God. I nearly spat out my coffee when I saw the Premier League Young Player of the Year nominations this morning. Arsenal's teenage prodigy Myles Lewis-Skelly - completely snubbed. Meanwhile his 24-year-old teammate William Saliba somehow makes the cut?
Make it make sense!
Audio Summary of the Article
When is "young" not actually... you know... YOUNG?
The Premier League's definition of "young" seems about as logical as my ex's explanation for why she needed to "find herself" (spoiler: she found my best mate's number instead). According to their rules, you qualify as "young" if you're 23 or under when the season kicks off. Which is how we end up with the bizarre situation of established internationals old enough to rent cars competing against actual teenagers.
Lewis-Skelly - just 18 years old and absolutely bossing it at left-back since December - has played 21 Premier League games this season. The kid even got called up to the senior England squad in March! Yet somehow he's watching from the sidelines while Saliba, who's been old enough to legally drink in America for three years, gets the nomination.
The Ridiculous Eight
So who did make this illustrious list? We've got Liam Delap (Ipswich), Anthony Elanga (Forest), Ryan Gravenberch (Liverpool), Dean Huijsen (Bournemouth), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Joao Pedro (Brighton) and Morgan Rogers (Villa) joining Arsenal's Saliba.
Palmer I get - he's been absolutely phenomenal for Chelsea. But some of these other selections... I mean, I watched Pedro play back in 2021. How is he still considered a "young player"?
I texted my Arsenal-supporting mate Dave about this whole situation. His response: "Premier League smoking something strong. Lewis-Skelly robbed in broad daylight."
Time for a rule change? (Spoiler: YES)
Look, I'm not saying Saliba hasn't been immense this season. The Frenchman has been a rock at the back for teh Gunners. But calling him a "young player" at 24 feels like when my 42-year-old brother still refers to himself as "in his late thirties."
Fans across social media are calling for change. One supporter summed it up perfectly: "They really need to rethink the 'Young' Player of the Season. Because not having Lewis-Skelly but having 24-year-old Saliba makes no sense."
Another suggested: "They need a Rookie of the Year award to go along side this for newcomers/younger players."
The stats don't lie (but apparently nominations do)
Back in 2018, I remember having a similar conversation about these awards with my editor. He bet me $20 that they'd eventually lower the age threshold. I'm still waiting to collect on that one.
What makes this whole situation even more frustrating is that Lewis-Skelly has genuinely been one of the breakthrough stars of the season. From nowhere to first-choice, the teenager has shown maturity beyond his years. Meanwhile, Saliba is in his third season as a Premier League starter.
Meanwhile, in the grown-ups' category...
Interestingly, Gravenberch has managed to snag nominations in both the young and senior Player of the Season categories after helping Liverpool secure the league title. His teammates Salah and van Dijk join him on the senior list alongside Morgan Gibbs-White, Chris Wood (yes, really), Alexander Isak, Bryan Mbeumo and Arsenal's Declan Rice.
I spent way too much time yesterday analyzing these nominations. Poor Lewis-Skelly.
Until the Premier League decides that "young" should actually mean, you know, YOUNG... we're stuck with this weird system where established internationals compete against actual teenagers who've just gotten their driver's licenses.
The whole thing's like a ghost at a family reunion - awkward, makes no sense, and nobody wants to directly address it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes the Premier League different from other European football leagues
The Premier League is distinguished from other European leagues by several factors, including its global appeal, financial strength, and competitive depth. The Premier league enjoys a wide international audience with lucrative TV rights deals. Premier League games are also unpredictable. Lower-ranked teams may have a chance to beat top sides on any given gameday. The intensity of the stadium atmosphere and the fast pace of the game also contribute to its unique identity.
What is Premier League football?
The Premier League is the top-tier football league in England and one of the most popular and competitive domestic football leagues in the world. It is played by twenty teams and follows a system of promotion/relegation in conjunction with the English Football League. Each team plays 38 home and away matches per season. The season usually runs from August to may. The Premier League is known for its high-quality football, international array of star players, and significant global following.
Do Premier League clubs have any financial regulations?
Financial Fair Play Rules (FFP rules) are part of the Premier League's financial regulations. They were designed to ensure that clubs do not spend beyond their means while promoting financial stability. These rules require clubs to limit their losses over a three-year period and to ensure that expenditures do not massively exceed their earnings from football-related activities. The regulations aim to promote responsible spending, and to maintain a competitive balance in the league.
What happens if a team finishes at the bottom in the Premier League?
The teams who finish the Premier League season in the bottom 3 positions are relegated into the Championship. This is the second division of English football. In their place, the top two teams from the Championship, along with the winner of the Championship playoffs, are promoted to the Premier League for the following season.
What is VAR's role in Premier League?
In the Premier League, the Video Assistant Referee system (VAR), which is used to assist on-field officials in making correct decisions about goals, penalties, red card incidents and cases of misidentification, is employed. The VAR analyses the footage in question, advises and guides the referee. Before making a decision, the referee has the option of viewing a playback on the pitchside screen. The system attempts to minimize the human errors which could impact the outcome of a football match.
Statistics
- Alan Shearer is the all-time top scorer in the Premier League with 260 goals across his stellar career.
- Manchester United holds the record for the most Premier League titles, having been crowned champions 20 times.
- Petr Čech set a remarkable defensive record during the 2004-2005 season with 24 clean sheets, the most by a goalkeeper in a single Premier League season.
- Arsenal boasts an unbeaten streak of 49 Premier League matches from May 2003 to October 2004, the longest in the history of the league.
- The record for the most goals scored in a single Premier League season by a player is 32, achieved by Mohamed Salah during the 2017-2018 campaign.
External Links
How To
How To Stream Premier League Games Online
The Premier League is now available online via multiple platforms. Sign up for a Premier League service, like NBC Sports or Sky Sports in the US. You will need a stable connection to stream high-quality content. Many services offer mobile apps so that you can watch the games while on-the-go. Check for geographical restrictions, and make sure you have a subscription in order to legally view the content.
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