Following in the footsteps of previous winners Gary O’Neil,
Linvoy Primus and Wes Brown, Fulham man Murphy has simply continued
where he left off last season and been a major contributing factor
in the Cottagers’ amazing seventh-placed finish.
The 32-year-old scored a vital header which earned Fulham a 1-0
win over Portsmouth and kept the Cottagers in the top flight in
2007-08 and Murphy has gone from strength to strength this
term.
He has been an ever present for Fulham in the Premier League
this season, scoring five times – for what can only be described as
the most improved team in the top division.
Murphy has been Hodgson’s midfield kingpin – driving the
Cottagers forward and he is the one that Fulham look towards to
dictate the pace of the game. But the former Liverpool star, who no
argument about it, is in the form of his life, is not only Fulham’s
metronome, he also works like a Trojan breaking up the opposition’s
attack.
The Cheshire-born star loves to ‘get his foot in’ and he is
widely regarded as one of the best passers of a football in the
country.
Fulham chief Hodgson, who himself is shortlisted for TEAMtalk’s
Manager of the Year award, picked Murphy up in August 2007 from
Spurs for an undisclosed fee and he can’t have made too many better
signings.
Murphy has bounced back from indifferent spells with Charlton
and Tottenham but he’s been worth his weight in gold and only the
sublime talent of Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard have limited
Murphy’s England caps to just nine and he is a worthy winner.
A close second is Anfield’s unfashionable trooper, Dirk
Kuyt.
He’s not as pleasing on the eye as Murphy and has had his
detractors, but Kuyt’s had a tremendous season with Liverpool and
it’s hard to think of a top-flight star who gives more than the
Dutchman.
His work-rate is unrivalled and his versatility is also a major
reason why Rafa Benitez rates him so highly, but Kuyt, who has
signed a new contract, also has his fair share of class.
With 51 appearances to his name this season Kuyt has been a
model of consistency and he’s also chipped in with 15 goals as
Liverpool grabbed second spot in the Premier League and reached the
Champions League quarter-finals.