The PFA’s Player of the Year award is an award that players take very seriously – the winner is voted for by his fellow professionals. Teddy Sheringham described the honour as “the biggest personal award you can get in the game.”
The shortlist is drawn up in the Spring, and the award is made shortly afterwards in April. At the time of writing, the top five contenders are typically Bruno Fernandes – 3/1, Kevin De Bruyne – 7/2, Harry Kane – 7/2, Jack Grealish – 7/1, Son Heung-min is currently 10/1, and Mohamed Salah – 11/1.
As far as what happens in the two short months before the event, it’s worth noting that De Bruyne is likely to be out for up to 6-weeks with a thigh injury, according to Physioroom. Mo Salah’s Premier League goalscoring form has flatlined, Liverpool’s last league goal was in Boxing Day.
The stand-out name is without question is Harry Kane, and it’s a curious thing that even with my Spurs spectacles removed, I cannot see why Kane’s numbers, plus his evolution into playmaker extraordinaire don’t have him in pole position.
I guess there are two things here: ManU are top for the first time in years, and Bruno is something of a media favourite – there’s a SkySports article on his contributions and importance (see the incessant Cantona comparisons) almost every week. Little mention of his “gamesmanship”, (i.e. cheating) though.
Kane is the best player in England on current form, and if he keeps it up, it will be a travesty not to give him the PFA award.
The cheating is wilfully ignored by everyone.
Utd seem to still have this cache, plus the media, especially the BBC lie to spread it about a bit. A hard grafting home grown player like just isn’t box office enough, whereas a cheeky cheat with broken English is so much more exciting and cosmopolitan. Add the rabid ‘remainer’ element and you’ll rarely see a European player get much criticism…
The ‘rabid ‘remainer’ element’? Seriously?
You don’t watch the BBC’s news output much, do you?!
Just thought it was a tad hyperbolic in this context.
I agree with the views about the preference for certain clubs, and the apparent lack of appeal of home grown players to the media and generally.
Exotic will always attract more attention, I just don’t think it’s anything to do with being a remainer or not.
Not sure remainers do context!
Ah well, I wont take that personally, as I’m not rabid, but context is everything!
PS, as I’ve now outed myself, will I still be allowed to post occasionally?
Yes seriously, depending on where it’s coming from. The PFA is one of these PC institutions much like the BBC and I suspect very much aligned on these matters.
I’m not saying there’s a conspiracy but there’s a bias, not the kind of bias that litters Twitter 24 hours a day I might add…
It’s more covert, but it’s the same…
PFA is the actual players themselves.