I VOTED for Ruben Dias this week as the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year.

Since arriving from Benfica for £65 million last September, the talented 24-year-old has solidified Manchester City considerably. His cool, calm head in the centre of defence underlines an impressive temperament which, allied with his inspiring leadership qualities, marks him out as a commander of the backline. 

As befits Pep Guardiola’s lynchpin, he possesses an excellent technique that’s been vital to City building from the back. His positional awareness is second to none and his sense of anticipation is such that he rarely makes mistakes.  

It is no coincidence that Dias’s arrival ensured that the new English champions have conceded far fewer goals than at this time last season, when Liverpool romped to the title. He has also brought out the best in fellow centre-back John Stones, who has shone alongside Dias since replacing Aymeric Laporte.

I’m not one for a surfeit of stats, but Dias has proved his worth in numbers too. Last season was exceptional in terms of goals scored by Guardiola’s side: they hit 102 goals in the Premier League but still didn’t lift the crown. Yet despite scoring 30 fewer during this campaign, albeit with three games still to play, they have raced to the silverware. 

That would suggest that the defence is key. City conceded 35 during the 2019-20 season (champions Liverpool let in 33); but this season, with Dias excelling, they have conceded only 26. That for me would indicate that keeping out goals, rather than scoring goals, has been key to City’s league success. 

Yes, they have been graced with an embarrassment of riches, with a storied squad worthy of praise in most positions. Kevin De Bruyne has impressed as ever, and ran Dias close for my vote. 

It’s fair to say that I love attacking football as much as anyone; in fact, I thoroughly enjoy watching creative players and have been lucky to watch footballers of the calibre of Maradona and Lionel Messi in the flesh over the years, to name but two. 

But I don’t think there is anything wrong in hailing brilliant defending by outstanding defenders. After all, didn’t Fabio Cannavaro win the 2006 European Footballer of the Year accolade? So my vote isn’t so much a nod to Roundheads over Cavaliers, more to honouring a simply outstanding footballer. 

Proud to be an FWA member

The first Footballer of the Year award went to Sir Stanley Matthews at the end of the 1947-48 season after the FWA was founded on board a ship returning from an England fixture in Belgium. 

Frank Coles, Roy Peskett, Archie Quick and Charles Buchan were the founding writers, and the minutes note that it was Buchan, the Plumstead-born former England forward turned journalist, who suggested an award “to the professional player who, by precept and example, is considered by a ballot of members to be the footballer of the year.”

Fast forward nearly 75 years and the FWA is a modern, progressive body led by the brilliant Carrie Brown, who was instrumental in aligning the FWA and all its members with the boycott of social media earlier this month. It was a move that sent a powerful message to various platforms in a bid to prevent online abuse. 
 
The FWA under Carrie is also a big advocate of Mental Health Awareness Week and a raft of other important causes, including practical help for freelancers hit hard by the loss of income during the pandemic. 

As someone who has covered a multitude of games from the press box every season for various publications over the years, I am proud to be a member of the FWA. 

With tonight’s FA Cup final in mind, one of my proudest claims is that in 2017, as an FWA member, I reported on every round of the world’s oldest cup competition, from the preliminary qualifying round in early August to the final in late May and plenty in between.

More on this next week after the FWA winner is announced on Thursday May 20.

Calling all Arsenal supporters!

A charity match featuring many former Gunners players will take place this weekend. 

The game is to raise funds for the much-loved north Hertfordshire charity Garden House Hospice.

The clash will be between former Gunner Ian Allinson’s team and Betty’s Blue Boys. 

You might know Betty-Leigh Allinson from her incredible fundraising during the height of the first lockdown last season, when the inspirational youngster rode a mile a day on her bike to raise funds for the hospice. 

Betty made national headlines and the nation took her to their hearts as she drummed up more than £30,000 for the hospice.

Her dad Lee, a rising managerial star, will take charge of Betty’s team as they aim to get one over on her grandfather Ian.

The match will take place at Shefford Sports Club at midday tomorrow. 

Confirmed former Gooners include Graham Stack, John Halls, Ben Chorley, Steve Sidwell, David Nobel, Chris Whyte, Ian Selley, Paolo Vernazza and Omar Rizza, with Charlton’s Kevin Lisbie and John Fortune and QPR’s Stuart Wardle also set to take part.