Dream 2012 team

It’s been a fascinating 12 months in the premier league with great individual and team performances, none more so than Manchester City in the last game of the 2011/2012 season to clinch the title. We’ve seen youngsters step up to the mark, while tried and tested players have gone to all new heights.

At the Britannia Stadium I have seen some of the best players in the world visit the home of Stoke City, my club of choice, and here is my dream XI of 2012.

Goalkeeper

Asmir Begovic (Stoke City)

The Bosnian has been in tremendous form in 2012, stripping the number one jersey away from Thomas Sorenson and making it his own. The 25 year old supports his two centre backs solidly. He is strong in the air when balls come into the box and is confident with his feet and has pulled off some spectacular saves, leading to one of the tightest defences in the league. He has started to attract the attention of clubs at the top end of the league, and it will be really important for Stoke and Tony Pulis to keep hold of Begovic if we are to fight for a top half finish.

Denfence

Right Back – Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City)

Zabaleta in my opinion is the complete full back. He is strong going forward, like most are nowadays, but he is a reliable defender as well, making him by far the best in the league. The Argentine goes about his business in the right way with little fuss, while being a leader on the pitch, helping Manchester City to their first title in 44 years.

Centre Back-Vincent Kompany Captain (Manchester City)

City’s captain was fantastic in their league winning campaign; a real rock and  leader for Roberto Mancini. He started this season a bit slower than the heights he set at the start of the year, but is starting to attain them now. The Belgian international won the player of the season award for the 2011/2012 campaign, showing how strong he was at the beginning of 2012.

Centre Back- Ryan Shawcross (Stoke City)

Shawcross is a real defender, puts his body on the line for his side and leads by example at the Britannia. He reads the ball well in the air and on the deck, while tackling hard but fair. It was a tight decision between him and teammate Robert Huth to partner Kompany, but in the light of the defensive display against Southampton, Shawcross is my man. Huth looked totally lost in the first half without his mate (suspended) in a usually water tight defence. The 25 year old’s hard work in 2012 was rewarded with an England cap, and he will keep improving as he plays more at the top level. Pulis and Peter Coates will be hoping their captain puts pen to paper on the six year contract they are offering, as he is a vital cog in the team.

Left Back- Leighton Baines (Everton)

Baines is part of one of the strongest left sides in the premier league, playing behind Steven Pienaar. The 28 year old has been tremendous in the last calender year, with consistent performances going forward and backwards. I watched him this season at the Britannia Stadium and he was rock solid and deserves all the attention he is getting during the transfer window.

Midfield

Right Midfield- Leon Osman (Everton)

I believe Osman is one of the most underrated players in the league, and he  has been exceptional in 2012, picking up his first England cap. The one club man is a real work horse, with the quality and touch that you need at the top level. With the range of passing he possesses, he is a real threat in the opposition’s half.

Centre Midlfield- Juan Mata (Chelsea)

Mata made the team just in front of Arsenal’s Santi Cazorla, because he has been performing at the highest high level for 12 months not just this season. Mata with his tremendous skill on the ball, creates chances for his side that other players wouldn’t see. He is the best player in the league in the role he plays for Chelsea and has added goals to his effective performances towards the latter end of the year, having a major say in most games.

Centre Midfield- Marouane Fellaini (Everton)

Fellaini has had a tremendous 2012 and has reached even greater heights in the current season than he did in the last. He can play any role in the middle of midfield while going up top at times too. He has one of the best touches I have seen especially taking the ball out of the air with his chest. His outstanding performance in 2012 would be against Manchester United on the opening day of the 2012/2013 season, helping his Everton side pick up three points.

Left Midfield- Gareth Bale (Tottenham)

Bale has turned himself into one of the best left sided players in the world, and he has been outstanding in 2012. With pace, trickery and vision, right backs fear the Welshman and its not surprising that the likes of Real Madrid are sniffing around the 23 year old. He is not only a danger going forward with the ball, but he can spot danger through his not so effective years at left back. This season alone Bale has 10 goals and four assists in the Premier League, showing why he is the best winger in the league.

Centre Forward- Luis Suarez (Liverpool)

Suarez never fails to be in the papers either for his football or his actions, but it is the football that is most spectacular. He is the main player at Liverpool and the Anfield side would be in huge trouble if it wasn’t for the Uruguayan. He scores all kinds of goals with his feet and head, from all angles and distances, but also has the ability and vision to set chances up. He has been chosen over Swansea’s Michu, because he has the better all round game.

Centre Forward- Robin van Persie (Manchester United)

RVP has been my stand out player of 2012, scoring 30 league goals last season for Arsenal and already bagged 16 goals for Manchester United this campaign. The Dutchman has the ability to score from anywhere on the pitch anyway he wants, but also  has the ability to create chances with six assists in the current season. RVP has been in stunning form throughout the whole of 2012 both Arsenal and Manchester United’s 2012/2013 seasons would have been a lot different if he hadn’t made the switch to Old Trafford.

Premier League predictions – weekend 24th November

This week has seen the first sacking of the season with Roman Abramovich parting ways with Roberto Di Matteo at Chelsea, just six months after winning the Champions League, keeping up with his tradition while at Stamford Bridge. This week’s stand out fixture involves Chelsea and their knew boss Rafa Benitez as champions Manchester City travel to London.

 

Aston Villa 0-3 Arsenal

The two sides are coming off the back of very different form. Aston Villa slipped into the bottom three after they suffered a heavy 5-0 defeat at the hands of Manchester City, while Arsenal will be flying high after beating local rivals Tottenham 5-2 and then qualifying for the last 16 in the Champions League.

 

Everton 2-1 Norwich

Norwich have hit a crucial run of good form, beating Manchester United 1-0 last week, extending their unbeaten run to five league games, winning three, while Everton’s run of form came to a crashing end with a 2-1 defeat against a struggling Reading. David Moyes will want to get back to winning ways and he will see it as a good opportunity if they can convert their chances, against the joint lowest scoring offense in the league.

 

Manchester United 3-0 QPR

This is a game between the best attacking team in the league and the side at the bottom of the table; I think it will show in the performance and the result. United will have a point to prove after the shock defeat against Norwich, losing top spot to rivals Manchester City in the mean time and you know Sir Alex Ferguson will have his players raring to go after resting them in a mid week against Galartasaray. QPR are already looking adrift at the bottom and under fire boss Mark Hughes will be desperate to get a victory against his old manager, but I don’t think it will happen this weekend.

 

Stoke 0-0 Fulham

Tony Pulis’ side is still unbeaten at the Britannia Stadium conceding one goal in the process, while Fulham have no problem scoring away from home, meaning there will be a great battle in front of the City box. Martin Jol will be without captain Brede Hangeland after being sent off in last weeks 3-1 defeat against Sunderland, which could be seen as a weakness with the ball swirling around in the windy conditions at the Britannia.

 

Sunderland 1-1 West Brom

West Brom are this season’s surprise package and I think they will keep their run going, even though they will be without keeper Ben Foster who has had a setback in his recovery after groin surgery. Expect a low scoring game here, with Sunderland being strong at the back but weak up front at the Stadium of light.

 

Wigan 1-0 Reading

Both teams will see this as an opportunity for moving away from the bottom three and Reading will be full of confidence after claiming their first victory of the season, but I still see a home win.

Sunday 25th November

Chelsea 2-2 Manchester City

The game sees the return of Benitez to English football and he will be hoping for a honeymoon period to quieten the doubters. Both sides will be looking forward to getting back to the league schedule after disappointments in midweek. Rafa will be without captain John Terry, which is a huge weakness and I can see them conceding goals, but the champions aren’t as organised at the back as they would like to be, and I expect Edin Hazard and Oscar to exploit this.

 

Southampton 1-3 Newcastle

Southampton will be full of confidence after beating fellow strugglers QPR 3-1, but I think Newcastle will have too much firepower for their leaky defence, and they will be seeing it as a springboard back to the heights they achieved last season.

 

Swansea 1-2 Liverpool

It sees the return of Brendon Rodgers to the Liberty Stadium, with his team on a seven game unbeaten run, and I think it will continue. Luis Suarez will be a real handful as he leads the way as the leagues top scorer with 10.

 

Tottenham 2-0 West Ham

Spurs have lost their last four league games but the tide has got to turn and I think it will be here it happens; but they will have to do it with one up top with Emmanuel Adebayor suspended. West Ham showed against Stoke they lacked real fire power with Andy Carroll struggling to find the back of the net for the Hammers.

 

 

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Is a 50th premier league win on the cards tonight

Stoke City travel to Upton Park looking for their 50th premier league win after their promotion in 2008.

Tony Pulis’ side will be trying to do something they haven’t achieved since the latter stages of last season in their search of the landmark; win away from the Britannia Stadium. Stoke haven’t managed a victory in their last 15 league fixtures away from home, scoring just eight goals in the process.

During this campaign their record stands at lost three, drawn three on the road and they will be hoping to put this right on Monday against this seasons surprise package West Ham who currently sit in sixth.

Both the Hammers and the Potters won their previous games 1-0 against Newcastle and QPR respectively and both will want to continue their winning ways.

West Ham’s fortunes at home are very different to Stoke’s away form, having only lost once this season, going down 3-1 against Arsenal in October. They will be pushing for all three points on Monday as their following four games give them the daunting prospect of Tottenham, Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool.

Stoke’s problem hasn’t been the defending, having the joint best defence in the league with champions Manchester City, conceding just 10 goals, four of them coming at Old Trafford. The problem has been going forward only bagging nine, and with West Ham only shipping one more goal than the visitors this season, Monday’s affair could be a low scoring one.

But both strikers will want to prove a point after being left out of Roy Hodgson’s England squad. Many believe England need a Peter Crouch or an Andy Carroll but there is only room for one. In a fixture bringing two of the toughest defences up against each other, is there a better place to put your case forward?

Neither manager will have a full squad at their disposal; Sam Allardyce is still without Ricardo Vaz Te who dislocated his shoulder during the defeat to Arsenal back in October and Jack Collison is out with a knee problem.

There are fresh injury worries for Pulis; Glenn Whelan is waiting the results of a scan after he limped off for the Republic of Ireland against Greece in midweek, while Charlie Adam and Jon Walters should make the trip despite picking up niggles. Marc Wilson (broken leg) and Rory Delap (hernia) are definitely out and Michael Owen (hamstring) remains a doubt. Dean Whitehead is also going to miss the game at Upton Park with his second suspension of the season, after he picked up his fifth yellow card in the game against QPR.

With both defences in their current good form and the lack of goals at the other end, the game has got a 1-1 draw written all over it.

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