Player of The Year: The Contenders

It's approaching that time of the year again when thoughts begin to turn to recognising the best player in the division. This year see's what may turn out to be a changing of the guard in terms of the standout performers in England. Some seasoned players that tend to be in contention year in year out have not performed to their usual high standards. In particular, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and John Terry cannot seriously be in the running this year, for what seems like the first time in the best part of half a decade. Add Ronaldo's exit from these shores and the line up may well boast some new additions...possibly.

So, the candidates:

Wayne Rooney

Surely the standout contender for the individual awards this year. Wearing the number ten at United, he is now for the first time in his career playing more like a number nine. Spearheading the United attack, he is consistently scoring the type of goals that previously he would have converted only sporadically. Indeed, his two recent goals against AC Milan at Old Trafford are perfect examples of the type of goals he might not have scored a number of years ago - the first a perfectly executed header, the second a delicate finish. The improvement in his heading is well documented, but what also deserves mention is that all his goals this year have been scored inside the box. While van Nistelrooy he is not, this statistic is in stark contrast to seasons past and shows his new found focus to get himself into more orthodox goalscoring positions. There is no doubt he has thrived in Ronaldo's absence. While he was never the mere supplier of chances or an outcast on the wing as often as some would like us to believe, his influence was far more marginal when Ronaldo was around. He is now the go to man when things aren't going smoothly for United.

There have been arguments made that he doesn't score enough against the top teams, that he is a flat track bully. However, 4 goals against Milan, 2 against Arsenal, 2 against City, and now 1 against Liverpool, would suggest that if there was an element of this to his game then he is beginning to eradicate it.

Didier Drogba
Just as Wayne Rooney is spearheading United's title challenge as the goalscoring centre forward in form, so too is Didier Drogba for Chelsea. The man so often ridiculed in his first season or two in English football has matured into the ultimate centre forward. Just like Rooney, he does far more than just finish off moves, and can be found in the role of provider almost as often as finisher. Drogba has the extra burden this year of playing in a team surprisingly bereft of goals from the supporting cast. While one could argue Rooney is without Ronaldo and Tevez, Lampard and Anelka have been particularly quiet considering their goalscoring pedigree. Anelka, for his part, certainly started the season well but his goals have dried up since the turn of the year. This makes Drogba's performance all the more commendable. There is of course the nasty streak to his game that he has never managed to erase fully, recently resurfacing against Inter Milan. But his form and general performances this year deserve to be recognised.