As the end of the season fast approaches, I have taken time out to solute my personal players of the season from the Premier league and the football league.
This season has maintained the high reputation of English football and has been one of the closest and most entertaining seasons for quite a while. As a result, there are many contenders for player of the season.
This season has maintained the high reputation of English football and has been one of the closest and most entertaining seasons for quite a while. As a result, there are many contenders for player of the season.
Starting at the Npower League 2, there have been a number of stand out performers with the likes of Clayton Donaldson (Crewe) and Craig Davies (Chesterfield) hitting over 20 goals this season. However, my player of the season has to be Ryan Lowe; the Bury forward has been inspirational for the Shakers this season and scored 27 goals. Lowe’s contribution has been a rocket projection for his side and has seen Bury finally gain league 1 status after a spell of ten years in the fourth tier. Lowe, 32, beats Gillingham’s Cody McDonald to my player of the season prize, though McDonald is a close runner up and at the age of 24 is definitely a prospect for the future.
League 1 has seen probably been the most entertaining English division this season and therefore the player of the season was difficult to identify. Some of the season top performers are Brighton and Hove Albion’s Glenn Murray with 22 goals to his name and Defender and Huddersfield Town captain Peter Clarke. Though the player to win my player of the year award is Southampton forward Ricky Lambert (2 1 goals) the Saints hit man has been a revelation since joining the St Mary’s side and his work rate and eye for goal has been fundamental, seeing Southampton gain promotion. My runner up is Peterborough striker Craig Mackail-Smith. The Posh front man has scored 27 goals this season and has enjoyed another successful season which has gained some interest from Championship clubs looking to strengthen in the summer. My young players to look out for next season are Elliott Bennett (Brighton), Scott Wagstaff (Charlton) and Alex Oxlaide-Chamberlain (Southampton).
The Npower Championship has also been closely contested and there have even been talks of the season’s top performers moving to premier league clubs in the summer and there have been many standout performers. Some of the season’s top performers have been Danny Graham (Watford) 24 goals, Grant Holt (Norwich) 21 goals and Nottingham Forests all action midfielder Marvin Elliott. However, my Championship player of the year has to be Adel Taarabt, the QPR man has been a burst of fresh air and energy for the Hoops this season and his incomparable desire and work rate along with his quick feet and flair have been the difference this season, seeing Neil Warnock’s side gain Premier League status. My runner up is on loan Swansea winger, Scott Sinclair. Sinclair, 21, has been a delight to watch all season and had scored 19 goals this season as well as probably the goal of the season, definitely one to watch next season. More players to watch for next season are Max Gradel (Leeds), Jay Rodriguez (Burnley) and Lewis McGugan (N’Forest).
Finally, the Barclays Premier League hasn’t been as close and entertaining as the football league, but has still been interesting and seen some outstanding individual performances. The likes of Carlos Tevez (Man City), Rafael Van Der Vart (Tottenham) and Ryan Giggs (Man United) have been outstanding, though my player of the year has to be Gareth Bale. The Spurs winger has had an amazing season, scoring 7 premier league goals and 4 Champion’s League goals in his debut season in Europe at the age of 22. My runner up is West Ham midfielder Scott Parker, Parker has been the life and soul of the Hammers side this season, his desire and work rate is first class and his ability both on the ball and off of it are commendable, as he is a motivational figure at Upton Park and this has seen him gain a place in Capello’s England Team. Finally, the season young performers expected for great things next season are Javier Hernandez (Man United), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal) and Ryan Shawcross (Stoke City).
By Simon Banks
My players of the season round up:
Barclays Premier League:
Winner: Gareth Bale – Tottenham Hotspur
Runner up: Scott Parker – West Ham United
Npower Championship:
Winner: Adel Taarabt – QPR
Runner Up: Scott Sinclair – Swansea City
Npower League 1:
Winner: Ricky Lambert – Southampton
Runner Up: Craig Mackail-Smith – Peterborough
Npower League 2:
Winner: Ryan Lowe – Bury
Runner Up: Cody McDonald - Gillingham
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