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#Post#: 106546--------------------------------------------------
bruno fernandes - premier league player of the season 2025-26
DIR By: gooner
Date: May 23, 2026, 1:12 pm
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hi,
i'm sure we have all seen the news that manchester united's
captain, bruno fernandes, has been named as the premier league's
player of the season 2025-26 - congratulations to him - 20
assists in 34 games is a record breaking achievement in the PL
era.
the award's recipient is chosen by a panel assembled by the
league's sponsors consisting of members of "football's governing
bodies, the media and fans" - you would think that this group
would represent a fair cross section of views, ages, backgrounds
and loyalties - so everything is perfect...
...or is it?...
how can such an unsporting player be placed at the pinnacle of
the profession? how can a player who frequently feigns injury be
taken at face value? how can a player (who is a captain) show
such blatant contempt for officials' decisions? how can a player
who frequently harasses the ref get away with it? is this the
type of behaviour we should reward? what message does it send to
other players, both professional and amateurs, of all ages?
we often despair of the state of the game - perhaps, in a
nutshell, things like this are the root cause.
regards,
gnr
p.s. - in no way is this intended to be anti- man u
#Post#: 106547--------------------------------------------------
Re: bruno fernandes - premier league player of the season
2025-26
DIR By: rustyref
Date: May 23, 2026, 1:51 pm
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--- Quote from: gooner link ---
>
> hi,
>
> i'm sure we have all seen the news that manchester united's
captain, bruno fernandes, has been named as the premier league's
player of the season 2025-26 - congratulations to him - 20
assists in 34 games is a record breaking achievement in the PL
era.
>
> the award's recipient is chosen by a panel assembled by the
league's sponsors consisting of members of "football's governing
bodies, the media and fans" - you would think that this group
would represent a fair cross section of views, ages, backgrounds
and loyalties - so everything is perfect...
>
> ...or is it?...
>
> how can such an unsporting player be placed at the pinnacle of
the profession? how can a player who frequently feigns injury be
taken at face value? how can a player (who is a captain) show
such blatant contempt for officials' decisions? how can a player
who frequently harasses the ref get away with it? is this the
type of behaviour we should reward? what message does it send to
other players, both professional and amateurs, of all ages?
>
> we often despair of the state of the game - perhaps, in a
nutshell, things like this are the root cause.
>
> regards,
>
> gnr
>
> p.s. - in no way is this intended to be anti- man u
>
--- End Quote ---
Because the award isn't made by referees. I suspect if you
spoke to most neutral football supporters they would say that he
deserved to win it, Arsenal fans might disagree because they
feel Declan Rice was better, and Liverpool and Man City fans
would never agree with a Man Utd player getting an award, but
aside from that I think most would agree.
From a referee's perspective, it can be difficult to watch but
that is down to the match officials to deal with, and they are
probably hamstrung by the guidelines they are given from above.
But I don't think we can go down the route of saying a player
shouldn't get an award because he moans to referees.
#Post#: 106548--------------------------------------------------
Re: bruno fernandes - premier league player of the season
2025-26
DIR By: Whistleblower
Date: May 23, 2026, 1:55 pm
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If the award were given for sportsmanship then it would indeed
be a travesty but it isn't and perhaps it shows how little
sportsmanship is valued in the modern senior professional game,
which is one of many reasons why I have grown tired of it.
#Post#: 106555--------------------------------------------------
Re: bruno fernandes - premier league player of the season
2025-26
DIR By: flipmode
Date: May 23, 2026, 7:05 pm
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In my unbiased opinion I can honestly say that Fernandes didn’t
deserve this award.
#Post#: 106561--------------------------------------------------
Re: bruno fernandes - premier league player of the season
2025-26
DIR By: gooner
Date: May 24, 2026, 6:19 am
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--- Quote from: rustyref link ---
>
> I suspect if you spoke to most neutral football supporters
they would say that he deserved to win it,..but aside from that
I think most would agree.
>
--- End Quote ---
hi,
demonstrably NOT correct - indeed it was the fact that so many
of my accquantancies (both united, non-united and no preference)
felt he DIDN'T deserve it, that i made my original post. almost
as one, they felt that bruno fernandes epitomises everything
that is wrong with the modern game. if you had to create an
example of the most un-sportsmanlike person, he would be the
one.
--- Quote from: rustyref link ---
>
> Arsenal fans might disagree because they feel Declan Rice was
better...
>
--- End Quote ---
i have no arsenal candidate in mind, although i do agree declan
rice appears to be a better role model for the sport. if you had
to choose, surely it would have to be someone who performs to
the best of their ability week in week out even when decisions
and results don't seem to be going their way, not someone who is
petulant and stroppy. looking at the league table, bournemouth
and brighton are way above where most thought they would be come
the final day of the season. what about sunderand, who most
expected to be straight back down? maybe a player from villa or
forest or palace who have all done exceptionally well
representing the EPL in europe this season?
maybe i'm flogging a dead horse but surely we all, refs
included, instinctively know when things are morally wrong and
it must be our duty to point this out.
regards,
gnr
#Post#: 106593--------------------------------------------------
Re: bruno fernandes - premier league player of the season
2025-26
DIR By: rustyref
Date: May 24, 2026, 9:27 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: gooner link ---
>
> [quote author=rustyref link=topic=8061.msg106547#msg106547
date=1779562299]
> I suspect if you spoke to most neutral football supporters
they would say that he deserved to win it,..but aside from that
I think most would agree.
>
--- End Quote ---
hi,
demonstrably NOT correct - indeed it was the fact that so many
of my accquantancies (both united, non-united and no preference)
felt he DIDN'T deserve it, that i made my original post. almost
as one, they felt that bruno fernandes epitomises everything
that is wrong with the modern game. if you had to create an
example of the most un-sportsmanlike person, he would be the
one.
--- Quote from: rustyref link ---
>
> Arsenal fans might disagree because they feel Declan Rice was
better...
>
--- End Quote ---
i have no arsenal candidate in mind, although i do agree declan
rice appears to be a better role model for the sport. if you had
to choose, surely it would have to be someone who performs to
the best of their ability week in week out even when decisions
and results don't seem to be going their way, not someone who is
petulant and stroppy. looking at the league table, bournemouth
and brighton are way above where most thought they would be come
the final day of the season. what about sunderand, who most
expected to be straight back down? maybe a player from villa or
forest or palace who have all done exceptionally well
representing the EPL in europe this season?
maybe i'm flogging a dead horse but surely we all, refs
included, instinctively know when things are morally wrong and
it must be our duty to point this out.
regards,
gnr
[/quote]
Interesting, in my WhatsApp mates chat the only ones that don't
think Ferdnandes deserves it are the three Liverpool fans,
everyone else thinks he does. But I'm the only referee in
there, and there are no Arsenal fans despite us all becoming
friends whilst living in North London.
Agree on the role model comment, but footballing awards aren't
given out on who is the best role model, it is purely on
footballing ability. Fernandes has 21 assists (a Premier League
record) and 8 goals this season in a team that weren't very good
for much of the season, that means he was directly involved in
44% of their goals. I don't like his antics, and I wish PGMO
referees would deal with his dissent more harshly, but I don't
see how there is any doubt about his footballing ability and
that is what the award is based on. Same as Arteta will almost
certainly win manager of the year, his touchline behaviour is
amongst the worst but he's won the league and might tet also win
the Champion's League.
#Post#: 106640--------------------------------------------------
Re: bruno fernandes - premier league player of the season
2025-26
DIR By: Joecphillips
Date: May 25, 2026, 7:15 am
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I'm not sure how he has managed to keep the assists record, the
ball hits the bar travels away from goal and goes in off the
keeper
#Post#: 106651--------------------------------------------------
Re: bruno fernandes - premier league player of the season
2025-26
DIR By: TheThingFromLewes
Date: May 25, 2026, 10:13 am
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I shall abstain from commenting on this as any honest thoughts I
portray on this individual will be removed and will probably end
up with me getting a banning notice in my e mail box!
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