Player of the first half of season?

[musicl]

Who do you think has been the best player of the season so far? I think its got to be Rooney. My top 5 would be:

1. Rooney - just been amazing
2. Gerrard - been very good
3. J.Cole - could be the new Zidane
4. Davids - what a quality player
5. Henry - still got it

[Teso Dos Bichos]

It is clearly Rooney.

[nicephoras]

Why is it clearly Rooney? Oh, right, I forgot - you're a ManUtd fan. I could easily say Lampard, seeing as how he's scored more from midfield and plays for the better club.

[Teso Dos Bichos]

Rooney's all-round game has been far superior to anyone else thus far. It's that simple nice.

[liverbird]

Why is it clearly Rooney? Oh, right, I forgot - you're a ManUtd fan. I could easily say Lampard, seeing as how he's scored more from midfield and plays for the better club.

and I could say Gerrard. I think, however, that all three have done very well for their respective clubs. No one has clearly stood out.

[nicephoras]

and I could say Gerrard. I think, however, that all three have done very well for their respective clubs. No one has clearly stood out.

True. I don't think any of them are 'clearly' better than the other this season.

[blech]

it's hard to take seriously any top 5 list that does not include Lampard (and undermines credibility for arguments that follow).

[blackjack]

Rooney
Joe Cole
Lampard
Gerrard
Ledley King
Terry
Carragher

All of these players have a fair claim. It's impossible to objectively determine who has been the best. My vote would go to Cole, but there's certainly some bias in that, as there is for Teso when he says that Rooney is head and shoulders abover the rest.

[musicl]

it's hard to take seriously any top 5 list that does not include Lampard (and undermines credibility for arguments that follow).I would put Lampard 7th after Essien.

Gerrard and Henry have both diffiantly been better than Lampard - no question about that.

Davids - look what he has down to the Permierships biggest under achievers.

J.Cole - everytime ive seen Chelsea he in my opinion has been there best player.

[blech]

I would put Lampard 7th after Essien.

Gerrard and Henry have both diffiantly been better than Lampard - no question about that.

Davids - look what he has down to the Permierships biggest under achievers.

J.Cole - everytime ive seen Chelsea he in my opinion has been there best player.

we'll have to agree to disagree. at the halfway mark, lampard has 12 goals and 5 assists, including some real crackers (and added another goal today, but let's stick to the first half of the season). he has been the leader and rock of the top team in the league, playing 90 minutes in 18 of their first 19 games.

obviously, arguments could be made for other chelsea players, and essien makes a huge contribution, but not in the same "player of the year" kind of way as lampard, in my opinion. and, nothing against Cole (whose numbers are down in part because of his playing time), but he's only played the full 90 in 5 or 6 of the first 19 games. hard to be player of the league when your not the player of your team. in terms of isolated moments, i enjoy watching him (and robben for that matter), but his first 19 games of the season just don't justify player of the year accolades. feel free to explain why you believe otherwise.

as for gerrard, i'm a big fan of his. but i thought he struggled some in league play in the first quarter of the season but has since really come around. love his tenacity and drive, and think he's trending up as we head into the second half. definitely top 3 or 4, but took a while to get on track while being moved around in liverpool's system.

henry? he's missed 1/3 of their games. he's been good when healthy, but no goals in the two outings against chelsea and too many absences to claim this kind of award.

i honestly haven't seen enough of davids this season to have a comment, but know how he plays and am not surprised to hear he is deserving of some credit for tottenham's form (although king and others must also deserve credit for the way they're playing defense). as for whether he deserves to be on this list, i'll let others respond.

rooney has been a stud and definitely deserves to be considered in this group. between rooney and lampard, i give the slight edge to lampard, but it's a very close call.

[SpursLivi]

If you are looking at King then Dawson has to be up there. Them two have been phenominal together...

Rooney and Lampard for me. No-one else stands out as much as these two.

And they are English :D

[Zaphkiel]

Rooney, Lampard and Chimbonda

I don't know why Chimbonda...but he really drives the wigan squad.

[ibby]

Lampard

[Walter3000]

I don't know why Chimbonda....

Nobody else does either.

[JoshDB]

1. Lampard (Obvious)
2. J. Cole (Improving at an incredible rate)
3. Rooney (Really contributes to Man Utd's overall game)
4. Gamst Pedersen (Probably the main reason Blackburn are doing well.)
5. Darren Bent (Having a great season)

[jankballs]

lampard

[Toon³]

Given, because he has been and the best player doesn't need to come from one of the top 4 clubs.

[SpursLivi]

Given, because he has been and the best player doesn't need to come from one of the top 4 clubs.

He has been good, and is your best player. You are just showing bias...

[Teso Dos Bichos]

The award is for best player Toon, not the least injured in your squad. ;)

[Flash2]

Robin Van Persie.