Premier League: Team of the year 2014

From Liverpool’s winning streak last season where everything seemed too easy for the Reds to their current downfall, this year was a roller coaster ride for not just Liverpool fans, but Premier League fans in general.However, in terms of goals scored and thrilling action, this season was no different from the ones before it.While there were some expected heroes during the last 12 months, some unexpected figures rose to the limelight as well.Here are 11 players that performed to their full potential and got applause from the fans all over the World:

#1 David de Gea

While many people would refer to Wikipedia to search the definition of ‘evolution’, a mere glance at the career of David De Gea in Manchester United colours can provide a more practical example of that. Signed from Atletico Madrid and termed as the successor to Edwin van der Sar, David De Gea has finally looked like the goalkeeper United forked out £20 million for this year.

Even though Iker Casillas has recovered his form after a disastrous World Cup to his name, Spanish fans were demanding his exit after his howlers in the World Cup. Thus, the rise of rise of de Gea has served very well to Vicente Del Bosque who was under pressure after a miserable World Cup campaign. The start of a new era at Manchester United has promised opportunities for the new-comers with the arrival of Louis van Gaal at the helm, the Spanish stopper has done well to retain his place as the Number 1 goalkeeper for Manchester United.

In terms of history, Manchester United always have a habit of breeding World-class keepers at the helm. Alex Ferguson always had an eye for goal-keepers - From the Dane Peter Schmeichel in the 90s to van der Sar in the first decade of the 20th century. Even though de Gea did not perform well in his first two seasons at Old Trafford, the Spaniard is performing brilliantly this season.

Manchester United finished 2nd in de Gea’s first season in England, the performance levels of the Spaniard weren’t that good that season. Here is a tabular analysis of how far the Spaniard has come since his arrival at Manchester United:

	2012-13	2014-15
Avg. distance success	61%	68%
Avg. claim success	88%	92%
Saves per game	2.54	2.47

#2 Pablo Zabaleta

Zabaleta was a contender for the right back of the year last season before Seamus Coleman from Everton eventually grabbed the award. However throughout 2014, the Argentine has been the most consistent right back in the Premier League this whole year.

Pablo Zabaleta was an influential character in the Manchester City squad that clinched the Premier League title last season. Starting from January 2 since that match against Swansea City at the Etihad, Zabaleta played all but 2 matches for Manchester City in their quest of a 2^nd Premier League title in 3 years.

From January 2014 to date, while only 1 match remains before the end of year, no Premier League right back has more assists to his name than the Argentine (4). And even though the Everton right back Seamus Coleman leads in terms of chances created, Pablo Zabaleta was more influential in terms of chance conversion this season.

Although Manchester City bought Bacary Sagna from Arsenal to provide competition to Zabaleta in the summer, the Argentine’s performance levels remained consistently good to relegate the Frenchman to the bench. Though injuries have kept him out from some matches this season, the 29-year-old has always been Manuel Pellegrini’s first choice right-back when fully fit.

#3 Cesar Azpilicueta

Signed as a right back and then moved to the left back position, the young Spaniard effectively ended Ashley Cole’s career at Chelsea. Despite the acquisition of Filipe Luis from Atletico Madrid in the summer, Azpilicueta has made the left-back spot his own.

Although last season was only his 2^nd full season in Chelsea colours, the Spaniard showed no nerves in coping with a manager like Jose Mourinho. While he wasn’t the 1^st choice for Jose Mourinho in the opening 6 months, the decline in form of Ashely Cole served as the perfect spark to his career at Stamford Bridge.

Although he managed just 7 starts in the opening 6 months of 2013-14 season, 17 starts in 18 games after December eventually resulted in Azpilicueta succeeding Ashely Cole for the left-back role at Chelsea.

In his 2 seasons spell at Chelsea before this season, the Spaniard oversaw 3 managers and for a rookie like him, it would have been difficult to be the preferred choice for all of them. But, as they say, hard work pays off, and for Cesar Azpilicueta it surely did.

Cesar Azpilicueta’s work rate along with his uncanny ability to run with the ball and deliver delicious crosses into the opponents’ box have helped him become the best left-back of the Premier League in 2014.

#4 Jose Fonte

At 31 years of age and currently playing for a resurgent Southampton side, Jose Fonte is the reason why Southampton are among the top 5 teams of the Premier League this season. Fonte kept 8 clean sheets before May this year alongside Croatian Dejan Lovren and has kept up his performance levels despite the transfer of his partner to Liverpool.

Many predicted that Southampton will be involved in a relegation battle after the mass exodus last summer. However, the efforts made by Fonte have helped Southampton in competing for a Champions League spot this season.

When Dejan Lovren swapped loyalties and boarded a flight to Liverpool, Fonte found a new partner in Maya Yoshida. Alongside the Japanese, Fonte has kept 8 clean sheets so far this season.

Thus being a part of 16 clean-sheets in a calendar year with different center-back partners, the Southampton Captain is the main reason for his team’ s brilliant run in 2014.

After losing to Liverpool on the opening week of the Premier League, Southampton went on a 7 match unbeaten run which took them to 2^nd in the table. Even though their form has dipped of late with 4 defeats in the last 5 matches, they have conceded the lowest amount of goals in the Premier League this season (13).

#5 John Terry

From being a captain, to a leader and eventually becoming a legend for Chelsea football club, this year has been no different from his previous years at the center of the Chelsea defence. Although this year was a barren spell for Chelsea in terms of trophies, their defenders still performed admirably.

From the start of this year, Chelsea have conceded just 21 goals in 36 Premier League matches so far. And as no other team in the Premier League has conceded less, Chelsea’s defence deserves the applause.

Even though Gary Cahill also deserves praise for this statistic, the main credit should and rightly goes to John Terry as the veteran defender marshalled his troops brilliantly since getting a 1-year contract extension last summer. While his contract ends in the summer, recent performances made by the former English Captain would give weight to his claims of another extension to his contract.

In addition to defending, which is his main job, John Terry is currently eyeing another major accolade to his name in the attacking sense. After scoring the goal that gave Chelsea the lead against Stoke City on Monday, John Terry has become the 2nd highest goal-scoring defender in the Premier League history. Thus, through his scoring abilities along with with the uncanny ability to defend in difficult situations, John Terry has been one of the best - if not the best - defender in Premier League history and certainly was one of the best in 2014.

#6 Yaya Toure

When Sergio Aguero got injured time and again last season, Manchester City's chances of winning the Premier League title were written off by many. Getting knocked out of the Champions League Group stage and languishing in 4^th position in the league table at the start of March this year, many expected that the reign of Manuel Pellegrini will end like his predecessor Roberto Martinez.

However, Yaya Toure, like a man on mission, took matters into his own hands and guided Manchester City to their 2^nd league title in the space of 3 years. Having scored 11 of his 20 goals previous season in 2014, Toure helped Manchester City to the league despite Aguero’s absence.

Although there were news all summer linking him to a move away from the Etihad, Yaya Toure has responded in perfect fashion after becoming the 2^nd leading goalscorer for Manchester City this season. And with Sergio Aguero’s recent injury, Manchester City fans will be expecting Yaya Toure to continue his good form.

#7 Nemanja Matic

Coming to Chelsea for a hefty price of 25 million pounds in January this year, Nemanja Matic immediately became a part of Jose Mourinho’s new-look Chelsea.

Coming from the Portuguese league to the fast-paced Premier League, many believed that it would take some time before the Serbian will eventually find his form on English soil. But, the Serbian Player of the Year has not taken much time to settle in and had a tremendous 2014 with the Blues.

Even though he arrived in the middle of the 2013/14 season in January, he has played in all but 2 matches for Chelsea in the Premier League. Although the Serbian might not be as pleasing on the eye as players like Frank Lampard or Steven Gerrard, his work rate combined with his approach of reading the game has made him irreplaceable for Chelsea since his arrival.

In all of Jose Mourinho sides from Chelsea to Inter-Milan and finally at Real Madrid, the defensive midfielder has always been an important component. And comparing Matic to the brigade of defensive midfielders Mourinho has acquired in the past, the Serbian certainly does not look lost in illustrious company.

#8 Raheem Sterling

Only a small proportion of players play for a Premier League club aged just 20 – let alone a club of Liverpool’s stature, an even smaller proportion of them become irreplaceable for both club and country. Playing in the World Cup after becoming an important component of Liverpool’s team last season, Sterling has come back to haunt defenders with his trickery again this season.

Even though Liverpool fans are currently annoyed by the contract talks relating to the Jamaican-born winger, Sterling’s performances week after week makes him worthwhile for a huge increase in his current salary at Liverpool. With talks linking him to Real Madrid surrounding Anfield in the summer, Liverpool should resolve his contract situation quickly to avoid further trouble.

At just 20 years of age, Sterling is shouldering the burden of carrying Liverpool’s and England’s expectations. The versatility that Sterling offers to his managers is very rare. Playing 3 matches in the space of 8 days and an important player for both club and country, Raheem Sterling has been dubbed as the next Michael Owen for Liverpool and England. While Liverpool bought in a barricade of midfielders in the summer, the fact that Raheem Sterling is still the top-scorer for the Reds indicates his worth.

#9 Eden Hazard

Arguably the 3^rd best player in the World after Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, Eden Hazard is another deserved inclusion in our Premier League team of the year. In the 2013/14 season when goals dried up for Chelsea strikers, all the goal-scoring burden was lifted by their midfielders with Eden Hazard the major reason why Chelsea finished 3^rd in the league even after scoring only 71 goals.

While Diego Costa is dominating the goal-scoring charts, the Belgian isn’t far behind him this season. Chelsea have at their disposal the quality of creative midfielders like Cesc Fabregas, but the Belgian is still the 2^nd top goal scorer for Chelsea this season.

As most of his goals have come at important intervals i.e. against teams like Tottenham and Arsenal, the Belgian is a big game player for Chelsea again this season.

#10 Sergio Aguero

Well, who else? It had to be him as there was no other choice, not for the whole year. Although players like Luis Suarez and Diego Costa dominated the first and second half of this year in the Premier League respectively, there is definitely no competitor when it comes to consistency throughout the whole year.

Although Aguero missed 13 matches for Manchester City since the start of January, he has managed 18 goals in 23 appearances for Manchester City which makes him the 2nd top-scorer in the Premier League this calendar year.

Even though last season was cut short for the Argentine due to frequent injury problems, still he managed 17 goals in 23 appearances for the Citizens.

This season, Manchester City’s golden boy has managed 14 goals so far in just 15 matches in the Premier League. Thus, even though Chelsea have spent millions on recruiting top quality players along with Liverpool, Manchester City have the upper-hand due to a certain Sergio Aguero in their side.

#11 Wilfried Bony

When Swansea signed the Ivorian in 2013 for a club record fee of 12 million pounds, they might not have foreseen the impact the former Vitesse player would make in the Premier League. Coming on the back of performances that earned him 53 goals in just 73 appearances in the Dutch league, Wilfried Bony was tipped to do something special by then Swansea manager Michael Laudrup. After managing 20 goals in the Premier League in 2014, Wilfried Bony is the top-scorer this year.

Bony scored 16 goals last season and with 12 of them coming in the year 2014. Bony was the main reason why Swansea survived relegation comfortably. Although it was only his 1^st season in the Premier League, the Ivorian was the 6^th top scorer of the league last season. While all of the other top scorers were from teams in the top 4 of table, Bony was the only striker from the bottom half of the table in that list.

Turning our attention to this season and looking at Swansea’s position in the Premier League table, Wilfried Bony has again lived up to the expectations of his fans. Having scored 8 goals so far this season, the Ivorian is expected to draw interest from the likes of Liverpool and Tottenham once more in the winter transfer window.