This can’t really be described as an unpopular opinion given the universal appreciation of the man I’m about to put forward for the PFA Player of the Year award.
But based on one particular Premier League season I reckon I’ve got a leg to stand on.
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99.9% of football fans believed the annual gong is between Kevin De Bruyne and Mo Salah after ludicrous seasons for Man City and Liverpool respectively.
But I think it should go to David Silva instead.
In 2008/09, Man United pipped Liverpool to the title by the skin of their teeth after a couple of last gasp Federico Macheda winners.
Remember him?
Steven Gerrard was the outstanding individual that season, claiming the FWA award after bagging 24 goals in the most prolific campaign of his career.
But the PFA Player of the Year accolade went to Ryan Giggs.
Literally everyone in their right mind knew Gerrard was more deserving of the award but Giggs’ was recognised by his fellow peers simply as a nod to his outstanding career achievements.
Amazingly Giggs had never previously won the award despite being the most decorated player in the competition’s history.
But in 2008/09 that hoodoo ended despite the Welshman playing just 1501 minutes of football – less than half of the total available – and scoring just two goals in 28 appearances.
Yet nobody really complained.
The PFA award is of course meant to acknowledge the best player from that year, but the Ballon d’Or rarely sticks to its remits.
The global gong is more of a popularity contest which is swayed more by trophies than individual merit.
So with Giggs’ case and that all in consideration, why shouldn’t Silva win it this year?
Since his arrival in 2010 no player has been more central to City’s rise from mid table mediocrity to unrivalled world beaters.
Silva, along with Vincent Kompany and Sergio Aguero, has survived the relentless transfer dealings to remain a key cog under three very different managers.
He’s having his second best scoring season, averaging a goal or assist every 1.2 Premier League games.
Silva is probably City’s greatest ever player, with only Aguero really pushing him close, and he’s been just as effective as De Bruyne this season in propelling Pep Guardiola’s side to new realms of dominance.
But despite seemingly contradicting his 32 years on this planet he won’t be around forever, with a romantic return to boyhood club Las Palmas in the offing.
He’s an immensely popular figure amongst this fellow professionals, so will they take a stand and finally give the man the recognition he deserves?
For more outlandish claims and musings follow Adam on Twitter – @adamjonessj
READ MORE:
- The Premier League’s best foreign player ever has NEVER made Team of the Year
- 9 reasons why David Silva is Manchester City’s greatest EVER player
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