The PFA Player of the Year nominees are a formality. Ronaldo will win it. No contest.
But one has to ask. Where is Wayne Rooney?
Rooney has 11 goals and 11 assists in just 23 league appearances. Despite Ronaldo’s grandiose stats, one can still make the argument that Rooney was equally as valuable. United were far worse without Rooney than without Ronaldo this season.
He should clearly have been there ahead of Gerrard who scored 30% of his goals and was pants much of the season, as well as David James.
The slight from the young player nominees is even more ridiculous. Rooney isn’t a better player than Ashley Young? (5 goals in 32 starts) or Gabby Agbonlahor? (8 goals in 32 starts). That’s absurd.
What does the poor kid have to do to get a nomination? Juggle the ball blind-folded while solving a Rubik’s cube and singing Opera?
Good article.
This has to be a joke? Ashley Young?
The problem lies with his abilities, because he has played in the premiership since he was 16, it gives people the impression he’s older than he actually is. Can’t say this will faze him when he picks up his medals in Wigan and Moscow.
One could also look at the stats which i believe says that united haven’t lost a match with him on the team.. (ignoring cup results now :p)..
I think he’s getting a bit punished for the matches he was injured, as well as Ronaldo simply outshining everyone else a bit…
I’m hoping he stays fit next season, and that Anderson practices shooting, then I’m sure United will have 3 nominees..
I think it’s unfair and bias to have left rooney out of either of the awards.rooney has been a motivational winner in most of uniteds game this term 2 CR7 not 2 say agbhorlahan or young with few goals in as much games compare to rooney
Bovan slightly off the topic, Anderson is awesome, that’s a given, but when I watched him in the Copa America, he was a completely different player?…Agreed though more goals
I thought Mascherano got hosed as well, but I can’t expect the Brits to recognize the value of a good defensive midfielder.
what a joke this is. anderson perfomed better than the villa duo. gerrad? is this 2 seasons again nomination? hmmm
flamini anyone? the core to the arsenal
And herein lies the problem surely? Everyone has their own opinions about who should be included on the lists, and usually these will be biased towards their own players. I don’t deny that Wayne Rooney, Javier Mascherano and Mathieu Flamini have been fantastic this season. So to have Mikel Arteta, David Bentley and Joe Cole.
However, some of the comments regarding Ashley Young here are bordering on the ridiculous. He has been key to the (partial) resurgence of Aston Villa this season. To compare him with Anderson (who as far as I can see is little more than a United bit player this season) is preposterous. Look at the team that surrounds Rooney and compare it to the one that surrounds Young, who has 17 assists of his own by the way. That it is detrimental to the point of the argument has no bearing on it’s lack of a mention, I’m sure.
Unfortunately, the big 4 cannot get it there own way all of the time, something fans seem less and less willing to accept. Not sure the rest of the league would be as happy with such an awards line up as United fans.
Carl, I couldn’t agree with you more.
I’ve been on the Ashley Young bandwagon since Villa played Liverpool at the beginning of this season. This guy is a terrific, terrific player. Two-footed, pace, can play either wing, fantastic set-piece taker, can score from open play, tracks back; I think this guy is the total package. He has had a phenomenal season for Villa and you’re right, he’s been key to Villa’s drive for the UEFA Cup.
Blindfolded, juggling a ball, solving a Rubik’s Cube and singing…
Ave Maria is not from an opera. The tune is well over 500 years old and was sung in churches. This, to me, makes this more impressive than singing just some opera aria.
Of course, he does sound like he belongs in a boys choir…
STFU!
Ashley Young shows great pace and ferocity, and we have seen his total package but get serious.
Yeah, Villa have made a great resurgence, from 11th to 7th.
Shouldn’t Rooney’s teammates be a credit to him, if he clearly outshines them?
Ashley Young has recorded 16 assists second only to Cesc Fabregas so far this season. Agbonlahor has 9 goals and 8 assists. Good solid seasons for both so I don’t mind that they were nominated.
The problem is, and I actually agree with Michael’s article, that the “Young Player” award criteria need to be re-examined.
ashley youngs got tons of assist this season think hes top of the assists and a lot of villa’s goals have come from his set pieces. rooney should be in ahead of agbonlahor though he didnt score for about 10 games at one point didnt he? oh well i thought anderson should have been in there to but he wasnt suppose it doesnt really matter to much because even if rooney or anderson where in there they wouldnt stop ronaldo taking the award again this year
Ronaldo at the moment is the best footballer on the planet. a lot has come down to they way he has changed his game. Less dribbling, better awareness and the realisation that his pace (and physique) is his best asset rather than his lollipops. Ronaldo has been the most effective footballer this season. Many Man United games i’ve seen this year Ronaldo has done virtually nothing yet at the end of the game you look up at the score board and you see Ronaldo “so and so minute.” TBH i have seen Rooney dominate games more than Ronaldo in general play but just miss countless chances…
Loved the last paragraph.. Now, as a United supporter I agree to the points regarding Rooney. Especially when it comes to young player of the season. Gerrard should not be included, and Flamini would probably deserve that place on the list… He’s had a fantastic season, and been one of the key factors to Arsenal grinding out some of their results this season. I also think Berbatov has had a good season, although playing for a below-par side. I’ve also been really impressed with Jimmy Bullard, back from injury.
“Despite Ronaldo’s grandiose stats, one can still make the argument that Rooney was equally as valuable”
bad grammar aside, this is a ridiculous claim…Rooney is a very very good forward, but Ronaldo is the best three player in the world. they are miles apart in terms of quality and importance for man utd
wat eva’ u think ROONEY is the best of all players . u can ask maradona bout rooney he ‘ll tell u clearly
Being the best player isn’t having the best stats