his team of the season, so far

As the season has just passed it’s halfway mark, it seems a good time to reflect on what has happened so far in 2012-13, to highlight the success stories and to select my SPL team of the campaign so far.

I have written often about how much I’ve enjoyed the football being played and the amount of goals scored and after last weekend the 106 games had produced an impressive 297 goals at an average of 2.8 a match, a figure which, if maintained, would be just short of the all-time SPL best achieved in 99-00 and 02-03.

Despite the goals raining in, most sides have been well served on the goalkeeping front with Fraser Forster, Darren Randolph and Jamie MacDonald in particular catching the eye, but I’m going to go for our very own JAMIE LANGFIELD as keeper. Given all he has had to endure in recent times, and his well-publicised slip-up at Celtic Park at the start of the season, Jamie has bounced back incredibly well and been a solid and reliable last line of defence.

Ahead of him I’ve gone for a back-four, and while there was plenty competition with the likes of Efe Ambrose, Mark Reynolds, Ryan McGivern, Stevie Hammell and Charlie Mulgrew all to the fore, my selection is DAVE MacKAY, GARY WARREN, GAVIN GUNNING and GRAEME SHINNIE. MacKay is one of the most reliable defenders in Scottish football and has been for years, Warren has been a revelation for Caley Thistle while also adding four goals to their impressive tally, Gunning is a no-nonsense old-fashioned central-defender who can also spring counter-attacks with clever distribution and Shinnie generally defends well while also linking-up with team-mates further up the field.

Among the midfielders who have impressed me so far are Paul Cairney, Keith Lasley, Richard Brittain, Iain Vigurs, Murray Davidson and Kenny McLean, but none of those make it into my team.

Instead I’m going for two sitting central-midfielders in powerhouse VICTOR WANYAMA and the talented NICKY LAW whose ability to thread through a pass has been key to Motherwell’s superb away form so far.

Ahead of those two I’m going to put RYAN FRASER on the right and RICHIE FORAN on the left with BILLY McKAY supporting my main striker, MICHAEL HIGDON. Fraser had a devastating couple of months before succumbing to injury and Foran coming in off the wing offers a real aerial threat in addition to his ability to send in damaging crosses. McKay has been sensational, probably the most improved player in the SPL, and Higdon, always such a menacing presence, just edges out Gary Hooper who hasn’t quite hit top-form this season so far.

Jon Daly was a serious contender and his United team-mates Johnny Russell and Gary MacKay-Steven would have made it had they maintained their form across a longer period. Many would I know have selected Leigh Griffiths and I’ve also enjoyed watching Andrew Shinnie, Cillian Sheridan and Steven Thompson, who has developed into a very clever front-man.

Most unlucky to miss out is probably Niall McGinn, who has proved an astute signing and has been our best player so far, but he’s there on the bench to call on should I need him!

So my eleven is Langfield; MacKay, Warren, Gunning, Shinnie; Wanyama, Law; Fraser, McKay, Foran; Higdon.

Should you disagree – and I feel sure you will – please send me your choice on twitter at @RichardGordon48