Young player of the year nominations: Craig Bellamy (Newcastle), Jermain Defoe (West Ham), Jermaine Jenas (Newcastle), John O'Shea (Manchester United), Scott Parker (Charlton), Wayne Rooney (Everton) I didn't think that Bellamy would make the list but it's going to be Rooney or Jenas.
OK, I'm a United fan so of course I think John O'Shea should take it. I've seen every match he's played in this season and he never fails to amaze. The match against Newcastle he had this mazy run into the box and canoned a shot off the cross bar... I had to ask my friend to pinch me, that the lad is all ours.
This is a tough one. There seems to be two different categories here -- those that are still young but already relatively experienced and starting regularly for their sides and those that are newcomers. Rooney and O'Shea fall into the latter category. Bellamy falls into the former. I don't know the others to know which they fall into. But the difficulty is that means you're comparing apples to oranges. For sheer excitement (and for the newcomer category), you've got to tip it to Rooney being so young and coming in scoring goals right away. Starting for the National Team doesn't hurt either. But for week in / week out play, having such an impact on your team, I'd say it would be Bellamy.
Re: Re: EPL Young Player of the year Not entirely yours Again, I could be accused of being biased, but to my mind O'Shea has been phenomenal in what is still only his first full season. He's alone with Rooney in that regard, and while Rooney's been grabbing all the hype, O'Shea has been outstanding in a much-improved M.U. defence, playing across the entire backline (as well as in midfield). Up until a few weeks ago, he'd started more games than any other Utd player, IIRC. And as well as having the Premiership's strikers in his pocket, he's also faced Europe's elite. Pace, skill, technique, composure, strength, heading, control, two-footed - he has everything.
How does Bellamy qualify for this award? He was 23 at the start of the season. O'Shea should win with Jenas second, Rooney will win.
Wouldn’t mind O'Shea winning this, but I think Rooney obviously deserves it more... Be funny to see Rooney get 5 in a row in this award. What is it, 17 to 22?..
Why does Rooney 'deserve' it more? John O Shea has had a phenomenal season. He looks like he's been playing football for 20 years and is a fully paid up veteran. In fact i'ts testament to his ability that people 'overlook' him because he gives you that impression that he's in his mid twenties with his refined performances. Also consider the level of opponent O Shea has been up against all season in Europe and not one of them have 'done him' on his side of the field. It's a shame that him and Rooney debuted in the same year. The hype around Rooney is going to give him the title but on performances it's O Shea who deserves it more. Rooney has been excellent as well, no doubt about it - but if he was putting in the kind of performances O Shea is in his position he'd be up there with the Vieri's, Ronaldo's, Raul's etc and with all due respect Rooney's not on that level yet.
Rooney probably deserve it more base on his age and been the youngest player to appear in an EPL match. I like O'Shea, his charging runs on the wings and the quality of his crosses, but the amount of hype around Rooney will give him the edge.
Rooney isn't the youngest to start a EPL match.. nowhere near. The boy Milner for Leeds is 16 years old not long turned i believe. What has amazed me about O'Shea is how he reads the game in ANY position he's put in.. Centre back leftback rightback and even sweeper his done every job asked of him without letting himself down in any way. in fact it's hard to name a better defender than O'Shea in the Epl this year. especially if you call him a sideback and not a central defender...but in Rooneys case there are a number of strikers who have 'outshone' him this year. I guess the excitement comes from the fact he is playing in such an offensive position and how he plays the game AND also the fact he's English and O'Shea is Irish. Any other year but this I would say Rooney is WELL worthy of the title but this year on performances O'Shea should have collected it 4 months ago!!
I think Stephen Bywater of West Ham is the youngest player to start in the top flight (or it might be to appear in a Premiership game). Milner is the youngest to score in the Premiership.
Forgot about him >_< i'm a media whore as well, lol Milner stuck in the mind because of all the talk when he scored. Doh.
i reckon either o'shea or rooney. i have a soft spot for young wayne (possibly because he looks uncannily like me) but even my man u hating side can't deny that o'shea is quality. however (and i know i'm sounding like the typical anti-newcastle mackem here), why has craig bellamy even been nominated? i know he's had a good season, but he's nearly 24. that's not young in my book.
Just to echo what has been said; Rooney has the spotlight, but O'shea has accomplished more. Rooney is a great prospect, but I don't think Rooney has even started two games in a row, at least up until his England debut that was the case. O'Shea has played almost every game and been class throughout, not to mention CL, against the likes of Juve, Real, etc.
I don't like Man Utd, but O'Shea has been pure class and because no one is going to give it to the player who deserves it...Jermain Defoe, West Ham's leading scorer in a very difficult season. I would guess he has all of our game-winning goals, and is responsible for 90% of our lowly point total. Jermain Defoe PFA Young Player of the Year