The winner of the footballer’s price of the year of football of the year tends to come from teams that win the Premier League. This has been the case during the last 10 seasons. Only once during this time – when Mo Salah won it by playing to Liverpool, fourth, in 2018 – it escaped the hands of the first two.
This season should change. The most influential footballer in the Premier League was Bruno Fernandes by Manchester United and already has my vote.
He’s not a popular footballer outside of Old Trafford, but how many united players? The United Supporters continue to wear their ABU – anyone except a nickname united as a badge of honor and with reason.
Fernandes had his faults for sure and I have already vehemently written about them, in particular in the context of his role as Captain United. The 30 -year -old still has occasional problems with his temperament and could certainly wave his hands a little less when things go against him.
But Luis Suarez has already won this award. Roy Keane too. It is not a price given to the boys of the choir. This is football.
United is 14th in the Premier League and beat the kind of club records that nobody wants. But where would they be without their best player?
Bruno Fernandes was the most influential player in the Premier League this season
Mohamed Salah was exceptional, but benefits from being configured to meet his needs
Fernandes is perhaps an unpopular footballer – and could do with the beat of his hands – but he maintained his side levels which did not do the same thing
Rio Ferdinand thinks that his former club would be in a battle for relegation and it is a section. They wouldn’t do it. Nevertheless, the 16 goals of Fernandes and many assists give credibility to the point of view of Ferdinand according to which: “Without him, there is no hope in terms of attack force of this united team.
And this is one of the things about Fernandes. These are not only the objectives. These are great goals and great moments. These are contributions that shape and change football games. It’s about advancing a team. This is what puts players as part of individual awards. At least he should.
Most will disagree with me. The votes will go to Salah, Virgil Van Dijk, Declan Rice and perhaps Alexander Isak. But it depends on how you supervise debate and reasoning. If it was only a vote for the best player in the country every year, Kevin de Bruyne would probably have won him in the past five consecutive years.
Personally, I think it should be much wider than that. It should be an influence – to make a profound difference – and from this point of view the impact of Fernandes on his team this season has been undeniable and as far as I am concerned, more than that of any other in the upper division.
I always think there is one thing that distinguishes great players from very good. These are levels. It is always much easier to play well in a team that is on a good track. Much more difficult to maintain your high levels when the teammates drop theirs.
This is something Keane had. David Beckham also had it, especially for England. Maybe Steven Gerrard. Certainly John Terry. Fernandes has this. From this point of view, he has become a leading leader.
The Portuguese international also has other tests. He was consistent in appearances – missing a single first league match – and goals. After a slow start – he only recorded his first goal at the end of October – he never experienced more than five games without scoring. Fernandes is not a center-forward and plays for an average team only one goal (1.15 to be precise) per match in the Premier League.
Then there is an environment. My two other contenders for the price are Isak – the Newcastle striker – and Salah, who I suspect will win. But both benefited from playing for teams and clubs set up to meet their needs.
Fernandes only missed one Premier League match and has never known more than five games without making this season
The fabulous Newcastle striker, Alexander Isak, is another competitor to win the award this season
Fernandes does not have this luxury. He sort of managed to thrive in chaos. Playing in the current United United team has to sapping and there are excuses everywhere for the players who want them. United remains a club set up for failure in many ways, unstable at the top, with a new manager and an inadequate game team. Fernandes somehow managed to transcend all of this.
When the owner of the minority, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, said earlier this year that too many united players were too paid and not good enough, who was to be questioned about it? Fernandes.
“The club accepts the contract when you come here,” he said. Enough.
All this is part of the captain’s office, but that does not mean that it is not heavy. Fernandes recently revealed that he could have left last summer. He is well paid, but sometimes he must feel as if he has been desperately disappointed by others.
In United, they told me this week of a player who grew up in his role and position. A source described it as “glue holding the locker room together” while another mentioned it as “Captain Roy Keane refuses to see”.
Keane was constantly critical and it was undoubtedly the credit of Fernandes that there was no public response.
“It is incredibly resilient,” revealed a source close to the locker room.
“Sometimes he will take a heavy blow and you will see him box after a match and think that he will miss the next one. But he almost always plays.
The improvement of Fernandes the captain reflected his improvement as No. 10 United 10
An initiate close to the locker room revealed the extent of the resilience of the united captain
He offers goals in big games, like his penalty against Lyon deeply in additional time
“It is the social connector in the locker room, the link between different languages and demographic groups. He obtains the history of the club, his culture. He made sure of that. It connects with supporters.
“When our receptionist in the training field, Kath Phipps, died and the players ordered and displayed a flag in his honor, it was Bruno. That’s what he does. He is our chief in every way.
None of this necessarily improves Fernandes’ references as a player candidate of the year. It’s a football price after all. But he plays on the greater theme of a player who adopted his responsibilities. The improvement of Fernandes that the captain undoubtedly reflected and perhaps even stimulated his improvement as No 10.
I remember watching him behave quite terribly while United was humiliated in Liverpool 7-0 two years ago. Another former Captain of United, Gary Neville, described it as a discomfort that day and it was impossible to disagree.
At the time, I couldn’t think of a more unsuitable united captain. It goes without saying here, I gradually changed my mind.
Strange situation in Serie A
If Napoli and Inter finished the level of points at the top of Serie A, the title of the League will not be decided on the difference in goals but by a dam match.
It’s great for television cameras, but that’s it. A league is a league and should be decided as such.
Serie A will be decided by an eliminated
Ian Wright (right) was accused by Eni Aluko (on the left) of blocking opportunities for women
Serious aluko error
Eni Aluko actually has a time when she says that women’s football must ensure that he does not climb her studios with male experts. If the female game does not seek to offer enough opportunities to its own distribution talent, then what hope is there?
The serious Aluko error, however, was to point the finger on Ian Wright. Not only is the former match of the day a generous defender, enthusiastic, competent and completely disinterested in women’s football, but he also happens to be very good in what he does.
It should be a model for Aluko, not a cause of complaint.
