Crouchy's PFA shortlist

The PFA announced its five nominees for the 2011-2012 player of the season today, in; Robin Van Persie, Sergio Aguero, David Silva, Joe Hart, Wayne Rooney and Scott Parker.

Players in the Premier League were sent the obligatory form, asking for their team of eleven, young player and then player of the year. The process does have its flaws though. For one the votes were cast over three weeks ago, not every player bothers to complete the form and lastly footballers are not renowned for being the sharpest tools in the box. They are likely to just pick one of their mates or whoever had a good game that weekend.

You can't argue with Robin Van Persie's inclusion, in fact you shudder to think where Arsenal would be without his goals, and in the goalkeeping shoot-out Joe Hart probably has done more than Newcastle's Tim Krul and the veteran Brad Friedel.

Sergio Aguero has made the transition from Spain via Argentina exceptionally well this season, but then you'd expect that from most £40 million signings.

For me, the more surprising nominations are David Silva and Scott Parker.

Silva started the campaign superbly but has faltered since Christmas. Much of his early success was playing one-twos with Aguero, who's movement provided the perfect foil for the forward thinking midfielder, and the team has failed to sparkle when Silva links up with Dzeko and Balotelli.

His dip in form coincided with Man City's own trouble on the pitch, which confirms that the Spaniard is a key player for them but for me there are players who have played a bigger part in their teams season.

Scott Parker lost out on the PFA award last year, as Gareth Bale was awarded the honour, based on playing well in Europe a couple of times and getting marked out of games by Phil Neville (see what I mean about stupid footballers). Parker did receive the Football Writers award last season but his inclusion on this years short-list is a puzzler.

His arrival in Spurs midfield did springboard a remarkable unbeaten run for Harry Redknapp's side, but like much of the Tottenham squad, he has been unable to get them out of their current slump and has influenced games less. His rise to England captain against the Netherlands has helped his cause, and he now looks an integral part of England's midfield. Sadly though he hasn't done enough for me to warrant a nomination with other players having a key role in their teams fortunes.

Having got through the actual shortlist here are my nominations:

Clint Dempsey - The American has already had his best season for Fulham, with an incredible 21 goals in all competitions, and the bigger clubs are incredibly only just coming round to the fact that Dempsey could perform at a top four club. Many of the goals have come from a midfield role and in a Fulham side that are only in mid-table his efforts this season have been remarkable.

Antonio Valencia - The young Ecuadorian was a snip for Steve Bruce at £5 million and the resulting £16 million that United paid is looking cheaper and cheaper as the season draws to a close. Valencia has only consistently figured since January, after an injury, but his contribution from the right has played an integral part of United's mini revival in form as they've jumped City. The 26 year old boasts 13 assists and 12 goals in a injury hit season.

Jonny Evans - Other than United's defeat by Wigan and the 6-1 thumping by City (where Evans was red-carded at half time) Manchester United have failed to lose a game in the Premier League when the Northern Irishman has started. That record speaks volumes and Evans has seen off the two young England prospects, Smalling and Jones, to form an excellent partnership with England veteran Rio Ferdinand. Evans has had a superb season and his development has been a vital to United's run this campaign.

Juan Mata - The one signing that AVB actually wanted to make last summer, has had an excellent debut year in England and has been Chelsea's main creative force in a slow season. The Spaniard has adapted very quickly and is Chelsea's 'go-to' player; he can receive the ball, look up and create attacks with his range of passing and dribbling array. Plus he's made Frank Lampard look even more average, always a good thing.

Vincent Kompany - Kompany was nominated last year and I'm sure he will be in close contention for the PFA team of the year, but injury has seen him miss a crucial part of the run-in and in his absence the City defence looks vulnerable. City are at fault for not having an adequate replacement, but if Kompany had been fit all season Manchester City would not be chasing a five point gap at this stage of the campaign.

Tim Krul - Demba Ba might have taken the headlines, with 16 goals in the league for Newcastle, as they continue to surge up the table, but the presence of Krul in a surprisingly organised back four has been the base of Newcastle's season. Krul has two penalty saves this year and has made several other crucial reaction stops which has enabled Pardew's side to edge out close games.

Parker for Poland and Ukraine

The Football Association acted today to remove the England captaincy from John Terry, in a move which has deliberately undercut Fabio Capello. Terry, who again decided not to resign the armband, did appear to have the backing of the England manager but Chelsea’s wish for the court case to be played out after the European Championship was a stretch of faith too far for FA executives.

His second dismissal from the role leaves Capello in a quandary, as he must again appoint a new captain in time for this summer despite them well knowing that they were second choice. Rio Ferdinand has already ruled himself out of the running, citing his experience of having the captaincy stripped away from him by Capello and alluding to a serious breakdown in relations with the Italian.

Following Capello’s own logic and painful experience from South Africa, the third in line appears to be Liverpool skipper, Steven Gerrard. Whether Gerrard, who is flung the armband when England drift from one crisis to another, would want the cast-off honour remains questionable, but like Ferdinand before him his recent injury record might make the pragmatic Capello think outside of his 30 plus box.

Frank Lampard and Gareth Barry have captained their country before but are not guaranteed a place in England’s starting XI, even more so if current form is taken into consideration. Rooney has game-time leading his country but his petulance and suspension for the first two games in Ukraine casts doubt on how he would handle such a role.

As Capello enters into the final six months of his England career the temptation for the 65 year old would be to play safe and appoint one of the aforementioned names, with experience in captaining their country. However, to many a more appealing prospect would be the introduction of a younger talent, one who could lead England for the next ten years. A younger generation free from the disappointment and pressure of the so called ‘golden generation’ and their flop at the last two World Cups.

Names like Jack Wilshire, Phil Jones and Joe Hart will be thrown loosely into the hat, although at present only Joe Hart is an established England international. Gary Speed was reaping the benefits of naming then 20 year old Aaron Ramsey as permanent captain before his untimely death, and England would do well to learn from this. England need to begin blooding a new generation of players who are comfortable with the ball at their feet and not just suited to the frenetic pace of the Premier League.

Having said that one player who must be considered, even if it is solely to lead the side to Poland and Ukraine, is Scott Parker. Alongside Michael Carrick, Parker has been the standout English central midfielder this season and his role in Harry Redknapp’s Tottenham Hotspur side has been the difference between them challenging for a Champions League berth and challenging for the league.

To describe him as a tough-tackling holding player is to do Parker a disservice. The former West Ham captain through a series of spectacular goals, Churchillian half-time speech’s and box-to-box raiding which saw him named FWA player of the year for 2010-2011. In his criminally few appearances for England he has managed to stake his place in Capello’s thoughts and now looks a guaranteed starter, injury permitting.

Although at 31 he may only have two major tournaments left in him, his sense of throwback to years gone by (just watch him do an interview) and a passion to play for his country means that he deserves a shot on the grandest of stages. He already seems a lynchpin in England’s new three man midfield and what better way to utilise his talent then to send a 23 man squad to the European Championships this summer, then with Scott Parker at the helm.