PFA Awards - Cristiano Ronaldo, Cesc Fabregas & Team of the Year.

Stew · 28th April 2008, 1:30pm

No surprise to see Manchester United's talismanic figure scooping the award as PFA player of the year, fully deserved.

Well done to Fabregas for winning the Young Player award.

The Premiership Team of the Year is as follows:
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)

Thoughts, opinions? Clichy ahead of Evra? Adebayor ahead of Rooney or Santa Cruz?

SOLIDBOB · 28th April 2008, 1:38pm

Aye, I think Evra should be in there. He's shown the likes of Ashley Cole, Wayne Bridge and Clichy that a full back can be influential in attack and defence without ignoring one of the two.

I'd have Rooney over Adebayor because I think he can have a bigger influence when off his game.The respect teams show him creates space for players around him. He's definitely more of a team player than Adebayor. Adebayor also seemed to run out of form when Arsenal needed him most. Santa Cruz has been a great signing as well. I'd maybe have taken Friedel over James, he's been consistently outstanding and doesn't seem to have the lapses James has from time to time.

I find it bizarre that Ronaldo can be up for both awards and win one but not the other. You'd think most of the players voting would think if he was the best player in the league he must therefore be the best young player. Perhaps a victim of his own success? Or maybe footballers are just a bit daft...

Draven · 28th April 2008, 1:39pm

Has Sagna played well enough this year to warrant a place in the top team? I've never really seen him play. Would have thought Mellberg done pretty good at right back this season.

SOLIDBOB · 28th April 2008, 1:43pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Draven

Has Sagna played well enough this year to warrant a place in the top team? I've never really seen him play. Would have thought Mellberg done pretty good at right back this season.

Mellberg's only been playing right back recently and is definitely a centre back by trade. With Gary Neville out there's been a lack of impressive right backs this year. Hutton's looked okay but only been playing 3 months.

I'm surprised Lescott's not in there as well, he's been outstanding all year.

Stew · 28th April 2008, 1:47pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by SOLIDBOB

Aye, I think Evra should be in there. He's shown the likes of Ashley Cole, Wayne Bridge and Clichy that a full back can be influential in attack and defence without ignoring one of the two.

I have to disagree a bit with you on this once because having watched more Arsenal games than United game myself I can say that Clichy is a hell of an attacking outlet for Arsenal - more so than Ashley Cole was, I've said with some friends who also follow the Gunners. Clearly though I've not seen as many United games so Evra could be the same - but Clichy's pure dynamism bursting forward with pace that's unrivalled except perhaps with Ronaldo (Clichy was quicker than Henry a couple of years ago). I see your point though since Evra had a fantastic game in the Champions League against Messi, and has the chance of doing that again and a Final, so I'll leave it at that since as opposing fans we're going to never agree!

Quote:

Originally Posted by SOLIDBOB

I'd have Rooney over Adebayor because I think he can have a bigger influence when off his game.The respect teams show him creates space for players around him. He's definitely more of a team player than Adebayor. Adebayor also seemed to run out of form when Arsenal needed him most.

Irritatingly enough I believe Rooney and Adebayor to be similar quality finishers. ie. They'll miss countless opportunities and have you banging your head off the table till your pint overflows and makes your fringe wet. Adebayor has had to lead the line himself for Arsenal in a season where all was considered doom and gloom with the loss of Henry, and if he continues to improve at this pace he could be a real gem for Arsenal.

There is no doubting Rooney's talent and he's up there with the best in the world on his day, but I feel he's sort of wasted recently with Ferguson having him on the right wing and tracking back against Barcelona. You spent £30-odd MILLION on one of the most creative English talents in modern history and have him tracking back on the right wing? Have someone else doing that and let him cause damage to Barcelona!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Draven

Has Sagna played well enough this year to warrant a place in the top team? I've never really seen him play. Would have thought Mellberg done pretty good at right back this season.

Sagna is as solid a right back as I've seen this year, and I've been following more Serie A, Spanish Premier League and EPL games than normal - but he has really excelled since Wenger has played the system with him and Eboue on the right together since they can both get forward and both can defend - it's a fantastic partnership, if only Eboue could beat a man and hit a cross without diving. I'd maybe have Rafinha or Sergio Ramos ahead of him in terms of right back's in the world right now, but not many more are as week in, week out solid and dependable with pace, passing and awareness.

Jaemi · 28th April 2008, 1:50pm

Sagna's some player btw.
Obviously his integration into the Arsenal team has been helped by the fact, and I think i'm right in saying this, that their entire backline speaks french. And I'm hard pushed to think of a better full-back...Evra's not better btw.

Emmanuel Adebayor's inclusion is a strange one to be honest, I'd say Tevez and probably 1 or 2 other have had better seasons (all round) than he has.

No arguing with Ronaldo, best player in the world by some distance.

SOLIDBOB · 28th April 2008, 1:51pm

Aye, I totally agree on the Rooney thing, I just think Adebayor is more of a confidence player than Rooney.

While it is frustrating to see Rooney played out wide, for a 22 year old the discipline he shows (see against Barca last week) is incredible.

I think Man Utd could do with a real instinctive Van Nistelrooy/HUntelaar/Toni type striker up front, but I really can't see who we're dropping to put him in the team.

Jaemi · 28th April 2008, 1:55pm

I don't really know why you think Man Utd need player like that, they've done better since getting shot of Ruud and adopting a more "fluid" attacking approach..A bit like Roma.

Stew · 28th April 2008, 1:58pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by SOLIDBOB

I think Man Utd could do with a real instinctive Van Nistelrooy/HUntelaar/Toni type striker up front, but I really can't see who we're dropping to put him in the team.

I've been saying this for the last month or so, jokingly that they're turning into the Arsenal-of-old. They can play the fantastic football and create opportunities when allowed to pass and move, but they lack that target man/penalty box striker who they can go long to and he can fire it into the net from anywhere in the area, and sometimes that is what you need when your flair players like Tevez, Rooney and Ronaldo aren't on fire.

Jaemi · 28th April 2008, 2:00pm

When is Ronaldo never on fire?
And If he's not, there is a very slim chance that Rooney and Tevez won't be.

I can see the sense in getting another striker, but he wont/shouldn't be a poacher.

SOLIDBOB · 28th April 2008, 2:01pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jaemi

I don't really know why you think Man Utd need player like that, they've done better since getting shot of Ruud and adopting a more "fluid" attacking approach..A bit like Roma.

Aye it's a great system and makes for great football to watch. Against some teams though, particularly when one of more of Rooney, Ronaldo and Tevez are missing the top man can drop too deep and we end up with lots of possession 40 yards from the opponents goal and nothing to show for it.

Ideally we want a young and upcoming target man who we can throw on to change the style of our play if it's not happening. Early on in the season we really struggled against quite a few teams and had to rely on Saha coming on and giving us a more direct style. His ongoing fitness problems make it seem certain that if he stays he's not going to be playing on a regular basis. We need either someone to play a target man role or a striker who's going to be on the shoulder of the last man all the time like Saha.

Stew · 28th April 2008, 2:03pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jaemi

When is Ronaldo never on fire?
And If he's not, there is a very slim chance that Rooney and Tevez won't be.

I can see the sense in getting another striker, but he wont/shouldn't be a poacher.

Barcelona v Manchester United and Manchester United v Arsenal, from recent memory. Yes I know Ronaldo got a penalty, but he did nothing other than that.

I didn't so much mean someone who can only sit in the box. Ideally the kind of striker United could do with, in my opinion, to take them to the next level when they need to change things about, is someone in the Drogba mould. He can hold it up, is physical and can finish.

SOLIDBOB · 28th April 2008, 2:04pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stew

Barcelona v Manchester United and Manchester United v Arsenal, from recent memory. Yes I know Ronaldo got a penalty, but he did nothing other than that.

I didn't so much mean someone who can only sit in the box. Ideally the kind of striker United could do with, in my opinion, to take them to the next level when they need to change things about, is someone in the Drogba mould. He can hold it up, is physical and can finish.

Aye, shame a 4 year old girl could make him roll about on the floor by looking at him funny.

Stew · 28th April 2008, 2:07pm

Would Santa Cruz be able to make the step to Manchester United as a replacement for Saha who, let's face it, is never fit enough to be worth keeping about? He's proven that he can score in the EPL for a poorer team than United.

I only say this 'cos I know that if Wenger went out and picked up Bentley back from Blackburn (there is RUMOUR of a buy-back clause) and Santa Cruz I'd be pretty happy. Both have proven this season they're good enough for a good EPL team.

SOLIDBOB · 28th April 2008, 2:12pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stew

Would Santa Cruz be able to make the step to Manchester United as a replacement for Saha who, let's face it, is never fit enough to be worth keeping about? He's proven that he can score in the EPL for a poorer team than United.

I only say this 'cos I know that if Wenger went out and picked up Bentley back from Blackburn (there is RUMOUR of a buy-back clause) and Santa Cruz I'd be pretty happy. Both have proven this season they're good enough for a good EPL team.

I think Bentley's maybe too much of a maverick for one of the really big team. And mark Hughes has made it pretty clear he'll let him rot in the reserves before he sells him against his will.

Santa Cruz i'm not sure about either, he seems to score goals in clumps rather than consistently.