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As we are half way down the premier league season, the league table is finally starting to shape up properly. Now the teams can more or else identify the realistic targets which are beckoning them.In the last few months, many players have shined for their respective clubs to help them stay where they are in the table. Let us look at the best eleven and the stand out coach so far in England:
#1 Goalkeeper: David De Gea
After being criticised at the start of his Manchester United career in 2011, Degea has earned the praise from the same section of people lately with his impressive performances. After early disappointments, Degea started to gradually grow into his position and won the PFA goal keeper of the year award the very next season in 2013.
Since then he has been a prolific figure at the back of the Reds defence. After defensive rocks such as Vidic and Ferdinand left the club in the summer, Degea had to hold the fort for an inexperienced defence this season and the Spaniard duly did it. The 24-year-old has saved more points for Manchester United than their attackers have gained in the other end of the field.
Notably his heroics against Everton, Arsenal and Liverpool helped his team get all three points. Since De Gea had to do all on his own in United's defence, he gets the nod ahead of Thibaut Courtois, who in truth has the luxury of a solid defence in front of him.
#2 Right-back: Nathaniel Clyne
The 23-year-old right back is one of the revelations of the season with his impressive displays. The England international has always been earmarked as an exciting talent since his Crystal Palace days.
Only this campaign, he fulfilled his true potential by establishing himself as one of the best in his position in the country. Clyne, has always been knowing for his good attacking threat, however this season he has improved his defensive duties as well.He was rewarded with a England call up last month ahead of his former Southampton teammate Callum Chambers.
#3 Centre-back: John Terry
When players cross 30 years, they are expected to lose their ability, however John Terry's performance has improved by age. Terry has been a calming influence in the defence to steady the ship at the back this season.
Chelsea have finished the year at the top of the table. Most of the credit have gone to their attackers, however one should not forget the teams defensive performances to achieve the feat.
They have conceded only 14 goals in the league and that is mainly down to his great partnership with Gary Cahill. At the age of 34, many thought Terry has passed his prime but, he proved his haters wrong by playing all their 19 league matches this season.
#4 Centre-back: Winston Reid
West Ham are sitting in sixth position above the likes of Liverpool with a rare shot at the coveted top four spots. Winston Reid has been one of the key players in helping the East Londoners stay where they are in the table.
He is quick, strong and is confident when it comes to reading the game and bringing the ball out of defence. He has established himself as one of the best defenders in the league this campaign.
With the 26-year-olds contract runs out at the end of the current season, he has attracted a lot of interest from the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United. It is unclear where he will be in the future if he carries on in this rich vein of form.
#5 Left-back: Ryan Bertrand
Despite starting for Chelsea in their 2012 Champions League final triumph at Allianz Arena, the English international has struggled to cement a place in the teams starting line up. It prompted him to move to Southampton for his seventh loan move in the summer where he has been a revelation this campaign.
He has played 18 league matches for the St. Mary's outfit this season and has scored twice in that period. Bertrand is an all round defender who is very athletic, energetic and he likes to go forward a lot.
This season he has improved his defensive ability and has impressed everyone with his positional play. Despite being contracted till 2017 with Chelsea, Ronald Koeman would hope to make his loan move a permanent one if he keeps up this level.
#6 Right Midfielder: Alexis Sanchez
The Chilean international has been one of the signings of the season so far in England. He has single handedly kept Arsenal near the top four spots this campaign.
The attacking player who can play anywhere in the attacking third has everything a manager demands from an attacker. He is quick and a good dribbler of the ball, has good vision for pass and he is always a big threat in front of the goal.
The 26-year-old has already managed 10 goals this season in the premier league, along with six assists. If Arsenal were to finish in top four, Sanchez has got to stay fit for the rest of the campaign.
#7 Central Midfielder: Cesc Fabregas
When Barcelona deemed Fabregas as surplus to requirement, many believed his best age was behind him. However, Mourinho bought him under the noses of his former club Arsenal and revolutionized the midfielder fortunes to recover his former self.
The 27-year-old midfielder has the most assists in the league with 13 and he also has couple of goals to his name. He has been at the hub of everything which Chelsea has did good this season.
He left many surprised with the way he has adopted quickly within his new teammates. Chelsea will hope that the Spaniard maintains this level, if they are to win their first league title since 2010.
#8 Central Midfielder: Nemanja Matic
He has been one of the players of the 2014 after Chelsea signed him from Benfica in the last January window. The 26-year-old has been a rock at the middle of the park by protecting his defenders from opposition attackers.
It's not always easy to see what the Serbian does when he's playing. It becomes obvious only when he doesn't play. His work rate is second to none as he not alone helps the team defensively but, also initiates many attacking moves from the back.
He also has a lethal left foot which can terrorize any goal keeper in a given day. The Serbian has a goal and two assists to his name so far in the league.
#9 Left Midfielder: Eden Hazard
No wonder another Chelsea player has made the list. With the way the Blues are flying this season, the entire team might make the list at the end of the season if they can keep this form going.
It is no secret that Eden Hazard has been one of the best players not only in England but, also in Europe this season. He is a defender's nightmare, who can dribble at pace to breeze past the opposition players.
He has an eye for goals and has scored some memorable solo efforts this season. Hazard has so far scored 10 goals and assisted six more for Chelsea in all competition this campaign.
#10 Striker: Sergio Aguero
It will be hard to imagine where Manchester City would have been if not for Aguero this season. One of the world's most highly-rated strikers, Aguero has a great footwork, dribbling skills and clinical finishing.
The 26-year-old has scored 14 goals in the league and five in the Champions League including a hatrick against Bayern Munich.
The Argentinian has carried City single handedly to stay in touching distance from Chelsea. City fans will be praying for him to return to from his injury soon to reinstate their teams title aspiration.
#11 Striker: Diego Costa
After his disappointing World Cup with Spain, many questioned Mourinho's decision to sign the striker from Atletico Madrid. The Brazilian born Spaniard has however proved his haters wrong by impressing so far with the Blues.
The 26-year-old's towering presence up front will no doubt cause problem to any defence in the world. He is a physical player, who likes to bring the opposition players close to him to open up spaces for his teammates.
He is also a good finisher, who has scored 13 goals for Chelsea this season from just 16 premier league games. When many struggle to settle in England, the Spaniard has taken no time to settle in the physical English game.
#12 Manager: Ronald Koeman
Saints endured one of the worst summer in their life after a mass exodus took place at the club in the last window. As many as 10 players left the club after their manager Mauricio Pochettino moved for Tottenham Hotspur.
The club was in absolute disarray when Koeman took charge of the club. He cleverly used the money which the club received from the players sale and brought seven new recruits to begin the Saints revolution.
The club defied the odds to sit fourth in the league table with 33 points. Further they have conceded just one more then Chelsea with 15. That cannot take away the beautiful football the club are playing, as they have the third best goal difference in the league with 17.
Despite a recent blip which saw them lose five games in a row in all competition, the Saints looked to have regained their form to finish the year with two wins and a creditable draw against Chelsea. Koeman is the main reason behind the team which few tipped to be relegated at the start of the season to be flying high in the league.
