Stones a solid contender for Prem player of the month prize
BRUNO Fernandes scooped yet another prize to mark an outstanding first year in English football as he was awarded the Player of the Month award for December.
No player has ever been given the accolade four times in a calendar year, so for the United midfielder to break new ground shows what a consistent force he has been in a team that is currently top of the table – and for the first time at this stage of the season since 2013, the last time they won the league.
City defender John Stones was one of the players Fernandes beat to the December award, but any disappointment at the Etihad will be balanced by the knowledge that it is the annual awards that matter more – Kevin De Bruyne has never won a Player of the Month award and yet last season was deemed Player of the Season. The Blues are in an excellent run of form and have moved into a position from which they can challenge for the title.
If they can sustain it, they will surely be in the mix for trophies and their players nominated for awards, but which players have the most chance of rivalling Fernandes at United for impact?
JOHN STONES
First and foremost, Stones has been terrific this season.
Eleven starts have seen him concede just two goals, and his partnership with Ruben Dias has been outstanding.
Stones has been back at the level that he was in the first half of the Centurions season, and is looking better than ever as he lays the platform for another title-winning team.
Where the defence let City down last year, this time it is their biggest strength. Add to that the sort of comeback story that everybody loves, and the added points that Stones gets for being English, and the centre-back will be among the first recognised if the Blues enjoy success this season.
KEVIN DE BRUYNE
Goals and assists remain the easiest way for neutrals to differentiate between players, hence why Fernandes has stood out so much since he arrived – who gets their team the most wins and titles?
De Bruyne remains the best player at City and the best player in the league, and with eight assists before the halfway point in the Premier League he could easily better his record-equalling total from last season. The Belgian has been unusually poor in front of goal this year but if he can improve that his profile will rise even more in the team.
JOAO CANCELO
If City win trophies this season then Joao Cancelo will have been a major part in that success.
His role, starting nominally as a full-back but marauding forward into the central attacking midfield space as often as possible and playing defencesplitting passes, is unique to the team and arguably to the league. Widespread acclaim is unlikely to follow but he will surely be
Stones has been back at the level he was at for the first half of the Centurions season Simon Bajkowski
up there in Guardiola’s ranking of important players this season should he carry on like this. RUBEN DIAS
Combine the effect of Virgil Van Dijk on Liverpool and Fernandes on United and you get Dias, a player who has come in and completely transformed the look and feel of the team.
Of course, it isn’t as simple as that given the performances of Stones, Cancelo, and others and the managerial tweaks that have also stabilised the team but right now Dias is the best defender in the league.
To say he is 23, in a new country and league and playing under a manager who notoriously takes time to settle under makes his performances all the more remarkable.