It's that time of year again â the Footballer of the Year will be awarded his trophy. It's an honour which is often controversial, not least because of the timing of the votes which are so early in the season that it can be barmy. But who would your top three be? Mine would be: 3rd - Gareth Bale Undoubtedly had a fabulous season and is really producing the goods on a consistent basis now. Comparisons to Messi and Ronaldo are OTT in my opinion, at least at this stage, but he's fast maturing into a player who could become truly world class. If I were Villas Boas, I'd stick him up front. He could have a similar impact as Ronaldo did at Manchester United when he was moved more central. 2nd - Michu I fully expect he will be ignored largely because he doesn't play for one of the big guns but its hard to argue against him being in with a chance. He has surprised everyone with just how good he actually is. I'd seen him play in La Liga but never thought he was capable of scoring this many goals. He looks a natural striker these days. 1st - Luis Suarez A tough one for some people to take, myself included as I really can't stand the bloke, but bloody hell he's good! Brilliant in fact, and he's been brilliant all season. He thoroughly deserves to win the award in my opinion. However, I very much doubt he will for numerous reasons, many of them not for 'footballing reasons'. And as a bonus, who would be your manager of the year? The obvious candidate is Ferguson who could be on for a record point haul. AVB has also impressed but I will plump for Michael Laudrup for an outstanding season which has seen him not only carry on Swansea's style, but make them a much better team. Add to that a trophy in the cabinet and I can't give it to anyone else. Thoughts?
Tough call - difficult to overlook RvP who looks like dragging Man U to the title. Personally can't see Suarez getting on the podium and I expect it to be a shootout between Bale and RvP with Michu third. Sir Alex will get manager of the year as they will canter to the title and have every chance of picking up at least two trophies this season. If it were player of the season against City then Suarez would win by a country mile.
Personally I'd probably go with something like: 1 - Bale 2 - Michu 3 - Mata Whilst I agree that Suarez has had a superb season and is a fabulous player, I think those other three have been better and have been more influential on their respective club's success this season. Mata is possibly a slightly debatable one, particularly as Chelsea's season has tailed off after a very promising start, but certainly for the early part of the season he was unplayable and was absolutely brilliant and they are still looking good for a top four finish. Another day I'd put Suarez in ahead of the Spaniard, but today the Chelsea man gets the nod ahead of the mercurial Uruguayan. For me Bale has been absolutely phenomenal this season, and head and shoulders the player of the year from what I've seen thus far. I personally don't think comparisons with Ronaldo are that far off, I'm not saying he is as good as him right now, but I've not seen anyone slice through defences on such a consistent basis since the cheeky winker sailed off to la Liga - defenders must be **** scared of him! He is one of the very few players who as soon as the ball lands at his feet you start expecting the impossible to happen, and just recently that's what he has made happen. I can see Spurs maybe even nicking second spot this season, third place at a minimum, and this has been massively inspired by the skill and ability of Bale so for me he's the top man. Can't really argue with Laudrup as manager of the year, though AVB shouldn't be far off if he does manage to lead Spurs to a top three finish. Chelsea massively missed a trick by getting rid of him as quickly as they did, I think he's a class act with a massive future in the game. The cold, dour and distant character portrayed by the Chelsea fathful seems a million miles away from the intelligent, thoughtful and incredibly cheerful man I see being mobbed by his Spurs players on the touchline on an almost weekly basis these days. They've got themselves a good one there, I personally think he's a fantastic manager
Happy AVB has done a good job, not just because he is rubbing it in the faces of Chelsea who didn't give him a chance, but also because I think he is actually a very talented manager and buys good young players most of the time. I actually think without the limelight the Chelsea job comes with, he has done really well at Spurs and gone about his business under the radar a little bit. I think Laudrup deserves the Manager of the Year award, someone I mentioned to replace Lambert at the time, I actually think he has improved the style of football as well, they now have that cutting edge which at times they lacked last year. As well as signing some class players, Michu the obvious one, but I also like De Guzman a lot. I don't think he contends for Manager of the Year but if Norwich stay up, what a job Hughton has done. Vastly improved the squad and still managed to find results with majority Lambert's players part of the squad. I know that Lamberts signings were good but I think it was hard job for Hughton to come in and get them playing as well under him, due to different philosophies. That's the most impressive thing, he's managed to turn us into a hard team to beat most the time with a very attacking squad. Can't wait for next season if we stay up and Hughton will get a chance to expand the squad with his near impeccable signings so far. As for players, I don't think it's that hard this year. 1. Suarez 2. Bale 3. RVP Purely because they've been consistent all year and they've carried they're respective teams at times. Mostly Suarez, Liverpool only have one experienced Premier League forward, if Suarez had not been consistent or was injured than it would have been Borini in, who I don't think has that many goals in him to be honest. He's dealt with that pressure amazingly and contributes so much more than his goals. Such an intelligent player, even if he is a dick. Bale has been immense, I don't need to say much more than what's been said on him, but I agree he isn't up there with Messi and Ronaldo yet, but he could be one day. RVP because he's fitted into United so well, and got some very important goals for them, plus I think he was brave to move to United and it's paid off for him.
1.Suarez 2.Bale 3.Mata Without Suarez and his goals Liverpool would be near the bottom of the Premiership so anyone that says he isn't all that influential on that team is just plain wrong! Unfortunately I don't think this award is decided on just outstanding achievement so I reckon that the 'Safe' vote will go for Van Persie. Manager of the year: 1.Laudrup 2.AVB 3.Clark
The reason I personally don't think that Suarez should win it is because most of his goals have come again teams down at the bottom, rather than in the big games against the big teams. And he's only scored 21 the league, which admittedly is a very good return, but not amazing enough for him to win the award if you ask me. I've already said that I do rate the guy highly and think he's an excellent player, however I do think he's a bit of a flat-track bully, and the reality is that for all his goals he has only managed to drag a very expensively put together Liverpool team into the top half of mid-table, which is an underachievement for a club of that stature.
Tells you a lot that most of the players being mentioned on this thread are strikers or attacking midfielders. But I'm basing my decisions on what I've seen at Carrow Road as I haven't seen a lot of MotD and to base my decision on highlights means my decision wouldn't be fair. 3 - Mata - the only difference between us and Chelsea at Carrow Road and has generally been performing well. 2 - Bale - pretty much the same as above but we would have won if Tottenham didn't have Bale. 1 - Suarez - on his day unstoppable despite being a twat, which he's done less this season. Manager - between AVB, Clarke and Laudrup for me. Both Swansea and West Brom have improved this season, but Swansea already had the template in place which Laudrup slipped into well. AVB wins it for me, showing that Chelsea were careless with him and he's improved Tottenham well, fighting it out for third. Forgot about Michu!
I agree Liverpool have underacheived this year stature wise, but they're squad is not that good at all. I think all the players mentioned have reasons to win it, but for me Suarez is dragging more **** than the others to put it bluntly haha.
I agree with most of the comments re Suarez and rate him highly as a player, if not as a person and 21 league goals playing for Liverpool is a decent achievement BUT I don't get how the argument that without him Liverpool would be facing relegation is any different to without RvP Man U wouldn't win the title, without Bale Spurs would be mid-table and without Michu's goals the Swans would be down among the dead men. If anything I think that Michu's return is more influential on his club as he has done it without having a multi-million pound team around him setting him up. Yes Liverpool are not the force of old but they still have the likes of Gerrard which Swansea do not so I would argue Michu's 15 changing a low to mid table team to one in the top half is more impressive. Nearly half of Suarez's goals have come against us and Wigan (4 + 5) and he also scored 2 each against the mighty QPR and Sunderland so I think that the previously mentioned flat track bully tag is not unmerited. Regardless there is no way he will win it as he is generally unpopular outside of Anfield and he will end the season not winning anything which tends to be a huge factor in who wins the gongs at the end of the year.
Umm well suarez has been at the heart of both are hammerings by them this season. Plus Liverpool have some good players but don't have as good a team as spurs or united. Therefore he is carrying a heavier load, didn't think i would have to explain that comment but anyway.
I entirely agree with all that 100% And I disagree that Liverpool don't have a strong squad of quality players, ok they're not at the level of Manure or Citeh at the moment, but how many of their starting XI wouldn't get into our starting XI? I'd probably say one of them, Jamie Carragher and that's only because he's over the hill by now. Glenn Johnson has had an excellent season and has looked class every time I've seen him, Enrique and Agger would also walk into our back four, Reina likewise. Coutinho looks absolute quality and both Lucas and Joe Allen are as good if not better than any of our central midfielders - Bradley Johnson being the only one who could put up any kind of argument. Gerrard doesn't need mentioning but even the much maligned Stewart Downing is having a decent bit of form now he's playing regularly and is another who would be a star man in our squad. I'm really surprised so many people think Suarez has been THE stand-out player this year, for me that has clearly been Gareth Bale who has been nothing short of phenomenal
And the rest! You're being well too generous I'd say about 35-40 or so clubs at least. For me it's 1. Suarez 2. Bale 3. Michu If it was a top 5 I would include Van Persie but his got an excellent group of players around him.
Leighton Baines & Marouane Fellaini would also be worthy of note. Both having fine seasons and both exceeding their previous high standards and could easily walk into any of the top teams in Europe no sweat. My 3 would be: Leighton Baines Gareth Bale Christopher Samba
