5 Surprise Contenders For Player Of The Year

This is a list that basically just evaluates which players have particularly stood out when we as fans didn’t think they would. It’s perhaps too early to talk of player of the season nominations, but it’s a headline that people would be more attracted to than ‘5 players I feel are doing well so far’. Anyway, that’s not important. What is important is the players I feel deserve to go on this list. Obviously there are players that will be nominated that won’t make this list, the likes of Robin van Persie, Sergio Aguero and Luis Suarez, but I’m confident that if these players maintain their current form then they will be in with a chance.

1. Aaron Ramsey

Who else but Arsenal‘s Welshman? Most fans completely wrote him off at some stages last season, some calling for Wenger to just sell him. ‘He’s a waste of space’ was a common phrase used on Twitter, minus certain expletives of course. Ramsey has completely blown away the critics so far with an almighty 11 goals and five assists in 17 appearances, which is an incredible sum for a central midfielder; Cesc Fabregas-esque stats in fact. He’s also put in the performances to go with the goals and is actually the top tackler in the league; a box-to-box midfielder is there ever was one.

2. Artur Boruc

The Southampton ‘keeper has been in inspiring form for the Saints this season, conceding just five goals in the Premier League which also happens to be one of the best records in Europe. Obviously he has a lot to thank his defence for, but he himself has been simply amazing these past few months. He produces top notch saves week in week out and, despite that freak goal against Stoke last weekend, rarely puts a foot wrong.

3. Wojciech Szczesny

Yet another ‘keeper and yet another Arsenal player, but so far he’s totally proven himself to be the player of the season. He makes big saves every time he steps out onto the pitch, Jedinak’s volley when the Gunners faced Crystal Palace for example. He faced a lot of criticism last season for his inconsistency and being prone to errors but this season, with the exception of the Aston Villa game, has kept Arsenal in quite a few ties. His overall game has improved and Arsenal fans are starting to see the confident ‘keeper they saw when he first started to win a place in the first team.

4. Daniel Sturridge

The Liverpool forward was crucified at Chelsea for constantly underperforming, so when the Merseyside-based club took him under their wing a lot of eyebrows were raised. However, those eyebrows are not raised anymore, as he has taken the Premier League by storm this season. Eight goals in 11 appearances as well as two assists have helped Liverpool stake their claim that they can be top four contenders. His partnership with Luis Suarez has earned the nickname ‘SAS’ because of their brilliant link up play. It stands for ‘Sturridge And Suarez’, with the acronym first seen in the Premier League in reference to Blackburn Rovers’ title-winning pairing of Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton.

5. Rickie Lambert

A neutral fan favourite because of the club he’s at and the fact that it’s one of those success stories where a player works his way up from the murky depths of the football league to the highest division. He’s been excellent for the Saints so far this season, scoring fourgoals and assisting three more in 11 appearances. This has helped Southampton to the position of third in the Premier League. If the Saints are to finish above their expectations then they have this guy to thank.