PREM-LIGA

For the past five years i have regarded the premiership as the best league in the world and rightly so. After all the past five champions league finals have included an English club, or clubs after 2008 all English final. Liverpool 2005 and Manchester United in 2008 went the whole way to be crowned champions of the biggest club competiton in the world.

Top players such as Gerrard, Lampard and Fabragas grace us each week and even the so called small teams have players the top teams have their eye on, such as Portsmouths Glen Johnson and Wigans Valencia.

I still love evrything about the premiership, the passion and commitment week in week out by all the clubs is extrodinary. All the questions which sorround the start of the season continue throughout such as who will be champions? will someone new break into the top four? who will go down? how will the new boys do? and so on. It give me goosebumps just thinking about the start of 2009/10 season but will my eyes go wondering elsewhere? and if they do i know excatly where they will travel to. . . . . .

The same place David Beckham, Ruud Van Nistelrooy, Henry, Ronaldo and many more of the premier leagues top players eyes have, La Liga. Other European stars have decided a spanish lifestyle is right up thier street such as Huntalaar, Van Der Vaart and Kaka to name a few who have all turned down the chance to play in England.

Last year Barcalona really set a bench mark in European football. With a treble winning season and a team full of world class attacking flair and two of the greatest passing midfielders I have ever seen in Xavi and Inesita.

But Barcalona are not the only club blessed with talent, far from. Valencia still have two of the hottest properties in the world in David Villa and Silva. Atletico Madrids Sergio Aguero is also a potencial world superstar to watch out for.

So back to the origanal question of should the premier league be regarded as the top league in the world? only time will tell I guess.

SUPRISE SUPRISE

I was only saying yesterday players from the top four are chosen. I was wrong in that scense as its just Manchester United and Liverpool. I had my figures crossed for someone people would of been surprised by but credited the nomination. In all fairness there hasn't been any eyebrows raised about the players picked. Maybe the fact they are just from two clubs and that a Chelsea player hasn't slotted in. So the without further ado the players.

Edwin Van Der Sar has broken the British clean sheet record by going 14 games unbeaten in the league. I wasn`t to surprised by his selection as he has been marvelous this year. But has he been better than the likes of Shay Given or Mark Schwarzer? the fact they make countless saves every game because they don't have the best defensive options. But what I will say is Edwin does keep his defense in line. It is easy for me to say he has world class defenders in front of him to stop him from working as hard as other goalkeepers in the premiership. But he does have to boss that defense and sometimes ordering around world class players is harder than one would think. But then again Van Der Sar is a world class player and has played at every level.

Ryan Giggs has performed better this season than i have seen for the last three years. He looks full of confidence and running with the ball like the Giggs we all know and love. He has left Alex Ferguson with constant headaches weather to play him or not. I'm not sure though if 21 matches really represent a whole season, I mean Frank Lampard played his 50th game of the season yesterday scoring twice in Chelseas biggest game of the season. Will Giggs even start tonight in Manchester United biggest game? if so will he last the 90 minutes? and if the answer to those questions are no he should not win the award.

Cristiano Ronaldo is such a hard player to judge. I mean ask anyone if they feel Ronaldo has been quality this season and I'm sure 50% will say no. But he has scored 20 goals in 39 games, from a midfielder that not just good its immense. But it has been a funny old season for all United players. They have all been fabulous and then slumped in spells. I feel Ronaldo gets a lot of undeserved criticism because he is a easy target. I mean apart from Messi and Gerrard this season no one can match him, so when things don't go his way he takes the blame for the whole team. My summery of his season is good, just not good enough.

Nemanja Vidic has been tipped by a lot of players for this award and surprisingly Arsene Wenger. The big Serbian has played more games than anyone else at United this year. He has also netted 7 times including a priceless goal against Inter Milan at old Tratford. Along with Ferdinand he looks like the best defender in the world, the problem is without him he doesn't. With Ferdinand they went on the fabulous run without conceding. But in the last 4 games they have conceded 7 against the likes of Sunderland, Fuhlam, Porto and Villa. So is it Vidic whose been the star of the season? I feel he has been great, but hes a shadow of the man he is when Ferdinand isn`t alongside him.

I'm glad Rio Ferdinand has been nominated i wasn't sure if he'd get the nod. As i have already mentioned when United don't have Ferdinand they look shaky, with him its more solid. I'm surprised that he has not been made the permanent captain after United heroics last year under his guidance. Hes managed 35 games this year but has recovered from a recent injury to boost United for tonights game at Porto. I also think if he had played the first leg United may have been in a more compfatble position for the away leg. My verdict is another solid season for the Englishmen, but someone performed at a completely different level.

Which brings me to Stevie Gerrard. 35 games 21 goals but that`s not what`s stood out for me. Together with Torres they look unstoppable (just ask Madrid, Villa and United) and it really is a pleasure to watch. But Gerrard is the maestro who dictates everything Liverpool do. Even more exciting is he has continued his club form to his country linking up with Rooney like he does Torres. As captains should do he has grasped the team by the scruff of the neck with breath taking goals and assists. I know Liverpool can cope without him as shown yesterday, but coping doesn't make you second in the league chasing the title. that`s why Liverpool lie close behind United because of Gerrard and the way he makes the whole team belive they are unstoppable. I said yesterday winners of this award should be inspirational and consistent and if you ask me Gerrard ticks both those boxes and more, and if anyone feels he hasn't been then they must be blind.

AND THE NOMINATIONS ARE?

As the premiership draws to a close one question on my mind is who will become PFA player of the year? Well today they will be publicized and in my mind it`s going to be the usual suspects. Steven Gerrard , Frank Lampard and Cristiano Ronaldo will probably be in contention and rumor has it Ryan Giggs. Big name players from big name clubs as per usual. The winners of this award are normally from the so called big clubs and the little guys never stand a chance.

But when you ask yourself who has been inspirational ALL season? who has been consistent ALL season? You may (like myself) find yourself looking at less likely candidates. Don't get me wrong Steven Gerrard has been fabulous this season, better than i have seen him, and would be a worthy winner on the 28th of April. I however feel there are players who will be missing from the list who HAVE been inspirational, HAVE been consistent for there clubs. Players such as Bolton duo Matty Taylor and Kevin Davies who have helped Bolton stay adrift of the relegation zone all year. Both have chipped in with vital goals and between them have 21 goals and made 60 appearances. Then there Phil Jagielka who has been inspirational for Everton this year, a rock at the back in all 39 games he has played to help Everton maintain there charge on the top four. Then there is Fuhlam`s Brede Hangeland and Wigan`s Figueroa, two players who have also shown solidness and consistency to keep there two teams not only out of trouble at the bottom but pushing for Europe. Ok so not world class players, not your everyday household names either but have been terrific all season.

But i have left one player out off the list. Someone who i feel should be a certainty for the list of six, but will be like the others overlooked. This man has really come on leaps and bounds this season and has cemented his place in the starting line, playing more games than anyone else at the club and meaning pushing other star players to the bench. He has a equal goal rate to their record signing Brazilian striker. Yes as you have probably realised i feel Manchester City`s Steven Ireland should make the 6 nominees. 39 appearances 12 goals and performances to match any midfielder in the premiership this season.

I`ll have my figures crossed that that I will be wrong but like the saying goes the little man doesn't stand a chance.