WHO is your Greater Manchester player of the season? M.E.N Sport is giving you the chance to help us choose – and win two return tickets to anywhere in Europe with our sponsors, Flybe.
Tell us, in 80 words or less who you think the player of the year is by submitting a comment in the usual way, or by e-mail to sport@men-news.co.uk or by post to M.E.N. Sportsdesk, 1 Scott Place, Manchester M3 3RN.
Your comments will be assessed by our panel – M.E.N. sports editor Peter Spencer, Channel M sports editor Mike Bradley, M.E.N. website journalist Paul Handler and a Flybe representative.
The reader with the best comment will present the M.E.N. Media Greater Manchester player of the season award and choose a flight ticket prize.
EDWIN VAN DER SAR:
Could make an impressive DVD of his match-winning saves (remember the one at Anfield from Peter Crouch) but his confidence and command was under question in the run-in
7
TOMASZ KUSZCZAK:
Four clean sheets in his six Premiership starts is a good return. Generally he was sound, but Ben Foster poses a huge threat next term
6
BEN FOSTER:
Very busy at Watford and recognised as the one player who might have kept them in Premiership. Challenging for England and will undoubtedly test Van der Sar's grip on the senior gloves next term
8
GARY NEVILLE:
Like his fellow Class of 92 mates, he was having a brilliant season until ankle ligament injury wrecked the end of it. But right-back role is still very much his
8
RIO FERDINAND:
Magnificent campaign. Cut out all those mind-wandering moments this season and has been at top of his form. Partnership with Vidic has helped him
9
NEMANJA VIDIC:
Even the Serb was questioning his ability to cut it in the Premiership. He needn't have worried. Sir Alex Ferguson rated him best defender in country and that's hard to argue with
9
PATRICE EVRA:
After trials and tribulations of last season, he was a sensation up to March but a few niggling injuries allowed Heinze to catch up again
7
GABRIEL HEINZE:
Rediscovered his old form in the run-in but the defensive style that initially wooed Old Trafford has become too erratic for some
6
WES BROWN:
Having been ousted as Ferdinand's sidekick early in autumn it looked bleak for the Mancunian, but he was a cornerstone of United's title tilt when the injury curse struck
7
MIKAEL SILVESTRE:
Had dropped down the left-back pecking order and become a bit-part player. Dislocated shoulder in March summed up his misery
5
CRISTIANO RONALDO:
United are not a one-man team, but where might they have been without their sensational winger and goal scorer? Team mates latched on to his form and confidence
10
MICHAEL CARRICK:
Slow start to his United career. Conservative passing frustrated many but then he grew in stature to form unexpected successful link with Paul Scholes. Still more adventure wanted
7
PAUL SCHOLES:
The rejuvenated Salfordian has looked a different player, having overcome his eye problem. The source of so much of United's exciting play
9
RYAN GIGGS:
One of the elder outfield statesmen, he has split the fans with his contribution. Liberal amount of rolling back the years balanced by some infuriating times
7
JOHN O'SHEA:
One of the much-maligned early-season fringe men who struggled in Copenhagen and at Southend, but late-season form and goals have turned his campaign into decent one
6
DARREN FLETCHER:
Always seems to be more appreciated internally at club than by the punters. But nobody can doubt his industry and he won some over with late-term contribution
6
JI-SUNG PARK:
Injuries have wrecked the Korean's season. Only really fit from mid-December to end of February, when he was in and out. Knee op at end of season poses big question over his future
5
ALAN SMITH:
Concerns for him when he hit the wall in autumn after returning from horror leg and ankle break. Usual heart-on-sleeve stuff from him during the run-in
6
KIERAN RICHARDSON:
First half of campaign was nondescript and fell out of favour with United support. Late season, he got it together better
5
LOUIS SAHA:
Fergie couldn't envisage an XI without him in first half of term. Learned how to cope without him as his injury jinx struck again. Didn't endear himself by saying that he was not 100 per cent fit when Reds needed his goals in the season's run-in
6
WAYNE ROONEY:
Best goal haul and yet arguably not as red-hot as last season. His engine never gave up during a draining campaign
8
OLE SOLSKJAER:
After his three-year injury misery, he made an astonishing return with 11 goals. An infrequent starter and will no doubt have to accept bit-part role in the future
6
HENRIK LARSSON:
Just what United needed to get them through the late winter. Invigorated dressing room and scored a few vital goals
7
DONG FANGZHUO:
The Chinaman had one late chance to show his worth at Stamford Bridge and obviously needs more time to find feet at Premiership level
4
CHRIS EAGLES:
A goal as a sub at Everton and industrious full league debut at Chelsea. Made most of his limited opportunities
5
Comments
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C Ronaldo. he is worth my season ticket price alone as I get excited every time he touches the ball. That is good enough for me!
Ella
Generally fair enough apart from one thing - Larsson a 7 and Saha a 6. Thats a joke.
Ronaldo for me, although Foster played a blinder for Watford. lets hope he can pick it up again and perform for us like he did Watford.
I would actually agree with the ratings except I would give Louis 7 (or even 8) for his first half of the season efforts and helping make us a more attractive team to watch. Well done lads.
ronaldo has set the league alight this year and has shown maturity despite post world cup stick
Larsson and Carrick should be demoted one point, i'd give them both a low 6 at best.Ronaldo and Vidic would be my players of the year with probably Ronaldo nicking it, Rio,Scholes and rooney second half and giggs 1st half had excellent seasons also.
Ronaldo was indispensable and without him we would not won the title but I felt his season finished in Milan. For me Scholes is the player of the season.You can count the number of ordinary games he had during the season on one hand and I can't recall him having a single poor game. His consistency and standard of performance was awesome. He passing exhibition in the cup final was a fitting testament to his talent and typified the wonderful season that he had.
Hasn't Ron won enough individual trophies!!!
Hey!! Saha played very well in the start of the season. He deserves more. Actually shud be more that Larssin
Ronaldo had a great season but you can't give him ten out of ten. He still has the habit of throwing his arms up in frustration if someone nicks the ball off him when he's run down a blind alley instead of passing to a better positioned colleague. He takes too many free kicks and is a bit like Roberto Carlos in that he thinks he's better at them than he is. He doesn't track back much. He still goes missing from time to time. An eight or nine would be a fairer assessment. If we're rating people on the games they played then Saha should be higher.
Park deserves so much more than a 5. He gets a 5 because he is injured? Come on, be fair. You forget that he performed well whenever called upon and bagged a handful of goals. I dare say we missed him when he got injured... some of that energy would have come in handy towards the end of the season. How can you insult him and put him on par with Richardson??!!
And my player of the season is... JOHN O'SHEA. Haha. For winning us 3 points against Liverpool, for sparking the comeback against Everton and above all for an excellent goalkeeping display with the save of the season against Tottenham. Even Van der Sar would have been proud of that one.
Michio he's certainly worth more than an 8! I would agree about the free kicks though, the sooner we get someone who can take them the better as Ronaldos technique i think is basically a hit and hope - strike the ball as hard as he can and hope for the best, as he doesnt know where its going. He's been our best player this season, without a doubt
With a nod and a wink Ronaldo split the support of United. The media fury and the declaration from Ronaldo that he wanted to return to Old Trafford however ensured that like Becks the fans would look after their own and the seasons story was written from there. He lit up Stadiums up and down the Country in a way no United player has managed since King Eric. His form over Christmas set United into a lead that they never lost and his goal at Fulham galvanised the charge. Fittingly he scored the decisive goal at non other than the CoMs after being stamped on by Ball he took retribution with a flurry of step overs a shimmy and a flash of his right wand. Champions. This season that boy Ronaldo has made everyone look ....
No contest imo, Scholes all the way! Without him we would have been also-rans.
Ronaldo, definite 10/10. Deserved all the plaudits he received this year. Thought he showed massive mental strength this season; especially given the media campaign to have him scapegoated as England's excuse for international mediocrity. Keep the winking up!!!
Ronaldo deserving of 10 out of 10 for an exceptional season. Good also to see Scholes, Rio and Vidic get the recognition they deserve - they were also key, key players for us. Generally agree with all of the ratings other than Saha and Fletcher, who both should have scored a point higher.
i think the winner has to be ronaldo, a fantastic matchwinner for one so young. thought fletcher deserved a 7, he's been a big improvement.
Point taken Birdy, Lee, et al. Maybe I'm just nit-picking because I want a ten out of ten to be as near perfect as its possible to be.
WHO ELSE coould have been?? I don't know what else he needs to do to get full support from...yes...EVERY SINGLE UNITED SUPPORTER.
Michio you still compaining aren´t you. He was just perfect and the last matches was as I said in some comment before Milan and the FA cup final that he was far too tired. Did you see him at FA cup final hanging down and with the hands on his knees?? that for me was thanks the abuse of both United and Portugal suging Ronaldos talent until the last drop. Buy another winger at his level improve your squad and rest him once in a while than you will have a player until the last match, speciall the last ones..normally the most important ones of the season.
Ronaldo thanks for a great season you desreved 10 out of 10. NO DOUBT.
Valtinho, Lisbon.
Me? Complain? Never! Not even about the fact you're probably getting better weather than me. Fair comment about tiredness - I'm not going to complain about that, honest!
Agree with Rick. Park's definitely got to be rated higher. For me, a 7 would be just right. As for Ronaldo, 9.5.
Some mathematical rigour to the debate. Man U is well represented with Vidic and Scholes also in the top 10
www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/fink_tank/article1851667.ece
Roy I checked that link and had to laugh - not sure about mathematical rigour though. Fletcher is officially better than Gerrard, Makalele and Ballack. Lovin it.
Paul Scholes. Ronaldo has no football brain.
Scholes was outstanding
Rooney a star
Rio was awesome
Edwin raised the bar
Wes was reinvented
Sheasy filled in well
Fletcher performed better
Patrice ran like hell
Gaby returned fighting
Ji Sung's worth a shout
Louis scored for fun till
His dodgy legs gave out
Carrick is the future
Smithy was a hit
Mikael too was injured
Ole did his bit
Gary had no luck and
Giggs goes on and on
Larsson was a hero but
Ronaldo is the one!
Ryan Giggs a 7?? Subtract the amount of goals Ronaldo has gotten from dead ball situations and then consider the amount of times a Man Utd goal has gone in off a Giggs corner or sublime pass. A 7? Please....