As
the season approaches its closure, one player will be crowned as the
best performer of the current 2012/2013 campaign, here we take a look at
individuals who are most likely to win the award.
Robin Van Persie
The most likely winner is the Dutch talisman Robin Van Persie, having
made a surprise multi million pound move from Arsenal at the beginning
of the campaign the striker has seamlessly adjusted into a highly
competitive Manchester United side.
While his strike partners Wayne Rooney and Danny Welbeck have
misfired at times, the Dutchman showed superb consistency in the first
half of the season driving his team ahead. He was labeled by many as a
waste of money, given United’s prolific striking options, many regarded
him to be a one season wonder, but the former Feyenoord man has defied
all odds and is currently the best striker at the best team in England.
He has scored 19 goals so far in the league for United, only three
behind Liverpool’s Luis Suarez, the forward has also assisted eight of
United’s goals and is always a threat from set pieces. He has an
incredible goals per minute ratio and notches the ball in the net every
117 minutes.
His importance to the team can be judged by the fact, that he has
scored the decisive goal in five matches, this includes goals against
Liverpool, Southampton, West Ham, Reading and derby rivals Manchester
City, this accumulates to 15 points altogether and it is by 15 points
that United lead second placed Manchester City.
Van Persie is also known to be a big game player at least in
England, of his 19 goals seven have been scored against Premier League
heavyweights including all the teams in the top seven.
In short Van Persie has definitely been a revelation at the theatre
of dreams, whereas fans were crying out for a midfielder or a defender
to be signed in the summer transfer window, Sir Alex Ferguson pulled of
another tactical master class by buying a striker good enough to win
them the league.
Van Persie is experiencing a goal drought currently, and has not
scored in the last six games for the Red Devils, but he is still a
strong favourite to win the coveted award and if he successfully does,
he will become the third player to have won back to back player of the
year awards after Cristiano Ronaldo and Thiery Henry.
Luis Suarez
The Uruguayan has single handedly carried Liverpool ahead, and it
would be frightening to imagine where Liverpool would be without the
former Ajax man. The forward tops the scoring charts, with 22 goals this
season and there are surely more goals to come from him this season.
The striker has been in impeccable touch this, his trickery and
quick feet have given defenses nightmares. He is a tireless player who
works very hard for the team all over the pitch, not is he just a
prolific goal scorer but repeatedly tracks back to help his team defend
when needed.
The striker’s reputation has however been highly tarnished
following accusations by United full back Patrice Evra who accused
Suarez of racially abusing him. The flamboyant forward has since then
acquired a reputation of a villain.
He did his reputation no good after punching Chilean defender
Gonzalo Jara in the face while playing for Uruguay during the World Cup
qualifier on Tuesday night.
The striker has in the past been involved in more controversies,
after he purposely handled the ball in the World Cup 2010 Quarter Finals
against Ghana which denied the African giants a clear goal scoring
opportunity and also resulted in them being ultimately knocked out of
the tournament.
He might lose a lot of votes because of his stained reputation but
in words of his club captain Steven Gerrard, if Suarez does not win the
award this season he will be the "the best player ever not to win an
award."
Gareth Bale
The Welsh wizard continues to grow from strength to strength every
season and is currently one of the hottest properties in Europe, being
tracked by one of the finest clubs in the world.
The Tottenham man does deserve all the allocates for a commendable
display this season. After the departure of Croatian midfielder Luka
Modric, many had predicted a Tottenham slump, but the former Southampton
product rose to the occasion and has carried his team forward with some
very mesmerising displays.
Tottenham have won a massive 79% games in which Gareth Bale has
scored, the winger who is currently third in the scoring charts with 16
goals has managed a goal every 146 minutes which is not near to that of
Persie’s or Suarez’s, but is a brilliant scoring rate for a midfielder.
His performances have ensured that Spurs keep fighting for the top
four spot and his side is currently fourth, ahead of their arch rivals
Arsenal. It was Gareth Bale’s opener against Arsenal at White Hart Lane
which set the tone of the game, and allowed Spurs to gain an important
win over Arsenal and thereby earning a seven point lead over the
Gunners.
However Tottenham have dropped points in the last two games,
following consecutive defeats to Fulham and Liverpool and much has been
down to Gareth Bale not being at his best. His team has been over
reliant on him, and it is very important that the Welsh star gets back
to his best to help Spurs earn a Champions League berth.
There are injury concerns over the Welsh star, after he was
withdrawn at half time in a world cup qualifying game against Scotland,
but he is expected to make the cut as Tottenham prepare for an eventful
encounter against Swansea.
The three players have been instrumental to where their teams
currently stand, Van Persie is the best striker in the best team in
England and will claim he is most deserving of the award if United
manage to win their 20th Premier League title this season.
Luis Suarez on the other hand tops the scoring charts and has done
remarkably well in a team which has altogether been very mediocre. And
Gareth Bale has scored some timely and important goals to help his team
climb up to the table to the fourth position, and Spurs should be
thankful to him if they do earn the Champions League spot.
It is hard to decide which of the three players is more deserving
given their incredible performances this season, which player in your
opinion is most worthy of the PFA player award this season?
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