Bale’s my Player of Season

Thesun.co.uk 14/04/2013

IT’S getting to that stage of the season when the silver polish comes out again as we reach the business end of things.
Titles, trophies and individual awards are ever closer, as those who have shone throughout the past nine months or so get their due recognition.
So today I’m proud to present the ‘Arry’s... my own take on who has lit up football and taken the game by storm.

I think we all accept the Player of the Year is a three-way battle between Gareth Bale, Robin van Persie and Luis Suarez .
Yet as much as RVP’s goals are going to win Manchester United the title and Suarez has carried Liverpool single-handed for much of the season, Bale gets my vote.
Someone told me they reckoned he was as close as you will get to the British Cristiano Ronaldo and I wouldn’t disagree.
He has got that ability to turn a game in an instant — often with something that genuinely leaves you open-mouthed.
The lad has been absolutely top class and it is absolutely no coincidence that Spurs have dipped a little since he has been injured.

On top of his obvious talents, Gareth is such a nice guy as well, a clean living, down to earth lad who is the perfect role model in just about every respect.
Incidentally, while everyone seems to think he will be packing his bags for one of the European giants this summer, I cannot see him going anywhere.
Gareth certainly is not the sort of fella who would be banging the manager’s door down when the big bucks are being mentioned.
If, as I expect, he is still turning out at White Hart Lane next season, then Tottenham fans are in for another absolute treat.

The Young Player of the Year is not quite as clear cut, with the likes of Luke Shaw at Southampton, Swansea’s Ben Davies and Matthew Lowton all having quite sensational seasons.
But the one who has impressed me most is Lowton’s Aston Villa team-mate Christian Benteke. It’s incredible to think he is only 22, has come from Genk — not exactly one of Europe’s super powers — and is in his debut season in the Premier League.
But he has taken it all in his stride, looks as if he’s been here for years and has led the line like a battle-hardened veteran.

I know Villa are fighting for their lives right now but in a struggling side he has still managed over 20 goals this term — if you include for the Belgian national side — and you dread to think how their season would have gone without him up front.
Another man in his first year in England is Michael Laudrup — and the Swansea boss is my choice as Manager of the Year.

I know Alex Ferguson will bring the Premier League back to Old Trafford but for making an impact not even Fergie can match Michael.
He has not just carried on the good work done by Roberto Martinez and Brendan Rodgers, he has taken it to the next level and has the Capital One Cup in safe keeping to prove it.
And do not let anyone tell you he’s merely inherited a side either.
Yes, there were some good lads already there, but he has added the likes of Michu, Pablo Hernandez, Chico and Jonathan De Guzman to the mix.
We were at the Liberty Stadium in February and it is magnificently well run, a great atmosphere and well on the way to becoming an established Premier League club.
If Laudrup is not tempted away by anyone — and believe me, his stock is rising by the week — he could go down as one of the biggest legends Swansea City have ever seen.