Source: Daily_Mail
As the season reaches boiling point, here's my top five Midlands stars of the year
The destination of the big prizes may not yet be known but the world of football is now discussing its annual awards.
Of course, there are Champions League, promotion and relegation issues still to be sorted out on my patch, but I thought it would be interesting to let you know my five nominees for this season's Midlands' player of the year.
The football writers in the region normally hand out an award, anyway, but here, in no particular order are my top five this season. Please feel free to discuss or forward your own favourites below.
Dreams: Aston Villa are pushing for the Champions League
Ashley Young (Aston Villa)Never mind the recent lull in form, Young's contribution to Villa's season has been phenominal. His work-rate, pace and consistency of delivery have been a major factor as to why Martin O'Neill's team has maintained its' Champions League push.
West Brom boss Tony Mowbray remarked after the derby in January that he had not seen two wide midfielders work as hard as Young and James Milner for a long time.
To those of us that watch Villa on a regular basis, Young's industry has almost been taken for granted.
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VIEW FULL ARCHIVE The other truly outstanding aspect of his play is the regularity withwhich he finds accuracy with his crosses.
With units the size of JohnCarew, Zat Knight, Martin Laursen and Curtis Davies to aim at, Villahave profited royally.
He has been a welcome source too for20Gabby Agbonlahor - Young is oneof the few who can keep up with the striker when he's in full flow.
I've just got two points to make, here, though. The first is that heneeds to develop going outside (if he's playing on the left). Chelsea'sJose Boswinga repeatedly showed him down the line and backed himself tocounter Young's pace.
Wing wizard: Ashley Young has shot to prominence this season
Actually, as did Stephen Kelly in the firstBirmingham v Villa derby last season, until Young was allowed to checkonto his right-foot by Daniel de Ridder and cross for Agbonlahor toglance home the winner.
And the second is that he needs to watch whathe is doing when he is tackling. No-one is doubting his enthusiasm, butthere have been a couple of occasions this season when he's left thefloor to make a challenge.
If you do that these days, you are invitingtrouble.
Gareth Barry (Aston Villa)I know, I know, controversial choice, but how Villa will miss him when he's no longer there.
What does he do? That's the cry from some of his detractors. What doesn't he do? That's my response.
I'm still not convinced by Stiliyan Petrov - he's been better this season, no question - but Barry has been outstanding.
Ashley Young receives most of his service from Barry who has knuckled down and given Martin O'Neill everything the manager asked for last summer when the tedious transfer saga with Liverpool unfolded.
He's been consistently the best player on the pitch for O'Neill. There was a great moment at the end of the Portsmouth match when the Irishman said proudly to the camera: 'My captain set the tone for this match, tonight.' I know that Barry belted out a 'Please release me' number last summer.
Leader: Gareth Barry has inspired Villa into top four contention
But the motivation for all of that came to light when it is understood that his agreement with agent Alex Black ran out in the New Year. I estimate that even taking five per cent of a £18m transfer fee that his representative would have near enough banked a seven-figure royalty check.
I'm not suggesting that Barry wasn't attracted. Just that I can understand the motivations of the particular parties involved.
The sad part about it is that as that hammering unfolded at Anfield on Sunday afternoon, Barry's mind must have been made up about going. The only, only chink of light is that next season is a World Cup year and Barry will want to play. Fingers crossed it is sufficient lure to keep him.
Because if he goes, it will be a huge, huge loss.
Sylvan Ebanks-Blake (Wolves)The guy that scores the goals grabs the headlines. One of football's unwritten rules. But where would Wolves be without this guy's pedigree in front of the net.
I remember speaking to Sean Flynn (remember him?) some time ago when Lee Hughes was tearing through Championship defences and asking what was the striker's secret.
Hotshot: Sylvan Ebanks-Blake
Flynn replied that Hughes hit the target more than any other forward he'd ever played with. It seems to me that Ebanks-Blake does that.Stupid triusm I know but if you are on target, the law of averages says you'll score more.
At the start of the campaign when Mat Jarvis, Chris Iwelumo and Michael Kightly were flying, Wolves were ripping into teams from all angles. Nottingham Forest may have come off the back of a two-hour slogathon against Sunderland in the Carling Cup that week, but they were absolutely decimated at Molineux three days later.
And Ebanks-Blake has been at the heart of it. He looks ungainly with that big backside, but his low centre of gravity and power mean that he is devilishly difficult to dispossess when he gets in full flow.
The difference in the Championship is often seen in the forward lines. If you take Ebanks-Blake's goals away from Wolves, just where would they be? A strong contender, in my eyes.
Kieren Westwood (Coventry City)I've seen this guy play a few times this season. He earned three points for the Sky Blues at Birmingham City with a string of top-quality saves in the second-half.And, on every occasion I've seen him since, he has impressed.
I've got to admit to a spy in the camp here. My missus is a season-ticket holder at the Ricoh and she raves about Westwood. Just as she did about Chris Kirkland.
Believe it or not, I do listen to her (no, really, I do!) as she has been going to Highfield Road and the Ricoh with her old man for the last two decades. She knows quality when she sees it (let's face it, anything out of the ordinary sticks out like a sore thumb in a Sky Blue shirt).
If Birmingham are promoted (not so much Wolves because they have good goalkeeping cover) I'd be slapping some serious dough on the table for Westwood as Maik Taylor is out of contract. (And some more for Aron Gunnarsson and Danny Fox too while we are about it - and that goes for Mick McCarthy too)
That trio of signings were shrewd indeed by Messers Ranson and Coleman and, with a bit of good fortune, could end up bankrolling a promotion push by the Sky Blues next season.
Matty Fryatt (Leicester City)Working on a similar basis to the one above with Ebanks-Blake, Fryatt is finally turning that youthful promise shown at Walsall into tangible reward at the Walkers Stadium.
Goal machine: Matty Fryatt (left)
When he signed, there were question marks against him because of his lack of pace.But let me tell you, there isn't a footballer out there who works harder for his money.
Fryatt is a constant thorn in the side of whichever team he plays against. And that matters in League One.
Leicester might have more quality in key areas thanks to the likes of Steve Howard and Matt Oakley but you need to put in a shift if you are to get out of this division.
Fryatt has done that, and a 20 goals-plus tally has given both him and the club a huge uplift in confidence.
It will be interesting next season to see whether he can take that goalscoring form into the Championship.
One thing's for sure, his toil ensures Foxes' fans receive their money's worth.
