Premier League - Murphy: Vidic gets my vote

Eurosport - Fri, 24 Apr 15:31:00 2009

Fulham captain Danny Murphy reveals his choice for PFA player of the year in his latest exclusive blog for Eurosport-Yahoo!, as well as highlighting the top performers in his own team.

FOOTBALL 2008-09 Premier League Manchester United's Nemanja Vidic challenges Liverpool's Steven Gerrard - 0

Mark Schwarzer has been massively important for Fulham this year.

The fact is he is so experienced and so talented means that he does not seem to have a weak part of his game. He has helped everybody around him both on and off the pitch with his vocal encouragement and his organisational skills.

He has been really consistent for us and has definitely been one of my players of the year. Mark rarely makes a mistake and is always working hard in training to improve, even at 36 years of age.

His wonderful performance at the weekend at Middlesbrough epitomises what he is all about. He is just a fantastic person to have around.

By going back to his old club some thought he might be harbouring a sentiment towards them, which of course he wasn't. He made a wonderful save which helped give us the 0-0 draw which kept them in the bottom three.

I have to say he really has been fantastic along with the likes of Aaron Hughes and Brede Hangeland; they have all contributed to give us a truly mean defence.

Usually credit goes to the more forward players in teams, but I think that our top form and good season has been based on a solid defence, for which we have to thank them.

However, I didn't expect to see any Fulham players on the PFA shortlist. Over the years you tend to notice that the bigger names from the bigger clubs get more votes, partly from their media coverage but also because they win more games. It is part and parcel that the smaller clubs and names don't get as much recognition.

However, looking at the names on the list you just can't argue; their quality, consistency and talent is so high. There are five Manchester United players on there and United always have a few year in year out that perform remarkably well and deserve the credit. They are always wonderful professionals who continually play with hunger and desire and deserve a place on the list.

My vote went to Nemanja Vidic, who I think is one of the unsung heroes of football. Vidic has not been in the Premier League that long but has progressed to become a fantastic centre-half that no-one likes to play against, and he has set up a terrific partnership with Rio Ferdinand. Wherever he is on the pitch, he is always a threat.

I am very glad to see him on the shortlist because I think he has had a truly wonderful season and, in my opinion, he and Rio are the reason United are in such a strong position.

Danny Murphy / Eurosport

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  1. VIDIC SHOULD BE NAMED PFA PLAYER OF THE YEAR BECAUSE HE­ IS PREMIERSHIP,EUROPEAN & WORLD BEST DEFENDER AT­ THE MOMENT...SOMEBODY WONDERED WHY STEVE G &­ LAMPARD WERE NOT INCLUDED.
    POINT OF CORRECTION MAY BE­ YOUR NOT FOLLOWING UP,STEVEN G IS THE ONLY NONE MAN­ UNITED PLAYER THAT WAS INCLUDED IN THIS YEAR PFA­ AWARD.
    REASON WHY LAMPARD WEREN'T INCLUDED WAS THAT­ AS AT WHEN THE VOTE WERE DONE LAMPARD WERE NOWHERE­ CLOSE TO BE NAME BEST PLAYER OF THE YEAR,BUT IF U STILL­ WANT TO KNOW THE VOTE WAS DONE IN FEBUARY THIS YEAR­ 2009 SEASON,NA U KNOW...

    THANY YOU.

    PRINCE CURTIS­ A.K.A UNITED PIKIN!

    From PRNC CURTIS, on Sat 25 Apr 3:21AM

  2. good luck for whoever gets it from a boro fan x

    From smiley123, on Fri 24 Apr 11:06PM

  3. yep i agree with that vote, van der sar hasn't been­ so good, as u might think , rio is been injured too­ many times, but nemanja produced really world class­ performances this season for man.u. and truly deserves­ that reward.

    as united fan i can't understand­ how both van der sar and rio got on that list, and­ there's no lampard. steve g. for liverpool and­ lampard for chelsea were both driving force in their­ teams this season, they played some really good­ football and they both deserve to be on that list. i­ belive those 2 two are really great players that helped­ their teams alot, and they are one of the main reasons­ why title race is still ''close'' .

    From One, on Fri 24 Apr 10:18PM

  4. i think Steve G gets it this year. He deserves it. He­ is a great footballer, simply playing for the wrong­ team. Any team would want him and if it wasn't for­ him liverpool would be midtable by now. Steve G gets my­ vote.
    F*** vidic. the guy is a nasty defender.

    From go, on Fri 24 Apr 10:10PM

  5. Vidic deserves to get an award. But remembering him in­ his nightmarish encounter with Torres or Gerrard would­ make him feel embarrassed in accepting the award.

    From Gwapito.com, on Fri 24 Apr 10:06PM
  6. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    well, your vote wouldnt count too much coz Gerrard has­ OVER 50% of the votes...
    HAHA

    From aPRiL__Liverpoolfan from Austriaaa, on Fri 24 Apr 9:33PM

  7. When will some people realise that your noise on this­ page has no baering to who will win the PFA award? It­ is voted by the players!!!!
    Whoever wins it deserves­ it since it is a direct representation of all the­ players opinion.

    Mr. Murphy has cast his vote very­ wisely, though. Bravo!!!

    From ravencpi, on Fri 24 Apr 9:18PM

  8. can it really be that easy to get a ps3/xbox360 etc...­ am i just a cynic or is it some sort of scam i­ wonder??? anyway, vidic for the award. a real fearless­ defender.

    From matty, on Fri 24 Apr 8:20PM

  9. Gerryatric the so called man who beat up an innocent­ man should be locked up he is a bad example to any kids­ out there compared to Vidic who is a through pro along­ with Giggs and Van der sar.

    From ITSME, on Fri 24 Apr 8:13PM

  10. Got to be Gerrard from Vidic nd Van dr sar.. Giggs isnt­ a regular, Ronaldo is a spoiled brat and rio has been­ injured far 2 often.. Joke that 5 united players r­ nominated u must think dat dey have been imperious dis­ season !! i dnt worst man u team 4 a lng time watch out­ for arsenal nd Chelsea next season dey have been in­ transition dis season bt will run away wth it nxt

    From d.groarke, on Fri 24 Apr 8:12PM

  11. Vidic is the best center half in world football him and­ rio are way out in front of any other player i also­ think giggs has a great shout my 1,2,3 is­ Vidic,Ferdinand,Van der sar.

    From ITSME, on Fri 24 Apr 8:09PM

  12. Vidic is the best choice for this award... In my­ opinion Vidic is the best
    defender in the whole world!­ Gerrard should not win this, he didn`t deserve it!

    From vladislav.lazic, on Fri 24 Apr 8:03PM

  13. GERRARD SHOULDNT WIN IT SIMPLY BECAUSE OF HIS OFF FIELD­ ANTICS AT A BAR, IT ISNT AN EXAMPLE TO YOUNG PPEOPLE IS­ IT ??

    From lisajbarnes5, on Fri 24 Apr 7:47PM

  14. Those that bemoan the less-than-squeaky-clean tactics­ we've seen Vidic resort to this season: I agree.­ Fact is, though, this is an era, especially in England,­ of physical play, and professional fouls. Vidic is­ obviously a quick study, and has become the embodiment­ of an all-around top-class defender, up to and­ including his ability to commit these aforementioned­ fouls. He scores goals, he's a terror in the air,­ and is not often pushed off the ball by anyone.­ He's a good footballing brain, and attacks the game­ with a persistent, and usually cheerful attitude. He­ and Ferdinand are the only Mancunians deserving of­ nomination.

    From joga, on Fri 24 Apr 7:39PM
  15. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    i would go for giggs, vidic and van der sar because­ they have been brillant this season unlike gerrard and­ ronaldo

    From Paul T, on Fri 24 Apr 7:26PM

  16. TIm Cahill, there can be only one, plays in a team with­ no strikers, under 6 foot and wins anything in the air­ scored lots of goals, is commited and not dirty. In my­ opinion one of the best bits of business done in the­ premiership. All i ever hear about is the "big­ 4", manager of the year is David moyes by a long­ shot and Tim for Player of the year!!!

    From robin g, on Fri 24 Apr 7:13PM

  17. if it me i would av wish vidic to win the PFA award­ bcos the guy is a professional defender, up man united­ for life we are. patco

    From PartySweetie01187, on Fri 24 Apr 7:10PM

  18. Steven doesn't deserve the title of PFA because­ again Liverpool didn't winn any trophy.
    Unlike Man­ Utd who are in for 4 this season.
    Nemanja Vidic is the­ man!!!! Go Man Utd!!!

    From ivanelessar, on Fri 24 Apr 7:10PM

  19. What a refreshing viewpoint from petersheridan45. Man U­ fan, but still recognises how great Stevie G is ...­ well done. For what its worth, I also think Vidic is­ the best defender in England (L,pool fan)

    From ferrisbernard, on Fri 24 Apr 7:01PM
  20. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    It's easy to pin point Gerard because he is the­ only one, apart from Torres, who is shining at­ Liverpool. At ManU there are quite a few more players­ who have shone this season and that is why it is more­ difficult to select who is the best. No doubt Gerard is­ there with the best few but certainly over the whole­ season the ManU players also deserved to be nominated­ for the PFA.

    From cokrowinoto, on Fri 24 Apr 6:59PM
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