Who is your Club's MVP?

I decided to list the Most Valuable Player (MVP), of the top 6 clubs in the EPL. The MVP need not be the club’s most expensive or their best player. MVP refers to a player, who if hypothetically injured or suspended, the club is in a lot of trouble. The reason may be that, he is their best, or their is no quality replacement for him, or just that he is an inspirational leader on and off the pitch. So here are my choices for each club’s MVP, let’s see if you agree.

1. Manchester City – Vincent Kompany

The best case where the club’s best player is not their MVP. City’s best player is Silva, and there are other more talented players like Toure, Aguero and Balotelli. But their inspirational center back cum captain, is certainly their MVP. A rock in defense, his marshaling of forces on set pieces makes the job for Hart so much more easier. Also City seem to have an able replacement for almost all other players except their skipper. After a long time, City have finally settled with the right Captain, and despite the defeat to Chelsea, Kompany remains the favorite to lift the premiership trophy this season.

2. Manchester United – Nemanja Vidic

While everyone was rightfully disappointed and stunned after United’s loss to Basle, what bothered me most was the injury to their MVP. It is now official that Vidic is out, for the rest of the season and this is bad news for the club. It is blatantly obvious how much United’s defense depends on their Serbian skipper. Traditionally they do not concede a lot of goals and for the past 3 or 4 seasons this has been mainly due to Van der Saar and Vidic. When their keeper retired, it was obvious a lot would depend on Vidic. With a lack of reliable central defenders, United will have to find a way to reduce the goals they concede. United are, in my opinion, really going to miss their MVP.

3. Tottenham Hotspurs – Ledley King

By far the toughest decision to make, and I will be chastised for choosing King in a team that has Modric, Bale, Van der Vaart, Parker and Adebayor. But Spurs have a defensive record which is twice as better when he plays compared to when he doesn’t. And this record is not for one or two matches, but over the past three seasons. Unfortunately for England, and for Spurs, King has been injured more often than not. He is fully fit and has been playing wonderfully this season. If he remains fit all season long, I wouldn’t mind putting a cheeky bet on him going to Polkraine!

4. Chelsea – Juan Mata

This was a decision I couldn’t take myself and took some help from Chelsea fans. He is the only player in this list who has just joined the team this season. While one can say that Terry, Lampard or Cole are more valuable than Mata to Chelsea, it may not be true. Lampard has been reduced to a super sub, and is no way a MVP. Terry has been downright woeful this season, and age has been catching up with Cole. Mata on the other hand has been the midfield creator that AVB needs in his plans, his creativity and runs have been very effective. If AVB continues as the manager, then he certainly has a very bright future at the Bridge.

5. Arsenal – Robin van Persie

By far the easiest decision, and a typical case of the best player being the MVP. Please forgive me for using the cliche, but it’s all over every Arsenal blog, RVP is our MVP and rightfully so. I needn’t give the the 600 stats to prove his awesomeness this season and how Arsenal would fare without him. Simply put, if he gets injured or suspended, Arsenal can forget Champions League all together. They may not be a one man team, but they are certainly very close.

6. Liverpool – Luis Suarez

Another easy decision. Carroll’s failure has put all the striking responsibilties on Suarez. He is an excellent footballer, but not the best of finishers (he has taken 46 shots in his last 8 games and scored only once). Bellamy has helped a little, but Liverpool have scored only 19 goals in 14 matches this season. If a strike partner can help Suarez then Liverpool will go a long way. Besides Suarez is quite a character on field, and I can’t say I don’t love the entertainment he provides, the latest being, the finger to the Fulham fans, well done!