Cesc Fabregas shock winner of first PFA Player Of The Year TV debate

ARSENAL CAPTAIN Cesc Fabregas has been declared the winner of the first PFA Player of the Year debate after outshining the leading two candidates Wayne Rooney and Didier Drogba.

The debate, hosted by Jeff Stelling in front of a hushed audience at Manchester’s Gigg Lane, covered football’s big talking points including the collapse of the transfer market, the flood of players coming in from abroad and the recent goal bonuses scandal that saw some players claim for assists and deflections.

Fabregas, who is thought to have little chance of winning the PFA award in Britain’s two-club Premier League, lit up the debate with his talk of Drogba and Rooney “representing an old, tired Premier League of incisive attacking play and European success. Arsenal offer a real alternative.”

The night was a triumph for the often derided Fabregas, whose Player of the Year campaign has so far focused on him wheeling out his more popular right-hand man Andrei Arshavin at every opportunity.

Late in the evening Drogba argued that Fabregas didn’t have the experience to succeed as the Player of the Year, shouting “show us your medals,” as the debate became angry. Drogba then turned on Rooney, asking if the Premier League really wanted a fourth term of Manchester United red holding the title.

The biggest issue of the night was the candidates’ discussion of football justice, with Drogba recounting a trip to Plymouth Argyle: “I spoke to a black reserve player there and he told me he just didn’t feel safe walking alone on the pitch where in today’s Premier League”. All three candidates vowed to put more referees on the pitch, following the example of the Europa League.

The debate, an idea borrowed from America’s NBA MVP debates, was considered a huge success in rejuvenating interest in the Player of the Year process which many young voters in the Football League have little interest in.

Published April 16, 2010

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