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"Henry named Player of the Year"

Information from NTLworld

Arsenal striker Thierry Henry has won the PFA Player of the Year award and Newcastle midfielder Jermaine Jenas has been named Young Player of the Year.

Henry beat Manchester United rivals Ruud van Nistelrooy and Paul Scholes to the prestigious award voted for by the professionals.

Players are asked to consider the performance of their preferred candidate between February 2002 and February 2003 - rather than from the start of the current season, in August, up to now.

Henry said: "When I was in France I won the Young Player of the Year award there which is also voted by the players but maybe I didn't stay there long enough to win their main award. I was 19 at the time.

"I don't know if I'm in the best form of my life, I just try to do my best on the pitch. What has been important for me this season is not just how many goals I've scored, but how many I have set up.

"I know that goalscorers get judged at the end of the season by how many they score but if you can set up some as well then it is good for the team and I think I've had a bit of both this season. I am happy doing either.

"As long as the team does well I am happy and I always try to do my best. Winning is the most important thing no matter who scores."

But Henry could not find the net as the Gunners were held to a 2-2 draw at Bolton on Saturday and Manchester United opened up a five-point lead at the top of the Premiership with a 2-0 win at Spurs.

Jenas wins the Young Player award at the end of his first full season in the Premiership. The title comes two months after he won his first full England cap.

The 20-year-old said: "Winning this award is the highlight of my season, it's the biggest achievement I've had in my career so far. My England debut was special but I hope there's going to be a lot more of them, whereas this award comes from your fellow professionals. They judge you on your season's performance and footballers know other footballers and that's a special feeling."

However, Jenas did not make the PFA Premiership Team of the Season. The chosen 11 are: Brad Friedel (Blackburn); Stephen Carr (Spurs), Ashley Cole, Sol Campbell (both Arsenal), William Gallas (Chelsea); Patrick Vieira (Arsenal), Paul Scholes (Manchester United), Robert Pires (Arsenal), Kieron Dyer; Alan Shearer (both Newcastle) and Henry (Arsenal).

VenomByte wrote:
> inlcuding two Arsenal defenders in a season
> where they've only had the fourth best defensive record in the
> premiership seems a little strange....

Consider that most games where Arsenal have had trouble at the back have been when someone has been filling in for Cole or Campbell, then consider changing your statement...

Ruud is a great player, but possibly only marginally better than Henry in some areas (strength, finishing, although miles ahead in...heading) whereas Henry is streets ahead in other areas (running off the ball, running on the ball, SETTING UP OTHER PEOPLE).

Ruud can't create his own goals, eh?

Well, I suppose there was that sitter he dribbled from the halfway line against fulham. And then that effort against Arsenal not so long ago...

Solskjær wrote:
> I don't agree with Thierry Henry getting voted the Player of the
> Season.
>
> Seriously, what has he really done for Arsénal this season,
> besides score some impressive goals from long-distance?? And get a
> number of assists, too?

---

22 goals in 27 starts this season.

2nd highest goalscorer in the Premiership and could still outgun James Beattie in the end.

5 more assists than anyone else.

And at least he can score from long distance, and can create his own goals, unlike one horse-faced diving Dutchman we all know about...

But why is there no Zola?

The problem lies in that the voting takes place in January. But even so, after an impressive December run, Manchester United should have had more representation.

"The chosen 11 are: Brad Friedel (Blackburn); Stephen Carr (Spurs), Ashley Cole, Sol Campbell (both Arsenal), William Gallas (Chelsea); Patrick Vieira (Arsenal), Paul Scholes (Manchester United), Robert Pires (Arsenal), Kieron Dyer; Alan Shearer (both Newcastle) and Henry (Arsenal)."


I fail to see how they can justify including five Arsenal players, considering there's only one player from Utd, who currently lie in a better position than Arsenal. There's no doubt that Viera and Henry deserve their places, but inlcuding two Arsenal defenders in a season where they've only had the fourth best defensive record in the premiership seems a little strange....

I don't agree with Thierry Henry getting voted the Player of the Season.

Seriously, what has he really done for Arsénal this season, besides score some impressive goals from long-distance?? And get a number of assists, too?

I feel it should've gone to Alan Shearer - just look at where Newcastle have gotten to this season, thanks, mainly to HIS goals!
Yet Arsénal can't even sustain their lead at the top-of-the-league, and were quite lucky to survive for as long as they did, in Europe!


And there we were thinking the majority of the world's population were 'United fans...
I've told you before - I know more Gunners than I do, Red Devils!

Agree with most of it.

Although i would have had Van Nistelrooy ahead of Shearer in that select team. Based on Van's Performances in all competitions.

Mind you, if its just based on the premiership then Shearer probably deserves it.

I agree with Afro.

Not only is Henry the second top goalscorer in the Premiership, but he has the highest amount of assists, too - 5 ahead of Giggs.