This is just dozy

PFA award shortlist:

E Van der Sar
N Vidic
C Ronaldo
R Fedinand
R Giggs
S Gerrard

Can't argue with your peers I guess...

but wait, yes you can - is it the end of the season yet? Nope, still got 6 to go, nor was it a month ago when the votes had to be sent in by, conveniently this happened to be just when United had been whipped at Old Trafford by the old enemy

As Arsene argues, the PFA awards are based on who is the best in February, not across the whole season - last year Ronaldo was brilliant, and so his victory was to be expected - this season 5 out of 6 nominees from a team losing their grip on the Champions League in the quarters does not seem right (I say this just as Ronaldo fires in a 35 yard strike at Porto...)

February was of course back when United were still on that run - Van der Sar had his record, they won however many games in a row - but these were all short term, this period was December to February, United look nothing like the world-beaters they were last season

This season hasn't thrown up any real gems, maybe Stephen Ireland (who was rewarded with a young player nomination) - but it's been pretty average, Ronaldo remains at the top of the pile - but not on a par with last season, seems to be a victim of his own success I'm afraid - but a drop is a drop, and when you consider that his primary function is to score goals (as he doesn't track back or defend in general) to only be joint top scorer is not that great for a player with such great service

When you compare that to Lampard, who has been excellent and scored only three less, it seems a bit of a crock - Ronaldo has had moments of magic, which is great - but so has Torres, who if you did the voting right now, I'm sure would be in the running - 11 goals out of only 1300 minutes is impressive and much better than Ronaldo's goal rate

Maybe Torres hasn't played enough - well it certainly didn't stop Giggsy, with only 1100 minutes played and barely any starts, and one league goal

I think partly this is to do with Giggs' respect, which is universal, and he has been playing well - but also that he has contributed most between December and February, if Torres contributes massively between March and May why should he be left out? I think most players would happily vote for someone of Giggs' quality and experience if he hadn't played a match all season, which is in some ways anther flaw with the system

Then we get on to the elephant in the room - Edwin, everyone knows he is pretty ropey and that record was all about his defensive cover, he barely had to make a save during that record run - meanwhile poor old Mark Schwarzer's been a miracle worker and I think the best keeper this season, for further evidence: VdS has made 65 league registered 'saves', Schwarzer has made 125 and in fact no main keeper has had to make less saves than Edwin, further highlighting that it is those 5 blokes in front of him stopping teams getting a shot at him

Talking of that defensive cover, I do think Vidic is worthy of the spot, and probably of the title - he's been consistent until very recently and in a pretty average field he looks strong, Rio meanwhile has been dogged by injury and outshone by Vidic - I think had it not been for that run of clean sheets he would be missing out, unlike his Serbian colleague

I would also question the absence of Rooney - for me he's had a great season, both he and Tevez work very hard and create a lot, then you look at his England form and he's surely one of the performers of the season? Also, Carrick has probably had more great games, where he's pulled all the strings, than Ronaldo - but again is overlooked

As for Gerrard, well he pretty much always worthy and is finishing the season in style, but I can't help feel Lamps has been playing better - and again, if you consider the Champions League and Chelsea under Hiddink you've got to think he'd be a shoe in now

Now as Ronaldo rolls about on the floor...oh look he's fine now (literally, this is live) I have to consider other players around the grounds - it stands to reason that the best teams have the best players, and that they win - but how good are they?

Bear with me here - but when you think of Ronaldo, you can see that he has the backing of the best team in the league - Rooney, Tevez, Carrick, Giggs, as well as Vidic and Ferdinand are all right there to sort him out - if you stuck him in the Middlesboro team how good would he be?

To that end, if a player is not tearing up every team he meets (like Ronaldo was last year) then you have to be a little more objective - surely Tim Cahill's solo efforts up front for Everton are worth something? Forced to play as a lone striker in the absence of any actual ones he has provided some crucial goals that have arguably given Everton their spot in Europe, all the while playing without their creative string-puller, Arteta, for most of the season

Remember this is 'player of the year' - not 'who has the most quality' and it's pretty clear that to win this thing your team needs to be the best - which is in itself daft, as it rewards the teams full of quality - rather than those who prop up the team virtually single-handedly a bit lower down, which to my mind demonstrates a bigger impact by a single player

I do wonder if Arsenal could even get a spot for Cesc - by their standards they've had a rubbish year, but Fabregas is now playing extremely well and if he continues that to the end would he stand out? Probably not - as people see Arsenal's season as rubbish, which is why they've looked at United and Liverpool, as well as Aston Villa's rise to battle the top 4 - again, daft, although the performances of Young and Agbonlahor are certainly worth a mention

Moving into more controversial territory - Kevin Davies may not be the best forward in the world, but 11 goals from a side like Bolton is to my mind better than 11 goals from the likes of Torres or Ronaldo (albeit Torres has played less than half the time Davies has)

I've noticed a lot of criticism of these nominations from both the papers and online, so hopefully I'm not alone, for what it's worth my nominations would be:

Gerrard
Carrick
Ronaldo
Vidic
Lampard
Torres

Still three United players (so don't accuse me of an anti-United bent) - I just have an issue with Van der Sar, Giggs and Ferdinand - I would also be considering Rooney and Cahill above those three, as it's not yet the end of the season and should still be open

In short - the system needs a change if it's to be worth anything