Zola is an awful name to put on the list. Looked good for a few years and smiled a lot. Might as well put Juninho on the list if thats the criteria. There is some mystique around Zola being sensational. Granted very good player, but lets not cream ourselves too much over memories of Chelsea before they became detestable.
Can understand people not having Cantona on the list. I'm a wee bit biased, and would like to argue that short brilliance shouldn't always be shunted for longevity, but I'll ceed that Lampard/Gerrard deserve it more than Eric. He can contend to be one of our legends instead.
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.
This, word for word.
As I said, Giggs was consistent and in the top echelon of players; but rarely, if ever, even at his peak, was he suggested as the best player in the league. Not from my memory. The aforementioned players all were. Giggs is not a bad choice, but I would not put him on the same level of a lot of those players who also had long careers. Of course, not as long as Giggs.
Speed? Honestly, I'm not sure he'd make my top 50 players of the last 20 years.
Disagree with this. First 5 years of the Prem at least Giggs was there as one of the best. Sure its hard to say who is
the definitive best at any given season, as everyone has a different role. Saying Shearers better than Giggs or Le Tissier in those early days are judging people against vastly different criteria.
In my eyes Giggs had no equals amongst wingers upto the arrival of Ronaldo IMO (Beckham can make a case, for his ability to deliver a ball was phenominal, yet I'd still give Giggs the nod just because he could do everything, whereas Becks excelled in area's). Thats 10 years of being the dominant winger in the land, followed by another 10 years of still being at the top, still performing, and still producing match winning performances on a regular basis.