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Manchester United dominate the PFA Players' Player of the Year nominations as five of the six contenders hail from Old Trafford. The club's bid for an unprecedented quintuple trophy haul has clearly impressed the voting professionals as Ryan Giggs, Nemanja Vidic, Edwin van der Sar, Cristiano Ronaldo and Rio Ferdinand all make the short-list. It is left to Steven Gerrard to carry the flag for the rest of the Premier League as Liverpool's talismanic captain makes up the roll call.
Skysports.com takes a look at the six candidates and dissects just why they have been deemed this season's vintage.
RYAN GIGGS
At the turn of the year the 35-year-old Welshman intimated that this season could be his last, but given he's still leaving for dead defenders who probably had his poster on their wall, it seems unlikely Old Trafford will be bidding farewell to a favourite son come May. Like all great players that have managed to defy Old Father Time, Giggs has had the nous to adapt his game ever since grey flecks began to punctuate his trademark stubble. No longer the effervescent wide man that glides past defenders but a more measured central midfield player, Giggs has proved to be one of United's standout performers whenever called upon. Sir Bobby Charlton has claimed Giggs - who has now overtaken his appearance record for a club he has served with distinction since making his debut against Everton in 1991 - has never had a better season. Should he add a PFA Player of the Year trophy to the Young Player of the Year gongs he scooped in 1992 and 1993, there will be few dissenting voices. Giggs made the PFA Team of the Year in 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2001 and 2007.
NEMANJA VIDIC
For all of United's attacking flair and Sir Alex Ferguson's talk of the club's gung-ho attacking ethos, the Scot has been canny enough to build his empire on foundations laid by a rock-solid back four. Nemanja Vidic's Old Trafford aberration against Liverpool in March will live in the memory for all the wrong reasons but it would do a gross ill-service to the Serbian's season should it overshadow an otherwise impeccable campaign. It will be Edwin van der Sar's name that appears in the record books for 1,311 consecutive minutes without conceding a goal, but key to such a phenomenal run was the towering Vidic. Happy to do the ugly stuff alongside the more graceful Rio Ferdinand, Vidic's bullying presence adds a nastiness that all great sides need. There is no better defenders' defender in the league and the likely bookies' favourite for the PFA trophy would be a worthy winner. Vidic made the PFA Team of the Year in 2006/07 and 2007/08.
EDWIN VAN DER SAR
Questions marks were raised over the summer as to whether Edwin van der Sar still merited a place in United's first XI. His response this season has been emphatic. Playing behind a Ferdinand-Vidic defensive axis is a dream for any goalkeeper but credit must go to Van der Sar's concentration levels, as whenever called into action he's made precious few errors. At 38 the Dutchman, who recently turned down a request to return to international football, will appreciate he is entering the swansong of a much decorated career but there was nothing sentimental about Sir Alex Ferguson's decision to offer him fresh terms. A modest Van der Sar claimed after setting a British record for not conceding that individual accolades are very much secondary to team honours, but such an achievement deserves recognition. Ben Foster has already stated his intent to push his team-mate for a starting berth next season, but for now the gloves remain very much in Van der Sar's possession.
CRISTIANO RONALDO
Loved inside Old Trafford and largely loathed elsewhere, Manchester United's winking wide man continues to polarise opinion like few other Premier League imports. After missing the start of the season due to injury, following a summer of making goo-goo eyes at Real Madrid, Ronaldo has arguably failed to hit the remarkable heights of last term. Nonetheless, he remains the talisman in United's bid for the quintuple. 15 league goals at the time of going to press see him top the Premier League charts alongside Chelsea's Nicolas Anelka, while 19 in total for a wide man has not been matched since the halcyon days of George Best. There have been those that have reported with glee Ronaldo's failure to match his 42-goal haul of last season but that he is rated in the league's top six performers, despite an injury-interrupted past 12 months, is testimony to how highly his fellow professionals rate him. Ronaldo won both the PFA Young Player of the Year and its senior equivalent in 2006/07, while being named the Player of the Year in 2007/08. He has made the PFA Team of the Year in 2005/06, 2006/07 and 2007/08.
RIO FERDINAND
Like a fine wine Rio Ferdinand keeps getting better with age. The Manchester United defender has enjoyed another unimpeachable campaign alongside Nemanja Vidic. Heralded as Europe's finest central defensive partnership, the pair have formed a spine that has provided United with the sturdiest of platforms to build from all season. As graceful on the ball as he is rapid without it, Ferdinand has excelled for club and country having long since banished accusations of lacking the necessary concentration to be deemed a world class performer. Often skippering United in the absence of veteran duo Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs, the 30-year-old has never played better. Ferdinand was named in the PFA Team of the Year in 2001/02, 2004/05, 2006/07 and 2007/08.
STEVEN GERRARD
Steven Gerrard's name has become a fixture on the PFA Player of the Year rostra and another sublime campaign is worthy of recognition again this term. Should Liverpool finally end their 19-year wait for a domestic title there will be no more worthy recipient of the trophy than Gerrard. At the epicentre of all that has been good about Liverpool this year, Gerrard has been a driving force -which when twinned with Fernando Torres - has been all but unplayable. 22 goals from central midfield is a phenomenal contribution and on the European stage, as Real Madrid will testify, the Reds skipper has again excelled. A winner of the PFA Player of the Year trophy in 2005/06, Gerrard was March's winner of the monthly gong. Gerrard was also the Young Player of the Year in 2000/01, while making the PFA team in 2000/01, 2003/04, 2004/05, 2005/06, 2006/07 and 2007/08.
Skysports.com takes a look at the six candidates and dissects just why they have been deemed this season's vintage.
RYAN GIGGS
At the turn of the year the 35-year-old Welshman intimated that this season could be his last, but given he's still leaving for dead defenders who probably had his poster on their wall, it seems unlikely Old Trafford will be bidding farewell to a favourite son come May. Like all great players that have managed to defy Old Father Time, Giggs has had the nous to adapt his game ever since grey flecks began to punctuate his trademark stubble. No longer the effervescent wide man that glides past defenders but a more measured central midfield player, Giggs has proved to be one of United's standout performers whenever called upon. Sir Bobby Charlton has claimed Giggs - who has now overtaken his appearance record for a club he has served with distinction since making his debut against Everton in 1991 - has never had a better season. Should he add a PFA Player of the Year trophy to the Young Player of the Year gongs he scooped in 1992 and 1993, there will be few dissenting voices. Giggs made the PFA Team of the Year in 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2001 and 2007.
NEMANJA VIDIC
For all of United's attacking flair and Sir Alex Ferguson's talk of the club's gung-ho attacking ethos, the Scot has been canny enough to build his empire on foundations laid by a rock-solid back four. Nemanja Vidic's Old Trafford aberration against Liverpool in March will live in the memory for all the wrong reasons but it would do a gross ill-service to the Serbian's season should it overshadow an otherwise impeccable campaign. It will be Edwin van der Sar's name that appears in the record books for 1,311 consecutive minutes without conceding a goal, but key to such a phenomenal run was the towering Vidic. Happy to do the ugly stuff alongside the more graceful Rio Ferdinand, Vidic's bullying presence adds a nastiness that all great sides need. There is no better defenders' defender in the league and the likely bookies' favourite for the PFA trophy would be a worthy winner. Vidic made the PFA Team of the Year in 2006/07 and 2007/08.
EDWIN VAN DER SAR
Questions marks were raised over the summer as to whether Edwin van der Sar still merited a place in United's first XI. His response this season has been emphatic. Playing behind a Ferdinand-Vidic defensive axis is a dream for any goalkeeper but credit must go to Van der Sar's concentration levels, as whenever called into action he's made precious few errors. At 38 the Dutchman, who recently turned down a request to return to international football, will appreciate he is entering the swansong of a much decorated career but there was nothing sentimental about Sir Alex Ferguson's decision to offer him fresh terms. A modest Van der Sar claimed after setting a British record for not conceding that individual accolades are very much secondary to team honours, but such an achievement deserves recognition. Ben Foster has already stated his intent to push his team-mate for a starting berth next season, but for now the gloves remain very much in Van der Sar's possession.
CRISTIANO RONALDO
Loved inside Old Trafford and largely loathed elsewhere, Manchester United's winking wide man continues to polarise opinion like few other Premier League imports. After missing the start of the season due to injury, following a summer of making goo-goo eyes at Real Madrid, Ronaldo has arguably failed to hit the remarkable heights of last term. Nonetheless, he remains the talisman in United's bid for the quintuple. 15 league goals at the time of going to press see him top the Premier League charts alongside Chelsea's Nicolas Anelka, while 19 in total for a wide man has not been matched since the halcyon days of George Best. There have been those that have reported with glee Ronaldo's failure to match his 42-goal haul of last season but that he is rated in the league's top six performers, despite an injury-interrupted past 12 months, is testimony to how highly his fellow professionals rate him. Ronaldo won both the PFA Young Player of the Year and its senior equivalent in 2006/07, while being named the Player of the Year in 2007/08. He has made the PFA Team of the Year in 2005/06, 2006/07 and 2007/08.
RIO FERDINAND
Like a fine wine Rio Ferdinand keeps getting better with age. The Manchester United defender has enjoyed another unimpeachable campaign alongside Nemanja Vidic. Heralded as Europe's finest central defensive partnership, the pair have formed a spine that has provided United with the sturdiest of platforms to build from all season. As graceful on the ball as he is rapid without it, Ferdinand has excelled for club and country having long since banished accusations of lacking the necessary concentration to be deemed a world class performer. Often skippering United in the absence of veteran duo Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs, the 30-year-old has never played better. Ferdinand was named in the PFA Team of the Year in 2001/02, 2004/05, 2006/07 and 2007/08.
STEVEN GERRARD
Steven Gerrard's name has become a fixture on the PFA Player of the Year rostra and another sublime campaign is worthy of recognition again this term. Should Liverpool finally end their 19-year wait for a domestic title there will be no more worthy recipient of the trophy than Gerrard. At the epicentre of all that has been good about Liverpool this year, Gerrard has been a driving force -which when twinned with Fernando Torres - has been all but unplayable. 22 goals from central midfield is a phenomenal contribution and on the European stage, as Real Madrid will testify, the Reds skipper has again excelled. A winner of the PFA Player of the Year trophy in 2005/06, Gerrard was March's winner of the monthly gong. Gerrard was also the Young Player of the Year in 2000/01, while making the PFA team in 2000/01, 2003/04, 2004/05, 2005/06, 2006/07 and 2007/08.
Paul Marin -19 is one thing, 20 is a whole other matter. It gets even worse if they win the UCL. *groan*. 
05/18/2011.MU fans naah cough, but all a unuh a vomit?-Lazie 1/11/2015
). Seriously, Lampard should be on the list before Ronaldo. The other Manure players are more deserving than him to my mind. Vidic would be the easy winner were it not for the 4-1 loss to Liverpool.
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