PATRICE EVRA! Manchester United will this evening hold the Player of the Year gala and without a doubt Wayne Rooney will walk away with the Sir Matt Busby award but this blog has decided to recognise the efforts of one player who I feel has been the unsung hero of our season.Ladies and gentlemen; Patrice Evra.
There is no player in our ranks who has played more games than Pat this season. He has been a mainstay in the defence all season and performing at a consistent level all through. But for the manager's decision to rest him for the game at Ewood Park, Pat would have totalled the 38 league games on offer this season as far as starting them is concerned.
It's fair to say that Pat has, this season, displayed the level of fitness that Cristiano Ronaldo showed at while at OT. Ronaldo was just about always fit despite the number of challenges he attracted. Pat has been just that this season. His attacking displays from left back obviously make him a target for the opposition. He was our only recognised defender in that period when just about all our six possible defenders were out injured. He even took the opportunity to captain United during that time and boy didn't they do a goo d job in Germany against Wolfsburg in the Champions League.
Evra is currently recognised by UEFA as Europe's finest left back given his presence in the UEFA Champions League team of the year. Given that this award is bestowed upon him ahead of the likes of Ashley Cole and Gael Clichy puts his achievements for us in that position into real perspective. You only have to take a look at Evra's performances on that left flank to know that he has an indirect hand in just about every goal we score. For instance in this most crucial of periods we might be cheering on Nani and Scholes for the goals they've got us but think about it, who provided the assist for Paul Scholes to head in that last second winner at City? Who won the penalty that saw us on our way to beating Spurs at home?
When I think of the form of Giggs early in the season, the rejuvenation of Nani towards the end, and that all those played with Evra behind them, it's fair to say that the left flank has been our most potent weapon this season.
I vote Evra; without a doubt a future Manchester United captain!
