EPL Player of the Year: The Leading Candidates

There are many headlines and fairytales yet to be written before this season comes to a close. The title is a three horse race with Man Utd, Arsenal and Chelsea all still in the mix.

Liverpool and Everton are battling it out for fourth place, and the pot of gold that is Champions League football, while Spurs have already bagged the Carling cup and a Uefa cup slot next season.

Derby were today confirmed as relegated and seven other clubs are fighting for survival with Fulham in particular looking like joining them in the Championship next season.

Portsmouth look like favourites to clinch the F.A. cup while an unprecedented four English clubs have made it to the Champions League quarter finals, with each one looking capable of clinching the most prestigious trophy in club football.

With six or seven games left to play the candidates for Footballer of the year have plenty of opportunities to stake their claim as the Premier League's Premier player.

To me there are 5 outstanding candidates and I list them here in no particular order.

1; Steven Gerrard. If Bryan Robson was "captain marvel". This man is Captain Fantastic. A consistently brilliant player who is the heart and soul of the Liverpool team. Sometimes single-handedly dragging his team out of their slumber and inspiring them onto victory scoring some blockbuster goals like that witnessed against Inter Milan at Anfield.

2; Emanuel Adebayor. 19 Premier League goals and six games left to play is a tremendous return for a player who has only just broken into the first team. A few glimpses last season of his potential, but even the most optimistic Gunners fan will have been pleasentley surprised by his exploits this campaign. A massive task to fill the boots of Thiery Henry but the big striker has banished the Frenchman to a distant memory.

3; Cesc Fabregas. Another Arsenal player who has exceeded my expectations this season. A rising star and Spanish international with bags of potential, but many questioned his physical attributes to deal with the Premier League on a permanent basis. Such fears were unfounded as he has been the catalyst of an Arsenal midfield and the driving force behind their pursuit of the championship and Champions League.

4; Cristiano Ronaldo. After his infamous winking act at the 2006 world cup, hands up those who forseen his rise to the heights he has reached in the English game? Not many  I suspect. 26 goals is a phenomenal tally for a midfield player in the Premier League. Those who question his personality, however can not deny his talent, a fast, powerfull, skilfull attacking player who must strike fear into the hearts of Premier League defenders. 

5; Fernando Torres; Admittedly there are still lots of twists and turns left in this season, but my personal choice is the golden boy with the golden touch, Fernando Torres is the most worthy candidate in my opinion. A £26m purchase from Athletico Madrid, a Spanish international and recognised goalscorer in La Liga counts for nothing when you move to the Premier League. The afformentioned players have emerged into the Premier League over time, but Torres arrived with a bang and has established himself as the most feared striker in the league. In my lifetime I have seen many world-class strikers but Fernando is right up there with the cream of the crop. A classy, ruthless, elegant, clinical finisher, he scores all types of goals. Not since the days Michael Owen graced the turf of Anfield have Liverpool had a striker capable of getting 20 plus goals a season. He reminds me of a certain Ian Rush, quiet, unassuming, able to play as a lone striker but equaly as effective linking up with a partner. Liverpool have made a real good signing here and providing he can stay injury free and Real Madrid dont try to unsettle him, a new Anfield legend could be in the making.

This is only my opinion and many people will disagree, however as a Newcastle fan I am looking in without bias opinions on players and teams. Also like I said earlier there are many chapters yet to be written and whichever clubs claim the top honours could go a long way to deciding the true and final results of the Player of the year.