Predicting Who Will Win the PFA Player of the Year This Season

Many footballers hold the PFA Player of the Year award in high regard because it is chosen by their fellow professionals.

It is a huge honour to even make the shortlist, but to win the trophy is the ultimate accolade.

Robin van Persie and Gareth Bale are two previous winners who make strong arguments to lift the trophy for a second time, but there are plenty more who have an excellent chance.

There could well be a few surprises amongst this year's nominees in what promises to be one of the closest battles for some time. 

Here is my prediction of the main protagonists leading to this year's winner.

Honourable Mentions

Steven Gerrard 

After a couple of quiet seasons from the Liverpool skipper, Gerrard has returned to the form of old producing hugely impressive displays in the middle of the park.

The 32-year-old has been given a more attacking role under Brendan Rodgers and has flourished as a result.

Eight goals and 12 assists, it's been a profitable season so far. With five clubs from the bottom six still to play, Gerrard could yet make a late run for the award. 

Frank Lampard 

It doesn't matter how old you are; class is permanent. And that statement is only too true for a Chelsea legend.

With the influx of foreign talent over the past few seasons, Lampard's game time has become more sporadic as of late.

But just as the England international was starting to take a permanent back seat with age apparently catching up with the midfielder, the 34-year-old has shown exactly why he is so highly regarded by fans and media alike.

Eleven goals so far is a quite stunning return, especially when playing a total of just 79 minutes over a nine-game span between October and December. 

Pablo Zabaleta

Despite all eyes being on the likes of Carlos Tevez and Sergio Aguero, it has been the Argentinean full-back who has been earning all the plaudits.

Zabaleta has been virtually an ever present under Roberto Mancini this season and has taken over the captaincy in the absence of Vincent Kompany.

He's been a big reason why City have improved defensively and currently boast six clean sheets in their last eight.

Zabaleta is also very useful going forward and provides plenty of support down the left. It would not be a shock if he made the final shortlist. 

Patrice Evra 

The French international may come under the radar somewhat, but Evra is quietly having another excellent season at Old Trafford.

With so many changes in United's defence and midfield on almost a weekly basis, the Red Devils captain has only missed one EPL game to date.

An unsung hero at times, he's Mr. Reliable at the back helping United to a current 11-point lead over rivals Manchester City.

Evra is also enjoying the most successful attacking season in his eight-year career with four goals and six assists to date. 

Santi Cazorla

The summer signing from Malaga has been a huge hit with Arsenal fans and management alike.

He has brought a different dimension to the Gunners' new-look attack with Theo Walcott reaping the benefits.

But it's the Spanish international who has been the real star boasting eight goals and 11 assists including a hat-trick in the crazy 5-2 win at Reading back in December.

With the likes of Wigan, Norwich and Reading still to visit the Emirates, Cazorla will be licking his lips at the prospect of further returns. 

5. Juan Mata

Although Frank Lampard has been excellent, I don't think many people will argue against the fact that Juan Mata has been Chelsea's best player this season.

The Spanish international has flourished in his second season at Stamford Bridge and is a huge reason why they are currently lying in a Champions League spot.

Ten goals and 12 assists so far is an excellent return for a player who has thrived in a more central role.

Indeed Mata's success along with the additions of Oscar and Edin Hazard are a big reason why Lampard's game time was initially limited.

But while the latter two have struggled at times with consistency, the same cannot be said about the $40 million signing from Valencia.

The 24-year-old was named Player of the Month in October and signed a contract extension worth a reported $150,000 a week until 2018.

While the change of managers may have affected results on the pitch, Mata's form did not show any signs of suffering. He scored the first goal of Rafa Benitez's reign although Chelsea eventually lost the game 3-1.   

The 24-year-old is already having the most profitable season of his career and with a very inciting fixture schedule on the horizon including three home games in the next four, expect the midfielder to continue to dazzle. 

4. Michu

Michu is without doubt the surprise name on the list but the uncapped Spanish international thoroughly deserves to be mentioned among this season's elite players.

Few had heard of the attacking midfielder/forward before his $3 million move from Rayo Vallecano last summer.

But new manager Brian Laudrup has obviously done his homework on the 26-year-old who has since taken the EPL by storm.

Although even the Danish legend must have been surprised how quickly Michu settled into life at his new club.

He instantly hit the headlines scoring two and assisting one in the Swans opening day 5-0 win at QPR.

In fact, he scored in each of his first three games propelling Swansea to the top of the table entering September.

But it wasn't just the so called "smaller teams" Michu was doing the damage against—far from it. His two goal salvo at the Emirates helped Swansea to a famous 2-0 win over Arsenal while his equaliser against Manchester United was enough to grab a well deserved point.

Winning the League Cup is obviously the highlight of the season but bringing a certain striker from Spain to Wales is the biggest victory of all.

It was inevitable that his goalscoring would plateau at some point during the season and that's what is happening at the moment.

That may have harmed his realistic chances of winning the award but whatever happens, Michu has been the signing of the season.  

3. Luis Suarez

Luis Suarez is probably the most polarising figure in the EPL but regardless of opinion, you cannot argue he is pure class.

The darling of Anfield, Suarez looks to have put last season's controversy firmly behind him and is feasting on defences in the process.

The PFA Player of the Year award is all about performing at the right time and the 26-year-old is currently timing his run to perfection.

With 22 goals to date, Suarez is leading the race for the Golden Boot and will take some stopping.

That is double his goal tally from the previous season and with nine games still to play including Southampton, Reading, Aston Villa and West Ham, few would bet against him reaching 30.

Many thought the Uruguayan's productivity would decrease with the purchase of Daniel Sturridge in January but it's actually had the opposite effect.

Whether he plays out wide, down the middle or just behind the striker, Suarez continues to produce regardless.

However, some players opinion of Suarez maybe tainted somewhat from past misdemeanours and it's their votes that count.

Ultimately that could cost the Liverpool striker in what is already a very close race. 

2. Gareth Bale

It is fair to say Gareth Bale is the most talked about player in world football at the moment.

The Spurs midfielder is currently having the most successful campaign of his career and has alerted strong attention from the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid and Paris Saint Germain in the process.

The Welsh international won the award back in 2011 during his breakthrough season when scoring seven goals and three assists.

So if we analyse his chances to win the trophy based purely on statistics, Bale has a hugely strong case to win the award a second time.

The 23-year-old has more than doubled that goal tally which currently stands at 16 with nine games still to play.

He is without doubt the most dangerous player in the EPL at the moment although his form until recently had been slightly inconsistent.

But over the last two months, he has been as close to unplayable as it can possibly get, netting in five straight games including two against Newcastle and West Ham.

That run was ended in Sunday's 3-2 loss at Liverpool yet Bale still provided both assists to Vertonghen's two goals. 

Like Suarez, Bale is timing his run for the award to perfection, but it still might not be enough to oust my number one favourite.

1. Robin Van Persie

He is my favourite to win the award and rightly so as the "Flying Dutchman" continues to spearhead Manchester United to league title number 20.

It was the biggest story of the summer when the forward eventually decided to leave Arsenal swapping north London with Lancashire as Sir Alex Ferguson bid to win back the EPL title from their bitter rivals.

Despite scoring 30 goals last season, many did not expect van Persie to hit the ground running so quickly. Yet that's exactly what he did scoring eight in his first 12.

Not only is that a highly impressive tally, the relevance of those goals are a huge reason why United are 12 points clear at the top of the table—seven of those opening eight strikes were in games they won by a single goal.

With Wayne Rooney missing significant time at the start of the season, van Persie not only made himself an instant Old Trafford favourite, he put himself in pole position to win the PFA Player of the Year award.

The best players make the biggest difference. Even Roberto Mancini agreed that the 29-year-old has been the big reason why United look destined for the title.

He may have only scored one in his last five but that has more to do with rest, injury and the Champions League rather than loss of form. Before the home game with Southampton, he did score 10 in 10.

If United had beaten Real Madrid, I would have given Bale and Suarez the edge over van Persie with future game time not a certainty. But with their exit, be sure to see "Van the Man" back to his deadly best.

And there is no better way to get back on the goal trail than a home game with managerless Reading on Saturday.

Introducing the 2012-13 PFA Player of the Year—Robin van Persie.

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