Category: 
The announcement of the PFA Player of the Year nominees will have those of you who don’t garner their footballing opinions straight from the back pages of the red tops scratching your head, at least a little. That Manchester United dominates proceedings is no surprise considering their success, however the inclusion of only one non-Manc is a little too lopsided for me. Especially considering who’s made it on the shortlist.
Okay let’s have a quick rundown.
Nemanja Vidic: No arguments here. He’s having a bit of a mare in recent weeks but only in contrast to how he’s performed pretty much since he arrived at Old Trafford. One of the best players in the world and a likely winner.
Steven Gerrard: Again it’s hard to argue with his inclusion. Doesn’t have to do as much of the one man band stuff anymore but still makes a massive impact, scores goals, turns games and on his day is unplayable. Is on the verge of a great season, if luck goes his way.
This is where some doubts start to arise for me.
Rio Ferdinand: If you say something often enough it has to be true, right? Wrong. That Rio is so regularly rated as World Class is one of the great mysteries of football. Well it’s not really a mystery in fairness, being an English player he is subject to the usual hype which comes flooding forth at the very hint of talent. Rio is a decent defender but if he didn’t have Vidic beside him, not just would he not have been nominated but United would be watching Liverpool and Chelsea battle it out for the Premier League right now.
Edwin Van Der Sar: There’s no argument about the calibre of United’s Dutch keeper, even though he turns 39 this year he’s still a class act. However, behind a defence so well marshalled by Vidic he hasn’t exactly been the busiest and it seems that he may be getting some undue credit for the team’s record breaking clean-sheet run. Not undeserving of recognition but there are certainly harder working goalkeepers out there.
Ryan Giggs: All season the commentators and “experts” on various football shows have been waxing lyrical about Giggs and Scholes. Real footballers, who play the game the right way and when they’re not showing the rest of the Premier League how it should be done they’re off walking on water. Now I’m not about to have a go at arguably the best player the Premier League has seen but if you remove the rose tinted glasses for a second you’ll see that Giggs has played a cameo role and only occasionally has he really impressed. The problem is that when he does play well he gets so much praise and attention that people start believing he’s producing in every game. He hasn’t been and though he should have won a Player of the Year award at least once during his illustrious career, it’s really only nostalgia which sees him in the mix this year.
Cristiano Ronaldo: Okay, maybe it’s my personal bias, and if it is I’ll accept that but the winger hasn’t been anywhere near the player who was a clear winner last season. On his goal count perhaps he does deserve an inclusion but his performances are inconsistent, he rarely threatens against one of the other big clubs and spends more time complaining than tackling back. Ferguson has a history of indulging star players but Ron’s petulance must be testing his patience at times. Undoubtedly a world class player but he’s had an indifferent season in which it appears his massive success has gone to his head a little and affected his form.
If not these then who, you ask? Okay let me throw a few names into the mix and see if we can get some discussion going. How about Tim Cahill? The Everton utility player has performed manfully in various positions this season and scored some vital goals for the Toffees during their protracted striker crisis. Phil Jagielka is also worthy of a mention. Has Rio Ferdinand really played better than him this season or was he just in a better team? The same could be said of Matthew Upson. Then there’s Brede Hangeland, the Norwegian centre-back has been one of the main reasons for his side’s success this season. Fulham have conceded only 7 goals more than Manchester United or Liverpool this season and Hangeland’s performances have attracted a lot of attention. There are plenty of rumours that he’ll be playing for a bigger club next season.
Nicolas Anelka has played as well and scored as many goals as Ronaldo. Frank Lampard has been more consistent and way more prolific than Giggs. Xabi Alonso has been an unsung hero for Liverpool. Martin Skrtel, his recent blip aside, is a far better defender than Ferdinand as is John Terry and Jamie Carragher and Patrice Evra…..you get the point.
The main question I’m asking is do these players deserve to be on the shortlist. If so, then why? If not, then who should have been nominated instead?
Oh and before anyone comes back with the argument that of course the nominations are spot on, sure aren’t they voted for by the players, I’ll have you remember that Paul Merson is a former player and, presuming he knows how to make an X and was sober enough to focus, would have had a vote in these awards. Remember it’s okay to form your own opinion, the masses aren’t always right.
April 15th, 2009 at 3:57 am
BALLACKS!
April 15th, 2009 at 6:49 pm
what about Brad Friedel, or Robert Green. Ashley Young, or Anelka.
Who picks these nominations anyway.
April 15th, 2009 at 7:15 pm
Ryan Giggs? why on earth is a Man Utd Reserve player in the listing, when there are players out there giving there all 90mins a game for little teams doing so well. Brad Freidel for instance. Lucas deserves it more than him and he’s ball’s Just seems a bit strange how 5 out of the 6 are Man Utd players and i would say only two have been at their best all season. Two have been injured for a part of it as well.
Tim Cahill must be gutted.
April 16th, 2009 at 5:28 pm
Frank Lampard?
He’s had one of his best seasons thus far and still Giggs gets in ahead.
Is is cos he is fat?
April 17th, 2009 at 2:05 pm
I agree with this article…..Frank Lampard is way more profilic than Giggs…also he is the heart for Chelsea…Without Lampard and Terry Chelsea loses her creation…her strong!!!Altough i dont want to debase Didier Drogba who is also a very strong and quality player but without FL and JT Chelsea loses her mind….she is out of control restive…so Frank Lampard is an invaluableness player…!;)
April 17th, 2009 at 2:07 pm
*i meant strength*
April 25th, 2009 at 7:06 pm
Howard Webb handed the trophy to Man Utd. Never a penalty - Ronaldo should have been off. Better to be born lucky than good!!
April 25th, 2009 at 8:53 pm
Disgusted your disgusted im disgusted all of us in the real world are disgusted with that hes just another REF IN OLD WHISKEY NOSE BACK POCKET i wonder did he visit the refs room at half time.
April 25th, 2009 at 10:13 pm
The pen decision was a disgrace, then Berba is a yard off side when he receives a pass in the build up to the second goal. Harry Red then has a go at the ref in the press conference after and will probably get charged. It makes me sick to the bottom of my stomach to see blind cheating like that, and I’m a Celtic fan
April 25th, 2009 at 10:31 pm
goodman Marty nice to see another genuine man willing to speak the truthand call it as it is and your right Harry will probably be banned for 25yrs for talking about wanker webb,if old whiskey nose talks about a ref the ref usually gets demoted for a few weeks.
April 25th, 2009 at 10:49 pm
And by the way why dont they give the player of the year to the whole manchester team .
April 25th, 2009 at 10:55 pm
Will we ever see a yellow card for the fouls by Ronaldo, he halves Lennon twice but only receives a yellow for taking his shirt off? The Spurs keeper even gets a yellow for getting the ball
April 25th, 2009 at 11:04 pm
Why doesn’t the ref come out and give his version, I haven’t had a laugh in a while
April 26th, 2009 at 7:49 am
Good on ya Marty boy give it to em as you see it boy,im off to work now looking forward to when i come home to read some more of your comments.
April 27th, 2009 at 10:24 am
it wasn’t a penalty but sometimes you get these decisions, sometimes you don’t. united should have had a penalty in the fa cup semi but they didn’t get it, this week they shouldn’t have had a penalty and they did. swings and roundabouts. not much debate about the other 4 goals though!
and if you look at the replay lads, for the 2nd goal you’ll see berbatov was at least a full yard onside - played well on by the right back being slow to move up.
but don’t let fax get in the way of a good rant.
whoever you support, good luck in the champions league this week!
April 27th, 2009 at 1:49 pm
Two words that come out of that game at the weekend, spineless and pathetic, and I’m not talking about Berba!
April 27th, 2009 at 9:38 pm
manchester united ME HOLE.
April 27th, 2009 at 9:40 pm
Paddy Power is as bad as those screwed up refs he wont pay out on MUNSTER and he pays out on the scum winning everything.
April 27th, 2009 at 10:02 pm
sleeping beauty(SORRY BAG)what did you just say.
April 28th, 2009 at 12:35 pm
The nonsense you lads are talking is unbeliveable, any chance of an intelligent debate on here or are childish insults the height your ability?
April 28th, 2009 at 6:24 pm
raffas rant at fergie has been proven correct big time, the amount of dodgey decisions,teams lying down to them and not to mention the pfa awards. this proves that all the other players are star struck with this lot. GIGGS PLAYER OF THE YEAR MY ARSE,LUCUS HAS HAD A BETTER SEASON FOR LIVERPOOOL AND THATS SAYING SOMETHING. he has only scored 1 YES 1 goal this season that is an awful return. i really cant stand united and their fans. Come on Arsenal or Barcelona for champions league,so we dont have to watch them cheating scumbags drogba and ronaldo ruin another final. If either of these players rolled about and cried like that playing for liverpool they would be disowned by our fans ,not applauded for their “cheating”
April 28th, 2009 at 8:59 pm
You are spot on thirsty , total scum bags. Giggs pfa player of the year your having a laugh. imagine the decision gerrard(present) or giggs(present) total no brainer.
April 28th, 2009 at 9:04 pm
thirsty another good point watching chelsea match drogba is a big fairy
April 28th, 2009 at 9:17 pm
ball bag at least when gerrard goes down he gets staight back to his feet. he doesnt act like a child and pretend to be hurt . watch gerrard, ronaldo and drogba and tell me there is only one real “man” among them. there is a difference between diving for an advantage rather than to get an opposition player carded or waist time. wake up and watch the game muppet
April 28th, 2009 at 9:37 pm
gerrard is the second best footballer in the world behind messi and you know it
April 29th, 2009 at 9:07 pm
sleeping bag ive just woke up since sunday and i nearly choked on the coffee the lovely Kathleen brought me up when i saw that comment ,sleeping you know Leinster couldnt stuff a turkey not to mention the greatest team in heineken cup history.
April 29th, 2009 at 9:29 pm
sleeping beauty sorry (BAG)would you agree with me The manchester united players are the ugliest bunch of all time rooney bald as a coot ,giggs from planet of the apes,would you also agree they wouldnt get the women if they hadnt money,i dont think so.
April 30th, 2009 at 11:17 am
thought messi really lived up to his “world’s best player” tag on tuesday.
lfc lad - so because gerrard gets straight up after diving, it makes it not cheating? yup - a real man!
April 30th, 2009 at 9:34 pm
dont think so ,i was working with a few stunners today in the new Tesco in Cork some crackers in there lad,im pushing on a bit now but you never lose the charm.
April 30th, 2009 at 9:38 pm
BY the way sleeping bag the lovely Kathleen had 50 euro on Munster for magners league we,ll be langers for the weekend ,come on sleeping (stand up and fight until we cash the docket)haha.
April 30th, 2009 at 10:26 pm
tonton i said there is a difference in diving to get an advantage rather than getting a player carded. if you ever played a game of football its all about gaining advantage this sometimes means if you feel contact or see it coming you can play for the foul. its a big big diference when you do this and also pretend to have an injury as well. a way to deal with scum like ronaldo, drogba etc is ,if you are injured make them go off for 5 minutes before they can return this way we can make sure there not concused or in shock ,as they would appear to be after getting takled. open your eyes muppet,its not an anti united or chelsea thing here,you would never see rooney or terry behaving like these arseholes. if any liverpool player faked injury like this i would be embarresed.
April 30th, 2009 at 10:30 pm
dollboy what about tevez he looks like a united fan never mind a player
April 30th, 2009 at 10:31 pm
LFC that is pure text well said are you a lawyer or union rep ,that is the gibberish they come out with ,(sounds good though)
April 30th, 2009 at 10:38 pm
yeh Tevez is so ugly the doctor slapped his mother instead of him when he was born.
May 1st, 2009 at 5:24 pm
Giggs should have won several pfa’s. To be honest there has been no outstanding player this year. liverpool fans have gerrard on the brain - totally overated and a diver plus he nearly killed some poor guy in a bar - so for thuggish behaviour alone - no award there.
Maybe Vidic or Ferdinand should have won it - but more importantly a GREAT Man utd player won it. OK back to the league - I can honestly see Newcastle gettin something at anfield and think there is a possibility of United beating city next week to wrap up the title.
As for chelsea v barcelona - what a team of thugs and ugly footballers - anti- football, compare that to Man Utd’s attacking style of football v arsenal . Chelsea = a cupwinners team at best - always were to be honest. Man U v Barca would be a pedigree final and would not be dull. The 2 best teams of europe would be a joy to see wit each other against themselves. Heres’ hoping. but in cup competitions - you can take nothing for granted.
As for rave manager of the year or raving = only 1 winner - take a bow senor benitez - QUE?
May 1st, 2009 at 8:52 pm
sleeping bag i,d rather be alanger than a PRICK,actually that could be a good song to the air of i,d rather be a hammer than a nail I,D RATHER BE A LANGER THAN A PRICK YES I WOULD IF I ONLY COULD O YES I WOULD.
May 1st, 2009 at 8:54 pm
sleeping bag its about time you came out of the closet i,d bet any money your a leinster man who follow MUNSTER i can confirm that you are now called a LUNSTER,hahaha.
May 1st, 2009 at 9:57 pm
updater WRONG frank lampard has been an outstanding player this season by a long shot. also were you in the bar that night,because that wasnt the outcome of the court hearing. also can you ever remember a final involving man united with any level of excitement bar the bayern munich final and yous were even awful in that. man united have not played exciting football since the beckham days. and finally if chelsea were a team of thugs they should try to sign paul scholes ,he would be right at home there. if united did play barcelona in the final there would be one team trying to win it and one trying not to loss it and we all know its united who wouldnt want to lose. open your eyes to other teams and leagues
May 2nd, 2009 at 11:56 am
whos that crying into their heinos is it the lunsters.any chance you could get me a photo with Brian after the game.
May 3rd, 2009 at 8:07 pm
welcome back sleeping beauty or (bag)got to admit it i backed a special double leinster plus 7 and the pac man at 15 to 8.i met rog last wednesday and he wasnt full of confidence.weldone anyway great win i hope ye can finish it off now,by the way im a Lunsterer now ,weldone again ye deserved it.
May 4th, 2009 at 2:19 am
stay in ur sleeping bag YOU LOSER
May 4th, 2009 at 10:43 am
updater dont agree with you we need all the sleeping baggers we can get and sleeping bag is the biggest sleeping bagger of all time come on lads get out your sleeping bags.
May 5th, 2009 at 11:49 pm
The Mist descends, I look into the Crystal Football - I see Hammers, I see Bubbles. Many of them, It’s becoming CLEARER. West Ham are celebrating a famous win on Saturday and likely TRIPS into Europe in THE EUROPA LEAGUE. THE SCOREBOARD IS NOW IN FOCUS West Ham 2 Liverpool 1 FT.
And then it’s gone AS ARE Liverpool.
Congrats to MUFC on their Stylish Attacking Fine Football and Victory ovet the gooners.
BACK TO BACK FINALS - another FIRST for them and Alex. ROME Awaits the Conquerers and their triumphs in England AGAIN ! and Asia as well as the GLORIOUS TRIUMPH IN MOSCOW.
A Picture springs to mind of Ferguson as Caesar and his Generals.
The opponents - it’s become very blurry - I see Messi and I see Terry BUT ………. ALWAYS IN MOTION IS THE FUTURE - Tune in Tomorrow.
May 5th, 2009 at 11:52 pm
correction : CRYSTAL (Palace) Football
May 6th, 2009 at 6:57 pm
predictor what kind of shit are you smoking.
May 6th, 2009 at 9:29 pm
pity chelsea didnt have Hiddink all year ,he,s the one to finish off old whiskey nose (sir Langer)
May 6th, 2009 at 9:47 pm
thank god chelsea are out, drogba is a disgrace, ballack is a disgrace. they both tried to physically assault the ref. chelsea should be kicked out of europe for that. that puts a very bad image to my both sons who watched that its a bloody disgrace.
May 6th, 2009 at 9:52 pm
Lfc chelsea were robbed the fact is the wanker of a ref was never going to let chelsea win.eufa did not want 2 english teams in the final and if it was man utd tonight they would have got a penalty every time.now lets wait for Barca to stuff sir Langer.
May 6th, 2009 at 10:56 pm
How many chances did Chelsea miss? It’s their own fault they are out, don’t go blaming the ref over missed chances. Chelsea have been on the right end of tasty decisions for years
May 7th, 2009 at 8:31 am
lfc..wernt u the same defending the ‘beautiful game’ on another post, saying rugby was booring, and 99% who followed didnt understand it, well do u not agree that dont mind soccer supporters, but soccer players dont know the meaning of ‘SPORT’, Even in this professional era…. it is still a game played by the masses no….. chelsea ,esp ballack & the drog should be casterated !!!
May 11th, 2009 at 2:47 am
WEST BROM TO STAY UP - THE GREAT ESCAPE, Frank Skinner to be grinning smugly again!
YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST. It just came to me in a dream. WEST BROM IS STAYING UP, STAYING UP, FOOTBALL STAYING UP.
May 11th, 2009 at 5:43 pm
keep dreaming predictor it seems a beautiful world you have there.
May 14th, 2009 at 11:38 pm
Robbie Keane to score hat-trick at anfield.
May 14th, 2009 at 11:39 pm
Leeds Suck
May 16th, 2009 at 6:06 pm
1. Manchester United - Most Successful CLUB domestically in England. IT’S OFFICIAL
League Titles FA Cups League Cups Charity/Community Shields
18 11 3 17
2. Liverpool
18 7 7 15
International-European Trophies could well be 10 by December. Another European Cup, World Club (THAT WOULD BE 3) Liverpool have how many?? ZERO.
So by then 10 probably, Just 1 behind liverpool, PREPARE TO BE PASSED NEXT YEAR Liverpool. Watch The Trophy cabinet GROW at GOLD TRAFFORD.
Watch as you are OVERTAKEN IN EUROPE JUST LIKE YOU HAVE BEEN TODAY IN ENGLAND.
GLORY GLORY MAN UNITED
May 16th, 2009 at 6:44 pm
i suppose when yous get decisions like the penalty against spurs it would be hard to loose league titles. if the ref wants yous to win matches yous will. its no cert yous will win champions leagye this year or league next year. dont get carried away.
May 16th, 2009 at 8:31 pm
liverpool threw the league away united didnt win it