*Official* English Football Season 2011-12

[The Sean]

Speaking of awards, the Premier League have just announced their nominations for the 20-seasons awards. The ten noms for best player: Bergkamp, Cantona, Giggs, Henry, Keane, Ronaldo, Scholes, Shearer, Vieira, Zola.

Gerrard a particularly striking omission and, while Sky have also focussed on the lack of Beckham or Rooney, I reckon Schmeichel is the other most notable absentee. No 'keeper or defender on the list at all.

There are five nominations for best manager, which is at least three - and arguably even four - too many. Particularly given that Harry Redknapp is one of them.

Other awards include best goal (Le Tiss with two noms WAG), best quote and best goal celebration.

 

[GIMH]

Oh yeah let's not let small teams dream of making it, maybe scrap relegation and promotion? ****s me off no end when big clubs feel they have a right to be in the top division.

Wigan may have no fans but makes them all the more loveable, if they stayed up by spending a **** load of money that would be different but they really don't.

Think Brumby has in tongue in his cheek, but tbf Wigan might not have spent their way to survival, but they certainly spent their way up the lower leagues, on crowds that were smaller than ours.

 

[Ikki]

Speaking of awards, the Premier League have just announced their nominations for the 20-seasons awards. The ten noms for best player: Bergkamp, Cantona, Giggs, Henry, Keane, Ronaldo, Scholes, Shearer, Vieira, Zola.

Gerrard a particularly striking omission and, while Sky have also focussed on the lack of Beckham or Rooney, I reckon Schmeichel is the other most notable absentee. No 'keeper or defender on the list at all.

There are five nominations for best manager, which is at least three - and arguably even four - too many. Particularly given that Harry Redknapp is one of them.

Other awards include best goal (Le Tiss with two noms WAG), best quote and best goal celebration.

They're taking the piss with Gerrard not being in it. He's been PFA young player of the year, PFA player of the year and runner up another time (sentimentally given to Giggs), FWA player of the year; and been in the PFA team of the year 7 times - the most during the EPL era. How did they choose who to nominate?

 

[MW1304]

Tim Krul is 24 years old and so isn't eligible for the young player of the year award. Whether or not he should be shortlisted for the full award is another matter.

Was 23 at the beginning of the season, though, so he is eligible.

 

[sledger]

They're taking the piss with Gerrard not being in it. He's been PFA young player of the year, PFA player of the year and runner up another time (sentimentally given to Giggs), FWA player of the year; and been in the PFA team of the year 7 times - the most during the EPL era. How did they choose who to nominate?

Out of the ten nominees who would you have left out though? Wouldn't have said Gerrard on the whole was more deserving of a place than various others who have missed out, in this regard I am thinking particularly of Lampard, Ferdinand, Terry, Schmeichel and David James.

Think the omission of Gary Speed is far more surprising myself.

 

[GIMH]

Gerrard>Lampard clearly

 

[sledger]

Gerrard>Lampard clearly

Maybe, but what has he contributed to/achieved (in the Premiership) that Lampard hasn't?

Edit: Before Ikki responds, I'm asking what he's contributed to the Premiership, not to Liverpool FC. If we assess on that criteria, which I presume is what the list has been formulated on, I would suggest the differences between Gerrard and Lampard are minimal. Though I would concede Gerrard is probably a better player, and probably has had more effect on Liverpool FC and it's fans than Lampard has for Chelsea.

 

[grecian]

****ing Arsenal, Paddy Power offered Evens for them to win in a special offer, so I emptied my account.

 

[Uppercut]

Gerrard>Lampard clearly

No doubt about it considering performances for England, in the CL and in the cups. But I think Lampard's clearly been better in the league.

 

[Ikki]

Out of the ten nominees who would you have left out though? Wouldn't have said Gerrard on the whole was more deserving of a place than various others who have missed out, in this regard I am thinking particularly of Lampard, Ferdinand, Terry, Schmeichel and David James.

Think the omission of Gary Speed is far more surprising myself.

Either Zola or Cantona or Giggs. IMO the best player of the last 20 years is a debate between Gerrard, Henry, Scholes and Ronaldo. Lampard and Terry IMO are deserving of a place in the top 10 too.

Mine would be: Scholes, Henry, Gerrard, Lampard, Terry, Shearer, Ronaldo, Keane, Schmeichel and Vieira.

Are you being serious about Speed?

 

[Eds]

Ikki's list much closer to mine than the original. Does seem a bit of a farce that there aren't any defenders though.

 

[The Sean]

Have just looked at the full list of nominations - they're doing a "best for each position award" with TEN nominations for every position - and I don't just mean best defender or best midfielder, it's best left back, best right back, best right midfielder etc. Ten is way, way too many when you look at the some of the lolworthy names listed. Then again, some of the names left out (no Hyypia or Radebe in the central defenders list, no Teddy or Drogba among the strikers) are also baffling.

 

[Uppercut]

I think Zola over Drogba is the least defensible decision. Drogba's a million times better, he's played for longer and he's actually won stuff. They've basically picked Zola because they think he's a nicer guy.

 

[The Sean]

Either Zola or Cantona or Giggs. IMO the best player of the last 20 years is a debate between Gerrard, Henry, Scholes and Ronaldo. Lampard and Terry IMO are deserving of a place in the top 10 too.

Mine would be: Scholes, Henry, Gerrard, Lampard, Terry, Shearer, Ronaldo, Keane, Schmeichel and Vieira.

Are you being serious about Speed?

Lampard and Terry over any two of Giggs, Cantona or Bergkamp? Behave Ikki!

Reckon Giggs will go close to winning the whole thing TBH. Not saying he necessarily should or shouldn't, more how I think the vote might go. I personally think the winner will be one of Giggs, Shearer or Henry.

EDIT - But I'm firmly of the belief that had Ronaldo stuck around in '09 and was still plying his trade in the PL, this wouldn't even be close any more.

 

[Pothas]

Think Brumby has in tongue in his cheek, but tbf Wigan might not have spent their way to survival, but they certainly spent their way up the lower leagues, on crowds that were smaller than ours.

Yeah I know he did just sure you have come across those who think success should be entirely dependent on how many fans you have traditionally rather than the merit of your current side.

As for spending your way into the top, well that is the only way to do it, no one criticises Fulham for doing so.

 

[Ikki]

Lampard and Terry over any two of Giggs, Cantona or Bergkamp? Behave Ikki!

Reckon Giggs will go close to winning the whole thing TBH. Not saying he necessarily should or shouldn't, more how I think the vote might go. I personally think the winner will be one of Giggs, Shearer or Henry.

Definitely. There has been a lot of revisionism WRT Giggs. Was always in the upper echelons of players in the league and very consistent, but IMO never in the best 3 in the league at any time in his career. Cantona is overrated IMO. Was a fantastic player, definitely helped United get on top in the league again, but it was only 5 years and was he good enough to outdo Lampard and Terry's whole careers? Nope. Bergkamp is a fine player, but after 2000 really scored less and less and less. He was a wonderful trequartista-type player who'd get between the lines and dictate and playmake; but I think his artistry exaggerated his aggregate output.

Lampard has been routinely voted for high honours like Ballon D'Or and scores a ****load for a midfielder and Terry has won 3 (IIRC) UEFA club defender of the year awards. I'd like to say, I don't like either of them...especially Terry; but their contributions have been crazy good.

 

[Pothas]

As for this Premiership thingy, well Henry should probably win but Ronaldo is the best player the league has seen.

Gerrard is probably worthy of a nomination to be fair.

 

[sledger]

No way in hell should Giggs be left out. Routinely turning in performances of the highest quality, as an integral part of one of the most successful teams in the world, across a period spanning twenty years is not something to be sniffed at. It's pretty much an unmatched achievement, hardly anyone in any sport can boast anything like such an impressive record. I'd can't think of any justifications as to why he shouldn't be included tbh.

Similar things can be said about Gary Speed tbh. His impact was maybe less spectacular, but he was another extremely consistant performer at the very highest level for a prolonged period, and I can't think of many players who that can be said of. I don't think he should have won the award, but I think he should have been nominated.

 

[sledger]

I suppose it depends what constitutes the notion of the "best" player for really. For me, some sort of longevity would go some way to meeting that requirement. Speed and Giggs may not have been the most obviously talented, but that is more than made up for in their contributions over such a prolonged period of time. I agree with Pothas, if we go on talent alone I think Ronaldo should win, but if we go for performances over a period of time, the award has to be Henry's.

 

[The Sean]

Yeah that's the thing about Giggsy - he's never towered over the League as indisputably its best player in the manner of Ronaldo or Henry at their peak, but he was a key player for the country's top team twenty years ago, he's still a key player for the country's top team now, and he's been a key player for a team never outside the top 3 for every season in between. It's a phenomenal achievement.