EPL: Best XI of the First Half of the 2011-12 Season

With 2011 being just a matter of the past and the focus now on the end of the season, I’ve decided to look at some of the players that have shaped this year’s Premier League table at the turning of the year. The XI has been selected, and also, the few players who showed their class but didn’t, in my mind, do enough to get their name on the team sheet.

GK: Michel Vorm

The Swansea keeper has been immense for Brendan Rodger's side. He has been immense in terms of saves, as his reliability between the sticks has been second to none in the Premier League. However, saves are only half of Vorm's game. He also helps out with some intelligent distribution,aiding Swansea's possession game. 

Honorable Mention

Wojchech Sczcesny: The Polish keeper has definitely been more eye-catching than the understated Vorm, with his sweeper-keeper confidence inspiring. However, the Dutchman has the statistics on his side, saving more shots per goal than Sczcesny.

RB: Micah Richards

Micah Richards has been immense for Manchester City this season. He has provided both attacking and defensive solidity to Manchester City's game. His body strength also helps him in this respect. Supreme Crossing and a committed tackle leads to six assists and an average of 2.1 tackles and 3.8 interceptions per game, more than any right back in England.

Honorable Mention

Glen Johnson: An attacking right back with a great acceleration of pace and a great cross on him, Glen Johnson has shown his propensity for the attack this season, but falls down in the face of Richards' more impressive numbers. 

CB: Thomas Vermaelen

The 26-year-old Belgian has been instrumental for the Arsenal defence, providing much-needed defensive steel and organization, which Arsenal have lacked when he is not present. He also goes forward in attack with a pace and a thundering shot, which makes him seem unstoppable. Arsenal's new Tony Adams, he has been solid all season.

Honorable Mention

Phil Jones: Phil Jones has had an impressive season as United's "Utility Man" with his all-around footballing ability (even though he plays as a center back originally).

CB: Vincent Kompany

The Belgian has been defensively solid all season.He has adapted to the Premier League supremely in his two seasons there. He combines well with his more energetic partner, Joleon Lescott, by protecting the integrity of Manchester City's high back line with some late penalty-box defending.

Honorable Mention

Laurent Koscielny: He has recovered really well from early-season jitters and has been incredibly solid during Vermaelen's occasional absences. He is more self-effacing in his style but is of the same mold as Vermaelen.

LB: Ashley Cole

Yes, I know. He hs had some horror shows early this season, especially when up against Theo Walcott. His lack of pace and old age is inhibiting him. However, the fact that he has more assists than any left-back in any of the major European Leagues (six) should not be ignored. He has also had some resolute defensive performances, containing very capable wingers to great effect.

Honorable Mentions

Gael Clichy: Gael Clichy has coped well at Manchester City, establishing himself as a starter in the Manchester Club. He is defensively slightly better than Cole, but does not have nearly as much attacking end product.

Leighton Baines: Defensively slaughters Cole, but again lacks attacking end product and has had some terrible dips of form.

Jose Enrique: Again, overall, does not compare to Cole.

CDM: Lucas Leiva

Lucas Leiva has been the standout player in a Liverpool side which has many expected top performers. The "New Gilberto" has slotted in perfectly alongside Charlie Adam, who is playing a deep-lying distributor role. Lucas is a very effective destroyer in a 4-1-4-1 system, an all-around scrapper who is comfortable sweeping up all across the back four.

Honorable Mention:

Alex Song:  In this case, Song is not technically a central fefensive midfielder, as he plays a box to-box role in a midfield three, which sometimes turns into a 4-2-3-1. Lucas is the better player in this role. Song is the better player overall, but is not better than the central midfielders about to be mentioned.

CM: Luka Modric

The Wiry Croatian's imagination and natural panache and flair has helped Tottenham a lot this season. His natural role, a central midfielder who goes up to support the attacking midfielders, supports his talents perfectly. He stays in the centre of things, ready to move a pass to the wings with superb vision. He also has defensive ability, contributing some well timed tackles in the centre of midfield.

Honorable Mention

Mikel Arteta: Arteta has bene better for Arsenal than the dismissive fans orginally claimed he would be. Even if he isn't a Cesc Fabregas replacement, Arteta keeps the ball well when he is holding the midfield in a pseudo-Busquets role.

CM: Yaya Toure

His style is hustly and bustly, a 50-50 divide of technique and that African-style physical presence. Toure is a gifted tackler and strong in the air, great qualities for a defender. 

But what makes him as good at holding midfield as he is, it is attributable mainly to his impeccable distribution. He uses his passing ability to his advantage when he makes marauding runs, showing technique you might not expect, seeing the other side of his game, and this caught opponents completely unaware back when Toure was still unknown.

He now plays a role in the Manchester City midfield, which properly capitalizes on his talents. Alongside the brilliant Dutchman, Nigel De Jong plays a "driving force" box-to-box midfield role.

LM: David Silva

The Spaniard is the creative hub of the City side, playing an inverted role in the 4-2-2-2 system. He comes into the center to conduct the play and has assisted 10  goals, the second-highest total of any player in the top five leagues in Europe, second only to Real Madrid winger Angel Di Maria.

Honorable Mention

Gareth Bale: The Welshman nearly made the team, but Silva's absolute brilliance kept him out. Silva, along with a little help from Sergio Aguero and Yaya Toure, has pulled City into title contention and always has a good showing. He has been more consistent than Bale. 

RM: Luis Nani

The Portuguese winger has had an astonishing season of attacking end product. His creative genius again shined through, providing eight assists for Manchester United. His eye for goal is undiminished, scoring six in the Premier League. Furthermore, he has created 51 chances this season, the third most in the Premier League.

Honorable Mention

Juan Mata: The Chelsea man pushed Nani all the way, but in the end, it was the Chelsea man's goal throeat and all around-game which edged him past the Spaniard.

ST: Robin Van Persie

Do I even need to explain? The Dutchman has had 17 goals this season, the second highest total in Europe, and the highest in the Premier League. He has also contributed five assists. The degree to which Arsenal are reliant on his goal threat is frightening. This was the only real clear cut choice, Van Persie beating Ba and Rooney, by force of numbers.

Manager: Alan Pardew

Pardew has set up a Newcastle side, which surprised many pundits who had declared them relegation contenders. Instead, they reached third and were unbeaten until a game against Manchester City and are now seventh. He is not necessarily tactically innovative, but has a system that fits his players like a glove and works well with his stylistic template.

Honorable Mention

Roberto Mancini: He has led a collection of egos who had a fractured squad last season and has managed to control a lot of bad influences. He has also superbly changed his system to integrate the influx of talent into the squad. 

Formation: 4-1-4-1

It may not be the most prevalent formation in the Premier League, but it definitely reflects the cultural influx caused by money. The Premier League 4-1-4-1 is a more direct, defensive , version of the 4-3-3 Barcelona template. That probably explains why direct teams like Tottenham, Liverpool (hence the Dalglish photo) and Norwich and Swansea sometimes play this system, as well as Arsenal (again, when Theo and Gervinho start slightly deeper).

This formation is defensive, but is also good for keeping possesion, as well as playing directly, due to the 3 in midfield and the winger being closer to the midfield. However, the lone front man needs to be a target man due to his isolation. This suits most English teams, as most of them have one to spare. I prefer this formation to the 4-4-1-1, as it represents English adaptation to a more modern tactical paradigm.