The nominations for the 2008 PFA Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year have been announced this week, and while in some respects debate on the subject is pointless (Cristiano Ronaldo is surely a shoe-in to retain his Player of the Year crown, if not both awards) one or two omissions and inclusions can readily be subjected to scrutiny. Firstly a look at the nominees in both categories:
PFA Player of the Year:
Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)
David James (Portsmouth)
Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)
Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal)
Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal)
Fernando Torres (Liverpool)
PFA Young Player of the Year:
Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)
Fernando Torres (Liverpool)
Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal)
Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa)
Ashley Young (Aston Villa)
Micah Richards (Manchester City)
Now of course, some inclusions you simply cannot argue. It will be a travesty if Ronaldo, with 27 league goals in as many games all from the wing, does not win the main award. His performances have consistently lit up the Premiership, he has scored all manner of excellent goals from thunderous free-kicks to delicate backheels, and he has terrorised defences on a regular basis. In fact over the course of the 2007/2008 campaign thus far he has failed to score against only two sides, Manchester City and Chelsea. As far as Ronaldo is concerned the only real question concerns whether or not the Portuguese wonderkid should be crowned World Player of the Year, and given the lack of real outstanding performers around Europe this year (Messi has been injured, Kaka not at his best, Ronaldinho nowhere to be seen) it is becoming difficult to begrudge the 23-year old even that honour.
Of those nominated the closest competitor would have to be Fernando Torres, who has excelled in his first season in England, scoring 21 league goals. The Spaniard has taken little time in justifying his hefty price tag at Liverpool, and has already cemented his position as one of the league’s most fearsome strikers thanks to his blistering pace and ruthlessness in front of goal. He would be a worthy runner-up for the main award and may even win the Young Player of the Year award as a consolation, though logically if Ronaldo wins one it would not make sense not to award him both.
It is also pleasing to see David James’ excellent season recognised. While he has been prone to the odd error in the past he is clearly England’s best goalkeeper at this moment in time, and his performances for Portsmouth have seen the South coast outfit amass the third highest number of clean sheets in the league this year. He has also been instrumental in helping Pompey reach the FA Cup final. And though Emmanuel Adebayor has faded in the second half of the season, his 19 goals have kept Arsenal’s title race alive and erased memories of a certain Mr. Henry.
However, beyond these candidates the line becomes slightly more blurred. Does Steven Gerrard really merit nomination for such a prestigious award when he captains a side that has once again underachieved in the league? Cesc Fabregas is Arsenal’s star player in terms of profile, but though his first half of the season was excellent has he really done enough to be considered the Player of the Year ahead of the likes of Mathieu Flamini and even Bacary Sagna? The names might be less fashionable but if this is a prize judged on excellence and, importantly, consistency then can Fabregas really be adjudged to have outperformed that outstanding pair? This season Flamini has evolved from a bit part player filling in gaps where needed, be it at left back or in midfield, to an indispensable member of Arsene Wenger’s first team and one that would leave a major gap in the squad were Juventus to succeed in luring him to Serie A in the summer. Sagna has defended exceptionally and, like Torres, deserves credit for adapting so well in his first season in the Premier League.
The most notable omission for the main award has to be Rio Ferdinand, unfairly overlooked in what has been an exceptional season for the Manchester United centre back. Ferdinand has been the lynchpin of a miserly United defence that has conceded just 17 goals in 33 games so far, and his outstanding performances have contributed to an exceptional tally of 20 clean sheets, five behind the Premiership record currently held by Chelsea. John Terry actually won the award the year the Blues achieved that feat, so for Ferdinand not to even be considered this time around beggars belief. Patrice Evra too is a model of consistency and excellence.
With Gerrard nominated, other players can rightly feel aggrieved at not being shortlisted no matter what the criteria. If the Liverpool midfielder was elected for his contribution in terms of goals and assists (10 of each in the league) then Wayne Rooney (11 goals, 11 assists) and Dimitar Berbatov (14 goals, 11 assists) can both feel hard done by. As captain of Liverpool, Gerrard drives his side on with an energy and a determination that is certainly admirable, but if the Player of the Year award is handed to players on the grounds of their all round influence on a team then Gareth Barry, Joleon Lescott, Joe Cole and even perhaps David Bentley might be feeling slightly miffed upon seeing the lineup.
Time for a re-vamp?
As far as Young Player of the Year goes, Ashley Young and Gabriel Agbonlahor’s places are certainly justified. But based on the overwhelming uniformity of the two categories this season does the criterion over what constitutes a ‘young player’ need rethinking? Or are players like Ronaldo, Fabregas and Torres, with years of top-flight experience between them still worth shoehorning into such a group?
The current age limit is set at 23. If I may indulge for a moment here; say the limit was reduced to 21, and the award was rejigged to gear it more towards players in their breakthrough season. This could be done by limiting it to those who have previously made less than a certain amount of Premiership appearances, say a maximum of 20 games. Under these conditions the Young Player of the Year award for this season would yield a list like so:
Nicklas Bendtner
Craig Gardner
Danny Guthrie
Giles Barnes
Ryan Babel
Lucas
Michael Johnson
Joe Hart
Gelson Fernandes
Anderson
Nani
David Wheater
If the shortlist was then reduced to six of these players, would it not produce in essence a truer list? Because this way, technically, the honour then becomes a reward for the best emerging rookie of the season. (And for what its worth, Anderson, David Wheater and Joe Hart would make my shortlist under these circumstances).
What do you think? Have your say below.
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