The PFA Women’s and Young Player Of the Year nominations have been disclosed and there are no real surprises.
#PFAawards | PFA Players' Player of the Year nominees: @LucyBronze @karenjcarney @janeross10 @JillScottJS8 @itscarolineweir @ellsbells89 pic.twitter.com/K9ApsOT6y0
— PFA (@PFA) April 13, 2017
#PFAawards | PFA Young Player of the Year nominees: @Mdawg1bright @_JessCarter @lilkeets @StanwayGeorgia Keira Walsh @itscarolineweir pic.twitter.com/fE97oy86l7
— PFA (@PFA) April 13, 2017
There are no Arsenal players and this is fair considering the poor 2016 season the club has had. Casey Stoney, Jordan Nobbs and Danielle Carter might have been considered as they had performed consistently at a high level throughout the year.
Certain voices among players did not agree with the vote, as there is suggestion on social media that some players voted for their mates, rather than those who performed well.
This is quite obvious in the case of the FA WSL top goalscorer who is not nominated. She is also not in the England Euro squad as she does not seem to fit into the team’s ethic.
For example, Chelsea’s Claire Rafferty
https://twitter.com/clrafferty1/status/852476930083479552
Notts County’s Kirsty Linnett who is backed up by Lianne Sanderson:
I really don't get how @EniAlu isn't in the PFA player of the year?Does top goal scorer not mean anything?! Men's top 3 scorers are up…?!
— kirsty linnett (@kirsty_linnett) April 13, 2017
Why do people personalise on a vote?! Awards like this are for achievements in football , nothing else surely comes into it when we vote..?
— kirsty linnett (@kirsty_linnett) April 13, 2017
https://twitter.com/liannesanderson/status/852504059630292993
In the main award, for me, Lucy Bronze, Karen Carney, Jill Scott and Caroline Weir deserve to be there as they had an excellent 2016 seasons for club and country.
Jane Ross was crucial in City’s attack according to what I’ve read.
I have not seen Notts County to know if Ellen White had a superb season, so cannot comment on her nomination.
If I had a vote, I would go either for Caroline Weir or Lucy Bronze.
In terms of the Youth Player award, Jess Carter has been superb for Birmingham, Georgia Stanway has had a breakthrough season for City. Millie Bright also broke through for club and country and is in the England Euro squad.
Caroline Weir had an excellent season as previously mentioned. Nikita Parris and Keira Walsh were part of the double-winning City team but I did not see enough of their games to comment properly.
For me, half of these players should not be listed in the Youth player award as they are kind of senior players but rules are rules. So, if I had a vote it would go to either Georgia Stanway or Jess Carter.
And, obviously, as there will be a team of the year XI here is mine: Earps; Bronze Stoney Bonner Carter, Beattie Scott Weir, Davison Carter Follis