EPL: Who Has Been the Best Player This Season?
With just three months to go in the Barclays Premier League season, rarely has been the identity of the Best Player in the League so much shrouded.
While the title race remains a four team battle, the contenders for the Player of the Season are locked in a much more intense tussle, with no clear favourite as of now.
A year ago, there was only one real candidate for both awards, and it came as no surprise that Wayne Rooney claimed the accolades from both his peers and the men who write about him.
Rooney gained more than 80 percent of the vote from the Writers', making him the biggest walk-away winner in history.
The current slideshow lists the front-runners for the race to be named the PFA Player of the Year as well as the Football Writers’ Footballer of the Year.
Dimitar Berbatov (Manchester United)
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It’s hardly believable how "Berba-flop" has transformed into "Berba-king" this season. Those days of last season, when he was constantly derided and jeered by his own fans for being a £30 million "waste", seem nothing more than a distant memory now.
Blessed with extraordinary skills and vision, the Bulgarian has really flourished this season in the "non-presence" of Wayne Rooney.
His 19 goals in 22 appearances have kept United in pole position to win the title this season.
Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspurs)
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So mercurial they confirmed (yes confirmed!!) him as Ryan Giggs’ replacement, and rightly so. The Welsh wonder has played some mesmerising football down the left wing this season.
He soared to instant superstar-dom when he gave Maicon—considered by many as the best right-back around—a quivering wreck in his own backyard. He then followed it up by another "roasting" in the return leg in London.
Bale has played in every single Premier League game this season for Spurs, but he was forced off the pitch after just nine minutes against Newcastle United and is set to miss two-weeks’ action consequently.
His scintillating displays have yielded seven league goals this season, and it comes as no surprise that Bale is the Bookies’ favourite for the PFA award.
Carlos Tevez (Manchester City)
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He may have thrown a few tantrums around Eastlands. He may not be everyone’s favourite in Manchester, but this does not undermine Carlos Tevez’s contribution to City’s dream this season.
The Argentina skipper has been in the form of his life this season, scoring 18 goals and raking up five assists too.
Blessed with speed, tenacity and a ruthless ability to score goals, the diminutive striker is vital to City’s hopes of the title this season.
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Nemanja Vidic (Manchester United)
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He has been hailed as the perfect defender. The Serb epitomises no-nonsense defending at its very best.
His extraordinary understanding with Rio Ferdinand has been the bed-rock of almost all United successes of the last five years. He is very often the man who rescues United. Of late, the United skipper has also shown he can score good(often great!) goals.
Nani (Manchester United)
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He has finally started fulfilling the potential that persuaded Fergie let go off Ronaldo to Madrid. So frustrating at the beginning of last season, the Portuguese winger suddenly sprung to life at the turn of 2010 and hasn’t looked back since.
He had a brilliant second half of 2009-10 and has continued his exploits down the right wing this season. The Portuguese currently leads the assists charts with 12 assists to his name.
He has also added the goals to his game and appears to commit defensively too. It would not be an exaggeration to say that he has gone some way into filling that huge boots that Ronaldo left.
Samir Nasri (Arsenal)
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The Frenchman has been mesmerising on the wings this season for Arsenal, almost unplayable at times. He looks to have finally fulfilled the potential that persuaded Arsene Wenger to bring him to Emirates.
He has won several games for Arsenal this season with his ability to operate in several positions, added to the goals that have honed his rawness.
He is currently Arsenal’s top-scorer with nine goals to his credit.
Rafael Van Der Vaart (Tottenham Hotspurs)
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The Dutchman has been a revelation at White Hart Lane since his deadline day move in summer from Real Madrid.
The former Ajax man has developed a telepathic understanding with Luka Modric, putting in a string of impressive displays, both in league and Europe.
He has scored 10 goals and provided seven assists this season, rightfully earning himself the title of Spurs’ talisman.
Andy Carroll (Newcastle United/Liverpool FC)
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The lanky striker was the prime reason for Newcastle’s sooner-than-expected return to top-flight football. Already regarded as the best English-born header of the ball, Carroll has taken the league by storm this season with 11 goals.
He is out injured for the next one month at least, but even that didn’t stop Liverpool to part with £35 million for a move from Newcastle.
And that surely makes him the most expensive British player EVER.
Charlie Adam (Blackpool)
9 of 10
The Scot has been instrumental in Blackpool’s impressive showing this season. Quick , innovative, smart and intelligent, he has all the attributes of a great midfielder.
As Ferguson remarked after the Blackpool game, “The first half we were battered, and we couldn't handle Charlie Adam, his corner kicks are worth £10m.”
His scintillating displays have attracted attention from Spurs and Liverpool, and Blackpool would find it very hard to keep hold of him during the summer transfer window.
Peter Odemwingie (West Bromwich Albion)
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West Brom have been praised for their free-flowing style of football this season, and Odemwingie has been their prime outlet for the goals.
Playing for Nigeria, he has more than 50 international caps to his name, and the £2m Albion have paid for his services already looks good value.
At nine goals in 20 games, he is the leading scorer at the Hawthorns. West Brom need him to fire all cylinders if they are to avoid the drop this season.
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