For those of you who may have missed it in all the Champions League and Wayne Rooney swearing furore, the shortlist for the PFA Player of the Year awards was leaked yesterday. The six men nominated are Charlie Adam, Gareth Bale, Samir Nasri, Scott Parker, Carlos Tevez and Nemanja Vidic. Nani, Rafael Van Der Vaart and Dimitar Berbatov may all feel aggrieved to be omitted from this list, but the six who have been included are certainly worthy candidates. Here is my verdict on the men in contention:
Charlie Adam
The Scotsman has been a revelation for Blackpool in his first Premier League season. Incredible technique and creativity is his forte and he has been racking up both goals and assists all year long. He scored a free-kick in the play-off Final which sealed the Tangerines' promotion to the top flight and never looked back from there. A class act, the 25-year-old may be late on the Premier League scene but he is certainly here to stay.
Why could he win it?
He has been the talisman of Ian Holloway's lovable side who have confounded the critics for much of the season. Adam played a key role in the victory at Anfield in the Autumn which has been one of the memorable moments of this Premier League campaign. He has bought something different to the Premier League, a creative attacking midfielder of a different ilk to most of his contemporaries.
What might count against him?
Blackpool have been struggling of late, and may well still be heading back to the Championship. He also put in a transfer request in the January transfer window, in a bid to secure a move to Liverpool. The move fell through, but a mid-season transfer request always taints a player's image to some extent.
Gareth Bale
The Spurs winger finished last season on top form and carried that forward into his club's debut season in the Champions League. Launching his season with a stunning volley at the Britannia Stadium, Bale's crowning glory were his twin performances against Internazionale in the Champions League group stage. A hat-trick of the highest quality (recreated incredibly here http://www.runofplay.com/s/17571/) at the San Siro, followed up by a top showing in the return at White Hart Lane had the whole of Europe waxing lyrical about the Welshman. The no.3 has started to improve his goal output as well and has been linked with a mega-bucks move away from Tottenham.
Why could he win it?
Everyone has been talking about him all season long. His pace and athleticism, coupled with a new found killer instinct seem to have set him well on his way to global stardom. Two top performances against the European Champions certainly put him in good stead.
What might count against him?
He has suffered with injury problems since the turn of the year which have ruled him out of several big matches. Also, his biggest showings were in Europe and not the Premier League, which is what the Player of the Year award is really based on. Perhaps not his year but the 21-year-old certainly has time on his hands.
Samir Nasri
The Frenchman has developed into Arsenal's best player this season, after a couple of years adapting to English football. A player blessed with incredible technique, speed and a powerful shot, Nasri terrorised defences throughout the Autumn and Winter. The snood-wearing winger was largely responsible for keeping Arsenal in title contention during the injury-enforced absences of Cesc Fabregas and Robin Van Persie and after being left out of France's World Cup squad is now seen as a key player for Les Bleus.
Why could he win it?
Arguably the most skillful of all the players on the list, Nasri has performed for a team near the very top of the table. His development in his three years at the Emirates Stadium has been impressive and Arsene Wenger's faith in him has paid off this year.
What might count against him?
Arsenal have been knocked out of all three cup competitions and are faltering badly in the league. Nasri's form does seem to have tailed off since February and he may not have done quite enough to warrant beating some of his more consistent competitors.
Scott Parker
The West Ham United captain has come into his own this season and if the Hammers manage to stay up it will be largely down to him. He originally burst onto the scene as a talented youngster at Charlton before an ill-fated stint at Chelsea and a mixed spell at Newcastle meant that his career to date has been strangely unfulfilled. The 30-year-old has become the heartbeat of his club side though, and reportedly bought his team-mates to tears with a rousing team-talk at half-time when 3-0 down to West Brom in February. His team turned the game round to claim a 3-3 draw and the box-to-box midfielder raked in the plaudits.
Why could he win it?
Parker's energetic and passionate style of play has seen him win over much of the media and fans have been singing his praises all season. A recent England call-up and decent performance against Wales also stand him in good stead in the run-up to the awards.
What might count against him?
He is playing for a team very much at the wrong end of the table, and has only really kicked on since the halfway mark of the season. In the first half of the campaign West Ham looked to be almost relegation certainties when Parker wasn't firing on all cylinders and he hasn't quite got the superstar qualities of some of his competitors.
Carlos Tevez
The Argentine striker has literally carried Manchester City this season. His energetic running and tireless appetite for goals has seen him become without a doubt City's key player and he is currently the bookies' favourite to end the season as Premier League top scorer (he has one less than Dimitar Berbatov but is likely to play more games). Tevez brings a rare combination of energy, strength, skill and shooting ability which make him the sort of player every team appreciates.
Why could he win it?
The diminutive forward has been exceptional this season, and without him, Manchester City would likely be much lower than third in the table. He brings goals and a cutting edge that the Sky Blues seem to lack when he is absent (Exhibit A being the Chelsea away game a few weeks ago). Undoubtedly a heroic player.
What might count against him?
Like Charlie Adam, a mid-season transfer request did him no favours in terms of winning over fans. Has been involved in controversies in the past, both with his transfer to West Ham and his departure from Manchester United to join their city rivals. Perhaps not the most likable personality in the world but will be a strong contender.
Nemanja Vidic
Appointed captain at the start of the season by Sir Alex Ferguson, the United centre-back has been back to his best for most of this season, following a slight lapse in the last campaign. A few important headed goals early in the season helped, but his main contribution has been marshalling a defence which has missed the continually injured Rio Ferdinand. The Serbian brings a never-say-die attitude, fantastic aerial ability and great positional awareness to his team and has become undoubtedly United's most important defensive asset.
Why could he win it?
With his club looking very comfortable in the title race, and still in contention on two other fronts, Vidic could prove to be the Red Devils' most inspired captain since Roy Keane. Vidic has won high praise over the last few years and featured on this shortlist back in 2008/09 as well. Certainly in with a chance.
What might count against him?
It is always harder being a defender as the strikers tend to get more of the limelight and pick up these accolades. Also Vidic's temperament has been suspect, getting needlessly sent off at Stamford Bridge last month and conceding a silly penalty against West Ham last weekend.
My choice:
For me, it has to be Carlos Tevez. The Man City striker has been the driving force behind his club's rise up the table, despite all the other multi-million pound signings. He has scored goals and put in man of the match performances consistently and probably deserves the recognition for this. Charlie Adam would be a close second as he has taken to the Premier League like a duck to water and brings a different quality rarely seen in British midfielders. Bale, Parker and Nasri haven't performed across the whole season and Vidic hasn't quite been at the highest level in some crucial games. Personally I am very surprised that Nani wasn't included as he has been astonishing for Manchester United this season, with 16 assists (5 more than anyone else) and 9 goals (the same as Adam and Nasri). But even if he was, 'Carlitos' would probably deserve the accolade due to his incredible work ethic, raw talent and number of goals. There hasn't been a clear-cut winner like in previous years (think Cristiano Ronaldo and Thierry Henry in the past) but the Premier League certainly still has some top class players and remains the most exciting league in the world.
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