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Mid-Day Ticker: Rooney heads PFA nominees, Ribery nears decision and more

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By AVI CREDITOR

Wayne Rooney's stellar season figured to garner him some postseason awards, and Thursday it was revealed that he'll be in the running for at least two on the domestic level.

The Manchester United striker is not surprisingly one of the four PFA Player of the Year nominees, and he's also up for the PFA Young Player of the Year award.

Other Player of the Year nominees are Chelsea's Didier Drogba, Manchester City's Carlos Tevez and Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas. Rooney, Fabregas, Birmingham's Joe Hart and Aston Villa's James Milner are up for the Young Player prize.

Rooney is attempting to keep the top prize at Old Trafford for a fourth consecutive year – Cristiano Ronaldo won the award in 2007 and 2008, and Ryan Giggs took home the honor last season.

Here are a few other stories from around the soccer world:

RIBERY DECISION COMING SOON

Bayern Munich star Franck Ribery will reportedly make a decision about his future in the next 10 days, either committing to a future in Germany or announcing his intentions to head elsewhere. Many of the world's top clubs will be lining up for his services if he intends to leave Bayern Munich, and Real Madrid, Barcelona and Chelsea have been rumored to be among the highest bidders for the French winger.

RONALDO SUING SPANISH TV STATION

Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo is reportedly suing a television station in Spain that claimed on one of its programs that he hosted parties before and after Madrid's critical loss to Barcelona.

Ronaldo released a statement completely denying the accusations and is pursuing legal action. 

ARSENAL'S VERMAELEN SIDELINED

Arsenal's faint title hopes were dealt a blow with the news that top defender Thomas Vermaelen will be out for the next 2-3 weeks with a calf injury.

The Belgian was hurt early in Wednesday's 2-1 loss to Tottenham and is the latest in a series of Arsenal players to miss time because of a knock. William Gallas and Alex Song will also miss this weekend's tilt at Wigan Athletic, meaning that Arsene Wenger will likely field a back line of Gael Clichy, Sol Campbell, Mikael Silvestre and Bacary Sagna.

FERGUSON KEEN ON LLORIS

Lyon and French international goalkeeper Hugo Lloris figures to earn himself a nice payday this summer, and it appears that Manchester United will be vying for his services.

The Daily Mail reports that the English side is preparing to make a £15 million offer to secure Lloris as the successor to Edwin Van der Sar. No negotiations will commence until Lyon's run in the Champions League ends.

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Who gets your vote for the PFA Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year awards? Where would you like to see Ribery end up? Surprised that he's talking about his future in the midst of a Champions League run? Do you think Lloris is a good fit for the English Premier League?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. I am not sure why everyone is ready to hand Rooney the award. Like him or not, Drogba deserves it. Look at the numbers:

    Rooney: 29 games, 26 goals, 3 assists
    Drogba: 27 games, 25 goals, 8 assists

    Also, Drogba is helping his team win both the league and the FA Cup. Rooney helped his team to the Carling Cup.

    Rooney has had a great year and has really elevated his game, and it is unfortunate for him and Man U that he was injured when he was, but I can’t see the case for him over Drogba this year.

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  2. oohhhh shut up! why does every world class, powerhouse with money have to be an “evil empire”or looked at in that way. get a life. u dont produce, u dont play, u dont stay. PERIOD! these guys arent getting paid millions of dollars to fail. i mean the way some people think is rediculous. stop crying! i respect Timmy, but hes not on a eurpoean power house is he??(anymore) more exposure playing for man u(*cough*) playing well for Man U is what will get you there. thats just how it goes. charge it to the game

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  3. well supposedly David Villa has been the most consistent striker of the past 5 years. And I don’t doubt that at all.

    Dude is probably the best in the world and I can see easily netting 8 goals as top goal scorer at the WC in June.

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  4. Rooney has consistently been in the top 20 strikers in the world but the past year he has finally broke into the top 10 and last few months I’d even say top5.

    Top 10 strikers in the world atm

    Rooney, Drogba, Higuain, Torres, Eto’o, Milito, Villa, Dzeko, Ibrahimovic, Kuranyi

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  5. Davies hit 14 in 27 matches in 08. He was 1 of the top scorers and that means a lot considering how much of an average team Hammarby was. I bet he will achieve the same with Sochaux, playing brillant while keeping them from relegation.

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  6. Bedoyaaaaaaaa. maybe he will have an effect similar to what Davies had in Sweden. Sweden is a 3rd tier league akin to MLS but the top teams get some European play and that’s not bad plus they often get friendlies against the top teams and so good chances of a move eventually.

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  7. my reply was in agreement with roundabout, not in agreement with Erik. This is why it says “William the Terror said in reply to roundabout.” i agree that Rooney has shined in the Premier League, and I was only stating that i wish he had been fully fit for Bayern and Blackburn.

    i do not care for Steven Gerrard (or for Cesc Fabregas, either. my two favorite teams are Manuchester United and whowever is playing Arsenal, Chelsea or Liverpool.

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  8. No Gerrard or Lampard. Gerrard bad all season and Lampard waited until March to start playing like he cared.

    Fabregas for sure and Milner. Probably Arshavin but he’s been crappy last few matches. Maybe 2 lesser known players. Gera anyone? Quality all season.

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  9. Dude, Gerrard should not make the EPL team of the season. Perhaps you’ve heard of this other midfielder, Fabregas? He’s a lock for team of the season…

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  10. Took the words out my mouth! Or keyboard…

    He’s hoping that by dragging this on, the clubs will throw down more money in a bidding war for him – thus giving him a higher paycheck.

    15 million for a keeper?

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  11. Absolute rubbish.

    Lloris is the best young goalie in the world. Did you even watch the highlights of the game last week against Bordeaux? He made a eye-popping one-handed stop on as powerful a header as you’ll ever see. Do you think they kick or head the ball so much harder in England? Lower gravity there? Lloris is freakin’ awesome, and I hate the prospect of him signing with the Evil Empire at Manchester United.

    I like Tim Howard, but in a couple of years, Lloris will be acknowledged as one of the top 3 or 4 goalies in the world, and Tim Howard won’t.

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  12. Amazing how many strikers that have scored 20 goals this season.

    Rooney-best English striker since Owen and Shearer.
    Drogba- He scores when it’s needed and perfect big guy
    Bent- underestimated but gets it done. 22goals. wow.
    Defoe- vastly underestimated and streaky some would say but very consistent and 5 goals in 1 game, even Messi hasn’t done that.
    Tevez- half the season he was a super sub and yet still outscored the other strikers
    Torres- 18goals in 22 matches. Speaks for itself

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  13. Drogba and Rooney up front

    Lampard, Gerrard, Fellani (if he can qualify), Milner in the middle

    Defense… I have no clue. It’s always the same people anyway.

    Friedel in goal.

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  14. I hate to admit it as a Reds fan but Rooney has put a stranglehood on the PL this season. It’s all his. Who would have thought Ronaldo’s leaving would bring this about?

    Youth player has to go to Joe Hart though i doubt they give it to a GK. James Milner has also great chance for it.

    any early thoughts on team of the season? Obviously Rooney up top but will Drogba or Bent/Defoe be included as well?

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  15. I am getting tired of hearing that Ribery could be making a decision about his future. We have been hearing this same story over and over again.

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  16. Ribery is as good as gone after this season. Ever since he joined Bayern he has been rumored to leave.

    Also, Lloris is a very good goalkeeper, but in France. He may cut it in the Premier League but the pace and power off of corners etc may be too much at first. And we all know with Timmy, you don’t get many chances at Man U.

    Reply

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