Lennon nominated for PFA Young Player of the Year

[Garm]

Source: Sky Sports

Manchester United players dominate the nominees to be crowned PFA Players' Player of the Year, with five of the six contenders hailing from the current Premier League leaders.

Edwin van der Sar, Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand, Ryan Giggs and last year's winner Cristiano Ronaldo are in the hunt for the prize, with Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard representing the rest of the Premier League.

United also provide two of the candidates for the PFA Young Player of the Year honour in Jonny Evans and Rafael da Silva, with Aston Villa duo Gabriel Agbonlahor and Ashley Young, Manchester City midfielder Stephen Ireland and Tottenham winger Aaron Lennon the competition.

Dutch veteran Van der Sar is looking to become the first goalkeeper in over 30 years to win the award after setting a record for minutes without conceding a league goal earlier this season.

He has been ably protected by central defensive duo Ferdinand and Vidic, with the Serbian powerhouse tipped by many to take the prize.

However, the evergreen Giggs has been mooted as a possible sentimental vote, with the Welshman yet to add the senior award to the two Young Player of the Year accolades he collected in the early 1990s.

Portuguese ace Ronaldo may not have hit the heights of last season, but he is still the joint-top scorer in the Premier League and is chasing a hat-trick of Player of the Year awards.

Out to prevent a clean sweep of the top three spots is Gerrard, who won the award in 2006 and has been inspirational in Liverpool's push for a first title in 19 years.

In the Young Player category, Evans and Rafael are aiming to become the fourth United player to win the award in the past five years.

Evans has been more than an able understudy to Ferdinand and Vidic in the centre of defence this season, while swashbuckling full-back Rafael has also caught the eye.

Villa's push for a UEFA Champions League spot has been rewarded with Agbonlahor and Young looking to follow in the footsteps of Andy Gray and
Gary Shaw, who won this award in 1977 and 1981 respectively.

Ireland has impressed in the centre of midfield for City this season and he is aiming to become only the second player from the club to win the award after Peter Barnes' success back in 1976.

Spurs have also supplied the winner of the Young Player of the Year only once, when Glenn Hoddle won in 1980, and England winger Lennon is in the running after a sparkling campaign at White Hart Lane.

 

[sidford]

be hard to look past ireland for the young player award imo but well done lennon, deserves recognition and lets hope he can go on and build on this season

 

[leffe186]

Looks like Ireland, Young or Lennon. Giggs would be laughable for the adult version.

 

[Tickers]

Giggs. He's had, what, five good games this season? It's a player of the year award, not a lifetime achievement, quick-give-him-something-before-he-dies award.

Gerrard and Ireland for me, but Lennon's full value for his nomination. Well done, little fella.

 

[robbiesavagehasbreasts]

it's between ireland, young, evans and lennon for me.

agb and rafael don't deseve it.

 

[Fordy]

Evans will win it - He's Man Utd

 

[lishiyo]

I think it's going to be Young. Man City has been too poor and inconsistent this year even if Ireland is their best player, it's pretty bad if we're above them having given them an 8 game head start and they have some decent players. Young's form has dipped in the last few weeks but when Villa were good he was amazing.

 

[Tickers]

I think it's going to be Young. Man City has been too poor and inconsistent this year even if Ireland is their best player, it's pretty bad if we're above them having given them an 8 game head start and they have some decent players. Young's form has dipped in the last few weeks but when Villa were good he was amazing.

You also have to remember that the votes for this are cast in February or something equally daft.

When the votes were cast, Villa were probably fourth and Young was flying.

So while I'd give it to Ireland, I fully expect Young to get it.

For similar reasons, Vidic will get the player of the year gong because the votes were cast before he went all rubbish.

 

[Bill_Oddie]

Giggs. He's had, what, five good games this season? It's a player of the year award, not a lifetime achievement, quick-give-him-something-before-he-dies award.

Gerrard and Ireland for me, but Lennon's full value for his nomination. Well done, little fella.

Yes, yes, yes and yes.

Full House, Senor Tickers. Fully agreed.

 

[Rocksuperstar]

How old is the maximum for "young player" now? Seems like Ronaldo's been entered for this every year since he was born or something, surely it gets to a point where someone has to reassess what is considered "young" for these awards?

The PFA has been knocking about for 102 years. It was only 10 - 15 years ago when fielding an 18 year old was considered a weakened team, or only happened when injuries made it a necessity. Now we have 18 year olds telling the press they need to move clubs to get first team football, how them not starting every game is harming their international chances (and then will inevitably be withdrawn by their domestic boss for some spurious reason as none of the current premiership managers, bar one or two, actually give a shit about England). In fact, all positions on the pitch, other than keeper, have become younger by the year, on average, i expect. There was a time when midfielders were 30 year old hardmen, defenders in their mid 30's wasn't a strange sight, and strikers - well, hell, if you can hit the net who cares if you're 40?

If 18 years old is considered old enough to play professionally at the top level, then that's the age that should be the cut off for "young" players. Ronaldo hasn't, in my eyes, been a "young footballer" for at least 3 years now. He's 24, you become a legal adult at 18, that's 6 years ago for this maestro (as in musician, no Austin).

Purleeeease.

 

[Leachie]

How old is the maximum for "young player" now? Seems like Ronaldo's been entered for this every year since he was born or something, surely it gets to a point where someone has to reassess what is considered "young" for these awards?

The PFA has been knocking about for 102 years. It was only 10 - 15 years ago when fielding an 18 year old was considered a weakened team, or only happened when injuries made it a necessity. Now we have 18 year olds telling the press they need to move clubs to get first team football, how them not starting every game is harming their international chances (and then will inevitably be withdrawn by their domestic boss for some spurious reason as none of the current premiership managers, bar one or two, actually give a shit about England). In fact, all positions on the pitch, other than keeper, have become younger by the year, on average, i expect. There was a time when midfielders were 30 year old hardmen, defenders in their mid 30's wasn't a strange sight, and strikers - well, hell, if you can hit the net who cares if you're 40?

If 18 years old is considered old enough to play professionally at the top level, then that's the age that should be the cut off for "young" players. Ronaldo hasn't, in my eyes, been a "young footballer" for at least 3 years now. He's 24, you become a legal adult at 18, that's 6 years ago for this maestro (as in musician, no Austin).

Purleeeease.

Nice rant but Ronaldo has not been nominated for young player. Only the senior version.

You kinda wasted your rant there. Bad luck.

 

[Rocksuperstar]

Nice rant but Ronaldo has not been nominated for young player. Only the senior version.

You kinda wasted your rant there. Bad luck.

No, no, that's fine - i probably said something similar last year, it was no chore. I can't admit to anything but admiration for his skills, just drives me nuts that someone who should be classed as a grown up by now is the equivalent of the ten year old in the sandpit - the toddlers aren't going to get a chance to enjoy the sand if that big twat doesn't stop hogging all the fun and stealing the toys :shrug:

 

[Chimbo!]

Gerrard should win the proper one.

PFA Young Player should be:
1. Young: Villa's best player and despite recent form, both have had an amazing season.
2. Ireland: Matured considerably this season and is City's most consistent performer at 22.
3. Lennon: Should not win because his form as not been as consistent as the other two but in terms of individual performances Lennon's have been special in a way the other two can only dream. One of my friends who is a Liverpool fan says Lennon is the most destructive player he has seen in a long time and I think next season is his time to really shine. This season was just a prelude... hopefully.

 

[hughy]

How can Rafael even be considered?

 

[MattyP]

A worthy nomination for Lenny, recognising the return to the sort of form he showed in the 2005/06 season.

That said, the award will probably go to someone who has played in a team that has won something, so I think it'll go to Jonny Evans.

 

[Rocksuperstar]

The young player should be, as most of you rightly say, between Young and Ireland. Young's superb and, whilst he has shown his lack of weight to be a problem once in a while, he's adapted his game to take that out of the equation. Another season at first choice and he'll be magnificent on the left.

Ireland has perhaps improved the most out of all the players in the prem over the last couple of years, though comparitive in progress to Lennon in some respects - hit a plateau in the 2006 season and just didn't seem to get much better. 18 months down the line, he's looking like he's the only one working the middle for Citeh with any real passion, though i still think that 21 should be the cut off

Hard call - as an individual, Young has improved the most. As a team player and overall footballer, i'd go with Ireland.

 

[DEFchenkOE]

For me it is:

1. Young

2. Ireland

3. Lennon

How old is Ireland now by the way? It seems like he's been around for ages, maybe he deserves the award actually as he's really stepped up to the plate this season, I thought Michael Johnson was set to have a great season this year but I haven't seen much of him. Maybe he's been injured or out of favour.

 

[lishiyo]

For me it is:

1. Young

2. Ireland

3. Lennon

How old is Ireland now by the way? It seems like he's been around for ages, maybe he deserves the award actually as he's really stepped up to the plate this season, I thought Michael Johnson was set to have a great season this year but I haven't seen much of him. Maybe he's been injured or out of favour.

I read that Michael Johnson has had mental issues (depression?) this year or something. Eek

 

[mike_l]

I can't believe Rafael has been nominated for young player, he has been pretty good but not really played that much to my knowledge.

I don't think Lennon should win, his form has only been exceptional over the past 6 weeks or so, prior to that he was still our best player but that wasn't saying too much back then really. I'd go with Young for the Young Players award, funnily enough, he more or less carried Villa as an attcking threat until running out of steam lately.

As for the full award, I can't believe United have 5 of the 6 nominees, they haven't even been as good as they were last season, seems like the English press have been going into hype overdrive to big up the apparent "best" English team, much like they do with the "best" English players a la Terry, Lampard, A. Cole etc.

I do realise that this was voted for by the players btw, just the media love in for a Man United team that is not as good as last seasons really does grate on me, would really love to see them choke and lose the title race and CL.

 

[Yid-ol]

For me it is:

1. Young

2. Ireland

3. Lennon

How old is Ireland now by the way? It seems like he's been around for ages, maybe he deserves the award actually as he's really stepped up to the plate this season, I thought Michael Johnson was set to have a great season this year but I haven't seen much of him. Maybe he's been injured or out of favour.

No idea if i am right but for some reason i want to say he is 22