The nominees for the PFA Player of the Year are in and we want you to have your say ahead of Sunday's awards ceremony.
No player has flourished more under Andre Villas-Boas at Tottenham this season than Gareth Bale. The Welshman has been nothing less than sensational as he has matured into a player who can dictate the outcome of matches almost single-handedly. There were reservations over whether his natural game was more suited to patrolling the left flank rather than being given freedom to move inside, but 17 Premier League goals this season have exorcised any such doubt. Bale missed the Olympics over the summer through injury and it would appear having a close-season of rest and recuperation has worked wonders. The 23-year-old is already widely regarded to be one of the best players in the world and a second PFA Player of the Year gong will not go unnoticed at Europe's biggest clubs over the summer.
The affable Geordie has always divided opinion. To some he is the player England has always lacked; to others he is no more than mediocre. Only the truly curmudgeon though would argue against the view that this season he has taken his game to the next level. His passing has always been elegant but this term more than ever he has demonstrated an ability to dictate games at his own pace. An ability to find an angle to pick a pass as if he has a protractor attached to the end of his boot has been well received by the Old Trafford faithful, who have been ever willing to show their appreciation with a bespoke Michael Carrick ditty. The ultimate seal of approval. His only previous PFA recognition was back in 2004 when, as a West Ham player, he was part of the PFA First Division Team of the Year.
The Belgium international arrived in the capital to considerable fanfare after Chelsea shelled out a cool £32million to lure him from Lille and by and large he has delivered. Roberto di Matteo's premature ejection from the Stamford Bridge hot seat will hardly have aided his bedding-in period but it's fair to say the extravagantly gifted 22-year-old is not shy of confidence and is unlikely to have been put off his stride for long. He's used to being recognised by his fellow peers too having twice been a winner of the French League Player of the Year. He's not one of the favourites for this year's gong but few would bet against him exploding into the Premier League's brightest star next season with a full campaign under his belt. The one blot on his copybook is his involvement in 'Ball-boy-gate' up in Swansea, when he hit his target to the eerie sound of no hands clapping.
Love or hate him there's no denying Luis Suarez is a magnificent player. The 26-year-old Uruguayan currently tops the Premier League scoring charts with 29 goals so far in all competitions. It's fair to say he's made a mockery of those who said last season that he misses too many chances to be considered truly world class. As with Bale, there has been talk that his sublime displays this term will attract huge offers in the summer but Suarez genuinely seems to love Liverpool and few would bet against him having another crack at winning the PFA's top individual accolade next term if he misses out this time around. To be fair to the much maligned Liverpool no.7 he's very much let his feet do the talking this season and his game has been all the better for it.
Such is the production line of diminutive Spanish schemers of majestic ability there's almost a danger of failing to appreciate just how good Juan Mata really is. It was thought Hazard's arrival in the capital could steal Mata's thunder somewhat but on the contrary, it's seen him puff out his chest and reaffirm his status as Chelsea's premier playmaker. The 24-year-old has 18 goals in all competitions for Chelsea this season and currently leads the Premier League's assists charts with 10. When Chelsea's Three Amigos click into gear there are few more engaging sights in European football, let alone the Premier League. The scariest thing is that Mata, at 24, is the senior statesman...
Just imagine if Robin van Persie had signed for Manchester City in the summer? Sir Alex Ferguson recently dismissed such a notion as 'never going to happen' and once again the Scot has proven to have pulled off another masterstroke, a la Cantona, in adding just the right ingredient at the perfect moment. In short, Van Persie was born to play for Manchester United and he's loving it. It seems ludicrous now but there were those who questioned whether £22.5million was a touch rich for a 29-year-old. Seems like a decent bit of business now. The reigning PFA Player of the Year, 2012 Golden Boot winner and PFA Fans' Player of the Year is very much amongst the favourites to retain his crown.
