PFA Awards 2008

Pierre Littbarski wrote:

Football Genius wrote:

Pierre Littbarski wrote:

Football Genius wrote:

kas wrote:All the FA Cup stuff (the bulk of your description above) is a bit irrelevant considering that in 2006 the award was also probably decided and given before the season's end.

Yes the two goals he scored in the FA cup is the bulk of 'my' arguement , i quickly copied and pasted from wikikikikkikpedia...

He scored 23 goals from midfield, and about 10 (if not more) thunder strikes, broke his back carrying our arse back into the Champions League, and broke his back carrying our arse back to win the FA Cup.

Over all it was his most inspiring campaign in a red shirt bar none.

I'd love to see some of you people define midfield for me sometime.

I can think of an occasion that season when he played midfield though - Benfica at home when he completed 52% (fifty-two percent) of his passes

I can understand people saying Ronaldo is not a midfielder, and perhaps Gerrards current position is not, however in 2006 to suggest he was anything but a midfielder is absolutely absurd - but then thats a typical response from yourself Pierre, you know - getting it absolutely wrong.

Meaning 2005/2006 right ?

Everton 1-3 Liverpool 28/12/05

........................Reina.............................

Finnan...Carragher...Hyypia...Warnock......

Cisse........Sissoko......Alonso.....Kewell.....

.......................Gerrard...........................

.......................Crouch............................

He played that role in the FA Cup final too - there were surely other games when he played there ?

I'm not disputing that he played mainly at CM - that's why u went out of the CL so early.

I was at that game

He moved to Right Midfield like after 30mins after Cisse was proving to be utterly useless in the art of tracking back, chasing down the ball, passing and to be frank did nothing even when he moved upfront

Gerrard also got well more than 10 assists that season.

Ade Alves wrote:

Pierre Littbarski wrote:

Football Genius wrote:

Pierre Littbarski wrote:

Football Genius wrote:

kas wrote:All the FA Cup stuff (the bulk of your description above) is a bit irrelevant considering that in 2006 the award was also probably decided and given before the season's end.

Yes the two goals he scored in the FA cup is the bulk of 'my' arguement , i quickly copied and pasted from wikikikikkikpedia...

He scored 23 goals from midfield, and about 10 (if not more) thunder strikes, broke his back carrying our arse back into the Champions League, and broke his back carrying our arse back to win the FA Cup.

Over all it was his most inspiring campaign in a red shirt bar none.

I'd love to see some of you people define midfield for me sometime.

I can think of an occasion that season when he played midfield though - Benfica at home when he completed 52% (fifty-two percent) of his passes

I can understand people saying Ronaldo is not a midfielder, and perhaps Gerrards current position is not, however in 2006 to suggest he was anything but a midfielder is absolutely absurd - but then thats a typical response from yourself Pierre, you know - getting it absolutely wrong.

Meaning 2005/2006 right ?

Everton 1-3 Liverpool 28/12/05

........................Reina.............................

Finnan...Carragher...Hyypia...Warnock......

Cisse........Sissoko......Alonso.....Kewell.....

.......................Gerrard...........................

.......................Crouch............................

He played that role in the FA Cup final too - there were surely other games when he played there ?

I'm not disputing that he played mainly at CM - that's why u went out of the CL so early.

I was at that game

He moved to Right Midfield like after 30mins after Cisse was proving to be utterly useless in the art of tracking back, chasing down the ball, passing and to be frank did nothing even when he moved upfront

Gerrard also got well more than 10 assists that season.

Not suprising that his goal and assist came in the 1st 17 mins then.

I was atcually getting mixed up with the game at Goodison last year and 05

I was at the game last year where we lost.

As for the 05/06 season game Cisse was utterly rubbish bar two moments one of pure genius with the finish for his goal. Like I said he was useless on the right, moved to the center was utterly useless and only came into the game for his goal when he was off the left wing.

Gerrard was solid in both playing as a fowrard and RM.

Apparently the PFA Team of the Year is:

-------------James-------------
Sagna-Ferdinand-Vidic-Clichy
Ronaldo-Gerrard-Cesc-Young
---------Torres-Adebayor-----


Can't argue too much with that, really.

Although it would be funny if Chelsea won the league, with them not having a single player in it.

Flamini instead of Cesc, is what it should of been.

Flamini, Evra, J.Cole, Carvalho all could've got in I'd say, but it's pretty reasonable.

Sagna wrote:Flamini instead of Cesc, is what it should of been.

J. Cole hasn't always started games for whatever reason and was injured if someone one can clarify.
Same could be said of Carvalho in regards to missing games due to injury.
Both have been awesome when they have played, and have been Chelsea's best players IMO.

Evra or Clichy was a toss of a coin really.

debaser wrote:Apparently the PFA Team of the Year is:

-------------James-------------
Sagna-Ferdinand-Vidic-Clichy
Ronaldo-Gerrard-Cesc-Young
---------Torres-Adebayor-----

The rest i agree with pretty much. Wheater or Laursen someone like that could have possibly challenged Vidic.

Ronaldo rewarded with PFA award

Cristiano Ronaldo has been named Professional Footballers' Association Player of the Year for the second time in succession.

The Manchester United midfielder has enjoyed another outstanding campaign

having scored 38 goals in all competitions for the Premier League champions.

The 23-year-old beat off competition from Fernando Torres, Steven Gerrard,

Cesc Fabregas, Emmanuel Adebayor and David James to land the prize.

Arsenal midfielder Fabregas was named Young Player of the Year - an award

which Ronaldo also won in 2007 - at a star-studded ceremony at London's

Grosvenor House Hotel on Sunday night.

Ronaldo did not attend the event in person but was shown on screen accepting his trophy from United manager Sir Alex Ferguson at the club's Carrington training ground.

United are currently preparing for the second leg of their Champions League

semi-final against Barcelona on Tuesday night.

Ronaldo said: "I feel very happy. When you work all season to play

good, to do something for the team, to do your contribution for the team and

then at the end of the season the PFA give you this award, it is a great moment, it is an honour, a pleasure.

"It is a great motivation to carry on like that, to work more and get better.

"I feel very good but it is not just my award, my team-mates have helped me a lot this season.

"They give me good passes to score goals - and I score - but it is a good moment for me.''

Ronaldo, who joined United in a £12.24million move from Sporting Lisbon in

2003, feels he has improved considerably during his time at Old Trafford.

As well as scooping both PFA awards last year he came third in the FIFA World Player of the Year poll and he is looking forward to achieving even more success, individually and collectively, with United in future.

The Portuguese star added: "I am sure I am better player than four or five years ago. Than last year? I have improved a little bit better still.

"This is my ambition to learn more and play better and I think I am in the

right place. I want to carry on and this for me is a good moment to stay at the

club and play at the best level."

Barcelona present Ronaldo's next challenge at Old Trafford this week, the

sides having drawn 0-0 in the Nou Camp last week.

United, with superior goal difference, also remain favourites to retain their

Premier League crown despite Chelsea drawing level with them at the top with Saturday's 2-1 victory at Stamford Bridge.

Ronaldo added: "I look forward to Tuesday against Barcelona, it is the

biggest game of the season in my opinion. If you win you are in the final.

"It is a good motivation for me, for my colleagues, for my friends, everyone.

I hope to win and the two league games are very important as well, if you win

you are champions as well."

Ronaldo admits his own vote for the top award went to Arsenal striker

Adebayor, the Togo international who has netted 27 this term.

He said: "I voted for Adebayor because I think he has had a great season as well.

"But you have many players who have had a good season - Torres, Fabregas, many players. But I think I deserve to win!"

The voting was reversed for the young player award with Spain international

Fabregas finishing ahead of Ronaldo. Torres, Micah Richards, Gabriel Agbonlahor and Ashley Young had been the other nominees.

"I'm very proud. It's a very prestigious trophy," said Fabregas.

"Football is a collective game and you prefer to win trophies with team-mates

but it's always nice to have this type of award.

"I dedicate it to my team-mates because without them I would not have won."

Chelsea's push for double glory in the Premier League and Champions League was not recognised in the PFA's top flight team of the year, with no Blues players featuring.

United had three representatives in Ronaldo, Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic while Fabregas, Adebayor, Bacary Sagna and Gael Clichy featured for Arsenal.

Liverpool duo Gerrard and Torres were included, as was Portsmouth and England goalkeeper James and Aston Villa midfielder Young.

Former England and Blackpool full-back Jimmy Armfield, 72, still involved in

the game as a broadcaster, received the Merit award for his services to the game.

Armfield, also a former Leeds manager, overcame a battle with cancer last year.

Armfield said: "When you wait for honours you appreciate it even more. The

thing is to be honoured by your own professionals, that's the way I look at it."

Among the guests was England manager Fabio Capello who, speaking publicly in English for what is believed to be the first time, proposed a toast to the PFA.

PFA teams of the year

Premier League: David James (Portsmouth), Bacary Sagna (Arsenal), Rio

Ferdinand (Man Utd), Nemanja Vidic (Man Utd), Gael Clichy (Arsenal), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal), Cristiano Ronaldo (Man Utd), Ashley Young (Aston Villa), Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal), Fernando Torres (Liverpool).

Championship: Wayne Hennessy (Wolves), Bradley Orr (Bristol City), Ryan

Shawcross (Stoke), Dan Shittu (Watford), Paul Robinson (West Brom), Brian Howard (Barnsley), Marvin Elliott (Bristol City), Liam Lawrence (Stoke), Jonathan Greening (West Brom), Ricardo Fuller (Stoke), Kevin Phillips (West Brom).

League One: Kieren Westwood (Carlisle), Angel Rangel (Swansea), Garry Monk (Swansea), Danny Livesey (Carlisle), Julian Bennett (Nottm Forest), Andy Robinson (Swansea), Ferrie Bodde (Swansea), Kris Commons (Nottm Forest), Richie Wellens (Doncaster), Jermaine Beckford (Leeds), Jason Scotland (Swansea).

League Two: Jon Lewis (Peterborough), Craig Pead (Brentford), Stephen Foster (Darlington), Danny Swailes (MK Dons), Dean Lewington (MK Dons), Jason Puncheon (Barnet), Keith Andrews (MK Dons), Lloyd Dyer (MK Dons), George Boyd, (Peterborough), Jack Lester (Chesterfield), Aaron McLean(Peterborough).

Ronaldo, Inspirational .. he better score on Tuesday or else.

did he base that look on 80s George Michael? Nutwing will be loving it.

debaser wrote:

did he base that look on 80s George Michael?

My thoughts exactly.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=viPWb3ieH6o

DAVID JAMES: PORTSMOUTH

Harry Redknapp loves him, so do Portsmouth fans and everyone seems to be of the opinion that David James simply gets better with age. He's been outstanding for Pompey, week in-week out this season and was fully justified in reclaiming his 'England's Number one' tag under Fabio Capello.


BACARY SAGNA: ARSENAL

With the likes of Fabregas, Adebayor, Hleb and Flamini in such excellent form for the Gunners, the work of full back Sagna could easily have gone largely unnoticed - unlike his unique hairstyle. But his fellow professionals know a consistent campaigner when they see one, and Bacary has been just that.


GAEL CLICHY: ARSENAL

Being asked to follow in the illustrious footsteps of the likes of Arsenal legends Ashley Cole and Nigel Winterburn was no easy task, but French international Clichy has stepped up to the plate brilliantly and, like compatriot Patrice Evra at Manchester United, has made the left back slot his own.


RIO FERDINAND: MANCHESTER UNITED

A model of consistency once again for United this season and his leadership qualities were also acknowledged by new England boss Fabio Capello when Rio was given the captain's armband for the recent friendly against France. Named in the team of the year for a second successive season.


NEMANJA VIDIC: MANCHESTER UNITED

Alongside Rio Ferdinand, the Serbian international has really blossomed this season - so much so that when he was injured and sidelined on the run-in Sir Alex Ferguson was suitably worried at the loss of a player who has 'become such an important member of this team'.


STEVEN GERRARD: LIVERPOOL

Hardly a season seems to go by without the Liverpool skipper being named in the team of the year, or amongst the nominees for Players' Player of the Year - and once again his consistent performances for club and country make him a 'must pick' for his fellow professionals.


CESC FABREGAS: ARSENAL

Described only recently by the PFA'S Deputy Chief Executive Mick McGuire as 'one of the best midfield players in Europe', Fabregas seems to grow each year both in terms of ability and stature. And what's more, he's added goals to his game this season.


CRISTIANO RONALDO: MANCHESTER UNITED

'If there's a better player anywhere in the world at the moment, then I would love to see him' someone remarked recently about the Portuguese ace who, having stunned us with his skills and goals from open play, has now started amazing us with free kicks that defy belief. Ask David James!


ASHLEY YOUNG: ASTON VILLA

'If at first you don't succeed, try, try again' - that old adage could easily apply to Ashley who, having originally been turned away by the Watford academy, returned to make his name at the club as a pro...and he continues to make impressive progress under the watchful eye of Martin O'Neill at Villa.


EMMANUEL ADEBAYOR: ARSENAL

Virtually everyone, to a man, said Arsenal would never replace Thierry Henry when the Gunners' legend left for Barcelona last summer, but Adeboyor's all-round performances - and 20-odd goals - have proved, yet again, that Arsene Wenger knows a gem when he sees one.


FERNANDO TORRES: LIVERPOOL

Your first season in a foreign country is, so they say, always going to be a difficult period of transition. Try telling that to Fernando Torres and the Liverpool fans who have taken him to their hearts just as quickly as the brilliant Spaniard has adapted to life in the toughest league in the world.

Not sure Vidic should be in this season. Missed a few games, not scoring like last season and been outshone by Rio unlike last year. Still been a great foil for Rio though.

Evra should be in there but Clichy has had a great season as well.

Probably a toss up between Bentley and Young for that last midfield slot. I would of gone for Bentley myself.

Think Flamini deserves a place as well.

...............James
...Sagna, Rio, Vidic*, Evra
Bentley, Cesc, Flamini, Ronaldo
............ Torres, Ade

* could be just as easily Lescott or Dunne in his place.

Young: 7 goals, 17 assists
Bentley: 6 goals, 9 assists

Young wins

debaser wrote:Young: 7 goals, 17 assists
Bentley: 6 goals, 9 assists

Young wins

I knew it was high but not that high
How many were in the EPL

I was listening to SSN this morning(and some Reds mentioned it last night on the net) and they said the vote for this sort of thing in January, which is why Fabregas might win theYPOTY award even though he has been poor for months.

Too be honest, Mascherano should have been there instead of Stevie G this time OR at lest in the running for YPOTY. Stevie's goal tally is grand, but his performances have been inconsistent at times. Mascherano again, deserved a place.

Torres doesn't need Player of the Year awards when he has the label of footballing sex.

Flamini > Mascherano this season.

It's not like Liverpool deserve alot of players in the team is it?

Ade Alves wrote:

debaser wrote:Young: 7 goals, 17 assists
Bentley: 6 goals, 9 assists

Young wins

I knew it was high but not that high
How many were in the EPL

that is his league stats. he's 1 or 2 behind Fabregas in the assist chart

bear in mind we're 2nd highest scorers in the league - alot of them came from his set pieces.

Parks lives wrote:Flamini > Mascherano this season.

It's not like Liverpool deserve alot of players in the team is it?

Not sure if you chave a reading or understanding problem, but he was proposing 1 liverpool player for another, not more liverpool players. You did you best to try and get 1 liverpool player out but gerrard has been better than cesc (great first half of season, poor second), so it really should be flamini and gerrard in the middle.

Unfortunately that's still 2 liverpool players more than you'd like to see in there.

What's happened to anderson, scholes etc?

The team does demonstrate pretty well how manu is so reliant on cronaldo's goals and rio+vidic in defence.

I understood what he said, I just don't see how Mascherano could be included, or Gerrard for that matter.

Not sure what you are on about with the last part....

-----------------------------James
Sagna------------------Rio---------Dunne-------------Evra
----------------------Flamini-------Fabregas
C. Ronaldo---------------------------------------------Young
----------------------Torres--------Adebayor

No Chelsea players

What would everyone's alternative Team Of The Year be?

Cesc wrote:What would everyone's alternative Team Of The Year be?

----------------------------------Howard
Johnson-------------Carvalho-------------Lescott----------Evra

Bentley------------Mascherano----------Elano----------Petrov

-------------------------Robitar Keanatov

----------------- Freidel
Johnson -- Dunne -- Lescott -- Evra
J. Cole -- Bentley -- Flamini -- Hleb
----------- Rooney -- Berbatov

--------------------Hart----------------

Corluka---Dunne---Wheater---Evra

------------------Flamini---------------

------Bentley----Hleb----J. Cole------

-------------Keane---Berbatov-------

Parks lives wrote:I understood what he said, I just don't see how Mascherano could be included, or Gerrard for that matter.

Not sure what you are on about with the last part....

I don't think you know what you are on about with your own parts, so it would be too difficult to explain other stuff to you I guess

-----------------Freidel--------------

Johnson----Wheater--Lescott----Evra

----------------Flamini-------------

Bentley---------Hleb--------J.Cole

-----------Keane--Berbatov-----

Over the entire season...............
Santa Cruz, Corluka, Hamann, Reina, Laursen, are names who stand out that are unlucky to miss out as is Kuyt MOTM

You can't blame Reina missing out as unlucky.

He missed out because of the howlers he's been producing lately.