UEFA Player of the Year Awards 2008

I don't usually pay attention to these awards, but I was watching the Champions League draw for this season, so I saw them being awarded. The winners were:

Goalkeeper: Petr Cech (Czech Republic and Chelsea)
Defender: John Terry (England and Chelsea)
Midfielder: Frank Lampard (England and Chelsea)
Forward: Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal and Manchester United).

Player of the Year: Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal and Manchester United)

Beyond laughable. Whoever voted for these either received a big cheque from Roman Abramovich or didn't watch football last season.

• Cech had a poor to average season (Iker Casillas should have won, but he didn't even get nominated).
• Terry isn't even the best defender at Chelsea, since Ricardo Carvalho was more crucial to the team. Rio Ferdinand, who lifted the European Cup as joint captain, blows them both out of the water, unless the award is for narcissistic crying after losing the biggest match of one's career.
  
• Lampard probably got the award because of one match against Liverpool, and his emotional salute to his late mother. Alex Hleb should have taken the midfielder award, but didn't get nominated, I believe. Even Paul Scholes, who's in the twilight of his career, eclipsed Lampard last season.
  
• Cristiano Ronaldo is the only deserving winner.

What a joke. I'm sure Rio Ferdinand's European Cup winner's medal goes some way to repairing the injustice though.

On a happier note, United face Villareal, Celtic and Aalborg in the Champions League group stages. Let's make it 18-4. Come on you Reds!