Van Der Sar
Richards--Kompany--Vidic--Enrique
Silva--Toure--Modric--Bale
Van Persie--Suarez
Richards--Kompany--Vidic--Enrique
Silva--Toure--Modric--Bale
Van Persie--Suarez
Edwin van der Sar, 41 (Manchester United and Holland)
Even though he retired at the end of last season, Van der Sar was so crucial to Manchester United’s success in winning the title that he has to be my goalkeeper of the year.
In the big matches, he was often the reason why United came away with the points.
Van der Sar’s value to United has become even more obvious since he retired, because the question marks over the goalkeeping position remain, despite the arrival of David de Gea.
When you have a guy between the sticks who is totally reliable, calm and consistent, as Van der Sar was, it makes such a difference.
Micah Richards, 23 (Manchester City and England)
Micah has come back from absolutely nowhere at Manchester City and there is no doubt that he is now the real deal.
When he came onto the scene as a teenager he looked a world-beater, but he then struggled for a while and fell out of favour with both club and country.
But he has come back bigger, stronger and better.
As a kid, he looked set to be a great centre-back, but he has made the right-back role his own and I can’t understand his continuing failure to make the England team.
He has pace, strength, gets forwards really well and has a touch of quality.
Vincent Kompany, 25 (Manchester City and Belgium)
Kompany is a fantastic player and has become the bedrock of the Manchester City defence.
For all the talk of City’s flair players and their attacking options going forward, the one player that Roberto Mancini really would not want to lose is Kompany.
Without their captain at centre-half, City are not quite the same and Kompany has it all.
He is strong, very good in the air, quick and very impressive technically.
You go through all the criteria for a top centre-half and he ticks all the boxes.
Nemanja Vidic, 30 (Manchester United and Serbia)
The United captain was just sensational in the closing weeks of last season, when he played such a big part in his team winning the title.
Whenever United were under pressure, Vidic would be there, kicking, heading and blocking everything that came near him.
He is a mountain of a man and United will miss him so much until he returns from a cruciate ligament injury next season.
How he was not voted as Footballer of the Year is beyond belief.
José Enrique, 25 (Liverpool and Spain)
Enrique has really impressed me since moving to Liverpool from Newcastle at the start of the season.
I always knew he was a good player, but he has been exceptional at Anfield.
In truth, it has not been a great year for left-backs.
There are no real contenders at Arsenal, Spurs or Manchester City and both Patrice Evra and Ashley Cole have struggled for Manchester United and Chelsea respectively.
Enrique has been consistent, however, and the highest praise you can pay him is that he looks as though he has been at Liverpool forever with his awareness on the ball significantly improving.
David Silva, 25 (Manchester City and Spain)
Going forward, there is currently nobody better in the Premier League than David Silva.
Game after game, his pace and artistry for Manchester City is a joy to watch and his performances alone are worth the admission fee at the Etihad Stadium.
The good thing about Silva is that he really appears to be enjoying himself and he looks stronger than he was in his first season at the club last year.
He is going on to the pitch knowing he will enjoy himself and play well and, as a result, City play well too.
Will he want to go back to Spain? There is no sign of that yet.
Luka Modric, 26 (Tottenham Hotspur and Croatia)
The Tottenham midfielder is a real, class act and in the role he plays, he is better than any other in the Premier League.
It is a tribute to Modric that he has performed so well for Spurs this season having seemingly been set on leaving the club in the summer.
Many players would sulk when denied a move, but he has got on with it and been superb again.
They say the ability to find time and space is the hallmark of a great player, Modric has weeks of it when he is on the ball.
Yaya Touré, 28 (Manchester City and Ivory Coast)
The Manchester City midfielder is multi-talented and versatile and has proven to be equally effective, either as a holding player or as a guy who plays in an advanced role.
When you look at England, they have always found it difficult to get the best out of Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard in both roles because neither has the discipline to perform the holding role properly.
Touré has that discipline, though, and he is just as happy playing in front of the back four as he is to go and play further forward.
Gareth Bale, 22 (Tottenham Hotspur and Wales)
Bale has had a sensational year and he has become an even better player since his brilliant game against Inter Milan in the San Siro last season.
His pace is a killer before you even start, but his crossing ability is also a nightmare for defenders to deal with.
He can go left, right or through the middle and has shown the capability to tear apart the best defences in the world.
His consistency is also getting better and he has added tricks to his game, which shows he is improving all the time.
Robin van Persie, 28 (Arsenal and Holland)
Van Persie’s goalscoring record in 2011 has been unbelievable and the goal he scored against Everton earlier this month, an incredible volley, was the goal of the season for me.
His technique from the position he hit the ball, the cut-away to curve the ball into the net, was sensational.
Prior to this year, the big question over Van Persie centred on how Arsenal could keep him fit, but he seems to have resolved that and it is great for them and the Premier League that he is back to his best.
Luis Suárez, 24 (Liverpool and Uruguay)
While he has been no stranger to controversy this season, there can be no denying that the Uruguayan has been a revelation at Liverpool since arriving from Ajax in January.
He was signed to replace Fernando Torres, but within two weeks of his arrival, the question at Anfield was 'Fernando who?’
Suárez has given Liverpool something they have not had for a long time and people at the club cannot believe how good he is. He has goals, work-rate and a great team-ethic.
The only surprise is that nobody brought him here sooner.
Manager: Sir Alex Ferguson (Manchester United)
It has to be Sir Alex Ferguson, simply for his ability to drag Manchester United to their 19th title last season.
Away from home, United were as bad as they have ever been, but Sir Alex made the difference.
Titles are usually all about players, with a sprinkling of the manager, but it was the other way around with United last season.
Had he been in charge of any other top four team, they would have won the title and that is why I would not bet against United winning the league again this season, despite Manchester City’s emergence.
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