PFA Awards – Outrageous?

By Oscar Pye-Jeary | 16th April 2009

PFA Awards - Outrageous? | read this item

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The PFA Player of the Year nominees are now out, and what a farce they are. It’s not that five Manchester United players have been nominated for the main award that I find farcicle. Nor that Steven Gerrard is the only representative from the 19 other clubs. Nor that Aaron ‘I can run very fast but I get a little stumped when I have to do something with this ball thingy’ Lennon is in with a shot of winning Young Player of the Year. It’s why these particular players have been nominated that is so ridiculous.

Let’s examine these titans of ‘09, shall we? The best of the best of this Premiership season are, apparently, as follows..

Rio Ferdinand

Now I have no real trouble with this. He’s matured massively in the last few years since he remembered that he should be remembering things. He’s unquestionably for me the most talented footballing CB in English football, and possibly even the world. There’s no doubt in my mind that he should be given the United captaincy once Gary Neville has finally decided that he’s never going to grow a proper beard and might as well fade quietly into the background at Old Trafford.

The thing is, last season was easily his best in a United shirt. He was the leader of that team and even had the grace and humility to allow Ryan Giggs to share the limelight come trophy lifting time. Obviously no one but Ronaldo was going to win it then but to award him a nomination this year when he’s been injured for a sizable portion of the season and off the boil fairly frequently by his standards is a strange one.

Ryan Giggs

As imperious as Giggs has been at certain times this season, it seems once more like a token gesture than a genuine recognition of his contribution. He’s put in a handful of masterful match winning performances but he’s certainly not been the best player in the whole league. Were he to win it it would be fitting for his career, but a bit like Judy Dench winning her Oscar for Shakespeare in Love and not Mrs Brown. I see more players voting for him than any of the others, though, for this precise reason and however weird, it would be fitting to a degree.

Cristiano Ronaldo

People talk of his decline this season, but he was never going to reach the same heights again. He’s soared and soared since 06/07 and the come down was inevitable. That said, he’s currently joint top scorer in the PL which, for a winger, is still incredible considering his supposed lack of form. World class undoubtedly, but also not the best player this season by a long shot.

Edwin van der Sar

For a keeper to win this award, they have to be outstanding. For all his great qualities, he hasn’t won a lot of matches on his own this season – if any. His defense was the main reason for the record breaking run of clean sheets. Again, a token inclusion. This time based on an impressive statistic and not on consistently brilliant performances.

Nemanja Vidic

This one I agree with. Vidic was the driving factor in United’s record breaking run and chipped in with a few crucial goals as well. He’s been shocking since his sending off against Liverpool, but that aside has been United’s best performer all season bar one…and that one hasn’t even been included on this list!

In fact the main hero of United’s trophy push this season is one Wayne Rooney. He’s far outshone any of the other United candidates bar Vidic and has even regained his form on the international stage (something Gerrard hasn’t). How he isn’t up for this is criminal in my book and makes a complete mockery of the whole shebang….anyway, back to the nominees.

Steven Gerrard

Liverpool have been their best for 19 years this season, surely they deserve a player in the list? Of course…but which one?…er…dunno… Let’s go with Gerrard – he’s Mr. Liverpool, isn’t he? Where’s Torres? Injured a lot, yes, but just as influential as Gerrard. Alonso? More so I’d say but not as headline grabbing. Mascherano? Ditto. It’s as if Mr. Liverpool is included as, once again, a token gesture, this time to Liverpool themselves. He’s probably their best player but he’s always been and he hasn’t had his best season on or off the pitch to be quite honest. All this aside, he should unquestionably be nominated.

And in all probability he’ll most likely win. Why? Well the last time Manchester United were fighting towards an unprecedented gaggle of trophies and had a large group of players nominated for this award was 1999. Yep, you’ve got it, the treble year. Now you’d have thought one of them surely won it. Which one i hear you ask? Keane? Maybe Beckham? Both deserved it, both were up for it, but when it came to voting the votes were split and the eventual winner was Mr “Because I’m Worth It” David Ginola. I know, ludicrous isn’t it? For the record, he wasn’t worth it. He had a few good performances in what is now the Carling Cup (specifically against Man United) and scored a wonder goal against Barnsley (which isn’t that great of an achievement to be fair). He had a pretty good season but there’s no way he was more deserving than one of the United lads.

Another reason this award often goes to the wrong person is its timing. For some reason the PFA like to stage it just before the end of the season. For this to happen, the players have to cast their votes well before the season ends (i.e. Mid-April) and since they rarely know the victors of the title race, the ultimate heroes of the year are left unrewarded and often pipped by someone in a good vein of form around April.

So, to end todays lesson, here are my betting tips:

My money is on Gerrard or Giggs for Player of the Year. Gerrard’s the favorite with Vidic hitting a bad run around voting season, and Giggs is a good outside bet as a lot of the voters will have either idolized him growing up or want to honor his career. As for Young Player, I can’t see past Ashely Young.

Until next time, take care of yourselves….and each other.

Who do YOU think should take home the prizes? Have your say in the comments section below or head on over to the Premiership Talk Forum!

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