Player of the Season

Arguably the most important award of the season and one which instigated a good debate about it on Chelsea FanCast #288.

At the time we were unanimous that the three nominations had to come from the defence, a defence that conceded the least goals of any team in the league and had three players in the Premier League team of the year.

Only one of them gets our nomination for Player of the Year though – Gary Cahill.

Gary Cahill

Gary Cahill has been something of a slow burner since he joined Chelsea, but this year I believe he has really come in to his own and matured in to a top class defender. Operating next to JT for most of this season has obviously rubbed off on him as his last ditch clearances and putting his body on the line would prove. Still not as adept as bringing the ball out of defence, or reading the situation as JT is, he has looked very solid all season and seems to be improving his leadership skills. He is also likely to pop up with a goal or two – the one against Galatasaray springs to mind. Cahill also playes with his heart and always gives 100% – something which I always approve. Without doubt it has been is best and most consistent season for Chelsea and he thoroughly deserves our nomination as Player of the Season.

John Terry

And talking of JT, everyone…well perhaps only Rafa Benitez had written JT off last season. We of course all knew different. When Jose came in, he promised no favours to JT or any of his old guard. But typically JT got the bit between his teeth and in truth has been back to his very best this season. Not bad considering his age and the cumulative effect of the injuries of the past years. Then again, JT has never been blessed with pace, it is his uncanny ability to read the game and anticipate that makes him, still, one of the leagues, if not the world’s best defenders. Terry Venables – not a bad judge of a player – once said of JT that he has the best first touch of a defender he has ever seen. Things like that do not diminish with age, which bodes well for both JT and Chelsea as it would be good to get another year or two out of him. He is clearly our best defender, and his leadership skills are absolutely vital to the side, especially at a time of transition. It will be up to JT and JT alone to imbue the culture of playing for Chelsea and why it is so important to us the supporters to the new players who come in and might not otherwise get it. But all in all a top top season for our ‘Captain, Leader & Legend’. Let’s hope that he finally gets a crack at playing in and winning a Champions League final. Next year perhaps…

Cesar Azpilicueta

The third defender to be nominated has been truly a revelation this season. He didn’t exactly set the world alight last year, and this year he was somewhat surprisingly drafted in to the left back position ahead of club legend and the world’s best left back – Ashley Cole. Even more surprising when one considers that he is in fact playing out of position as he is a natural right back.  Never the less, Azpi has hardly put a foot wrong since. He has great pace, superb tackling ability and reads the game very well. He does not perhaps get forward enough – but then Jose’s full backs priority is to defend first, and at this he is superb. Personally I love his enthusiasm, humility and 100% commitment. He plays like he cares and that for me is very important. He is also not averse to getting stuck in and I like a bit of that. If he carries on at this rate of progress he will become one of our best ever full backs. But this season, his consistency has been superb, evidenced by his almost weekly nomination in our ‘Man of the Match’ awards. Good to see that he was recognised by the players by winning the ‘Players, Player of the Season’ award recently. Who are we to argue?

Eden Hazard

On the Chelsea FanCast #288 that was going to be it for the ‘Player of the Season’ nominations, but I had a think after the show around Eden Hazard. We all felt that his form has not been as consistent as the three nominations we chose. He has been brilliant in parts and gone missing at times. However, on reflection, how could we ignore a man who was awarded Chelsea’s ‘Player of the Season’ all be it voted by a predominance of armchair fans I suspect.

It has to be said that Hazard has carried the sole creative hopes of the side this season – well certainly since Mata left. This is no mean feat, especially when you consider how frustrating it must be for a player of his ability feeding passes to the likes of our misfiring or inadequate strikers. More than that, this season he has often been marked and pressed by two or three opposition players as they have realised that Hazard, and Hazard alone carries the main threat. It is also remarkable how many times he gets kicked and fouled during a game, and hardly ever complains about it. He is a special talent and this season he has been at the heart of anything exciting and qualitative that Chelsea has done, and given us some wonderful moments – flicks, runs, passes, rabonas and some stunning goals. I feel it would be somewhat churlish not include him in the nominations for ‘Player of the Season’ this year – so I have!

If you want to vote for the Player of the Season then all you have to do is vote below. We will be revealing the results and discussing what we voted for on the Chelsea FanCast on Monday 19^th May. Watch the show live at 19.00-21.00 GMT (Voting closes at 19.30 GMT) by going to sportstonightlive.com or on this website here or of course you can listen and post in the chat room at Mixlr. 

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