righteous1
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Reged: 16/03/2007
Posts: 553
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The nominations for this years PFA Player of the year award are as follows:
Ronaldo, Scholes, Giggs (Man United)
Gerrard (Liverpool)
Fabregas (Arsenal)
Drogba (Chelsea)
I am a Liverpool fan, and I can't understand why Steven Gerrard has been nominated this year. His performances have been average by his own very high standards, he suffered a big lull after the World Cup, only regaining a semblance of form in November, even since then his performances have only been fleetingly top quality.
Also, from the outside, and based mainly on the highlights of Arsenal games admittedly, I cannot see why Fabregas has been nominated either. He is a magnificent talent no doubt, but has he really been one of the best 6 players in the league over the course of the season? I am not convinced, he certainly hasn't scored enough goals to suggest his performances have been that good, afterall he is an attacking midfielder who gets in the box on plenty of occasions.
Based on The Actim index of stats that measures everything about players games, from distance ran, goals scored, passes, tackles etc. the best 6 players in the country this season have been, in order:
Ronaldo, Drogba, Lampard, Barry, Arteta, Rooney.
This is interesting and perhaps proves that you can't base everything around statistics. Rooney and Lampard for most observers have not had their best seasons, Rooney suffering in comparison to Ronaldo, and Lampard unsettled by Michael Ballacks arrival, but statistically they are right up there. Incidentally Gerrard is the 16th best player this season, and Fabregas the 10th, based on the Actim index.
Based on a combination of my own opinion, and their position in the Actim Index, my 6 nominees in no particular order would be as follows (index rating in brackets):
Ronaldo (1)
Drogba (2)
Arteta (5)
Finnan (11)
Scholes (27)
Essien (80)
Finnan has been exemplary this season, both in his defending and his crossing with either foot, and is the true unsung hero of the Liverpool back line (Carragher often being termed the 'unsung hero', despite being 'sung' about quite alot actually in the mainstream media!).
Arteta is an outstanding player who is at the centre of most of the good of Everton's play, either in open play or from set pieces, and his performances have been top drawer all season for my money.
I can't believe Michael Essien has not been nominated this year, he has been incredible, playing everywhere from right back, centre half, holding player, attacking midfielder to right wing (this constant movement of position has probably effected his Actim statistics, resulting in his relatively low placing). He encompasses all of Chelsea's strengths; Pace, Power, Discipline, Stamina, Work Rate and a never say die attitude. He has had a few poor games at centre half, but I will forgive him those because he has been awesome in my opinion for the most part.
Ronaldo, Drogba and Scholes need no explanation, other than to say that Scholes has looked like he had never been away, after missing most of last season, and he is sorely missed in England's midfield.
What does everyone else think? Who would be you top 6 and why?
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henryfan1
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Reged: 22/06/2006
Posts: 913
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Cesc should win young award because players like Ronaldo should not even be in this award, there are 22 and 23.About Cesc in the PFA Award. he has been great this season. people forget he is only 19 also outshined Rooney and Ronaldo in both EPL games this season. and has done well this season.Essien should be there instead of Gerrard.
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Rogorn
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Reged: 24/03/2007
Posts: 321
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I'm not sure how this works. Do the other players have to vote for one of these six, no-one else? And if so, who nominates them? Or have they already voted and these are the six most-voted players already? I have heard a couple of players say they have voted already.
Anyway, I think it's quite wrong to vote with weeks to spare. The excuse might be that this way you don't let team honours enter into the judgement, but especially in this season, the end result should be decisive as to the destination of the prize. Should United finish empty-handed, for example, Drogba is likely to be instrumental in bringing that about at least twice.
Anyway, Cristiano Ronaldo and Didier Drogba are miles away from anyone else. I thoroughly dislike their diving and hope to see less each time of it, especially seeing that they can play by the rules, and excel at it.
Form the other four in the list, I suppose that at least Fábregas is there for variety, and so that Man U and Chelsea don't overshadow everything else. If we have to go on domestic form alone, maybe Gerrard should make way too. I would put Michael Essien and Petr Cech in instead of them.
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Sam
member
Reged: 12/07/2006
Posts: 1063
Loc: North Somerset (returning to M...
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Rogorn - it's a PFA members' vote (which means players, of course), although I don't know what the business is in terms of whether one round of voting is still to come or what have you. I totally agree that it's daft handing out these awards at this stage of the season.
Also agree with Henryfan about the age limit for the 'Young Player' award. It should only be open to players of 21 or younger.
I'd give it to Scholes, who's been phenomenal for us this season and who I much prefer to Ronaldo because a) he's been my favourite player at United since I was about 12, and b) he actually passes the ball to his team-mates even if he's not already on the scoresheet.
Sam
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More fútbol argentino than you can shake a mullet at - Hasta El Gol Siempre
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subhankar_mondal
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Reged: 29/08/2006
Posts: 2220
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Cristiano Ronaldo has been sensational this season and I see little that would stop him from getting the award. One name that I am surprised to find on the list is Steven Gerrard. He did have a mediocre sason by his own standards and I feel that Michael Essien's name has to be there. Also Ben Foster's. The Watford goalkeeper on loan from Man U has been the best in the Premiership this season(albeit augmented by theb fact that Cech was out of action for so long). The other players deserve their places,especialy Scholes,who has surfaced to the top once more.
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Subhankar Mondal is a football writer for www.goal.com.
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richards
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Reged: 12/06/2006
Posts: 88
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It depends when the votes were cast. If it was around January I wouldn't be surprised if Drogba won it. He'd been outstanding and there was a lot of talk about Ronaldo's diving around that time. However, if it was taken more recently, with United's eye-catching, headline-making European win over Roma, then Ronaldo would be the obvious pick.
Like everyone else, I'm not sure how Gerrard got nominated and not Essien.
Giggs has been pretty consistent, but I'd have been tempted to include Berbatov in the shortlist at his expense, which, I notice, comprises players soleley from the 'big four'.
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badgerboy
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Reged: 26/03/2007
Posts: 727
Loc: Bucks, England
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For me the winner is clearly one of Ronaldo or Drogba.
But for the nominations I find the inclusion of the likes of Fabregas & Gerrard rather predictable & dull. Three United players is also maybe one too many. I suppose it's also predictable that defenders don't get much of a look in.
Personally I'd take out Scholes, Fabregas & Gerrard & substitute Barry, Matt Taylor & Berbatov.
David James & Jussi Jaaskelainan would be goalkeeping contenders for me with Vidic, Sol Campbell & Gilberto Silva deserving honourable mentions. Also someone from Reading but they are such a "team effort" it's hard to pick just one player.
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subhankar_mondal
member
Reged: 29/08/2006
Posts: 2220
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You now,Fabregas has been playing as he usually does:with full of energy,quick passing,applying fast footballing intelligence and high tempo. He has been the best player for Arsenal and I find it hard to argue against his case.
Personall,I don't fancy David James but Jussi Jaaskelainan has been excellent. But as I said above,it was Ben Foster who has been the best man in gloves this season in the Premiership. Keep in mind that he is playing for a club that is rock bottom in the Premiership and has performed remarably well against the top Premier League sides when his teammates were collapsing like a toy with its batteries oulled out.
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Subhankar Mondal is a football writer for www.goal.com.
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subhankar_mondal
member
Reged: 29/08/2006
Posts: 2220
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Quote:
but I'd have been tempted to include Berbatov in the shortlist at his expense, which, I notice, comprises players soleley from the 'big four'.
Me too here. But given that Berbatov hasn't been able to win anything with Spurs this season,it makes difficult for the voters to pick out his name,doesn't it?
PS: Before anyone points out,Fabregas too hasn't won anything with Arsenal this season,though Arsenal were the losing finalists in the Carling Cup this season.
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Subhankar Mondal is a football writer for www.goal.com.
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NewcastleFan
member
Reged: 04/04/2007
Posts: 10
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I think C.Ronaldo should win it,his peformence this year was simply fantatic,he,and Gigges,Rio,and Vidic are the main reasons that Manchester United are fighting to win another triple,the guy is simply class and there is no stopping him at the moment
Also,i think Arteta,Berbatov shouldve made that list instead of Gerrard,Rooney..
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mario100
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Reged: 20/04/2007
Posts: 1
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Ronaldo is easily the best player in the world by some margin. For me he is a class apart
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Dalbs
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Reged: 12/04/2007
Posts: 74
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As good as Ronaldo is surely Drogba has been just as good and probably more important as Chelsea have been striken by injury at times this season and have needed someone to step up and lead the team to victory especially when John Terry, probably the best defender in the world, was injured. So you can't really say he has been the best by a margin in the league let alone the world.
As for the world Kaka has been playing at a higher level than Ronaldo for a sustained period of years whereas, Ronaldo only found his end product this year. Also, Kaka has carried the Milan attack wheras, Ronaldo has players on form playing around him. The best players are the ones who can carry a team through crisis.
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subhankar_mondal
member
Reged: 29/08/2006
Posts: 2220
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I agree with you. It's not right to name as the outright owner to the best player of the world throne. There are a few genuine candidates there,Kaka being the most prominent. He has been the outstanding player for Milan this season,both in the Serie A as well as in the Champions League. Moreover,Kaka has performed better than Ronaldo in Europe this season whilst Ronaldo was attractive against Benfica away,Roma at home and Roma away to some extent.
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Subhankar Mondal is a football writer for www.goal.com.
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subhankar_mondal
member
Reged: 29/08/2006
Posts: 2220
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It's all over now. Cristiano Ronaldo has won both the PFA Player of the Year award and the Young PLayer award. Personally,I would have loved to see Fabregas win the latter prize. He's only 19 and he illustrates the maturity of a veteran.
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Subhankar Mondal is a football writer for www.goal.com.
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