Liverpool FC Forum

GYBS wrote:Opponents wrong to pay usual deference to Manchester UnitedFor United to have five of the six player of the year nominees is ludicrous, particularly when the player of the year is not on the shortlist

A by-product of Sir Alex Ferguson's success at Manchester United has been the defeatism that it has bred in other clubs. With frequency that must delight the Scot, opponents arrive at Old Trafford already convinced they cannot win. The submissiveness of rivals has allowed United to eke out victories even when playing far below their potential, which has been for much of the season. If those wins are proof that many Premier League players have been hypnotised by over a decade of Mancunian dominance, today's nominations for the PFA player of the year provide yet more evidence.

It is ludicrous that five of the six names on the shortlist belong to United players. United could claim with some justification to have more good players than any other squad in the league but it is misguided to extrapolate from that, or even from their position at the top of the league, that each of those players have been playing consistently well. The plethora of good players means the team can carry individuals who are out of form.

That Ryan Giggs is included despite only completing seven games is bizarre. Edwin van der Sar presumably owes his place to the historic clean sheet sequence that was attributed to him even though he had fewer than two saves to make per match. Fulham's Mark Schwarzer, a keeper who has been genuinely busy and helped marshal the most improved defence in the league, must be amused.

Nemanja Vidic has been mostly excellent this season, an old school defender who lives by the simple but effective creed 'they shall not pass'. He is fortunate that the voting for this award closed just before 14 March, the day on which Fernando Torres gave him a bullying from which he has yet to recover and Liverpool inspired other teams to attack United with conviction. Indeed, it could be argued that the fact Vidic was sent off in both matches against United's closest challengers should preclude him from the award.

Rio Ferdinand has been more fallible than in previous campaigns – his place, like Van der Sar's, could have gone to a Fulham player: Brede Hangeland has been a synonym for consistent excellence, which surely must be the primary criterion for selection. Phil Jagielka could stake an equally strong claim. Jamie Carragher too. Jose Bosingwa started the season brilliantly but his decline means the most exciting defender going forward has been Glen Johnson.

Cristiano Ronaldo's goal tally is again impressive, albeit augmented by penalties, but he too has performed only intermittently. Adding a further twist to the confused glorification of United is the fact that their most consistently outstanding player has been ignored. Go figure, Michael Carrick.

The one non-United player on the list does, at least, merit his place. Steven Gerrard has been a regular stalwart for his team and tormentor of opponents. Tim Cahill, or indeed any member of Everton's midfield, has thrived in a variety of roles, while Kevin Davies seems to get even better at the one that has long been his at Bolton. Yet even those performances have been surpassed by those of the season's most reliable force. It seems that just as United's individuals have been artificially enhanced by the collective lustre of the club, the drab displays by Chelsea have obscured the brilliance of Frank Lampard.

Chelsea's midfielder has carried his team for most of the season; when all around him were floundering he continued to flourish and if his club remain in contention for honours on three fronts it is largely thanks to him. He has conjured moments of magic – such as his sumptuous lobbed goal at Hull – but mostly his unyielding contributions have been unsung. That he has never been voted PFA Player of the Year is an anomaly; that he has not been nominated for it this year is proof that some strange madness is afoot. Mind you, perhaps the most glaring proof is the inclusion on the Young Player of the Year shortlist of Rafael. You know, the guy who's played six full matches all season. Marouane Fellaini and Ryan Shawcross would be much more worthy nominees, though, in fairness, and unlike the senior award, the junior award should unquestionably go to Manchester. Stephen Ireland is a shoo-in.

Team of the season (3-5-2): Schwarzer; Hangeland, Jagielka, Vidic; G Johnson, Lampard, Gerrard, Ireland, Figueroa; Torres, Davies

GYBS wrote:Opponents wrong to pay usual deference to Manchester UnitedFor United to have five of the six player of the year nominees is ludicrous, particularly when the player of the year is not on the shortlist

A by-product of Sir Alex Ferguson's success at Manchester United has been the defeatism that it has bred in other clubs. With frequency that must delight the Scot, opponents arrive at Old Trafford already convinced they cannot win. The submissiveness of rivals has allowed United to eke out victories even when playing far below their potential, which has been for much of the season. If those wins are proof that many Premier League players have been hypnotised by over a decade of Mancunian dominance, today's nominations for the PFA player of the year provide yet more evidence.

It is ludicrous that five of the six names on the shortlist belong to United players. United could claim with some justification to have more good players than any other squad in the league but it is misguided to extrapolate from that, or even from their position at the top of the league, that each of those players have been playing consistently well. The plethora of good players means the team can carry individuals who are out of form.

That Ryan Giggs is included despite only completing seven games is bizarre. Edwin van der Sar presumably owes his place to the historic clean sheet sequence that was attributed to him even though he had fewer than two saves to make per match. Fulham's Mark Schwarzer, a keeper who has been genuinely busy and helped marshal the most improved defence in the league, must be amused.

Nemanja Vidic has been mostly excellent this season, an old school defender who lives by the simple but effective creed 'they shall not pass'. He is fortunate that the voting for this award closed just before 14 March, the day on which Fernando Torres gave him a bullying from which he has yet to recover and Liverpool inspired other teams to attack United with conviction. Indeed, it could be argued that the fact Vidic was sent off in both matches against United's closest challengers should preclude him from the award.

Rio Ferdinand has been more fallible than in previous campaigns – his place, like Van der Sar's, could have gone to a Fulham player: Brede Hangeland has been a synonym for consistent excellence, which surely must be the primary criterion for selection. Phil Jagielka could stake an equally strong claim. Jamie Carragher too. Jose Bosingwa started the season brilliantly but his decline means the most exciting defender going forward has been Glen Johnson.

Cristiano Ronaldo's goal tally is again impressive, albeit augmented by penalties, but he too has performed only intermittently. Adding a further twist to the confused glorification of United is the fact that their most consistently outstanding player has been ignored. Go figure, Michael Carrick.

The one non-United player on the list does, at least, merit his place. Steven Gerrard has been a regular stalwart for his team and tormentor of opponents. Tim Cahill, or indeed any member of Everton's midfield, has thrived in a variety of roles, while Kevin Davies seems to get even better at the one that has long been his at Bolton. Yet even those performances have been surpassed by those of the season's most reliable force. It seems that just as United's individuals have been artificially enhanced by the collective lustre of the club, the drab displays by Chelsea have obscured the brilliance of Frank Lampard.

Chelsea's midfielder has carried his team for most of the season; when all around him were floundering he continued to flourish and if his club remain in contention for honours on three fronts it is largely thanks to him. He has conjured moments of magic – such as his sumptuous lobbed goal at Hull – but mostly his unyielding contributions have been unsung. That he has never been voted PFA Player of the Year is an anomaly; that he has not been nominated for it this year is proof that some strange madness is afoot. Mind you, perhaps the most glaring proof is the inclusion on the Young Player of the Year shortlist of Rafael. You know, the guy who's played six full matches all season. Marouane Fellaini and Ryan Shawcross would be much more worthy nominees, though, in fairness, and unlike the senior award, the junior award should unquestionably go to Manchester. Stephen Ireland is a shoo-in.

Team of the season (3-5-2): Schwarzer; Hangeland, Jagielka, Vidic; G Johnson, Lampard, Gerrard, Ireland, Figueroa; Torres, Davies

shamelessly stolen eh pal 

Fauxy wrote:Yup saw this yesterday on ssn and i was like wtf !!??

Surely players like Ashley Young, Robinho, Lampard, Ireland, Jagielka, Alonso, Torres should come in front of the likes of ferdinand and Giggs who has finished 7 games    Bizarre