Football Writers Player Of The Year Announced

[StevieH]

The Guardian

Wednesday 13 May 2009

Steven Gerrard named Football Writers' Association player of the year

By Sachin Nakrani

• Liverpool captain beats Giggs and Rooney to award

• 'His performances are of the highest quality' says FWA

The Liverpool captain, Steven Gerrard, has been voted the 2009 Footballer of the Year by the Football Writers' Association.

The 28-year-old topped the poll of journalists ahead of Manchester United's Ryan Giggs and Wayne Rooney to win the accolade, which has been running since 1948.

Gerrard will receive his award at the FWA's gala dinner at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London on 29 May.

"Steven's performances this season have been of the highest quality," said FWA chairman Steve Bates. "His drive and desire have underpinned Liverpool's Premier League title challenge and ensured a tight finish to the season.

"Steven is clearly in his prime and quite rightly rated one of the finest midfield players of his generation and the FWA are delighted to honour his contribution to club and country."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/ma...yer-of-the-year

[Devil]

Great news, he's been awesome this year. He would be first choice in any team.

[bkkjames]

Great news, he's been awesome this year. He would be first choice in any team.

This fricking crap, what a bunch of bullocks, who writes this stuff anyway........!!!!

(sorry, just wanted to know what it is like to sound like you)

[nev]

he deserves it been carrying liverpool for few years now,all those scousers who burnt his shirt must be happy for him

[StevieH]

he deserves it been carrying liverpool for few years now,all those scousers who burnt his shirt must be happy for him

haha! there were about fuc_king two of them who were paid to do it by sky sports news! love it.

[mrtoad]

he deserves it been carrying liverpool for few years now,all those scousers who burnt his shirt must be happy for him

haha! there were about fuc_king two of them who were paid to do it by sky sports news! love it.

It was probably James getting lost trying to find Old Trafford.

[nev]

he deserves it been carrying liverpool for few years now,all those scousers who burnt his shirt must be happy for him

haha! there were about fuc_king two of them who were paid to do it by sky sports news! love it.

ha ha maybe they where everton fans oh maybe chelsea,was funny though seeing them on the telly then two days later he stays.

[bkkjames]

he deserves it been carrying liverpool for few years now,all those scousers who burnt his shirt must be happy for him

haha! there were about fuc_king two of them who were paid to do it by sky sports news! love it.

It was probably James getting lost trying to find Old Trafford.

Funny as usual toady, what would interesting to know is that of all the team supporters on TV, how many actually live or are from the city they support?

[mrtoad]

he deserves it been carrying liverpool for few years now,all those scousers who burnt his shirt must be happy for him

haha! there were about fuc_king two of them who were paid to do it by sky sports news! love it.

It was probably James getting lost trying to find Old Trafford.

Funny as usual toady, what would interesting to know is that of all the team supporters on TV, how many actually live or are from the city they support?

Well, you could do a Jingthing, and set up a thread with a poll.

[bkkjames]

seems all the writers not in agreement about this award

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/...ng-man-won.html

[sumrit]

seems all the writers not in agreement about this award

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/...ng-man-won.html

They actually vote for their player of the season at the beginning of March, just a few short weeks after the professional footballers have their vote, when only two thirds of the season has been completed and

before any of the players have to play under the pressure of the premiership run in or the knockout stages of the champions league where they're only playing the top sides in Europe, and with the added

distraction of the FA cup.

So to all the whingers on the 'PFA award' thread, although I have NO complaints on Steven Gerrard winning this award, (once again he's shown he's an excellent footballer more than capable of carrying Liverpool

through the season again) as they're only voting on performances over the 'easy' part of the season and not the 'whole season' maybe the award should be renamed as

. ' The Football Writers two thirds of the season winner '

or ' The Football Writers easy part of the season winner '

:D

Edited May 14, 2009 by sumrit

[rixalex]

Stevie G deserves any awards that come his way. He could walk in the doors of any club in the world and be first on the team sheet. You guys are lucky to have him and in this day and age it's great for a player to stay loyal.

[bkkjames]

Some funny stuff on here regarding awards for this season..

http://blogs.mirror.co.uk/football-banter/...alters-nam.html

The Wallies - Mike Walters names his (nearly) end of season award winners

Luvvies and gentlemen, it's that time of the year again when the great, the good and Rob Styles make room on the mantelpiece for end-of-season awards.

So without further ado, stand by your acceptance speeches, stand by your nominations and stand clear of all breakable objects for the 2008-9 Wallies...

PLAYER OF THE SEASON: Xabi Alonso - incredibly, it will probably be the only thing Liverpool win all season.

GOAL OF THE SEASON: Cristiano Ronaldo (Arsenal v Manchester United, Champions League) - Stop fawning over Ronaldo toe-punts and appreciate one-touch football, and a smooth finish, at its finest.

MANAGER OF THE SEASON: Mark Robins (Rotherham) - 17 points deducted, forced to leave Millmoor and take refuge at an athletics stadium... and still they won 75 points on the pitch. Honourable mentions for Tony Pulis (Stoke), Roy Hodgson (Fulham), David Moyes (Everton) and Andy Scott (Brentford).

TEAM OF THE SEASON: Exeter City - back-to-back promotions, all masterminded by a manager (Paul Tisdale) who wears Ted Baker cravats. Pure class.

GAME OF THE SEASON: Everton 2, Aston Villa 3 - Lots of English players on the pitch, brilliant goals and a pulsating climax.

BEST INDIVIDUAL DISPLAY: Michael Essien (Liverpool v Chelsea, Champions League) - His shackling of Steven Gerrard was the tactical tipping point of the tie and a masterclass in midfield man-marking.

LUCKIEST WIN OF THE SEASON: Tottenham's 2-1 win over Liverpool in the Premier League in November - floodlit robbery after being passed off the park.

BEST HAIRSTYLE OF THE SEASON: Marouane Fellaini (Everton) - With that Afro barnet, he's 6ft 5in going on 7ft 9in. Oh, and he can play a bit.

WORST ATTEMPT TO FEIGN INNOCENCE AFTER DREADFUL TACKLE: Kevin Nolan (Newcastle) after his diabolical red-card tackle on Everton's Victor Anichebe.

WORST REFEREE OF THE SEASON: Rob Styles (annual direct debit) - You're so smug it's unbelievable.

WORST REFFING BLUNDER: Stuart Attwell (ref) and Nigel Bannister (linesman) for Reading's 'ghost' goal at Watford - even in a hotly-contested category, easily the worst decision I've ever seen... and possibly the worst of all time.

VILLAIN OF THE SEASON: Chris Morgan (Sheffield United) - Take a look at the state of Barnsley winger Iain Hume's scalp and admire your dirty work.

MANAGERIAL MASTERSTROKE: Arsene Wenger signing Andrei Arshavin - shame it came four months too late to save Arsenal from another potless campaign.

MANAGERIAL MASTERSTROKE (NOT): Martin O'Neill running up the white flag in the UEFA Cup by taking a reserve team to Spartak Moscow to keep his big guns fresh for the Premier League - and embarking on a 12-match winless streak. Why bother entering the Intertoto Cup last July, beating Smorgasbord Rovers and Peasant City Rollers, and then tossing it all away when you're in sight of winning a trophy in Europe?

BIGGEST CLOT OF THE SEASON: Joey Barton (Newcastle) - If he's the saviour of the Toon Army, we had better all make a pact with the devil.

POISON DWARF OF THE SEASON: No contest, not even close - Dennis Wise.

TRANSFER BARGAIN OF THE SEASON: Stephen Carr (Birmingham City) - Flipping 'Eck, Alex McLeish picked him up for nothing in February, and the former Republic of Ireland full-back was Blues' best player on the run-in towards promotion from the Championship.

TRANSFER TURKEY OF THE SEASON: Xisco - £5.7 million for one goal. Whose bright idea was that? (See Poison Dwarf award for further details).

HE SHOULD PLAY IN A HIGHER LEAGUE: Jermaine Beckford (Leeds) - goals, goals, goals.

NOT AS GOOD AS WE THOUGHT HE WAS: David Bentley (Tottenham) - He can kick a ball off the rooftops and land it in a skip 50 yards away, but he can't even hit the target from 12 yards in a Wembley shoot-out.

THAT'S ENOUGH CARPING: Yes, Luton's 30-point penalty was a parody of justice. Yes, they should have been either relegated from the outset or given a 17-point deduction, like Rotherham and Bournemouth, and kicked out of the FA Cup for the next three seasons. But they DID break the rules (repeatedly), and even without the points deduction they would have finished way down League Two. Count your blessings at Barrow, Ebbsfleet and Forest Green next season

[StevieH]

seems all the writers not in agreement about this award

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/...ng-man-won.html

They actually vote for their player of the season at the beginning of March, just a few short weeks after the professional footballers have their vote, when only two thirds of the season has been completed and

before any of the players have to play under the pressure of the premiership run in or the knockout stages of the champions league where they're only playing the top sides in Europe, and with the added

distraction of the FA cup.

So to all the whingers on the 'PFA award' thread, although I have NO complaints on Steven Gerrard winning this award, (once again he's shown he's an excellent footballer more than capable of carrying Liverpool

through the season again) as they're only voting on performances over the 'easy' part of the season and not the 'whole season' maybe the award should be renamed as

. ' The Football Writers two thirds of the season winner '

or ' The Football Writers easy part of the season winner '

gerrard has 'carried liverpool though the season' about as much as rooney has done for united. he's your best player so of course he's going to have a big impact. gerrard has had injuries this season as has torres and both have played well. that said, at liverpool kuyt, alonso, benayoun, reina, mascherano, aurelio and skrtel have all had very good campaigns. so the 'one man team' myth is exactly that, a myth.

[sumrit]

seems all the writers not in agreement about this award

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/...ng-man-won.html

They actually vote for their player of the season at the beginning of March, just a few short weeks after the professional footballers have their vote, when only two thirds of the season has been completed and

before any of the players have to play under the pressure of the premiership run in or the knockout stages of the champions league where they're only playing the top sides in Europe, and with the added

distraction of the FA cup.

So to all the whingers on the 'PFA award' thread, although I have NO complaints on Steven Gerrard winning this award, (once again he's shown he's an excellent footballer more than capable of carrying Liverpool

through the season again) as they're only voting on performances over the 'easy' part of the season and not the 'whole season' maybe the award should be renamed as

. ' The Football Writers two thirds of the season winner '

or ' The Football Writers easy part of the season winner '

gerrard has 'carried liverpool though the season' about as much as rooney has done for united. he's your best player so of course he's going to have a big impact. gerrard has had injuries this season as has torres and both have played well. that said, at liverpool kuyt, alonso, benayoun, reina, mascherano, aurelio and skrtel have all had very good campaigns. so the 'one man team' myth is exactly that, a myth.

I knew somebody would bite :D

Don't take so seriously, Hating Man Utd doesn't have to be a full time job.

My post was meant to be a LIGHTHEARTED comment pointing out that when a Man Utd player won an award all the Man Utd haters wanted to do was belittle it and dismiss the format as inadequate but as soon as a

Liverpool player won an award there was nothing but praise for the player and no mention of the fact that the format for both awards was similar with voting only about four weeks apart. In fact the PFA award is

probably a more accurate result because a far greater number of votes are cast (there are far more footballers than there are writers).

As for listing half the Liverpool team as having played well this season we can all do that. At Man Utd we can list Rooney, Ronaldo, Giggs, Ferdinand, Vidic, Van Der Sar, etc, etc, etc. The BIG difference though is

that both the PFA and the Football Writers had ALL of those Man Utd on their shortlist for their awards whereas they only chose to have Gerrard from Liverpool. :D

I noticed in another thread that you would like Liverpool to sign five new players for next season.................. Thats nearly half a team so you can't be THAT happy with the one you've got at

the moment. :P

Have a nice day and don't take it too seriously.

[StevieH]

Have a nice day and don't take it too seriously.

bugger off. like asking me not to breathe la.