Misguided awards prove the early bird rarely gets the worm

THE Professional Footballers’ Association has never been afraid to cock a snook at logic – think of the decision to crown David Ginola in Manchester United’s treble-winning campaign in 1999 – but this season they might just have surpassed themselves.

The decision to hand Ryan Giggs the Player of the Year award, when he has made just 12 starts and scored precisely one goal on Sunday provided proof that, for all football’s alpha-male posturing, it can be a remarkably soppy business.

Few would question Giggs’ worthiness at receiving the PFA’s highest honour: equally, only a handful would argue that it should have been granted to him 10 years ago, when he was at the height of his considerable powers.