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. Mr Ronan or Ms Ronan, you have forgotten how football­ is played, in most occasions defenders get red carded­ becuase they are defending, vice versa strikers get few­ red cards because they are offending means getting away­ from the defenders. Scousers are a bunch of divers­ moaners and are ugly too. Can't be awarded for PFA.­ FACT

    From Legolas, on Fri 24 Apr 10:50AM

  2. All this rubbish rumble is just pathetic. Whoever wins­ it will not be a worthy winner. They shld have awarded­ it to another person, say George Harrington, my son.­ Lol

    From Pooks, on Fri 24 Apr 10:50AM

  3. Its a tuff one to call in my eyes. Vidic &­ Ferdinand have been fantastic all season. So I­ could'nt chose that easy between the 2 of them.­ Giggs for his willingness to keep pushing hard and­ playing well for his team at a age were most people­ have taken there money and run. Also for being a great­ Role Model for young people getting into the game. As­ for Steve Gerrard. Great player but I think half the­ time the media spend the time building him up when­ England are playing. Giving him great press coverage.­ Its not as if Liverpool or England have done well just­ because of him. But I'am glad that the winner will­ be selected buy Pro Footballers and not just people­ like you and I. The winner will be the player people­ have found it hard to play against all season. Good­ Luck to all.

    From andyprice17, on Fri 24 Apr 10:42AM

  4. Ronan. Getting three red cards does not have anything­ to do with Vidic's performances. I play football­ myself and once I cross that white line I'll do­ anything to stop the opposition from scoring. He has­ not once put a career threatening tackle on any player­ this year, his red cards challenges may not have been­ the right decisions, but he also helped keep 14 clean­ sheets in a row and more.

    From The Manc, on Fri 24 Apr 10:42AM

  5. DOES ANYONE KNOW ANYONE WHO FIXES SAT­ NAVS?..................................................­ ...MINE STILL SHOWS LIVERPOOL AS BEING IN EUROPE!!!!!­ LMFAO!!

    From mikebartlett45, on Fri 24 Apr 10:40AM

  6. Vidic has had a great season BUT 3 RED CARDS is a big­ downside. 1 or even 2 can be forgiven, but three is a­ major mark against. as a MUFC fan for over 30 yrs I­ have to say that the scouser has to get my vote.­ Gerrard has been everywhere and delivering whenever­ asked (bar the Champs League loss). Aside from that,­ like the Oscars we can be nostalgic, so the boy wonder­ Giggsy runs an anti scousering first also.

    From Ronan, on Fri 24 Apr 10:27AM

  7. Scousers only want Gerrard to win it because he's­ the only talented scouser in their team! Unless they­ consider Carragher to be an option... Or they moan­ there way into getting the other 9 Spanish players into­ the Award....

    From miniroll32, on Fri 24 Apr 10:27AM

  8. Vidic should win it,he deserves it.gerrard should be­ given an award for his diving skills.

    From rafascrackingup, on Fri 24 Apr 10:24AM

  9. haha~ so many of you had been counting all the errors­ vidic made in a season to prove your point that he is­ not as good as people think~~

    this is funny~ the­ namumber of errors are countable~ that was for over a­ seasons~ how amazing~~~

    what about gerrard?? i­ can't even count how many games he went unnotice~~~­

    when can you count someone's error? it's when­ someone made so little that that few ones stands­ out~

    don't try to tell me gerrard is always good~

    From Vitor, on Fri 24 Apr 10:24AM

  10. Vidic has had another excellent season with United, him­ and Rio are definitely worthy of PFA Nominations (not­ sure about Giggs to be honest, hasn't had a bad­ season but hasn't featured all that much) the­ defence broke a record this season with consecutive­ clean sheets so it's good that they're­ appreciated for it.

    Vidic has also got his name on the­ scoresheet a few times, fair enough he had a terrible­ game against Liverpool and didn't look as­ commanding at the back once Rio got injured, but to say­ he is a stupid defender or shouldn't be nominated­ for the PFA is insulting.

    Remember Johnathon­ Woodgate's debut for Real Madrid? That is the­ perfect example of a good defender having a bad game­ (for those who don't know, he scored an own goal­ and got sent off) but he is still a decent player, can­ none of you honestly remember Jamie Carragher or John­ Terry having a poor game?

    Vidic has earnt his­ nomination, and with the semi final of the CL and the­ rest of the season to play, he will show everyone why­ he is held in such high regard.

    @Kevin - Now come on,­ Vidic is no way near as bad as the mighty Titus­ Bramble, though I do agree that Gerrard should win the­ award this year.

    From RYAN, on Fri 24 Apr 10:14AM

  11. For people on here to say they are wrong is absolutely­ astounding. You lot are NON professional footballers,­ you are supporters with bias towards your own clubs.­ These guys look at the facts and their own experiences­ and make a decisions. This is why I always ignore­ comments on pages like this and listen to those who­ know (the footballers themselves).

    From redimaster, on Fri 24 Apr 10:12AM

  12. walks3y: Gerrard is all about himself. If he's not­ taking shots from outside the box, he's not happy.­ EVERYTHING is played through him and that is why you­ are losing the league. You've dropped more points­ with him IN the side than out of it. You have shown­ over the last 2 weeks that you play BETTER with him­ ouot of your side. All PR and hype with some great­ skill but certainly not the best in the UK. Ronaldo orr­ Lampard have him whipped.

    From crispyduck, on Fri 24 Apr 10:12AM

  13. Listen to everyone say that Vidic does not deserve it.­ Think about who votes for this? PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL­ PLAYERS.

    From redimaster, on Fri 24 Apr 10:11AM

  14. MAN UTD WORLD CHAMPIONS
    MAN UTD ­ MICKY MOUSE CUP WINNERS PS FOR THE­ KIDS
    MAN UTD F A CUP SEMIS
    MAN­ UTD LEAGUE LEADERS & CERT­ WINNERS
    MAN UTD CHAMPIONS LEAGUE ­ SEMIS & CERT WINNERS
    LIVERPOOL ­ ZILCH ZILCH ZILCH
    PLAYER OF THE­ SEASON
    MAN UTD ONE TWO THREE ­ FOUR FIVE & SIX SEVEN EIGHT NINE TEN ELEVEN
    poor­ little scousers & silly RAFA nothing 20 YEARS­ & counting

    From Brendan, on Fri 24 Apr 10:08AM
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  16. hey donkeysbeck on comment 6 : " LAVARPAAL WALL­ NAVAR WAN ANYTHANG" as you're saying:­ Liverpool will never win anything? I got you man.haha

    From brandon78le, on Fri 24 Apr 10:02AM

  17. I would cast my vote for scholes or giggs as the on­ field and off field professionalism is equally­ matched...great role models that inspire ....as for­ vidic again a wonderful player alongside rio...any­ player involved in off pitch violence cannot even be­ considered without bringing the whole game into­ disrepute...

    From stuartxland, on Fri 24 Apr 10:01AM
  18. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    I cany believe Steven Gerrard could be anywhere but­ first in this years list. If you ask a supporter of­ each club who would they want to buy from a fellow­ British club everyone would say Gerrard.He would walk­ in to every other side and stay in.

    From walks3y, on Fri 24 Apr 9:58AM
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    From laurensmith213, on Fri 24 Apr 9:57AM

  20. Gerrard is a great player BUT does anyone else think­ Liverpool are FAR more exciting without him in the­ team. 12 goals in 3 games would never have happened­ with him in it. Ok, the goals against probably­ wouldn't have either but they are more attacking­ without him in it.
    Personally, Ferdinand gets my vote.­ He really makes a difference to United and they are­ lost without him.

    From crispyduck, on Fri 24 Apr 9:44AM
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