Voting for the best of the 2012-13 Premier League season has closed, and the winners of the 5th EPL Awards can now be revealed.
In one of the most competitive awards since its creation in 2009, more than 36,000 votes were cast by soccer fans worldwide in the awards to recognize the best that the Premier League has to offer including everything from blogs, footballers, books and video networks to podcasts, commentators, forums and more.
For just the third time in history, one player has bagged both the Professional Footballers Association Player and Young Player of the Year awards in a season.
Tottenham Hotspurs midfielder Gareth Bale has achieved the feat, winning the PFA Player of the Year award for the second time in three seasons after scoring 19 goals in 29 Premier League matches this season, .
Spurs star Gareth Bale has been named as the PFA Player of the Year and its Young Player of the Year. The 23-year-old picked up both honours both of which are voted for by fellow professionals at a ceremony held last night. He said: "It's a massive honour. To be voted by [...]
David De Gea So Fergie has been proved right once again. The Spanish kid who had some dodgy moments (although that mistake at Tottenham was grossly exaggerated) has evolved in to the Premier League's best goalkeeper. Only problem now is keeping hold of him when Real Madrid and Barcelona inevitably come calling.
It's been a strange kind of season. Any reasonable United fan would have bitten your hand off at the start of the season for a fifteen point lead at the top and a shot at the FA Cup by late March. And yet, one miserable week at the start of the month saw dreams of the treble drift into the ether and the double become a far more challenging prospect.
Speaking to Manchester United's new magazine, Old Trafford's 12th Man, David de Gea has talked about the pride he feels when pulling on our jersey.
"Well, the pride of playing for United was what really made me happy," he said. "You know when you come to such a big club you have to keep working hard each day and continue to be happy and hopefully give good performances for the team.
Robin Van Persie was last night crowned Fans' Player of the Year as he added the Sir Matt Busby award to his first Premier League medal and the Golden Boot. The Dutchman received 41,5% of votes, ahead of Michael Carrick (29%) and David De Gea (11.5%). Van Persie was superb in his first season at [...
David de Gea's saves justify his place in Team of the Year - originally posted on Soccerlens.com
Although David de Gea was thought to be frail and not-capable of filling the shoes of Edwin van der Sar at Old Trafford but the Spaniard is only 22 years old and already he has made it into the PFA Team of the Year only in his second season in England.
'Tweaking' Manchester United what Sir Alex Ferguson will be doing this summer - originally posted on Soccerlens.com
Manchester United are in a comfortable position financially and on the pitch to not resort to the 'no value in the market' line any more.
That's why every time the club talks about transfers they are keen to emphasise that the money is available (and the transfer fees in recent years Robin van Persie, Shinji Kagawa, Phil Jones, David De Gea are a testament to that), although they also insist that the team doesn't need a massive overhaul.
"Ma, it's Gareth. We're going to need a bigger cabinet"
Late last night, Tottenham talisman Gareth Bale won both PFA Player of the Year and PFA Young Player of the Yearat the Grosvenor House Hotel, becoming only the third player ever to do, the other two being Andy Gray (1976/77) and Cristiano Ronaldo (2006/07).
After a brilliant start to his Manchester United's career, Phil Jones' development seemed to slow down for a while as he was hampered by injuries and didn't get a regular run in the team.
However, he has gone from strength to strength this season, starting with a fantastic display at the Bernabeu when he did a great job marking Cristiano Ronaldo.
Occasional England team-mates Andy Carroll and Wayne Rooney clashed during last night's West Ham versus Manchester United match. The pair tangled at the corner that led to Carroll's head-first assault on David De Gea. After a bit of usual set-piece pushing and shoving, Rooney appeared to tread on Carroll's foot, Sunday League style.
David De Gea might have built a bit of a reputation for being uncomfortable with high balls flying towards him, but there isn't a goalkeeper in the land who could cope with a high Andy Carroll flying towards him. The Manchester United keeper dealt with this particular cross without any problems... until West Ham striker [.
Who said West Ham United can't play beautiful football?
In the second half between West Ham United and Manchester United, with the score at 1-1, West Ham United's Mohammed Diame pulled out a beautiful curling shot to beat David De Gea.
Silky skills near the corner flag, Kevin Nolan acting as a decoy, Big Sam smiling —is this West Ham United 2.
One of the more surprising rumours of last week was that Radamel Falcao is set to join Manchester United, as was reported in the Spanish press. Alberto R. Barbero, writing for Marca, claimed that "sources close to both parties suggest that a down payment may have already been made as a guarantee for a future transfer.
Sir Alex Ferguson has sung the praises of David de Gea after he has gone 627 minutes without conceding a Premier League goal.
"They have all improved," said Ferguson of his back-line. "The concentration has become better and the importance of the games has helped that. But you're right, David De Gea has developed and matured as the season has gone on.
Sir Alex Ferguson manager of Manchester United-Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images
Sir Alex Ferguson was quite critical of his team's performance after their disappointing loss to Chelsea in their FA Cup quarterfinal replay this past Monday.
The replay of the 2-2 draw in March, ended 1-0 in favor of the Blues after a strike from Chelsea's Demba Ba beat United keeper David De Gea in the second half of the match.
A spectacular strike from Demba Ba saw FA Cup holders Chelsea to a 1-0 win over Manchester United in their quarter-final replay.
The Blues, who have lifted the trophy in four of the last six seasons, will now face Manchester City at Wembley in the semi-finals with another fixture added to an already hectic April schedule for Rafa Benitez's side.
It looked as though it was going to be another embarrassing afternoon for Rafa Benitez's men when United went two nil up in no time against Chelsea a few weeks ago. United weren't even playing well but managed to score a couple of goals without even trying. In the second half, United's performance worsened, with them suddenly unable to pass to a red shirt, and Chelsea were back in at 2-2.
In your dose of Offbeat Futbol Gossip this week, Pepe Reina and Falcao welcome new additions to their family, David de Gea's girlfriend hates the English weather, David Beckham does Daddy duties and Coleen Rooney's hilarious feud with the Duchess of Cornwall!
Man United's Number 1, David de Gea, has been a resident of Manchester for two years now, but it seems that he's doing his bit as Madrid's cultural ambassador and trying to convince the youths there into learning Spanish instead!
1. A 5-0 win plus a replay between Manchester United and Chelsea: Manchester City were the undoubted winners of the weekend. 2. United can thank David De Gea's big toe for preventing them exiting two cup competitions in a week. 3. Wigan's Callum McManaman is probably no longer welcome on the Goodison Park terraces after [.
Michael Carrick of Manchester United (Photo by Ian Walton/Getty Images)
Champions League Round of 16 action resumes on Tuesday as Real Madrid travels to Old Trafford to take on Manchester United. After a 1-1 first-leg draw at the Santigo Bernabeu, the Red Devils realize that although a crucial away goal was accounted for courtesy of Danny Welbeck, Real Madrid will likely come into the match with the same passion and fire displayed in El Clasico as Jose Mourinho's side dismantled Barcelona.
The British press has had a field day with United goalkeeper David de Gea. This photos sums up their feelings. They go back and fourth between him being superman and a terrible keeper.
Danny Welbeck's inclusion may have raised a few eyebrows on Wednesday night but he did more than enough to justify his place in the starting XI. He scored our only goal of the game and was arguably our best player, alongside David de Gea.
Welbeck, who grew up in Longsight supporting United, said the key was not to be intimidated by the opposition or huge stadium.
1. Jose Mourinho vs Sir Alex Ferguson? It might as well have been Tony Pulis vs Joe Kinnear. Set-pieces and crosses were what this was all about. 2. Cristiano Ronaldo laughs in the face of gravity. He hung in the air to head in his goal. 3. David De Gea made one of the best [...]
David de Gea has hailed the influence of Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, claiming that he isn't just a manager, but a father figure for the players.
"Sir Alex is more than a manager," said De Gea. "He controls everything in the team. He's a father for all those who come to the club.
The press in this country are very confused about David de Gea. One minute they are highlighting every mistake as though he is one of the worst keepers in the league and the next they are claiming he is about to join Barcelona or Real Madrid.
Following stories linking him with a return to Spain, De Gea has claimed he would like to return one day, but wants to stay in Manchester for a long time and win a lot of trophies first.
David de Gea has been called up to the Spain national team for their World Cup qualifying games against Finland and France, following the injury of Real Madrid's Iker Casillas.
"I am very pleased and happy," he told As. "This is a special moment for me and a big step in my career.
Following some excellent performances in February, David de Gea has been voted our player of the month on the official site.
"It's very good to have the support of the fans, so I'm happy to win this award," De Gea told the official site. "I can hear the supporters during the games so I know they're singing about me.
After Danny Welbeck put United 1-0 up against Real Madrid, it wasn't long before Cristiano Ronaldo equalised, seeming to levitate before his header left David de Gea with no chance.
As expected, Ronaldo didn't celebrate his goal out of respect for his former club and fans.
Following weeks of unfair criticism in the press, David de Gea answered all his critics with a blinding performance at the Bernabeu against Real Madrid.
There had been some rumours in the press that De Gea was prepared to leave the club in the summer but our Spanish keeper has confirmed he is happy in Manchester.
1. From about ten minutes in to yesterday's game I was clock-watching at a rate I would usually expect in the last five minutes of a game, with United being dominated at the Bernabeu and Real Madrid looking as though they would score any minute. The defence were doing a decent enough job, David de Gea was at his best, but we still looked shaky and faced wave after wave of Real Madrid on the attack.
The Champions League Round of 16 continued on Wednesday with two thrilling draws, setting up intriguing return legs in a few weeks.
Real Madrid played out a thrilling 1-1 draw with Manchester United at the Bernabeu. The hosts controlled the beginning of the match, but it was United who got on the board first, scoring against the run of play in the 20th minute.
Still with a comfortable 13-point lead in the table, Man United left Upton Park with just a 2-2 draw against West Ham because they are desperate to feel the distant memory of domestic competition. That whimsical mood was shared by West Ham striker Andy Carroll.
Perhaps inspired by Fernando Torres' improved form while wearing a superhero mask, Carroll attempted to prove his worth by flying like a dragon crossed with a unicorn.
David de Gea was voted our player of the month in February on the official website and Chris Smalling has supported this accolade, claiming that the young Spaniard has now settled in Manchester.
"When he first joined, he didn't speak too much English so it was a hard transition but he has taken to it like anything," said Smalling.
