Player Of The Season So Far…
When we get into February, a lot of people start looking ahead and speculate who could be up for the player of the year awards.
I would prefer it if all these awards were decided on the last weekend of the season, not in April. The final month is often the most important period in a season and the best players come to the fore.
That said I do love to speculate like the rest of them/you.
For me there is a clear winner for the top English awards so far this season.
Luis Suarez has been in sensational form this term with Liverpool. He may have missed the opening six games of the season due to a ban, but when he got going he did so with a bang.
He has become the talisman for Liverpool, banging in an incredible 23 goals in 20 EPL appearances. His rampaging runs cause havoc in the opposition’s boxes. The variety of his goals has also been astonishing.
Suarez doesn’t just have an eye for goals, his eight assists also show he is keen for a killer pass. Up top his partnership with Daniel Sturridge is certainly the best, in terms of goals, in the Premier League.
At times the Uruguayan seems to have lifted the whole of Liverpool football club onto his shoulders and carried them over the line. He has certainly taken over the mantle of being Liverpool’s most valuable player from Steven Gerrard.
For those that will point to his previous disciplinary problems. I agree he has done some deplorable things on a football field. But we can only judge him on this term. Football is all about redemption. This season he’s been eager to let his football do the talking and I am simply judging him on his footballing performances.
Liverpool have a great chance of staying in the ‘Top Four’ this footballing year and if they do, then they will have a lot to thank their number seven for.
I also have to stay, there is currently a stand-out runner up for the award.
Chelsea’s Eden Hazard has really upped his game in his second season with the ‘Blues’.
I was a bit critical of the Belgian star last term as he didn’t really dictate too many games. But the youngster has benefited from Jose Mourinho’s re-arrival at the Bridge.
His eagerness to help back has been noted and applauded by Jose. His runs and passing unlock a lot of chances for Chelsea. With 12 goals to his name, the 23 year old is his sides leading scorer. Add to that his eight assists and you can see why he is so important for his club.
There is no doubt Hazard has added more strength and awareness to his game, he has also started to take games by the scruff of the neck. You have to believe the wingman will be up for the big awards for years to come.
Here are some notable mentions.
As I have already mentioned Daniel Sturridge has had a very decent campaign playing alongside Suarez for Liverpool. 15 goals in 15 starts this term show the English striker has been in lethal form. After failing to really assert himself at either Man City or Chelsea, its good that the 24 year old has now showed he is capable at mixing it with the best of them.
Staying at Liverpool, Jordan Henderson has also impressed. It’s great when a young player does well after a dip in form. His energy levels are fantastic and his game has matured under Brendan Rodgers tutelage. His passing has told with six assists but he really needs to add more goals to his game, one simply isn’t a good enough tally. He will keep on improving if he learns from those around him.
Arsenal have had a much better time of things this term.
A lot of that has been down to Aaron Ramsey and Oliver Giroud.
Ramsey had a wonderful start to the season gaining four assists and six goals in the first ten league outings. He has only managed two strikes since then but his season has been hampered with injuries and he hasn’t been seen so far in 2014.
I am a big fan of Giroud. The Frenchman has ten goals to his name this season but its his all round play that really impresses me. He links up well with those around him. His flicks, knock-ons and runs bring the creative Arsenal stars into dangerous positions and thats gets the side goals.
At Man City, Sergio Aguero has again proved he is one of the leagues deadliest marksmen. But injuries haven’t been kind to the Argentine who has missed a chunk of the season due to calf and hamstring knocks. But 15 goals in the same amount of starts can’t be ignored.
Like Suarez, John Terry has a fairly contentious reputation. But like Suarez, the Chelsea defender has had a terrific season on the park. His experience has been vital to his clubs cause. For me he has definitely stood out as being the best centre-back in the EPL. His performance against City at the Etihad was one that remind us just what Terry can do best, be solid and throw himself at everything.
For players outside of the current ‘Top Four’, I have been really impressed with Seamus Coleman at Everton and Southampton’s Adam Lallana.
Coleman has finally cemented himself as being Everton’s number one right-back. The full-back has eclipsed Leighton Baines for me and that is no mean feat. The dependable Irishman also has five league strikes to count on and his running back and forth has been admirable this season. Seems to have really developed under Robert Martinez at Goodison this spell.
Lallana has been a great leader for the ‘Saints’ this campaign. His performances have rightly gained the midfielder international recognition. Has the ability to go on mazy runs that get the punters off their seats and his seven goal tally has been a big bonus for Mauricio Pochettino’s men.
Five standout under 21s that may have a shot at the ‘Young Player of the Year’ awards for me would be; Adnan Januzaj (Man Utd), Luke Shaw (Southampton), Ross Barkley (Everton), Raheem Sterling (Liverpool) and Christian Eriksen (Tottenham).
So that’s my thoughts on who has been performing well this season. It is all about opinion, so please let me know yours, as I have no doubt missed some top players.
Posted on February 12th, 2014 by scott
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