Today was mint! We were at Virgin Money HQ in Newcastle giving a talk about The *TeaShed and start up loans to some top business people and Virgin Money Superstars.

Virgin have a new loan scheme for 18-24 year olds in the North East and Cumbria who are starting their own business. You can have up to £25,000 with a low 6% interest, repayable over a negotiated amount of time. Not only that but you get mentoring and training with it. Sounds pretty sweet!

We are hoping to get on the scheme but may be a too old (!!) unless we act quickly. Failing that we are happy to take discounted broadband or half price flights?! Sir Richard B if you are reading this, we would LOVE to go to New York to set up a *Tea Shed out there!

It really is such a fantastic scheme and brilliant for the North East & Cumbria. Thanks Virgin!

Ooo and we gave a Northern Brew TeaPod to Coloccini (Newcastle United) today!

Love *TS

Another season gone and all the fall out of that last dramatic day still flooding every media outlet we decided we would chip in with our team of the season. We went with the standard 442 set up to keep it simple. 

GK

Gareth: There can really be no argument against selecting Joe Hart in the team of the season. The number of clean sheets is testament to how well the Manchester City keeper works with his defence. When you think about there are only a few keepers on a level with Hart (Reina, Cech and Vorm) and Hart looks like he is ready to step it up a gear again. Building from the back is paramount to any team and City have a great foundation in Hart, who was born for his role.

Rick: There is a theory (more common sense) that the difference between a good goalkeeper and great one, is that the great one will win you points. Joe Hart has been calm and collected all season and confidence in a goalkeeper filters through to the defenders alleviating pressure on a back four. Hart has the most clean sheets in the league for the past two seasons and at just 25 may well oversee quite a haul of medals and trophies over the next decade.

RB

Gareth: I tried to pick Kyle Walker for this position for fear that my actual choice: Micah Richards, would start to make my team a little City heavy. I could not justify Walker over Richards when it came to it, Walker may have the edge in playing more games this campaign. Richards has made the transition from talented youngster to Premier League main-stay. If the Manchester City Academy graduate does not make the Euros team it will be a travesty.

Rick: This position has been my  most difficult choice chose with no player maintaing form through the season, but Kyle Walker just gets it. Bacary Sagna, Michah Richards and Pablo Zabaleta have been all very good but Walker has been incredible given his relative inexperience compared to the rest and Rednapp’s attempts to wear out his legs.

CB

Gareth: Vincent Kompany makes it 3 City players for 3 positions but no-one can argue the case for leaving him out of the season’s top XI. Kompany is arguably ranked in the top 2 centre backs this season, since Vidic’s injury and Pujol’s decline. An inspiration on the pitch City’s captain is as inspiring off it since gaining the armband and joining the world of twitter.

Rick: Vincent Kompany’s performances this year have typified the phrase commanding centre back. His tackling and timing has been a joy to watch. It feels unfair to compare City’s achievements to their cross town rivals as they have done it all on their own merit, but in Kompany City more than have their answer to Vidic. It is such a shame that he and Belgium will miss out on the Euros.

CB

Gareth: Coloccini has solidified the Toon’s defence this season and helped them to a European finish. Not just a funny haircut the Argentine is a talented centre back who is finally due the recognition he deserves. The key for Newcastle is not to sell him to a bigger club as he will provide the spine a Champion’s League side can be built on.

Rick: Johnny Evans. This may well be one of the only places on the internet that you’ll see his name appear on such a list, but a United defense with the absence of Vidic conceded only 4 more goals than the champions who topped the goals against table. That doesn’t happen by accident and Evans has been integral to United sustained league challenge. Chris Smalling and Phil Jones may be the longer term choices but right now Evans is superior to both error prone Englishmen.

LB

Gareth: Everton’s Leyton Baines takes my left-back award. The position has not lit up the top flight like its right-sided counter part has done. Baines has been in good form for the season and played well in his position. it might be time for pastures new for him as Everton might hold him back, Arsenal might need to replace Gibbs who hasn’t delivered his potential and Banies could hack it.

Rick: If football is good at one thing it’s making you regret statements. When Arsenal let Gael Clichy go for just 7 million I applauded Wenger for selling magic beans to the Northern side. Clichy has been superb going forward this year while his defensive work has improved since his time at Arsenal.

CM

Gareth: Yaya Toure is an obvious choice for this position but I select him in his attacking mode now in his holding role. The giant Ivorian has been key for Mancini’s men this season with his charging runs. Useful as a defensive player, Yaya has made his name in ploughing forward, his goals at Newcastle this season helped seal the deal on that top place finish.

Rick: Alex Song has represented a sea change for many players in the Arsenal team. After losing Nasri and Fabregas and Alex song has shaken of his what does he actually do tag and stepped up helping Arsenal to third place and still above the supposedly excellent Tottenham. Assured passing has seen the Cameroonian notch up 11 league assists. Arsenal are not quite the one many team many believe them to be.

CM

Gareth: The Frenchman, Yohan Cabaye, has been a real quality addition to Pardew’s team. Newcastle fans stared in disbelif as Kevin Nolan and Joey Barton both left the club last summer. The replacement has been the difference in Newcastle performances this season. High attacking and defensive work rates for 90 minutes make him a great addition to any Premier League team and Newcastle know it as they will look to build around him and Colocinni.

Rick: Clint Dempsey is set to enjoy a long holiday looking over big money contracts from top four teams, but it’s noting more than the American deserves. The attacking midfielder has outscored most strikers and taken his Fulham tally to 50.

RW

Gareth: Antonio Valencia takes it here for me, Hat Ben Arfa came close but Valencia has been a real high point this season for United. Having missed a lot of the previous season with a broken leg he was the catalyst for Rooney scoring. As this season goes he was dropped once for the Manchester-derby as the season came to a close and United looked out of sorts without him.

Rick: Antonio Valencia gets the nod here. Valencia’s versatility has at times hampered United, deprving them of their most creative player as Sir Alex moves the Ecudorian to right back. The former Wigan man is extremely important to how Rooney plays and it’s no coincidence that last year Rooney found his form again after Valencia returned from injury.

LW

Gareth: Silva, the man who helped City clinch gold. He started like a train and works well in that attacking four of Aguero, Tevez and Nasri. He did go off the boil as the season wore on due to a recurring ankle injury and City’s over reliance on him. If he gets the rest epect him to set the top flight on fire again in September.

Rick: Stewart Downing , Sorry. I couldn’t help it. David Silva has been the man behind City’s title push. The premier League leading assist maker has proven without doubt that he isn’t ” a bit lightweight for the premier league”. Silva has everything, range of passing, vision, comfortable with the ball.  Silva played less than 100 minutes at the World Cup in 2010 but now a league champion may have earned more than a Cameo at this years summer tournament.

ST 

Gareth: Arguably one of the best strikers in the world, Wayne Rooney, delivered time and time again for United this season. It’s difficult to think of a way to keep describing how good Rooney is but he justifies his selection in this starting XI by being the second highest scorer in the league, second only to…

Rick: Rooney has been United leading man once again. It’s strange to think he has acquired only one yellow card on his way to firing 27 goals for the red devils. Rooney had much to repay to the United faithful after last years ill judged contract negotiations but is well on his way to becoming a United legend. Now it’s just time to repay all those fans paying big money to visit Polkraine.

ST

Gareth: Robin van Persie, I had to stop myself putting in Sergio Aguero but the figures do not lie: 30 goals has set the Dutchman clear as the league’s best striker. Fitness has always been an issue with van Persie but he seemed to have quashed his demons this year to play all but one league game. The service to him has been excellent but you have to finish your chances and RVP has done just that, 30 times.

Rick: Robin van Persie. It was only going to be the Dutchman. A strikers’ currency is in goals and the Arsenal forward is the richest in the Premier League. After years of promise and flashes of ability injuries have been a distant memory as he has reached his full potential. Only one question remains. Come September will he be starting up front with Lukas Podolski?

Subs

Gareth: Szczesny, Walker, Vermaelen, Parker, Young, Ba, Aguero – I still go for balance not impressive attacking players like some…

Rick: Vorm,  Richards, Aguero, Parker, Young, Yaya Toure, Mata – More attacking subs than defensive ones but the Premier League turned its’ back on defending this year.

Manager

Gareth: Brendan Rodgers, the passing style of Swansea may not be all his work but to finish 11th in their first season, whilst playing great football earns Rodgers my award for manager of the season. Although I do think Moyes deserves a mention.

Rick:  Alan Pardew. For the first time in many years Newcastle fans have will looked forward to a season. Pardew has proven as capable on the pitch as off it. Recruiting has been superb while the club nearly reached the Champions League, all with Mike Ashley still at the helm.