With awards season round the corner, it's time to break down the top ten contenders for the PFA player of the year award...
With only 8 games left in the season the time has come for the annual awards season. Just like the Oscars, there will be some hot favourites, some outside chances and of course some perennial Scorsese esque runner ups. Given that the voting is over at this stage, it is time for my own opinion on the top 10 premier league players this season. We’ll begin at number 10 and run from there.
10. Robin van Persie
While Arsenal have comfortably sewn up a champions league spot at this stage, the fact that they are back up there can be put down to two players in particular, both of whom appear on this list. The first is van Persie, a frustrating figure for fans of the gunners whose quality is undoubtable, but whose durability is under constant scrutiny. Forget Cesc Fabregas, when van Persie is fit he is unquestionably the best player on the team, one who is adept at creating chances as he is scoring them. A cannon of a left foot combined with a class that can only be described as Dutch brilliance mean that Arsenal have a frontman who can lead the team for years to come – if they can keep him fit.
9. Stephen Ireland
While the Andy Reid debate continues to rage in these shores, the fact that Stephen Ireland has yet to return in a green shirt is the real tragedy to befall the Irish team this term. City signed a whole host of players, including the mercurial Robinho, but it is clear that when it comes to City’s attacking threat there is one man Mark Hughes trusts over any other. Ireland’s early form in particular this year was as good as any in the entire league, and drew many weary sighs from members of the green army who have not seen a schemer in his class since the days of Ray Houghton. There will no doubt be many more expensive arrivals at Eastlands over the summer, but this is one member of the side who is absolutely assured of his place.
8. Phil Jagielka
Everton have been the unsung success of this season, quietly creeping into 6th place without ever really threatening to go one further like Aston Villa have done this season. This represents undoubted progress – David Moyes has seen previous successful seasons followed by mediocre ones in comparison – and much of this consistency is down to Everton’s superb pairing at the back in Yobo and Jagielka. Moyes has developed Jagielka superbly, and it is very much worth remembering that when he signed for the blues he was considered to be a defensive midfield player, a position he thrived in throughout his Sheffield United days. The tactical awareness and sureness on the ball he developed through this time has served him well in his deployment into the back four, and his progress this season has seen him awarded with an England debut. The two merseyside teams are characterised by rock solid spines to the teams, and no one epitomises this more for Everton than Phil Jagielka.
7. Brede Hangeland
While the name by number seven is Hangeland himself, it would be rude not to recognise the contribution of some of his teammates. A superb partnership with Aaron Hughes, who has come a long way since the Lawrie Sanchez days, is helped immeasurably by the tactical nous and leadership of Danny Murphy, whose position in front of the back four might not provide a Mascherano style toughness, but does provide assured possession and few mistakes. Hangeland however, has been the standout of the three. The best example of a superb transfer policy, Roy Hodgeson has proved his calibre as a manager by leading Fulham to 8th place in the league after keeping them up the season before. Hangeland has it all – strength, physique, pace, positioning and leadership, and he is an advert as to the benefits of a manager playing his trade in another country. (One doubts that Hodgeson would have signed him without prior experience of Scandinavian management) While the majority of the top four sides have rock solid defenses, it would not be a great surprise to see Arsenal come in for the Norwegian international come summer.
6. Luis Antonio Valencia
The spark in premier league surprise package Wigan Athletic, Valencia looked like he had ability in his games for Ecuador at the 2006 world cup, but seemed far too lightweight for the demand of the premiership. He is the perfect advert for how ability is always going to be a greater determinant of success than physique in football, despite certain managerial philosophy dictating the contrary at clubs such as Liverpool, Arsenal and Inter Milan. Valencia’s performances have been absolutely superb, and have seen him linked with the likes of Liverpool and Manchester United. These are not empty tabloid links; this boy has everything required to succeed at one of the clubs at the pinnacle of the English game. Trickery, pace, superb crossing and an ability to beat his man are the hallmarks of a player who appears to be close to the complete player, and one who has a great future whether in these shores or abroad at the likes of Real Madrid.
5. Martin Laursen
A controversial choice given how much game time he has missed, but on his day it is hard to argue against the fact that he is arguably the best defender in the league. It is no coincidence that his absence has seen Villa’s form spiral downward, and combined with the return of Robin van Persie his injuries have given the momentum back to Arsenal in the race for fourth place. He is a paradoxical players – he has undoubtedly proved why Milan deemed him to be a good enough player for their ranks, yet at the same time as shown comprehensively why they let him go. A player who is as injury prone as this is always going to be a liability in some format, as you could lose them at any time. Villa have found this out to their cost, as their fans hopes and dreams were dispelled by the return of the distinctly average Zat Knight to the line-up following Laursen’s serious knee injury. While they will undoubtedly have to strengthen the centre back position in the summer, the great irony is that they will not find someone with more ability than this defensive colossus with shaky foundations.
4. Xabi Alonso
There are many that say Rafa Benitez is a lucky manager, and their case will have been helped no end by the reemergence of Alonso through this campaign. Anonymous for the past two seasons, Alonso’s immense popularity with the fans shielded him from the fact that Benitez was absolutely spot on in his rationale of cashing in on him to sign Gareth Barry. As fate would have it, logic failed to rule the day once again, and Alonso retained his place in the heart of the Anfield midfield, and has responded with his best season to date in a red shirt. The metronomic passing that was a hallmark of his first season at Liverpool has returned, and he has been missed as much as Steven Gerrard when his name is not in the starting line-up. There have been many occasions where Liverpool have come from behind this season. If Benitez has rested a couple of players in some of these matches, it is telling that he does not turn to a second striker to change the tide of the game – instead he motions to Alonso to rise from the bench and to raise the tempo of the match. Alonso’s form has not gone unnoticed – he is back in the starting line up for his country, and it is probably a safe bet that he will not be touted around Europe this season.
3. Nicolas Anelka
It is absolutely mystifying as to why this man has not received more plaudits this year. The league’s top scorer has stepped up to the plate magnificently, performing week in week out as a lone striker while Didier Drogba appeared to take on his traditional mantle of “Le Sulk.” Anelka has always had the tools to succeed as a modern frontman – pace, power, finishing ability and game intelligence. While his career has been dictated by agents thus far, a breakout season with Chelsea this year almost certainly points to pastures greener in the future. On a personal note, I have never seen a better player in the flesh – having had the pleasure of being present in Anfield in March 2002 against Newcastle, the day the lights went out, Anelka was the star of a three pronged attack alongside Owen and Heskey. Anyone who has seen the French enigma in the flesh, and who has seen his exquisite touch light up a game of football will surely agree that he is worth a top three finish in the PFA awards this year.
2. Nemanja Vidic
The favourite to win this years award, and justifiably so. Vidic has performed admirably in a United defence that broke records left right and centre this season. Forget the mediocre Edwin van der Sar, the real plaudits are deservedly heading Vidic’s way for his domineering displays that broke the consecutive clean sheet record. While I still maintain that Ferdinand is a more valuable defender, his absence for a considerable number of games saw Vidic take the lead and develop considerably as a player. However, a number of costly errors this year have seen him slip out of my top spot. The two against Liverpool come to mind, but there have been several similar incidents where generous refereeing has let him off the hook. Vidic might get exposed for pace every now and again, but his displays throughout the rest of the season crown him as the seasons best defender in my humble opinion.
1. Steven Gerrard
My choice to win the award this year is not motivated by bias, but by having had the pleasure of watching arguably the most complete player in world football week in week out. Gerrard can play well in a deeper role, but it is in his new position that Benitez has managed to unleash the torrential ability that has existed in his captain to play in a more attacking role. The amount of times that Gerrard has taken a game by the scruff of a neck through sheer grit, ability and determination has gone over my head, and one almost expects him to do it at this stage. I have never particularly liked Steven Gerrard, even as a Liverpool fan. He is arrogant, he would have gone to Chelsea without the admittedly over the top protestations of the fans and having seen how he has treated young fans waiting for autographs on occasions outside Anfield I would certainly never sing his praises on a personal level. But in terms of pure footballing ability he is unquestionably the best player in England on form, and is only rivalled by Eto’o and Messi this season.
Honourable mentions outside the top 10: Wayne Rooney, Frank Lampard, Ashley Young, Danny Murphy, Peter Crouch
