Posted:
Thu Apr 14, 2005 4:58 pmby adamnbarrett
Strange that, he has been a rock for us this season and a real unsung hero for 3 years.
Posted:
Thu Apr 14, 2005 5:02 pmby JC_81
Yeah carra definitely should have been in there ahead of gerrard.
And although I don't like him, surely Ferdinand should have been in there as well, he is a one man defence for man u and their season turned when he came back into the side.
Henry has been a shadow of his former self this season, don't think he should be in there
Posted:
Thu Apr 14, 2005 10:45 pmby JBG
Sometimes you have to credit where credit is due and Gabriel Heinze had a great season.
Both he and Xabi Alonso were probably two of the best signings of the season.
Posted:
Fri Apr 15, 2005 2:45 amby Santa
The list doesn't surprise me one bit. We all know the winner will be someone from Chelsea...this is not even debatable. Money does talk.
Coach of the Year...the sore loser Maureen.
For me the deserved nominee from Liverpool will be JC...period!
Posted:
Fri Apr 15, 2005 8:00 amby laza
Part of fairly decent article on this subject that was on ESPN
Pretty much sums up the judging criteria
form is temporary, reputation is permanent
Liverpool fans are fond of reminding anyone who'll listen that 'form is temporary, class is permanent', especially when Manchester United, to whom the message of defiance is predominantly aimed after a decade in the shadows of Alex Ferguson's side, are in town.
So it is perhaps fitting that one of their own should fall foul - and another benefit - from a similar notion pervading the thoughts of those responsible for selecting the nominations for this year's PFA player of the year award.
As with most things this season, it is Chelsea who lead the way. Three of their exceptional side - John Terry, Frank Lampard and Petr Cech - dominate a six man list that also includes Thierry Henry, the current holder of the title, and the man second to him in this season's scoring charts, Andrew Johnson.
Steven Gerrard completes the list and as such leaves no room for a team-mate who has been quietly and diligently doing even more than his inspirational captain to propel Liverpool into the semi-finals of the Champions League, and within sight of claiming return entry to Europe's premier club competition through the league, during an injury blighted season at Anfield.
Jamie Carragher, torn shirt, flushed face and wild eyes, came off the pitch against Juventus at the Stadio Delle Alpi on Wednesday, having stood up like a colossus, along with central defensive partner Sami Hyypia, against Juventus' formidable attack, the true hero on a night when Gerrard was confined by injury to a watching brief.
It was not the first time. After losing his full-back spot to Steve Finnan last season and suffering a broken leg in a horrendous challenge from Blackburn's Lucas Neill, Carragher has forced his way to first choice centre-back - the position he has always preferred despite his tag of defensive utility man - under Rafa Benitez.
He has only missed two Premiership games for Liverpool this season and has been far and away their best performer in an inconsistent if exhilarating season. His honest, unfussy style and an ever increasing comfort on the ball has served to cement his place as a regular England squad member.
Indeed, were it not for the form of fellow nominee Terry and Rio Ferdinand's experience at international level, he might have been employed more often by Sven Goran Eriksson. He may well do in the future, particularly as doubts persist over the fitness of an ageing, if still indomitable, Sol Campbell.
Gerrard, by contrast, has not had the best of seasons, when judged against his own stellar standards. His blood and guts performances against both Olympiakos and Everton, where sheer willpower dragged those around him to the level required in two pivotal games, were typical of the man. And it is easy to become blasé about the impact he forces upon team-mates and opponents alike.
But it should not be forgotten that he missed fully two months of the season at the tail end of last year, including half of Liverpool's group games in the Champions League. And though he did as much as anyone to earn the team a place in the Carling Cup final, such is his admirable honesty and frankness, he was the first to admit that he did not perform that February day in Cardiff. Carragher did; as he has done from first whistle to last throughout this campaign.
In the minds of those at the PFA, it would seem, form is temporary, reputation is permanent.
All this, of course, is a footnote when it comes to the handing out of the gong voted for by the winner's peers. Henry, winner on the last two occasions - the first player ever to achieve such a feat - could not be ignored after another 30 goal haul for the season. But, as with Gerrard, there has been none of the previous year's irresistible form that marked him out as beyond compare.
Posted:
Fri Apr 15, 2005 11:12 amby taff
Carragher deserves to be there in front of Stevie G to be honest, and IMP lmapard has overtaken SG. Although he is a world class player he hasnt been at his best this season and one of the things I noticed from the Juve game is how we stuck to a game plan and executed it.
SG tries too much at times and gets frustrated while Lampard and Cole have absorbed advice from their manager and have improved.
I would love to see SG stay but let Benitez manage him and improve him as he does need improving despite the hype. At the mo as well Alonso is our best midfielder. Controversial but IMO Keane showed us at Anfield who the man was
Can you imagine Alonso and SG with SG determined to become the premierships best as he is capable of. Those two firing together would be frightening
Posted:
Fri Apr 15, 2005 12:10 pmby MilitiaRusher
Henry, I feel, should easily win the prize. Arsenal is a one man team and when henry doesnt play, their win rate and goal rate drops drastically.
