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| Thursday, 10 October, 2002, 19:49 GMT 20:49 UK Welsh Footballer of the Year ![]() Tottenham and Wales midfielder Simon Davies has been named Wales Footballer of the Year. Do you agree with the decision - or should it have been Bellamy, Hartson or Giggs? This debate is now closed. The award comes after an outstanding season where the silky-skilled midfielder has established himself with club and country. Cardiff's Robert Earnshaw was selected as the young player of the year, with team mate Danny Gabbidon taking the clubman award. Should Marc Lloyd-Williams have got a gong for his scoring exploits with Bangor City? Who would you have chosen? Marc Lloyd-Williams scored more goals than anyone else in Europe last season and he gets nothing? It seems a strange decision.
Davies has had a fantastic year for Wales and Spurs, and just edges it ahead of Bellamy. It is good that we now have a few players who are in contention for this award, instead of just Giggs and Hartson. I'm looking forward to the Italy game! It's fabulous news, although it must have been a close call between Savage who always gives 150% and Bellamy who has been exceptional. The whole world knows that Giggsy is the best left-sided midfielder in the world, and he doesn't constantly need "Welsh Player of the year" awards to remind him. I am sure that Giggsy would endorse giving the award to another to bring out even more pride in someone else's play, especially the magnificent Davies. He has been the difference. We need people who come out of the shadows to give our team strength as he has done. Well done Simon. More of the same please! Davies certainly deserves this award. People should realise that Wales are more than just Ryan Giggs. Davies is going to be just as good if not better than him in years to come. Davies has improved 200% in the past 12 months. Despite his best position being an attacking midfielder he has looked at home on the right of midfield of as a right wing back.
For once they've got it right. Davies is the future of Welsh football. Awards are for past achievements and to give future encouragement. It is this encouragement, throughout the team, that will benefit Wales in the medium/long term. When Ryan has a quiet game, we need the rest to respond, and that is exactly what we got in Finland, especially from Simon. Simon is the right choice for the award. Hartson won it last year. Ryan will forever be the star. Simon Davies is the most improved young player in the Premiership; if Spurs can keep him fit he will be a huge asset to his team and country. Giggs is a great player but the sheer speed with which Davies has appeared on the scene must warrant the award this year. He has been consistently brilliant for both Wales and Spurs and has a great future ahead of him.
Wales have a bright future with these excellent young players coming through, certainly better than Scotland. I just hope that unlike the past we have a better balance about the team and have an equally good defence as attack. By the way, Giggs probably didn't get voted for because he hasn't in the past bothered to play for his country in friendlies. The lad has been a revelation over the last twelve months. No other Welsh player has developed the subtle touch of Davies, since Giggs came into international football. Iwan Roberts is the most underrated Welshman out there. If you play him and Bellamy upfront, then you could put some Norwich class into the ordinary Welsh side. Simon Davies is by far and away the best Spurs player at the moment. He must also be ranked as highly as Ryan Giggs was when he broke through into the Man Utd and Wales first teams. He can play in any midfield position and of late has been placed at right-back for his team. There are many years of football left in this talented youngster.
Overall Andy Melville has been Wales' best performer over the past 12 months. He has been solid in every game and he is the main reason our defence is much stronger than what it once was. He brings the best out of his defensive colleagues - be it Page, young Danny or Gary Speed. He might be the Grand Daddy of the Welsh team - I just hope he carries on like this for another few years. Why should Giggs win the player of the year when he never has been fully committed to the Welsh cause? Davies and Earnshaw would play for Wales mid week every week of the year if they could!!! As for talent, well say no more about Earnshaw he has show that he can score at the highest level, once again Wales has a bright future in attacking positions. Even though I am not Welsh myself I find it hard to find a more promising and exciting prospect than Simon Davies. He has the ability to establish himself as one of the true greats of Welsh football alongside the likes of Ryan Giggs and Mark Hughes. In my humble opinion there is no player more deserving. All kudos to Simon Davies. This honour so early in his career can and should inspire him to even greater things in the future. Wales should be excited about this 'son of Solva'.
Davies talent was evident during his time at POSH. His skills and football mind pointed the way to a bright future. I am delighted he has gained the recognition he merits and appreciate the manner Wales have allowed him to develop at international level. A star for the future. As far as sheer progress is concerned, let alone skill or match-turning power, Davies obviously deserves the award. Hartson is a carthorse and Giggs, though ever-brilliant, just keeps on performing the way we know best. Davies finally gives us the sparkle in the middle to complement the bulldogs that are Speed and Savage. I tip Rob Earnshaw to get the full gong next year - nothing can stop the boy! Here's to qualification. Giggs has always been Wales' most prominent player but Craig Bellamy must be the player that has progressed the most over the last 18 months! No Welshman is better than Giggs. None. Ever. Or ever again. Except Ivor the engine.
I am absolutely amazed that Ryan Giggs has not won the Player Of The Year award. Giggs has been in magnificent form this season. Since signing schoolboy forms, Giggs was hailed as one for the future, and he has represented Wales and Man Utd with immense pride. He is a hardworking player and barring injury can guide Old Trafford and Wales to huge success. It should be Ryan Giggs every year. Giggs should have been Welsh footballer of the year, but on the day he would probably be too injured to walk up to the podium to receive the trophy. Davies deserves the award, he has become one of Spurs' most important players in just one year. It also encourages other Welsh youngsters to improve their game, after seeing what he has achieved. Davies is a great player. He has a lot of potential and should do well in the future. | See also: 10 Oct 02 | Wales 02 Oct 01 | Wales Top Sports Talk stories now: Links to more Sports Talk stories are at the foot of the page. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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