Who will win player of the year? (From Croydon Guardian)

Who will win player of the year?

2:00pm Thursday 13th May 2010

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With the player of the year event being held in the marquee on the pitch this Saturday, who most deserves to win the fans’ support?

The shortlist was announced this week and now it is the turn of voters to decide whose campaign has most deserved that cross next to their name.

The candidates have fought throughout the season in Palace’s interest, but will it be Shaun Derry, Neil Danns, Johnny Ertl or Darren Ambrose who comes out on top or will Julian Speroni be voted in for a record third term.

They are all extremely worthy of the title and without their collective efforts we wouldn’t have had such a memorable season in spite of the economic collapse.

Shaun Derry has been an inspirational leader this term and has recaptured the form that saw him become a fans favourite upon his return to Selhurst Park two-and-a-half years ago.

His crunching tackles and composure on the ball in midfield has been crucial.

Derry offers something different in that he likes to get hold of the ball, keep it on the floor and dictate play from deep.

He has also been ever present playing almost every minute of every game; a wonderful achievement.

Alongside him, has been the charismatic, hard working and versatile Johnny Ertl.

The Austrian has been the enforcer in the midfield and allows everyone else around him to play their football.

He has shown great character by forcing his way into the team and overcoming his tough start to life at Palace.

He also stepped up to the plate when injuries looked set to scupper our season by plugging gaps in the right back and centre-half positions with minimal fuss and consummate ease despite at times playing three positions in a single game.

Neil Danns is another who has stepped up this season after a difficult start to his career in south London.

The scouser was a forgotten man after injuries prevented him from playing a major part in his first season and a half at Palace.

However, this season he has come to the fore and lived up to the hype that surrounded him when he first joined the club in 2008.

He has offered pace and tenacity to our midfield and his nine goals have been invaluable.

He is never afraid to run at the opposition and is our engine in midfield. The highlight of his season must surely be that 93rd minute winner at Scunthorpe.

Then we have the favourites: Darren Ambrose and Julian Speroni.

It is these two that have offered the X-factor this season.

Speroni, as ever, has been magnificent and, at times, has been over relied on to keep us in games.

There are too many occasions to mention, but his displays away at QPR and at home to West Brom were bewildering in their brilliance and drew unanimous plaudits from opposing fans and the media alike.

How Diego Maradona can continue to overlook the 30-year-old is beyond me.

Darren Ambrose, on the other hand, performed a different but equally important role this season.

His performances may not have been as all-action as Speroni’s but he has always offered us something special; a moment of magic.

The way he plays oozes class whether it is his delivery from set-pieces, his deft touch or his phenomenal 20 goals from midfield; he has been a constant threat and has so often produced a goal out of nothing when we needed it most.

His personal highlight must surely be that free-kick against Aston Villa at Selhurst.

So who most deserves the vote of those present on Saturday?

I cannot split Ambrose and Speroni.

Maybe we can have a hung result; after all, it does seem to be the fashion at the moment.

A coalition between the favourites would be the fairest outcome I could imagine because without either one of these men; our season on the field would have been as disastrous as it has been off the field.

That is not to diminish the input of the rest of the names mentioned as well as the likes of Alan Lee, Clint Hill and Paddy McCarthy who have all been immense at times but it has been these two that have proved the difference between a brave fight but ultimate relegation and our eventual survival.

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