Is Scott Parker’s football writer’s award justified?

By Tony Alvarez

Following Saturday’s announcement that West Ham’s inspirational midfielder and skipper Scott Parker will be awarded the Football Writers player of the year award in a gala dinner on May 12^th there has been much talk amongst fans as to whether the award was justified.

Parker narrowly beat recently named PFA player of the year Gareth Bale to the writers award in what the Football writers described as “one of the tightest votes of recent seasons.”

Whilst many fans were glad to hear that it was not a member of a top four side or a team that had a good European run win the award many fans were disappointed by the medias choice

It has been said that Parker only received the award for his get stuck in attitude, because he has broke back into the England side and because he is the rock around which West Ham (a London club) are built around, Which has left rival fans claiming that it is only due to the vast majority of writers being in London that Parker has received the award.

Whether Parker has been the best player in the league is hard to say, in my opinion he probably hasn’t, however he is one of the most influential to his side without him I fear the Hammers would already be confound to relegation so I can see why he was given the accolade, Charlie Adam can be disappointed as he has been every bit as important to Blackpool as Parker has to West Ham and has also contributed more goals and assists, I’ve never considered that the media being based in London could sway their decision and I don’t really think it has in this instance although I believe players like Adam and Newcastle’s Kevin Nolan would get more recognition had they been in not necessarily a London side but a bigger name side than their current clubs.

Another area which has been highlighted by fans is that in past seasons the award has always been handed out to the best player in the Premier League, why has the award now been given to someone who I am sure would openly admit he doesn’t have the ability some of the other players touted for this award does but gives his all for his side.

I have no problem with Scott Parker winning this award and as I mentioned above I am glad that a player from a so called lesser side has had his ability recognised its just odd that for some reason the way the award is voted for seems to of changed.

What are your thoughts? Is the decision to name Scott Parker Football writer’s player of the year justified? Who would have been your choice for the award? Does the majority of the media being London based have an effect on their decision? Do you agree with my opinion that players such as Charlie Adam and Kevin Nolan can feel hard done by? Leave a comment and let us know your thoughts.

Is Nani’s omission from the PFA player of the year shortlist justified?

By Tony Alvarez

Following the release of a 6 man shortlist for the Players Football Association player of the year award many fans have been angered at the omission of Manchester United Portuguese winger Luis Nani.

Nani has been pivotal to United’s charge on all fronts this term which currently sees them top of the Premier League table, in an FA Cup semi final and with a slight advantage in a Champions League Quarter final.

The wing wizard is leading the Premier League assists table with 16 and has 9 Premier league strikes to his name which is equal to or better than anyone else that’s nominated for the PFA award except for Carlos Tevez.

The Candidates who have been shortlisted in favour of Nani are Arsenal’s Samir Nasri, Blackpool’s Charlie Adam, as mentioned above Manchester City’s Carlos Tevez, Nani’s team mate Nemanja Vidic, Tottenham’s Gareth Bale and West Ham’s Scott Parker.

Regular viewers will have seen that earlier in the week Shouts From The Stands wrote an article looking into who we judged as Player of the year, our shortlist of four included four of the names above an omitted Charlie Adam, Scott Parker and Nani which got me a lot of negative response from Manchester United fans.

To view our Player of the Year article please click on the following link: http://shoutsfromthestands.wordpress.com/2011/04/01/who-should-be-named-player-of-the-year/

You will be unable to see the comments from United fans moaning at me for not including Nani as they were on BBC’s 606 forum.

I came to the conclusion that the candidates are not always the 6 best players in the league but the ones who are most influential to their sides.

Only one man can be the most influential man to their side which made it a choice between Vidic and Nani, for my decision it was tough but I think Vidic is often over looked and has held the team together no matter who he has been partnered with at centre back this season.

It seems the shortlist makers made the same decision many United fans were calling for both to be included on the shortlist but as the shortlist has been decided upon on influence and not all round performance Nani was overlooked for the likes of Charlie Adam and Scott Parker, which I can see perfect sense in.

What do you think? Have they got the shortlist correct?S hould Nani of been chosen over Vidic? Should the shortlist of included 2 United players? Is it wrong that the award is being chosen on influence and not performance? Leave a comment and let us know

Who is the young player of the year?

Jack Wilshere has come of age for the Gunners this season

By Laurie Fitzgerald

With the awards season coming up, the focus turns to which players deserve the acclaim and recognition for their efforts throughout what has been an engrossing campaign.

Over the next few days we are going to be looking at what players should be commended in four different categories; best player, most underrated, best young player and best signing of the season.

Today, having looked at the contenders for best player and most underrated, we will study those who should be in with a chance for best young player:

Jack Wilshere – There have been high hopes for a couple of years over the Arsenal midfielder, but this has been the season where the 19 year-old has come of age. After impressing in the second half of last season with Bolton, Wilshere went back to the Emirates in the summer and hasn’t looked back since. His composure on the ball, finding a killer pass and developing space with such ease, has cemented his place in the Arsenal midfield alongside Cesc Fabregas and Alex Song. Not only that, but Wilshere has become a regular in the England side even at this tender age. A superstar in the making.

Gareth Bale – Talking of getting the footballing world raving about you at the start of your career, 21 year-old Bale has had an unforgettable 18 months. At the beginning of 2010, the Welsh left-winger couldn’t get into the Tottenham side. But he ended up having a terrific second half to the season, helping Harry Redknapp’s side secure a Champions League place. Not resting on his laurels, he’s carried on where he left off this season. A number of rampaging displays, as well as 12 goals and 3 assists to his name, have made Bale one of the most feared wingers in Europe. His highlight was that famous demolition of the world’s best right-back Maicon in Tottenham’s 3-1 win over Champions League holders Inter Milan at White Hart Lane. 

Jordan Henderson – As the likes of Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Gareth Barry the wrong side of 30, the need for flourishing young midfield talents is growing. With Wilshere coming to the fore, 20 year-old Henderson has shown not all future hopes rest on the Arsenal midfielder. The local lad was instrumental in the Black Cats’ excellent start, typified by his mature display in their 3-0 win away at champions Chelsea. While Steve Bruce’s side have found it tougher going since the turn of the year, Henderson has still been a shining light this term, and got his reward when he was given his first cap for England in a home friendly against France in November.

Andy Carroll – In the summer of 2009, Newcastle had reportedly put their young striker up for sale for just £1 million after their relegation from the Premier League. Less than two years on, he is now a £35 million who has a massive future ahead for his new club as well as his country. Having helped his hometown club gain promotion from the Championship, Carroll has had a seamless transition to the top-flight. His 11 league goals and enormous physical presence, as well as his impressive hold-up play, was enough for Kenny Dalglish to break the transfer record for a British player to bring the 22 year-old to Liverpool on January transfer deadline day. Having recently got his first goal for England in just his second cap, only Carroll himself seems capable of preventing a fantastic career.

Marc Albrighton – While this has turned into a season to forget for Aston Villa and their supporters, there has been one shining light to come from it. 21 year-old Albrighton has fought his way into the Villa side with a string of impressive performances on the wing for Gerard Houllier’s side. Having gained a reputation for his unnerving accuracy in his crosses, as well as never being afraid to run at the opposition, Albrighton’s six goals and six assists in all competitions have aided a side that has been drawn into an unlikely relegation fight. With the future of Ashley Young in doubt, the Villa faithful will be in no doubt that they have a ready-made replacement already at Villa Park.

So what do you think? Do you agree with those chosen by us for young players of the year? Who has been your young player of the season? Are there any other contenders you feel should be considered? Let us know your thoughts

Who is this season’s most underrated player?

Holden was in brilliant form for Bolton before his injury

By Laurie Fitzgerald

We have reached the stage of the season where football fans across the country begin to consider their players of the Premier League season.

The likes of Samir Nasri, Nemanja Vidic, Andy Carroll, Scott Parker, Carlos Tevez and Gareth Bale are likely to get several mentions for potential nominations for the PFA Player of the Year.

However, there will be players that have had excellent campaigns for their clubs but will not get spoken in the same bracket as the players aforementioned.

With this in mind, I’ve looked at those players that deserve recognition for their consistency throughout the season, but probably won’t get a look-in at the end of season awards:

Matt Jarvis (Wolves) – His recent call-up to the England squad may have come as a surprise to many, but the former Gillingham player has been one of the best right-wingers in the league this season. The 24 year old has performed consistently well despite Wolves’ struggles this campaign. His four goals and four assists in the league don’t do justice to the constant problems he has caused for opposition defences.

Stuart Holden (Bolton) – Having sustained an anterior cruciate ligament injury from THAT tackle by Manchester United’s Jonny Evans, the American midfielder’s season has come to a cruel and premature end. But what should be remembered is how good Holden was throughout the campaign; The 25 year-old created boundless energy in the Bolton midfield, and was brilliant in retaining possession when he had the ball. Let’s hope he makes a full and speedy recovery so we can see him continue to blossom into a top-class midfielder.

David Vaughan (Blackpool) – While many will have been impressed with Vaughan’s second-half performance for Wales against England on Saturday, Blackpool fans will not need telling how impressive the midfielder has been in their debut season in the Premier League. The 28 year-old had never played in the top-flight before, but you’d never have noticed. While Charlie Adam has got most of the acclaim for the Seasiders, Vaughan has been the engine of the midfield, and played a big part in giving Blackpool a chance of clinching survival and in the process a magnificent season.

Peter Odemwingie (West Brom) – Talking of debut seasons in the Premier League, the 29 year-old Nigerian has made a real impact from moving to the Hawthorns from Lokomotiv Moscow. He already has double figures for the Baggies in the league, and although he hasn’t made the same impact as when he initially joined, the forward has given West Brom the cutting edge going forward that has given them a better chance of survival in comparison to their previous years in the top flight.

Phil Bardsley (Sunderland) – Under Steve Bruce, the former Manchester United youth graduate has started to fulfill the promise seen in his younger days. Bardsley has become an integral part of a solid Sunderland defence, having gained a reputation of becoming consistent and reliable at full-back. He has also worked his way into International recognition, having earned his first cap for Scotland this season. You won’t find many more defenders deserving of more praise this season than the 25 year-old.

So what do you think? Do you agree with these choices? What players do you think should get more acclaim for their efforts this season from your club or other clubs? Let us know your thoughts

Who should be named Player of the year?

By Tony Alvarez

Following last weeks announcement of the players of the year in all of the Football Leagues it is now the turn of the Premier League, Shouts From The Stands are covering this area over the next few days looking at the candidates for Player of the year, Young player of the year, Most under rated player and finally signing of the year.

Today I will look at the candidates for the main award player of the year and give my views on who should scoop the award.

Samir Nasri- The French Arsenal midfielder has had the season of his life so far and has relished having more of a central/ free role, whilst the Frenchman’s dribbling ability has always been clear to see this season he has put this ability to more practical use scoring 14 goals in all competitions as well as providing numerous assists. Non more spectacular than his second solo effort against Fulham at the Emirates after bursting around a few tackles he rounded the keeper before swivelling and knocking the ball in from a tight angle.

 No greater compliment can be paid to Nasri than saying he has outshone Arsenal club captain Cesc Fabregas this season.

As well as Nasri’s goals, assists and clear natural ability its his work rate on top of those traits that has made him a firm fans favourite at the Emirates and brought about rumours of an upcoming contract offer of over £100,000 a week.

Gareth Bale-  The young Welshman has been Tottenham’s star man in their quest for Champions League glory as well as keeping hold of their top 4 spot, the left winger who was brought to the club as a left back has scored 11 goals in all competitions but his performances can not be judged simply on goals.

Not only does he raise the crowd every time he receives the ball at White Heart Lane but the majority of Tottenham’s attacking play revolves around the speedy wide man. Bale as well as his pace offers terrific delivery and if not posing a goal scoring threat himself can always be relied upon to put a threatening ball into the opponent’s box for the likes of Peter Crouch, Roman Pavlyuchenko and Jermain Defoe.

Although much of Bale’s best achievements this term have come in Europe such as his hat trick in the San Siro, although this is not meant to count towards these particular awards performances like this never go a miss.

Nemanja Vidic-

Defenders are often overlooked in these end of season awards as there are not many goal scoring achievements you can call upon and clean sheets are always seen as a team effort.

Despite all this I would personally rank Vidic up there for the award, he has been majestic yet again this term as he has been consistently for the last few seasons. Many people have always put Manchester United’s miserly defence down to the pairing of Vidic and Rio Ferdinand but this term Vidic has marshalled a defence that has seldom featured Ferdinand.

He had been thrown in at the deep end having to help young Chris Smalling find his place in the side an form a partnership with him as well as having to be able to forge a solid partnership with Jonny Evans and Wes Brown when called upon.

Although he has had the legendary Edwin Van Der Sar between the sticks behind him and World class left back Patrice Evra along side him for the majority of the games Vidic is the rock which the United defence is built around.

Vidic has also played his part at the other end notching 4 goals. Despite his reputation as a tough tackling centre back Vidic has only been booked 5 times this term thus showing his tackling ability.

Carlos Tevez

 Tevez tends to go about his business unnoticed due to City’s huge spending and more particularly this season the antics of fellow front man Mario Balotelli.

  The Argentinean who is City’s club captain has had another prolific season in front of goal. He has 21 goals in all competitions and is the focal point of all of City’s attacking play even though at any time he will have over 100 million of talent around him.

Another reason Tevez slips peoples mind when these awards are handed out is because he isn’t fighting for major honours City were never truly in the title race and were not in the Champions League.

Should Tevez be scoring all these goals and putting in these performances for a title winning side he would be a shoe in for the awards.

Much like Nasri, Tevez does not only gain admires for his skill and goal scoring ability, his work rate is second to none, he is always hassling defenders and is always dangerous due to his constant movement.

The verdict:

For me the award should go to Vidic, should Arsenal win the league and Nasri scores 5 goals between now and the end of the season then he would be deserving but at this present time Vidic is the more consistent performer.

Nasri started off brilliantly but his form has really petered out in recent weeks and he has not quite looked himself, where as it is very tough to think of a bad spell Vidic has had throughout the season.

Who is your player of the year? Is there anyone I have missed out? Leave a comment an let us know who your player of the year is>

Who should be England’s right-back against Wales?

England boss Fabio Capello has to ponder a selection headache at right-back

By Laurie Fitzgerald

This weekend sees Fabio Capello announce his squad for England’s Euro 2012 qualifier in Wales next Saturday.

While having to decide on a number of issues, such as who will replace the injured duo of Steven Gerrard and Rio Ferdinand, one of the biggest dilemmas for the Italian is who he will name at right-back.

The position will take more precedence when considering that whoever fills the position will have to face up to Gareth Bale in what is sure to be a heated atmosphere at the Millennium Stadium.

Shouts From The Stands looks at the contenders for the right-back role, and who could be given the task of stopping Bale:

Glen Johnson – The Liverpool full-back has figured regularly in the England team under Capello under the past couple of years.

However, Johnson’s recent form, admittedly hampered by injury, has led to his place in the side coming under scrutiny.

There’s never been a doubt about his abilities going forward. It’s difficult trying to find a better attacking full-back in the Premier League.

But there have always been questions about his defensive game, and his recent performance up against Bale (Tottenham’s 2-1 win over Liverpool in November) saw the Welshman cause the 26 year-old endless problems.

More recently, he has lost his place at right-back in the Liverpool side, with young Martin Kelly given the nod there and Johnson switching to left-back.

This change means it’s rather difficult to see someone who hasn’t featured regularly at right-back in recent weeks getting the nod ahead of English right-backs playing well at the moment.

 

Micah Richards – The Manchester City defender has impressed in recent weeks in the right-back role, making him favourite to get the nod on March 26^th.

Richards has all the makings of the modern day defender; strong, athletic, sound defensively and good going forward.

The 22 year-old had cemented his place as England’s right-back under previous manager Steve McLaren before a slump in form saw him lose his place and fall out of national recognition.

He may not be as good as Johnson in an attacking sense but he is a better defender. He also provides a real threat from set-pieces, containing the ability of a thumping header, as shown against Reading last weekend.

If Capello goes with the all-round package from right-back, then it will surely be Richards that is given the chance.

 

Phil Neville – He may not have played for England since 2007, but if Capello seeks experience above all else, then the Everton defender has to be in contention.

Neville has performed consistently well since his move from Manchester United to Goodison Park in 2005, and has gone on to become the club captain under David Moyes.

It’s easy to see why; the 34 year-old not only offers a wealth of experience, but he also reads the game extremely well.

What may also work in Neville’s advantage are his performances against Bale this season; The 21 year-old didn’t get a sniff in either of the encounters between Spurs and the Toffees, and Capello surely will have taken note of that.

While he might not offer a lot in an attacking sense, his calm head and consistency in defence could put him in the frame.

 

Kyle Walker – The most unlikely of the right-back candidates, but the Tottenham defender has made incredible progress on his loan excursions this season.

Having spent the first half of the campaign terrorising Championship defenders with runaway leaders Queens Park Rangers, his temporary move to Aston Villa has shown he has what it takes in the Premier League.

The 20 year-old has won plaudits for his strong runs down the line, as well as providing goal-scoring opportunities from these surges forward.

On top of that, he has matured considerably defensively over the last several months and his current form is as good as those aforementioned.

However, what will count against Walker is that despite being called up for the last England squad in the friendly against Denmark, he has yet to play at International level.

While he has done so well to get into contention, it seems that Walker will only get a chance if injury restricts the likes of Richards, Johnson and Neville.

So what do you think? Who do you think will get the right-back slot against Wales? Do you think it should be someone not mentioned, such as Wes Brown? Let us know your thoughts

Who will lead Wales into new era?

James Collins is the favourite to become Wales captain

By Laurie Fitzgerald

With the Carling Nations Cup underway and hope of a long-term future for this tournament, for one of its representatives, there is the hope that this is the beginning of a new era.

Wales find themselves in 116^th position in the FIFA World Rankings. While the accuracy of the rankings system is open to debate, it is still disappointing for Welsh football to find the national side at such a low ember within the game.

For new manager Gary Speed, there is the opportunity to try and change the fortunes of the national team. Having led by example throughout his International career, collecting an admirable 85 caps (more than any other Welsh outfield player) Welsh fans know that while the 41 year-old lacks managerial experience, they have a man who will do everything he can to bring an era of success to the national side.

One of the first objectives for Speed to complete is who will lead Wales into this potential new era. Craig Bellamy decided that, due to his knee problems, it was best to pass on the captaincy to someone who has more chance of appearing for the side on a more regular basis. Speed now has to find that player amongst the current crop of players.

James Collins was given the captaincy for the 3-0 defeat to the Republic of Ireland, although Speed is yet to confirm him as his permanent skipper. Collins is a natural choice, with plenty of experience at International level through his 38 caps, as well as years of Premier League football under his belt with Aston Villa and previously with West Ham.

The question mark for the 27 year-old is that he doesn’t have a huge amount of experience as a captain. While he has matured into an impressive centre-half, he has done so alongside a captain; whether it was with Matthew Upson at West Ham or Richard Dunne at Villa, Collins has come across as more of playing the supporting role in the heart of defense instead of leading from the back.

Someone who will also fight for the captaincy is Collins’ centre-back partner in the Welsh team. Swansea City’s Ashley Williams has established himself as a regular for the national team, with 25 caps to his name. The 26 year-old has been impressive for the Swans this season as they push for promotion to the Premier League.

Ashley Williams is another strong contender for the Welsh captaincy

Like Collins, he is in a position in the side that allows him to lead and communicate with others more easily. But Williams is also similar in the sense that he doesn’t have a great deal of experience with the captain’s armband, and while he has not looked out of place at this level, and Swansea potentially reaching the Premier League this season, his lack of matches in top-flight football may count against him when compared to other candidates.

Speed may look to securing more of a long-term leader for the side; there is an excellent core of young talent coming through the national set-up that will be part of this Welsh squad for the next decade at least. None more so than the two gems of the side – Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey.

But while having either Bale or Ramsey as captain provides advantages, in particular giving Welsh youngsters a captain that is a role model to them, they have enough pressure on their young shoulders as it is. There is always a possibility that either would flourish in the role, but giving them the huge responsibility of the armband when they are already the main focus of the team is unfair.

With all this in mind, Collins seems to be the logical choice. While there is that question mark of whether he is a leader, we won’t know until he is given a decent chance at it. He plays in a position that gives him the platform to be a captain, and his considerable experience at a higher level gives him the edge over Williams.

Whoever gets the captaincy though has the chance of leading a Welsh side into a potentially exciting future. While qualification for Euro 2012 looks bleak after defeats in their three opening qualifiers, the long-term gives the public reason to be cheerful.

The likes of Bale, Ramsey, Joe Allen, Simon Church, Hal Robson-Kanu, Chris Gunter and Wayne Hennessey provide a nucleus of impressive young quality that Speed can build a team around. A team that can challenge to qualify for major tournaments over the coming years. While it will not be a determining factor, getting the captaincy right will create a greater opportunity to get the best out of a bright future.

So what do you think? Who should be given the captaincy? Should it be the experience of the likes of Collins and Williams, or the younger generation of Bale and Ramsey? Let us know your thoughts      

North London Divide

Fair Play, Theo

By Laurie Fitzgerald

I know this probably isn’t normal for a Tottenham fan to start off something like this, but I thought I would start this piece by saying well done to an Arsenal player – and actually mean it!

Theo Walcott’s admittance to diving to win his side a penalty in the dying minutes against Leeds in the FA Cup on Saturday was a rare show of honesty in a footballing world where simulation is all too easily used and benefitted from.

Of course, there is the argument that Walcott shouldn’t have dived in the first place, and that’s absolutely right. But he was the first to admit that what he did was wrong, and although a punishment from the FA will be deserving, his admittance is refreshing in this day and age – especially after seeing Dimitar Berbatov’s blatant dive against Liverpool and giving a very guilty defence of his actions afterwards.

The main thing I wanted to talk about this week was the agreement reached that allows David Beckham to train with Spurs, but not to play for us due to insurance complications. I actually think this is the best possible deal for us.

Having him train with us for the next month and a half is going to be great for the younger lads in the side, especially the wingers such as Aaron Lennon and Gareth Bale. Having his experience and knowledge of the game will be great for them to learn from.

Lennon in particular can really prosper from this outcome. Knowing that his place won’t be under threat from Beckham, he can learn to really master the art of crossing, something that Becks knows a thing or two about. It can really help the 22 year-old take his game onto the next level.

While it’s great having Beckham here, I’m not sure what he would have brought to the current team with his performances. It always seemed to be more about the shirts he could sell off the pitch instead of the difference he could make on it, but the long-term conclusion to this saga could be finding someone better than the real thing.

 ——————————————————————————————————

We have them running scared again!!!

By Tony Alvarez

A bit of a mixed bag in terms of this article from me this week, I will go in the order that thing happened so it’s easy to follow.

 We drew with City some people may see this as 2 points dropped but for me it is encouraging, a team who has spent hundreds of millions and are supposedly title hopefuls were too scared to come to Arsenal and try and win does this mean we are getting our fear factor back?

 Yes I know we did not get the desired result but I think if City go any where with them intentions they will be very hard to break down and we came very very close. So whilst it was points dropped it was encouragement for everyone involved with Arsenal.

Secondly World beating title challengers (so were told) Tottenham lost at Everton, some how this has all been swept under the carpet not taking anything away from Everton but with the form they are currently in sides like these must be beaten but as per usual Tottenham failed to back up the talking with the action.

Now onto the Leeds game, first off well played Leeds. I’ve been hearing many fans telling me Arsenal deserved to lose, NO. In the sense we scored a last minute penalty we were lucky but if you look at the game as a whole we were the better side.

Finally I have two point about the refereeing of the Arsenal Leeds fixture. Theo dived its wrong well done for holding your hands up but it doesn’t make it alright, however Phil Dowd thought Walcott was fouled (as did I, nothing wrong with that) but let his linesman over rule him for an offside decision that happened after the “foul”. Nothing will be made of this due to Theo’s admittance that he was not fouled but for me this is one of the worst bits of referring I’ve seen in years, how can you change your mind for something that was happened after an alleged foul.

All in all not a bad week for the mighty gunners, we may not have won a game this week but I feel there are more positives than negatives. COME ON YOU GUNNERS!!!!

Leave a comment and let us know what you think are we representing your clubs well. If not send in your own argument and we may just use it for next week.

As regular readers will know this is the 5th edition of the North London debate the links to the previous three are below, take a look and also read the comments the 2^nd week in particular has some good ones.

Week 3:

http://shoutsfromthestands.wordpress.com/2010/12/17/279/

Week 2:

http://shoutsfromthestands.wordpress.com/2010/12/10/239/

 Week 1:

http://shoutsfromthestands.wordpress.com/2010/12/03/the-north-london-divide/

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A look back at 2010…

As 2010 is coming to an end, we had requests from many fans on our thoughts on players of the year as well as who will go on to pick up the major honours.

Due to this below are our thoughts players of the year, stars of the future as well manager of the year and many others.

Take a look and if you disagree let us know.

Team of the year:

 Laurie: Blackpool – Iain Holloway’s side, favourites for relegation to League One last season, now find themselves in the top 8 of the Premier League. A true footballing fairytale.

Tony: It can be anyone but Blackpool, even if they were 17^th in the league and struggling it would still be a miraculous achievement for them to be where they are, so there current league form is just a big cherry on top of a thick layer of icing on a very big cake.

Manager of the year:

Laurie: Iain Holloway – See above.
Tony: Again I can’t disagree with Laurie, it’s not only his achievements the way he carries himself through both victory and defeat is remarkable. One of the only managers that will gladly call it as he sees it. I would happily tune into his press conferences every week.

Domestic Player of the year:

Laurie: Gareth Bale – It’s genuinely difficult finding a player that has made the same impact in the past 12 months. From being on the verge of loaned out to Nottingham Forest to being rated in the region of £35-50m. A stunning transformation.

Tony: I disagree because Bale’s good form has been this season, he did play in the early part of this year but he was not at the dizzy heights he is currently playing at, I am going to go with Carlos Tevez, he scores goals, he creates goals and he leads the line for his club. In a team of big name players he is clearly the shinning light and is a large part of the reason why they are challenging for the title.

Shock of the year:

Laurie: Martin O’Neill’s exit – While the sackings of Chris Hughton and Sam Allardayce were both ludicrous, no-one could see O’Neill walking out of Villa 5 days before the start of the season. We still don’t know why he left, as Villa find themselves edging towards a ridiculous relegation fight.

Tony: I am caught in two minds here, on one hand I think Allardyce is. When he got sacked a friend rung and told me, I was in disbelief I could not even see a hint of it happening. The other is Portsmouth reaching the FA cup final, despite all their off the field dramas and terrible league form they managed to reach the final of the  worlds biggest domestic cup competition and had a huge chance to win it.

  

 

Worst team of the year:

Laurie: England National team – Who else? We have gotten use to seeing disappointment after disappointment from major tournaments, but the spectacular collapse in South Africa put previous World Cup exits to shame. Not only did it once and for all destroy the myth of the golden generation, but it has left relations between public and the team at an all-time low.
Tony: Could not agree more. This was the year, this was our big chance, this was our destiny. No it wasn’t this was pathetic. Everything was wrong and you would be hard pressed to give any player credit for their performances in South Africa.

Worst manager of the year:

Laurie: Fabio Capello – Again, see above.

Tony: Again without a shadow of a doubt, he chose the wrong squad, he played the wrong tactics, he made the wrong substitutions at the wrong times and was as inspiring as a dead fish.

 Performance of the year:

Laurie: Barcelona’s demolition of Real Madrid – It would have been an injustice to football had I ignored the 5-0 hammering that the Catalan giants gave to Jose Mourinho’s side. The manner of the win, against an excellent team, was astonishing. We will look back at this Barca team 40 years from now in the way we look back on the Brazil 1970 team these days.
Tony: Again spot on, I urge every single person who likes Football to watch the full 90 minutes of this match the highlights do not do it justice, Madrid were not bad they were not allowed to be bad, Barca were magical it was pure entertainment.

Ultimatum of the year:

Laurie: Rafa Benitez – There has been many a manager that has demanded more backing from their chairman, but none have backfired so spectacularly as Benitez’s demand to Inter Milan owner Massimo Moratti. He gave him three options; Buy players, not buy anyone and have a disappointing season, or sack him. Moratti went with option three.
Tony: To be honest I can’t think of another one so Benitez takes the award due to a lack of serious competition, it would have been bettered had United or City called Rooney or Tevez’s bluffs but player power ruled.

Best player in the world:

Laurie: Wesley Sneijder – The likes of Iniesta, Messi and Xavi will get most of the plaudits, but for me there has been no-one better than the Dutchman. His all-round performances spearheaded both club and country to new heights. Inter won everything in sight, and he was joint top-scorer at the World Cup as the Netherlands got to the final. A marvellous player who doesn’t get the praise he deserves.
Tony: I am going with the boring and predictable answer here and going to say Lionel Messi, most people will agree that Messi is the best player on earth but believe Sneijder deserves the award on this years achievements, however these are team achievements if you look at stats Messi has had his best ever calendar year as an individual, Sneijder has had a great year and does deserve a lot of praise but for me I can’t see past Messi.

One to watch in 2011:

Laurie: Alex Oxlade Chamberlain who is currently at Southampton I’ve been recently impressed with this boy and a few clubs have been linked with him, this time next year he will be a house hold name and hailed as the future.

Tony: I agree with Laurie, Chamberlain is 17 performing in League one and linked with everyone. Another one I think should be watched closely is Tom Cleverly the Man United midfielder who is currently on loan at Wigan, I can see him going on to big things.

Goal of the year:

Laurie: Matthew Burrows – What? No Messi or Fabregas? Nope. How about a part-time footballer from Northern Ireland? Burrows back-heel flick wonder goal for Glentoran against Portadown became an overnight internet sensation, and rightly so. A goal Leo and co would have been proud to call their own.

Tony: This is a tough one there are so many to chose from, as I am a fan of team football over individual efforts I am going to go for Bolton’s goal in the last minute against Blackpool scored by Mark Davies, this was Bolton in the last minute the ball was not hoofed long to Kevin Davies it was a move with pace, movement and slide rule passing. An honourable mention to Johan Elmander for his solo effort against Wolves but for me it’s his team mate Davies who takes the award.

Laurie:

Top 4: 1. Man City 2. Man United 3. Arsenal 4. Chelsea

 Bottom Three: 18. West Brom 19. Wigan  20. Wolves

FA Cup: Tottenham

League Cup: Arsenal

Champions League: Barcelon

Europa League: Zenit St Petersburg

Championship promotion: QPR, Cardiff, Norwich (Play-offs)

Relegation: Preston, Crystal Palace, Bristol City

League One promotion: Brighton, Sheff Wed, Charlton (Play-offs

Relegation: Yeovil, Walsall, Dagenham & Redbridge, Tranmere

League Two
Promotion: Chesterfield, Bury, Shrewsbury, Rotherham (Play-offs)
Relegation: Morecambe, Hereford

Tony:

Top 4: 1. Man united 2 Arsenal 3 Chelsea 4 Man City

Bottom three: 18^th West Ham 19^th Wolves 20^th Wigan

FA Cup: Chelsea

League Cup: Arsenal

Champions League: Barcelona

Europa League: Manchester City

Championship: 1^st QPR 2^nd Cardiff, play off winners: Leeds United

Relegated: Preston, Crystal Palace and Scunthorpe.

League one:  1^st Brighton 2^nd Southampton, play off winners Charlton

Relegated: Yeovil, Walsall, Tranmere and Dagenham and Redbridge 

League two: 1^st Chesterfield 2^nd Port Vale 3^rd Shrewsbury, play off winners Wycombe

Relegated: Hereford and Accrington Stanley

Those are our thoughts but what do you think? Agree let us know, also tell us why the person or team is deserving of the award. Thank you for reading I hope you have enjoyed your read.

Pienaar should think twice before leaving Everton

“They didn’t accept me in the group. I don’t know why. It was ok when I first went but then some new players came in and they were always talking about me in the newspapers, blaming the midfield when we lost a game.”

“Coming over here was an opportunity to enjoy my football again, get the feeling back, have a smile on your face every day.”

These are the words of Steven Pienaar, describing his time at Borussia Dortmund. Having blossomed through the famous Ajax academy, Pienaar carved out a reputation as one of the most impressive creative midfielders in Europe. His move to Germany was meant to be the making of him, but it turned out to be a bad career move.

He made these comments a few months into his loan spell at Everton, where he rediscovered his enjoyment for the game, as well as his form. This loan move to Goodison Park was turned into a permanent move.

However, three years on and Pienaar seems to be contemplating the possibility of moving on in a contract saga that makes Wayne Rooney’s fall out with Man United seem like a flash in a pan.

The South African midfielder’s contract runs out at the end of the season, and instead of committing his long-term future to a club he owes a great deal of gratitude towards, the 28 year-old seems set to leave in the summer on a free transfer, or possibly in January for a minimal fee in comparison to his talents.

The past six months have seen the situation escalate, as time on his contract begins to slowly disappear. His agent Ivan Modia said during the summer that his client wanted his future resolved before the World Cup in his homeland.

The tournament passed, pre-season passed, and half the season has now passed. We are still no closer to knowing where Pienaar is going to be playing his football in the long-run.

But where does Pienaar think he will prosper elsewhere? Surely not at Tottenham, a club he has been heavily linked with during this time of uncertainty.

The chances of him displacing Gareth Bale on the left-hand side of their midfield are as likely as Mike Ashley doing something that doesn’t anger Newcastle fans. Why does he think Niko Krancjar wants to leave?

If he moves abroad, then it’s believed to be with Inter Milan. If he thinks that getting in a team ahead of Bale was hard enough, try keeping out Wesley Sneijder. The bottom line is Pienaar will struggle to get regular football if he moves away from Merseyside.

Everton fans are understandably frustrated by the whole situation. They want Pienaar to stay, and what fan wouldn’t? He’s an excellent footballer that has become an integral part of their team. His performances last season saw him win their Player of the Year award.

But Evertonians seem resigned to losing him, with the belief that if he was going to sign a new deal, he would have signed it by now. Like any fan, they believe if he isn’t fully committed to the club then he’s better off elsewhere. Pienaar can say what he wants, but that long-term commitment hasn’t been shown.

They’ve already seen Joleon Lescott find out the hard way that the grass isn’t greener on the other side. The England defender made it abundantly clear he wanted to go to Manchester City. Now he is one of the few players that genuinely needs a snood this time of year, as he tries to stay warm on the Eastlands bench.

Pienaar does not want to fall into the same trap as Lescott. As he continues into the peak of his footballing career, he needs to realise whether or not he wants to carry on in an environment that gets the best out of him, or go somewhere else where he may earn more money, but get less enjoyment from the game. Football or money? What will really make him happy?

Let’s face it; Steven Pienaar should know the answer to this better than anyone.

So what do Everton fans think? How angered are you with the way Pienaar has handled the situation? Do you still want him to stay? Or are you resigned to him leaving Goodison Park? Let us know