VOTE: Who Is Your Player of the Year?

Much has been made of this years PFA Player of he Year short-list, with there being controversy, particularly among Manchester United fans over seeing certain players left out, in United's case, Luis Nani. Above is the official list, and to avoid naming every player who has had an above average season, there is an added selection in which you can choose a player who you believe has had a season worthy of praise.
Below, are the players profiles:

Nemanja Vidic


Vidic has been a massive part of Manchester United's title push this season, being a solid, imposing and aggressive figure in the back four. A reliable defender who is never afraid to put his body on the line for his team has won countless contests with strikers this season, helping his veteran goalkeeper Edwin van der sar to keep 12 clean sheets in the league as well as being a threat from set pieces, scoring four goals in an outstanding season for the Serbian.

He has coped exceedingly well in the absence of his partner Rio Ferdinand, which was helped by the introduction of an impressive Chris Smalling. Vidic was given the captain's armband at the start of the season and has shown throughout that it was no mistake. A born leader, a brave defender, and a real contender for the Player of the Year.

Carlos Tevez


Just as Vidic is vital to United's defence and team as a whole, Carlos Tevez is also a crucial figure at City with his all round team displays. He never stops running, and plays with an admirable passion to win that is somewhat questioned by his off-field behaviour towards his contract. He has however recovered from certain differences he had with staff at Manchester City and continues to be a threat up front, and has his attentions turned to overtaking Dimitar Berbatov as the Leagues leading scorer.

19 goals and 6 assists in 27 league games emphasize the importance the Argentine has at City, who often struggle for goals and general creativity without him.Despite his troubles with the club in December, and his written transfer request, he remains a player who torments the best defenders, leads from the front and another strong contender for the award.

Charlie Adam

The Blackpool midfielder was the catalyst in helping his side to promotion to the Premier League and has this season been the very same thing in the clubs attempts to stay there. He has had a fantastic season, with his passing range and set piece ability worthy of praise alone. Indeed, Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said of his corners: "his corner kicks are worth £10m". His inspired performances for Blackpool attracted interest from Liverpool, but petty offers were rejected by Ian Holloway, who claimed Adam to be worth well over the £4 million offered. 


9 goals in the League from midfield and 5 assists are impressive for a promoted player, but do not tell the whole story of his contribution to his side. However, he has been criticized for too many "Hollywood" passes in games, often giving the ball away in dangerous areas when a simple pass is on but this only highlights the 25 year-old's ambition and confidence in his ability, which he does have in abundance.

Gareth Bale


The Tottenham left midfielder has been raiding the left flank all season, and as a result has been subject to a few injuries which have, unfortunately for Tottenham halted his outstanding progress from the beginning of the season. He played the biggest part in beating Inter Milan in the Champions League, as he tore one of the supposed best right backs in the world to shreds with his blistering pace. His Premier League partnership with the strikers of Tottenham has also worked a treat with his crossing ability helping to score important goals for Spurs as balls are headed down by Crouch to the awaiting Dutchman and fellow nominee Rafael van der Vaart.

He has been excellent going forward on the flanks, but also has the goalscoring touch, with 7 goals and an assist to his name. Certainly a dangerous player who has come into the spotlight this season and is rated by his optimistic manager as worth the same as Crisitano Ronaldo.

Scott Parker


Scott Parker is a player whose passion, commitment, and desire to do whatever it takes to win ooze from him on the pitch. It is a phrase that is used a lot, but he really has almost single handedly kept West Ham in the fight for Premier League survival. He is just outstanding. There is no flashy business about him, or hogging of the limelight, like United's Paul Scholes, he gets on with his business because he loves to do it and because he is great at it.

His team mates confirm he is inspirational in the dressing room, and everyone who watches him play can confirm he is inspirational on the pitch. 5 goals and 2 assists are good for him, but is not what he is about. He is my favourite.

Samir Nasri


Arsenal are still fighting for the Premier League crown, and it is thanks in no small part to Samir Nasri, whose contribution to the title chase has been very much worth of praise. He is capable of pretty much anything in attack, and is a formidable attacking option for Arsenal, with his unpredictability being key to his quality and scaring defenders. It is a joy to watch him weave effortlessly in and around players as if the ball is stuck to his feet, and there is no doubt his performances this season are worthy of recognition.

His Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger described the 23 year-old French play maker as "young, quick and technically outstanding player", and I'm not sure anyone can disagree. His passing and movement are outstanding, links up perfectly with his fellow mid fielders and has scored 9 goals this season in the league.


Rafael van der Vaart


The former Real Madrid midfielder made a blistering start to his Tottenham career with goals here there and everywhere. His buy proved an absolute bargain on Harry Redknapp's behalf, signing the player just before the deadline for a knock-down fee of £8 million. His passing ability has proven to be fantastic throughout the season, and like Nasri, is capable of creating something out of nothing with shots coming from his powerful left foot either just missing the target or bulging the back of the net.


An injury in December halted his progress really, and his form from the start of the season has not really been shown since, but the 28 year0old Dutchman remains a threat at Tottenham, with his tally for the season an impressive 10 goals and 6 assists. 

Tottenham get the Job Done against AC Milan

Tottenham have done one better than their local rivals tonight with a winning draw against AC Milan, which saw the London side hold on to their first leg lead to progress to the quarter finals.

It wasn't the most eventful of games, with a William Gallas goal line clearance being the biggest save whilst the main controversy being Mathieu Flamini's continued aggressive tackles from the San Siro. In comparison with Arsenal's controversial, action packed clash at the Nou Camp yesterday, this game was more of a competitive kick around.

I thought there would be more attacking from both sides, however Milan were predominant in attack but were not being able to create any chances of real merit, apart from a few ambitious shots from Pato and Robinho. Zlatan Ibrahimovich whose biggest fan is himself, mustered a powerful freekick which needed a good save from Gomes in the Tottenham goal.

Spurs didn't take full advantage of their wing play which has been good to them in the previous European rounds - most notably against Inter with Bale. Lennon didn't have many opportunities to stretch his little legs in a super sprint, and was restricted to a few impressive crosses up to the towering Crouch who seemed intent on heading it down to van der Vaart. After one particularly good cross from Lennon, Crouch, who was only about 8 yards out and at not a particularly tight angle, hit it back where it came, hoping for an on runner to strike it in rather than going for goal himself.

The pressure that Spurs were under was nothing in comparison to Barcelona's relentless attacking of the Gunners yesterday, and so they coped with it well. Milan were pretty poor for a team who had to score a goal in truth, never looking threatening.

So Tottenham progress to the final eight, and Redknapp becomes the first English manger to take a team to this stage - which was quite surprising but quite an achievement. They will most probably hope to avoid Barcelona in the next round, although will surely love the opportunity to have a go at them, and perhaps get yet another one over on Arsenal who were quite harshly described yesterday by one Spanish journalist:

“This Arsenal is a losing team, they lack grandeur, ambition and talent, there’s only one Barça and are no imitations are accepted.”

Tottenham will not be wanting that sort of description.

Tottenham v Man Utd - Will the Unbeaten Run Be Broken?

Tottenham will take on Manchester United on Sunday in a bid to jump above Chelsea and go fourth in the table whilst breaking United's 25 game unbeaten run. Tottenham are unbeaten in their last four home matches in the league against big four opposition, but will they be able to defeat the League leaders who beat them in a controversial 2 - 0 win earlier this season? They will certainly be looking for revenge.

Tottenham fancy themselves too, and probably with good reason. United have not been playing their best football, especially away from home - recording only two away wins in the last nine away games. Their home form and lack of losses is what is keeping them top. However, the away form must improve, and Sir Alex Ferguson will be hoping that the improvement will start with a convincing win at Tottenham.

The Spurs manager said:

"I couldn't see them remaining unbeaten. It's not impossible but I don't see them doing that. I don't see that they are on another planet to the other teams. They are favourites to win the league but not to go unbeaten."

"They haven't hit the heights this year, but they keep winning games and they haven't been beaten. We are playing well. We are a better team than played United last year. We have got every chance. We are at home. We will give them a real game."

The matches between these two team are often littered with controversial moments and often prove to be brilliant entertainment, as both sides love to attack and believe they can win. Tottenham and England defender Michael Dawson will be doing his best to prevent the United attack grabbing a winning goal on Sunday, and he also believes that his teammates are good enough to defeat United:

"Yes they're on a good run and are top of the form table for a reason. But, hopefully, on Sunday we can be the first team to beat them. We want to win things and that means the title. We want to be contenders year after year. And to do that you have to beat the likes of United."

He will be up against a particularly experienced attacker in Ryan Giggs. The Welsh veteran may not have the speed to get around as many players as he could when his sparkling career began, but he can still influence his teammates with his hardworking culture and natural skill. An appearance for Giggs will take his appearance count reach a massive 600 - only 6 appearances away from fellow United legend Sir Bobby Charlton. He is now 37, but his career glides on, and last week played the whole 90 minutes, which impressed his manager:

"His [Ryan Giggs's] fitness was fantastic last week, he was going for the whole 90 minutes up and down the pitch, and he's been doing that for two decades... There is no other player that's ever done that or ever likely to do that... He's quite an amazing man"

His old team mate, David Beckham will not be making an appearance however. He has been training with Tottenham, but a signing has not been completed and doesn't look as if it will be, so none of his trademark crosses will be dropping into the United box onto the head of Peter Crouch, or Spurs' top scorer this season, Rafael van der vaart. The Dutchman has scored 9 league goals, and will be a big threat to United's back line which may contain fellow countryman Edwin van dar sar and Nemanja Vidic after returning from injuries.

Gareth Bale will be threatening the young Rafael on the left wing, which should prove a tough test for the Brazilian who has started to play a lot more for United as Gary Neville eases out of the United team, looking set for retirement. Rooney could be back for the Red Devils, so there will be no lack of attacking football from both sides.

With Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea already recording wins this week-end, both teams need the win. Tottenham have the home crowds support and the motivation of breaking the 6th longest unbeaten run in Premier League history, while United will be looking to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League, and keep that brilliant run going.

I'm looking forward to it.

Liverpool To Sign £13 million Eljero Elia

Liverpool's search for new players who will help to keep Roy Hodgson's job safe has begun, as the Reds have reportedly agreed terms with Dutch winger Eljero Elia.

Elia has been linked with Liverpool for a while, but up until now it has only been rumours. Now, it looks as if the rumours are finally coming true, as sources in Germany- home of his current club Hamburg, suggest that the pacey winger has been subject to a £13 million bid from the Merseyside club and have agreed personal terms with the 23 year-old.

Elia would be a ideal addition to the Liverpool side who massively lack natural wingers and players who are actually willing to play on the wing. Joe Cole has again expressed his desire to hold a central attacking role in the Liverpool side, and with Babel also preferring a central role, Hodgson knew he needed a natural wide man. The team have also lacked creativity and pace and after seeing Elia in the World Cup for Holland, he certainly has pace in abundance and the ability create chances for his team mates.

Elia has scored a career total of 27 goals while mounting a good assist total of 22, and in 2009 was awarded the Johan Cruijff Award for "Young Player of the Year" in the Netherlands - an award that has previously been won by Arsenal legends Dennis Bergkamp and Marc Overmars as well as Robin van Persie, Arjen Robben and Rafael van der Vaart.

Arsenal 2 - 3 Tottenham - Redknapp: We can win the Title

Arsene Wenger watched his team throw away a two goal lead against arch rivals Tottenham at the Emirates, and was it is fair to say he was absolutely furious - Pat Rice next to him must have been fearing for his own safety as Wenger threw a bottle to the floor in a passionate show of rage.

Arsenal dominated the first half with an early nine minute goal from Nasri as he went round Gomes and from a tight angle slipped the ball in the net. Chamakh then doubled the lead with his ninth goal of the season after a cute cross from Arshavin on the left.

Harry Redknapp sent on Jermain Defoe on at half time in the hope that the game would swing on its head. It did.

A long ball played forward was met with Jermaine Defoe - beating an Arsenal defender in the air, with van der vaart running on to it. Bale made a run down the middle just to the right of van der vaart, and there was no doubt that the Dutchman would find him. Bale duly and expertly slotted the ball passed a diving Fabianski to set up the Tottenham comeback.

A free kick was awarded to Tottenham just passed he 65th minute, and as van der vaart struck the ball, two players in the wall raised their arms above their heads. These players were both Fabregas and Chamakh, and thought that protecting their faces took priority over the risk of giving away a penalty. Phil Dowd the referee had no choice but to point to the penalty spot, and who else but the trusty Dutchman van der vaart coolly sent Faianski the wrong way to slot the ball home for the equaliser.

It was all level, and Tottenham were in the ascendancy. Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny then had the opportunity to knock Totenham down from their high with a glorious chance to score from a great cross. He wasn't stretching for the ball, he was unmarked, and he was about 5 yards out with virtually the whole goal the aim for. But he is a defender. And he headed over.

In the 84th minute, Gareth Bale - the man who never seems to stop running, bursted down the right, and as the ball was fed to him, he was inevitably brought down by Koscielny. Van der vaart took the subsequent free kick, and Younes Kaboul got a minimal touch as it bounced passed Fabianski to win the game for Tottenham.

As the 4th official raised the board in the 90th minute to show five minuets of added time, the Arsenal fans, with no real belief on their faces, weakly encouraged the players to fight for an equaliser. The fans belief seemed to be mirrored by the players - mounting no real chances again, and trudged off at the end of the match knowing that they had blown the chance to go top.

Harry Redknapp said at the end of the game:

"We can beat anybody and this win today has put us right back in the race again. It is wide open.

"We can achieve anything. We have to believe. It is not impossible to win the title. Let's see how we go."

If Tottenham continue to play with this resilience and fight, not forgetting their obvious quality, this kind of result will become far more common.

Before handing the man of the match award to Bale van der vaart said:

"It's a great day for the club."

This is something that Tottenham fans will get used to hearing.

Perfectly Good Nani Goal

Good Goal: Nani

Once again, a "controversial" goal was scored in the fixture between Manchester United and Tottenham at Old Trafford.

In the 85th minute, Nani went on a run in the box. he was brought down, but nothing was given. There were small complaints from Nani on the floor, as his hand touched the ball, which was behind him - but no free-kick was given. Therefore, the game continued, with the ball in open play. The referee and the linesman gave nothing, and Gomes also continued. The goalkeeper, who isn't the sharpest tool in the box, it has to be said, picked up the ball, ran forward six or seven yards forward, and dropped the ball, as if to prepare to kick it. He did not kick it, and Nani, who had picked himself up, took the opportunity to score.

Firstly, it was a penalty. Secondly, if the referee didn't see the handball - which he clearly didn't (or rather, he has now come out to say that he played the advantage to Tottenham and Gomes), then it can't be a free-kick. Thirdly, if Gomes thought it was a free-kick, then why did he run forward with the ball, six or seven yards to take it?

Error: Gomes

The Tottenham goalkeeper never struck me as very clever at all, and this obvious error confirms it. If Tottenham fans want to blame anyone, then it should surely be Gomes. A free-kick was not given, and the referee was clearly signalling to him to get on with the game. He ran forwards, backwards, and again, trying to decide whether to kick the ball. It was a Gomes mistake, and he was punished.

Despite this controversy, United were greatly improved from previous performances. They passed the ball very well around the Tottenham players, and after Vidic's early goal, were able to keep their cool, as well as the ball.

Tottenham too were very good in the first half. They were a threat going forward, and used their pace in Lennon and Bale to get round defenders. Linking with Van der Vaart made the pace of the game so much faster, and this made for a very entertaining first half.

The second half produced fewer chances for both sides, and after Van der Vaart went off with a hamstring injury, Tottenham lost a lot of their midfield threat.

It was unfortunate that the goal had to be so controversial, as the game was so good, but it did happen, and there will now be replays shown again and again, as well as endless discussions, but from what I saw, it was a good goal.

Van Der Vaart, Modric, Bale and Lennon force out Kranjcar at Tottenham

When they qualified for the Champions League last season, it was questioned whether Tottenham would have the strength in depth and enough fit and willing players to play twice in a week. Those doubts didn't last for long, however, because they added just the right amount of quality to their already strong team.

They were able to spend a relatively small amount of £14 million in the summer transfer market, bringing in free agent William Gallas, defensive midfielder Sandro from Internacional for £6m, Stipe Pletikosa on loan from Spartak Moscow and the so far brilliant Rafael van der Vaart for £8m from Real Madrid.

Another important factor for Tottenham during the summer was that they weren't forced into selling any of their top players; Gareth Bale was rumoured to have interested a couple of big teams including Manchester United, but he instead extended his Totenham contract. Luka Modric too. The Croatian is extremely highly rated at White Hart Lane, and for good reason, so interest from other clubs was inevitable, but Tottenham held on the their star man.

However, with the arrival of the crowd pleaser and Tottenham fan favourite, Rafael Van Der Vaart at Spurs, as well as the brilliant form of Gareth Bale, and Modric and Lennon guaranteed a start, that leaves no room for Niko Kranjcar. The Croatian hasn't started a game for Tottenham so far this season, and it has been rumoured that if this continues, he will seek a new club - with possible suiters already interested.

Monaco, as well as two Premier League clubs are said to be interested with the creative playmaker, with Liverpool and Aston Villa rumoured to be the two English clubs.

Gerrard Houllier will of course be looking to build on the squad he inherited recently, and the 26-year-old could be the perfect player to add some more creativity and flare to the Villa line up, after losing James Milner to Manchester City in the summer. But if they are to purchase the Spurs midfielder, they will have to find around £8 million - about four times what Tottenham paid for him in 2009.

At the moment, Liverpool are having trouble keeping their heads above the water in the Premier League, and with their debt ravaged American owners hoping to sell, they may find it hard to find £8 million to pay Tottenham.

With Van Der Vaart, Modric, Bale and Lennon all doing so well in the Tottenham midfield, it seems inevitable that Kranjcar will have to find a new club soon, as sitting on the bench may become an unwelcomed routine for the attacking midfielder. Is Tottenhams midfield so full of quality that they are having to let go of some of it? It can only be a good sign when you are letting good players go because they can't get into the team.

Rafael Van Der Vaart on Moving to Tottenham

So Van Der Vaart moving to Tottenham was one of the transfer headlines of the final day of this years summer transfer window. Have a look at what the player himself has to say about his new club as well as his old club by clicking the link below.

Click Here to watch interview