EPL 2016/17: 5 players unlucky to miss out on PFA Players' Player of the Year nomination
The nominees for PFA Players’ Player of the Year and PFA Young Player of the Year have been released. While most of the expected names have made the lists, there will always be a few who are hard done by.
Also Read – EPL 2016/17: Ranking PFA Players' Player of the Year nominees
These players are defended by supporters and pundits on how their performances warrant an inclusion on the lists. This is especially the case for the Players’ Player of the Year with quite a few players having impressive seasons yet not being nominated.
A definite case can be made for these players and here are five players who can count themselves unlucky to miss out.
#5 Jan Vertonghen – Tottenham
One of the most underrated defenders in the league, Vertonghen, along with Toby Alderweireld, is a rock in the team that possesses the best defensive record in the Premier League, ahead of Antonio Conte’s Chelsea. Tottenham have conceded just 22 goals in 31 games, and have kept 14 clean sheets with 10 of them coming at White Hart Lane. This shows how difficult it is to beat Spurs in their own yard and Vertonghen is a key reason for that.
The Belgian joined Spurs from Dutch club Ajax in 2012 and is now a constant fixture in the side. He fits perfectly into Mauricio Pochettino’s vision at Spurs and he is not only one of the league’s best and most consistent defenders with a Whoscored.com rating of 7.31 so far, but also an adept passer of the ball and pretty comfortable in possession.
As such, Vertonghen can consider himself unlucky to miss out on the nomination.