Torres: EPL Player of the Year?

[Springbok FC]

In America (uh oh, choose your words carefully, Bok), the primary standard by which the best player of the year in any given team sport is judged is by how indespensible said player is to his team's success. Makes perfect sense, really.

I know that we tend to play favorites, here, when it comes to our boys versus the rest of the league, but it must be recognized that Nando is not only Liverpool's top player this season, but tops in the EPL. Crissy Ronaldo has a couple more goals, sure, but one wonders whether or not his impact on ManUre is the difference-maker with regard to them being in the race for the title. Whereas with Torres, there is absolutely no question as to how invaluable he has been to the side this season.

Thoughts? Is it wishful thinking on my part?

[AussieLFCfan]

No doubt!!!!!

[Scotland the brave]

Well with my red hat very firmly on i would have to say hell yeah beacuse without nando we look lackluster up front and he is just so explosive.

Looking at the league as a whole i would say fabregas has to have a good shout if Arsenal do anything this year as he bosses almost every game i have seen them play.

[Matt Clark]

You could make an argument for the idea, certainly. Torres' 18 league goals have come in just 25 games of his first English campaign - and an injury-disrupted one, at that. When using your parameter, it is especially evident that he is more useful to us than any single Rag is to them (or Adebayor/Fabregas to Arsenal even).

But realistically, Ronaldo has been the best player in the league this season. He's the focal point of that team. Others have important roles to play (Tevez is an increasingly vital cog), but he makes it tick.

[liverbird]

You could make an argument for the idea, certainly. Torres' 18 league goals have come in just 25 games of his first English campaign - and an injury-disrupted one, at that. When using your parameter, it is especially evident that he is more useful to us than any single Rag is to them (or Adebayor/Fabregas to Arsenal even).

But realistically, Ronaldo has been the best player in the league this season. He's the focal point of that team. Others have important roles to play (Tevez is an increasingly vital cog), but he makes it tick.

I can't be arsed to do it, but what would Cvnt Ronaldo's goal total be if you took out the dead ball goals? I suspect El Nino would be in front in scoring from the run of play. I agree with you that the best player on the likely league leaders will get the nod.

[Matt Clark]

Yeah, I did consider this aspect. I think Ronaldo has something like 8 goals from penalties and free-kicks. But then, when the free-kicks are of the quality that he showed against Portsmouth, then it would be churlish to argue that they're not as representative of his value just because the ball started it's flight into the top corner from a more contrived position than a goal scored in open play.

[newterp]

Ronaldo wins this year. But no one is sleeping on Torres at all.

He really has been our savior (it really is mesmerizing how almost no one other than him and gerrard score).

[revelationx]

Torres has been exceptional and has probably been the best striker in the Premiership, with only Adebayor being the other contender for that label.

The player of the season so far though has to be C Ronaldo. Scoring 30 goals in 30 matches (including 4 pens) is an incredible rate and has not been achieved in England for a long time. Any player who achieves that deserves the player of the year imo.

[liverbird]

Yeah, I did consider this aspect. I think Ronaldo has something like 8 goals from penalties and free-kicks. But then, when the free-kicks are of the quality that he showed against Portsmouth, then it would be churlish to argue that they're not as representative of his value just because the ball started it's flight into the top corner from a more contrived position than a goal scored in open play.


Oh I agree in the aggregate -- I was simply pointing out that Torres has been extraordinarily prolific from the run of play

[drobny23]

In America the press would (1) spend no time thinking critically about it and (2) blindly, lazily give the award to the player with the most gaudy stats who is on the best team. Which would be Ronaldo.

The "Player of the Year" evokes much less debate than America's "MVP."

EPL POY probably is Ronaldo, if only because Torres spent a good bit of time injured. And his critics will cite the volume of goals scored in blowouts.

[iDiveStevieG]

Ronaldo takes the cake when it comes to being the EPL POY but El Nino would easily win best newcomer. If his form continues and he does really well at Euro '08 and carries Pool to 4th place, I would think he could have a pretty good chance for the overall POY award, depending on how well Ronaldo does for the rest of the year that is. ;)

[liverbird]

Ronaldo takes the cake when it comes to being the EPL POY but El Nino would easily win best newcomer. If his form continues and he does really well at Euro '08 and carries Pool to 4th place, I would think he could have a pretty good chance for the overall POY award, depending on how well Ronaldo does for the rest of the year that is. ;)

Two questions: How did a seemingly reasonable and knowledgable football fan end up supporting the Skanks? Second how can such reason and writing skill get associated with Shrek?

Ofcourse I kid but wtf?:D

[iDiveStevieG]

Shrek? :confused:

[erick]

adebayor, torres, garrard, are all candidates but the winner will be http://cristianoronaldofan.net/cristiano-ronaldo-videos#

[liverbird]

Shrek? :confused:

http://images.nicekicks.com/images/shrek-dunks-kids-5.jpg

[iDiveStevieG]

Hahahah I kinda figured thats what you were getting at but wasn't sure.:p

[usscouse]

Here's his buddy as well:

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c116/1scouse/Tevez.jpg

[ForeverRed]

Plus, these awards are usually given to players in teams that win titles or are at least in contention for titles.

[Springbok FC]

In America the press would (1) spend no time thinking critically about it and (2) blindly, lazily give the award to the player with the most gaudy stats who is on the best team. Which would be Ronaldo.

The "Player of the Year" evokes much less debate than America's "MVP."



Well, if that were the case, Michael Jordan would've won around 8 MVPs. His grand total was considerably less than that. I think probably the only blatant instance in recent memory of the stat-monger being rewarded an MVP would be when A-Rod won it while on last place Texas. But yeah, I get what you're saying (Jason Kidd losing out to Tim Duncan in 2003 springs to mind).

Have to concur with the sentiment regarding Crissy. Could've been argued that he should've pipped Kaka for World Footballer of 2007. But damn it, against reason, I'm clinging to hope!

[AndSomeAreAngels]

Torres' ability boggles the mind but it's going to Ronaldo. He's like the rich, dickhead kid in high school that drives off in the convertible, but the guy is in a class all his own.

Torres could make a run at top scorer in the EPL (doubtful, but he's on fire) and will have a very good shot next year. Just how good can he get?