"...and the award goes to..." - Player of the year nominations

The nominations are in. The bets are in. The nation's sports press is lining up waiting to report the news… Footballers have made a strange decision! While this is nothing new (England captain parking in disabled bay, various haircuts, impregnating Katie Price), do we still subscribe to the notion that a footballer is the best judge of footballers?

We can't blame them completely, the voting system requires the votes submitted long before the business end of the season. This year's PFA Player of the Year awards have nominated three Manchester City players (David Silva, Sergio Aguero and Joe Hart), along with Robin van Persie, Wayne Rooney (pen) and Scott Parker. Bearing in mind that Silva was overplayed so much that he virtually vanished after Christmas, Aguero only scored his first goals outside London or Manchester last weekend, and Scott Parker isn't even Spurs best player, the system is clearly flawed.

Gareth wins best actor for his role in Dive of the Planet of the Apes

 
With several players on Twitter these days, perhaps there could be a simple vote on those, where the person with the most followers or RTs wins? There is the fear that it could turn into a popularity contest, but isn't that what it is anyway? Bring in Simon Cowell and turn it into a telephone vote system, where players can vote from their gold plated iPhones on the night and make it a genuine surprise.

Team of the year is also a bone of contention that even the exalted brains of the online community should struggle with - why is the team of the year in a rigid 4-4-2 system? Perhaps Michael Cox or Jonathan Wilson could be drafted in, and re-do the teams into perhaps more fluid 4-2-3-1 systems, or even go a little retro and introduce the W-M in an attempt to shoehorn every nominee. I'm sure the powers that be may wish to change the tactics to match the opponent (Spanish team of the year?)

Scotty's award was a happy meal toy

 
The original point still stands though - why is so much credit given to the opinions of footballers? Football fans and journalists are as schooled as they've ever been, and there's nothing to stop votes being cast based on toadying or cliches such as "he gives 110% every week". The usual debate kicked off shortly after, why wasn't X included, Y is rubbish, etc. It's widely argued that not enough credit is being given to defenders or goalkeepers (albeit Joe Hart is nominated this season). Should Kompany, Vorm or Krul be disappointed? Maybe.

Hey, there's always Young Player of the Year. What if Aguero wins the main award and not the younger player? A mockery?
 

Match of the Day pundits not welcome here

 
For what it's worth, I'll do my own team/player/miscellaneous of the year awards at the end of the season (controversially), in a gala ceremony to be hosted in an all you can eat barbecue restaurant. No players will be in attendance...