PFA Awards 2015

The PFA Team of the Year and Player of the Year had just been announced on Sunday (April 26). In case you missed it, here's the full line-up...

(image taken from the PFA website. Click image for bigger resolution)

GK - De Gea (Man Utd)

Contributed amazing saves for the Red Devils. Fellow contenders Thibaut Courtois (Chelsea) and Fraser Forster (Southampton) trailed behind the Man United saviour. Some would say that United are still in the top half of the table because of all the crucial saves the Spaniard made. 

LB - Ryan Bertrand (Southampton)

He was a Chelsea player before this season. Went on loan for the first half of 2014/15 before eventually joining the Saints permanently in January. 

CB - John Terry (Chelsea) 

Dubbed "Mr. Chelsea" for his loyalty to the club. He has captained the squad for several years and is still considered as England's best central defender by many pundits. 

CB - Gary Cahill (Chelsea) 

Joined Chelsea in 2012 from the now-relegated Bolton Wanderers and has established himself in the club and internationally as a central defender. He had some sketchy games this year. Honestly, I was surprised they chose Cahill over Fonte/Clyne of Southampton. 

RB - Branislav Ivanovic (Chelsea) 

One of the anchors in Chelsea's defence. He kickstarted the season with a flurry of goals and assists, contributing good runs both forward and backward. Well-deserved spot in the dream team. 

LW - Eden Hazard (Chelsea)**

The PFA Player of the Year has long been foreseen as a rising EPL star. Hazard joined Chelsea three years ago and has been a part of the PFA Team of the Year since his arrival in England. The Belgian star won the PFA Young Player of the Year award last season and was runners-up to Luis Suarez in the senior Player of the Year award. This season has shown us Hazard's growth as a player and a world superstar. 

CM - Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool) 

This is a shock to most of us fans. Not that I'm doubting Coutinho's qualities, but there are more well-deserving players who should fill this spot. Cesc Fabregas has made the most assists in the league and has played a crucial role to Chelsea's title race with his contributions. Like Mourinho, I suspect that Coutinho's good run of form when the ballad was cast, in addition to Fabregas' drop in form, boosted the Reds' player to this position. 

CM - Nemanja Matic (Chelsea)

Probably the best January signing Chelsea had ever made. Initially signed in 2009, Matic made little impact in the Chelsea team. Eventually, Matic decided to sign for Benfica. When Mourinho returned as Chelsea manager in 2013, Matic was on his radar. In January 2014, the Serbian midfielder made his second coming and established himself as a crucial pivot in Chelsea's play.

RW - Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal) 
Another well-deserved spot for a player of his quality. Sanchez is undoubtedly Arsenal's best player this season. Moving from Barcelona just last summer, the Chilean winger has caused trouble for his oppositions. Despite struggling temporarily after the new year, Sanchez has recovered his form and is fighting to maintain Arsenal's Champions League position.

ST - Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspurs)**
The next England star after Wayne Rooney. Harry Kane is one of the top-scorers in the league after a failed stint by Roberto Soldado. Kane's heroics for the Spurs earned him an international call-up, to which he made good use of by scoring on his debut. The striker also won this season's PFA Young Player of the Year award, beating fellow nominee and Player of the Year Eden Hazard. He is definitely a future prospect to look forward to next season (that is, if Real Madrid don't steal him in the summer).

ST - Diego Costa (Chelsea)
The beast of Chelsea's attacks. Pundits have labelled the Spanish striker a "villain" after several clashes with opposition defenders. His behaviour on the pitch does not compromise his prolific goal-scoring form. Costa scored on his debut, achieved a hat-trick in his first season and is Chelsea's top scorer. Injuries have stumped his campaign to be the Premier League's Golden Boot winner, but the lethal striker always makes his presence known whenever he's fit.



PFA Women's Player of the Year

Ji So-Yun (Chelsea) 
The South Korean midfielder signed for Chelsea LFC in January 2014 and has made a huge impact in the team since her arrival. Coach Emma Hayes stated that the midfielder is the best player in her position in the world. "I'm really, really happy to be nominated alongside Hazard. I'm really proud of myself and Chelsea, and the Chelsea Ladies team," says Ji.