Who is Tottenham’s Player of the Season?

For Tottenham, this season has been one that exploded into life in the early stages but, unfortunately, has fizzled out with somewhat of a whimper.

Last season’s successful assault on the top four could not be followed up, with a 1-0 defeat at Eastlands against Manchester City sealing their fate and leaving them to fight it out – sort of – with Liverpool for fifth place.

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp maintains this season has been better than the last though, and after guiding his side to the quarter-finals of the Champions League only to bow out to Real Madrid, it is perhaps easy to see why the former West Ham man is still filled with a sense of pride over what his charges have accomplished this season.

Despite falling short in some key areas this season, mainly with a lack of goals in attack, Tottenham have been high on entertainment value to spectators as ever, thanks in no small part to the three main contenders for our Spurs player of the season.

Below are Goal.com‘s three nominees for Tottenham’s player of the season in alphabetical order. We then cast our vote at the bottom before leaving it up to you, the readers, to have your say.

Age: 21 Appearances: 42 Goals/Assists: 11/7 Cards: 1 0

The Welsh winger grabbed his chance to break into the Spurs starting XI with both hands last season after an injury to Benoit Assou-Ekotto and has never looked back, shining in the Champions League – particularly over two games against Inter – and becoming the talk of Europe for several months. The 21-year-old has enjoyed a meteoric rise to stardom this season, and despite his impact being marginalised by injury and a subsequent failure to rediscover his best form, Bale took home the PFA Player of the Year award this season.

Age: 25 Appearances: 41 Goals/Assists: 3/3 Cards: 4 0

After starring as one of the driving forces behind Tottenham’s fourth-place finish last season, Modric has gone from strength to strength throughout the 2010-11 campaign, catching the eye of yet more admirers. That the Croatian has been openly admired by the likes of Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is no surprise. Even in the absence of his regular partner in the centre of midfield, Tom Huddlestone, Modric has excelled, displaying remarkable vision and awareness. Perhaps only goals are missing from his game.

Age: 28 Appearances: 35 Goals/Assists: 14/8 Cards: 7 1

Spurs pulled off something of a coup when they signed the Dutch playmaker from Real Madrid and he soon looked like one of the purchases of the season, scoring in each of his first six games at White Hart Lane, while making a huge impact in the run that sent Harry Redknapp’s side through to the last eight of the Champions League. Niggling injuries have seen Van der Vaart sidelined on a handful of occasions and his influence has lessened as the season has progressed, but his explosive performance against Arsenal in the recent 3-3 draw suggested there is still more to come – if Redknapp can keep hold of him.