Back: Leighton Baines, Everton
The sole Englishman in my team, Baines was dependable as ever for the Toffees and stepped out from Ashley Cole's shadow. He was among the top goal scorers for the club (which isn't saying much about Everton's firepower - he scored four) and became the first player at the club to make the PFA team of the year since Neville Southall in 1990.

Right Midfield: Antonio Valencia, Manchester United
United fans won't be happy with the exclusion of Wayne Rooney here, but Antonio Valencia does make the cut. The winger, who cost £16million when he transferred from Wigan in 2009, has established himself on the right flank since Ronaldo's departure with his pacy, direct style. He's not as flashy as Nani, but provides Rooney with first-class service on the flank. Valencia was named United's fans' and players' player of the year.

Central Midfield: Yaya Toure, Manchester City
Toure gets paid £250,000 a week to provide the force in City's midfield. Is he worth it? No-one is, but Toure was the best player in the league this season. His performance in the second Manchester Derby was classic Toure: dominant across the pitch, with trademark rampaging bursts up field. He was unstoppable.

Central Midfield: Yohan Cabaye, Newcastle United
The 26-year-old Frenchman has proved himself a classy player in Newcastle's midfield and was a major component in their push for the Champions League. Alan Pardew's side has a fresh, exciting feel to it with the likes of Cabaye and Hatem Ben Arfa pulling the strings.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Left Midfield: Clint Dempsey, Fulham
Whether playing out wide or up front, Clint Dempsey is the main man for the Cottagers. He broke Louis Saha's scoring record for Fulham by scoring 17 league goals and provided most of the attacking potency, along with Andy Johnson. Dempsey's name is being mentioned as a possible target for the 'big teams' and why not? There aren't many Americans who have made as big an impact in the Premier League and he is a player for the big occasion: he smashed a hat-trick against Newcastle and scored in both games against Chelsea.

Striker: Robin van Persie, Arsenal
Played 38, scored 30. Van Persie was simply sublime in the Premier League this year. The fact that he's stalling over a new Arsenal contract has to be a huge concern for Gunners fans. He could walk into any side in the world at the moment and Man City are reportedly willing to pay him even more than Yaya Toure to leave London. That's ridiculous, but so is RVP's ability.

Striker: Sergio Aguero, Manchester City
He scored four less than Wayne Rooney (23 goals), but he had four more assists than his Old Trafford rival. His last goal of the Premier League season handed City their first title 44 years and could pave the way to a total power shift in football.

What is your Premier League team of the season? Post your suggestions below.

* Follow Chris Chang on Twitter

Discover more

All Whites

Soccer: Smith to lead All Whites against El Salvador

23 May 11:41 PM
English Premier League

Soccer: Mugabe admits he's a Chelsea fan

28 May 01:11 AM
Save

    Share this article

Latest from English Premier League

English Premier League

Manchester United captain rejects $450m Saudi Arabia move

03 Jun 11:35 PM
World

Driver of Liverpool car which ploughed into crowd suspected of taking drugs

27 May 07:06 PM
English Premier League

Police rule out terrorism as 27 injured after car ploughs into crowd in Liverpool

26 May 10:29 PM

Help for those helping hardest-hit

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from English Premier League

Manchester United captain rejects $450m Saudi Arabia move

Manchester United captain rejects $450m Saudi Arabia move

03 Jun 11:35 PM

Bruno Fernandes' decision is a major boost for Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim.

Driver of Liverpool car which ploughed into crowd suspected of taking drugs

Driver of Liverpool car which ploughed into crowd suspected of taking drugs

27 May 07:06 PM
Police rule out terrorism as 27 injured after car ploughs into crowd in Liverpool

Police rule out terrorism as 27 injured after car ploughs into crowd in Liverpool

26 May 10:29 PM
Palace stun Man City to win FA Cup for first time

Palace stun Man City to win FA Cup for first time

17 May 07:03 PM
How a Timaru mum of three budding chefs stretched her grocery shop
sponsored

How a Timaru mum of three budding chefs stretched her grocery shop

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP