Gary Pallister believes the big Serbian could become only the third member of a Reds rearguard in 50 years to lift an individual prize.
Vidic would join Pally himself and the late Johnny Carey on the honours board.
Pallister won the PFA Player of the Year award in the 1991-92 season.
Six other Old Trafford names are on that roll call, but it has been the A-listers and high- profile scorers who have dominated.
Mark Hughes, Eric Cantona, Roy Keane, Teddy Sheringham, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Cristiano Ronaldo have all claimed the trophy as United players.
The prestigious Football Writers' Footballer of the Year statuette, which has been presented for 51 years, has only ever been won by one United defender and that was Matt Busby's converted full-back Carey in 1949.
Since the 1948 FA Cup- winning captain Old Trafford's winners have all been the headline-hitters like Bobby Charlton, George Best and, like the PFA list, Cantona, Keane, Sheringham and Ronaldo.
But Pallister insists Vidic can buck the trend and join him and Carey in their elite club.
"Nemanja is in the form of his life and he should be a front runner for one of the player of the year awards," Pallister told M.E.N. Sport.
"There is a very good argument that, not only should he be among the candidates, but that he should actually win it.
"It isn't often defenders get the headlines and the glory and that seems to be an integral part of winning these individual prizes.
"But he certainly has a solid case and the one thing in his favour is that he's been doing the business in some of the highest-profile games.
"I think that is what swung it for me in 1992. Just before the voting for the PFA award United played Leeds in the league, the FA Cup and the League Cup.
Interest
"We were both battling it out on all fronts and we met each other three times in just over a fortnight.
"There was a lot of interest in those matches and I played well in them all. I think that stuck in players' minds when it came round to the vote.
"Vidic has scored a late match-winner against Sunderland, scored in the big match against Chelsea and also at West Bromwich Albion, as well as being the only ever-present outfield defender in United's record run of clean sheets.
"So he is there performing consistently well while breaking that remarkable record and scoring vital goals as well. He is bound to be in the limelight and in people's minds. He deserves to be."
Rio Ferdinand, Jonny Evans, Patrice Evra, John O'Shea, Rafael Da Silva and Gary Neville have all contributed to the Premier League and English League shut-out records.
But, while they've been dropping like nine pins around him, Vidic has been there every second of the 12 matches.
And Vidic's leadership and grim resolve during the spell has reminded Pallister of his old United defensive buddy Steve Bruce.
"You need fierce determination and aggression in a side and Nemanja provides it," said Pallister.
"Steve had that determination etched in his face whenever he played and you see it in Vidic now. While Rio Ferdinand cruises through matches and looks unflustered and calm, Nemanja stalks around looking as though he wants to rip somebody's head off! Brucie was exactly like that.
"We used to talk a lot in the 90s team about the fact we wouldn't be bullied in matches. It was always a case of winning the battle first and foremost. It was important to stand up and fight your corner.
"Vidic and Edwin Van der Sar have been the mainstays. Certainly, as far as the outfield defenders go, you wonder if this record would have been possible if Vidic had also been struck down by the injury curse."
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Vidic has developed into one the worlds best centrebacks at Old Trafford, and with none of the Premier Leagues star attackers shining brightly this season he could well be up for the prize!
No competition really so far this season vidic could be player of the year easily, no midfielder has stood out and no striker is exactly banging them in every week, so he has a good chance unless they award it to vds
best player for united this season by a mile. astonishingly influential in the back four. not saying he has been carrying the defence-the others have done well-but it has become obvious the he is the main man there. ferdinand less so.
i would say that our midfield has been as good as last season, if not better.
the attack is where we have fallen back, but probably just because of ronaldo's inspired last season.take him out of the equation and i dont see much difference. individually and collectively, attack and atttacking midfielders have been as goal shy as last season. seem to play on confidence too much. but, just nitpicking.
hail vidic the king
Don't hold your breath on winning this award Nemanja.
PFA player of the month award went to Stevie Me, for the second month in succession!!
In January, Livepool win just ONE game against Preston in the FA Cup and have seen their advantage in the league evaporate, as the Champions hunted them down like a pedigree Pointer chasing a 3 legged fox.
MUFC, after returning from gruelling Japan trip as World Champions play EIGHT games in 25 days in the month of January, win all of them, apart from minor hiccup at Derby in Sherbert dib-dab cup.
Vidic plays a full 90 mins in SEVEN of these games, marshals the ever-changing injury hit defence superbly, AMD leads United to a magnificent clean-sheet record in top-flight football.
Is it me?
him and carrick are the main utd contenders
NV deserves it. Number of games played, his contribution in defense, his contribution on offense in set plays and the number of timely goals he has scored (especially against Sunderland) makes him my choice by a mile. Hope the record number of clean sheets adds another weighty reason for choosing him. Go NV, Go MU!
great player that he is steve gerard is a big whinger to ref,s, gets players sent off and on his runs at goal if he loses control or out of steam he invariably runs into the opposition.lost count,the number or times this occurs,don,t ref,s watch reruns of matches and see how they are being conned.Videc is as gentlemanly has he can be as well as his other attributes.hope he wins the title
Vidic for the player of the year award and the rest of Ronaldo's trophies this year if we do win the treble or more. Time for a defender to win it all. Who else on the list, Messi...
Award to Evra or Vidic !! both have been outstanding !
Between Ninja and little Pat for me.
Ninja Vidic that is.
Blackley Red:
"In January, Livepool win just ONE game against Preston in the FA Cup and have seen their advantage in the league evaporate, as the Champions hunted them down like a pedigree Pointer chasing a 3 legged fox"
Thats the quote of the week that mate, well funny !
Arguably the best player in the world!!!
I was first last week to say that this boy deserves a place in the top 5 nominees for World Footballer of the Year. That's where it's heading.
A nuts!!! defender. Absolute power, determination, focus and in charge of his game. No arrogance, no selfishness just shear will. Shaping up to be an all time great within the history of our club only time will conclude this. His name scares me......VIDIC!!! Having such confidence at the back ripples through to the forwards to play their game.
Plaudits to Evra, VDS and Evans with solid performances.
Having seen both Carey and Pallister play, I can honestly say that Nemanja Vidic is a very worthy candidate to join them in their elite club! The only disappointment for me is that Brucie was never chosen to be with them. A great Season so far, Nemanja, keep it up!
Carrick
Vida is dominant thats for sure, and i honestly cant think of any other centre half or defender that id swap him for. Hes definitely eclipsed John Terry and his partnership with Ferdinand is way better than Terry/Carvalho. Hes brave and would stick his head where most wouldnt stick there boot, a dead set United legend in the making and top marks for Fergie for snapping him up @ 7mil. Bargain!
viva la vida!His defending has been immense throughout this season & the major improvement in his gama has been his scoring ability-6 goals already! Thats more than most midfielders in United this season!
He is the best so far this season, although Evra was probably edging it before his ban and injury. It's still too early because we dont know what is going to happen in the rest of the season but I hope Vidic continues his great performances and Evra gets back to where he was. There isn't a team in the world at the moment that are as solid as United. I agree with Gary Pallisters comparison between Vidic and Brucie, I was an amateur saturday/sunday football version of either :o)
Steve Chew, USA - you support the right team but if you ever come over here I'd advise you not to shout 'Go MU' or talk in the pub about the merits of Nemanja in 'offense'.
I am a recent convert to these sites and my mission this evening is to leave a calling card and introduce my credentials for supporting this great footballing club. I live in Land's End in Cornwall so you see I'm almost local. Never having travelled to Old Trafford to actually watch a football game, yet I support this club with a passion bordering and equalling a great religious experience. To me Old Trafford is a magnificent gothic cathedral, and one of the great monumental land marks of the 20th century, only the cluny abbey's of the late medieval period can compare. A pilgrimage to Old Trafford is being considered and upon my arrival, I would very much appreciate a seat next to the patron saint of football Sir Alex Ferguson. I truly believe that once admitted to his company Sir Alex and I would become instant friends. There's a rumour that he communicates in a rude form of latin, which few people can comprehend but surprisingly has resulted to his unquestionable success on the world's stage, and since I myself am fluent in that language perhaps I can and reveal and separate the man from the myth. Modern football supporters and some media members are obsessed with giving insincere allegiance to one of the top echelon club's erroneously believing that a form of validation can be achieved, and a ego satisfied; how I demand can these people, these supporters behave with such a dreadful contradiction to their psyche. There's a vacuousness about that behaviour which borders on desperation. I can solemnly assure you I'm not one of those supporters and I know that those who read this post are not either. Can somebody confirm whether the prawn sandwiches are worth the journey to Old Trafford?
Gerrard won player of the month????????????????
you've got to be havin' a laugh??
a real warrior just the kind of player you need when the going gets tough. he is part of the most formidable defensive unit in world football and the MAIN reason united are top of the league this year.
Vidic deserves a top award lets hope he gets what he deserves.He is the best defender in the world.
On another point I do not think Gerrard was injured just like the last time.Rafa is just saving him.
You feel sorry for Torres he could end up like Shearer.
Sorry for torres?, also gerrard will probably play against pompey then pull out the england squad