Source: Team_Talk
Picking out the northern star
The players have spoken - and now it's our turn. PFA Scotland's four-man shortlist has been revealed and here we take a closer look at the candidates.[LNB]SCOTT BROWN (CELTIC)[LNB]The hot favourite to win the award thanks to his all-action displays for club and country.[LNB]The 23-year-old has become a key player for the SPL champions since his big-money move from Hibs two years ago and in recent times has also established himself as a first-choice for Scotland.[LNB]He has been deployed on the right of midfield in the past but his best position is in the middle of the park. Discipline remains a slight problem while he needs to add more goals to his game - he has five in the league this season.[LNB]He has not been as good as some sections of the press would have us believe but if Celtic are to go on and win the league, his energy, tackling and runs forward from midfield will be a big factor.[LNB]GARY CALDWELL (CELTIC)[LNB]Caldwell would be my pick. Like team-mate Brown, Caldwell joined the Hoops from Hibs back in 2006 but only recently has he established himself as a key member of Gordon Strachan's squad, so much so he is now regarded by many as more dependable than captain Stephen McManus. [LNB]Strachan stood by Caldwell when he came under fierce criticism from fans and has been rewarded this season.[LNB]He may not be a stand-out in a team that wins much more than is loses but he has been a model of consistency and deserves to be among the nominees.[LNB]STEVEN DAVIS (RANGERS)[LNB]Many were surprised at Davis' nomination, especially given his recent far-from-impressive form.[LNB]His Rangers career started off superbly following his loan move from Fulham in January 2008 when playing in the heart of midfield but since then he has been shunted to the right-hand side and although he has performed admirably, he surely has not been player of the year potential.[LNB]His form in the last four or five weeks shows the peril of voting so early for the award and why the format must change if it is to win back its credibility.[LNB]The Northern Ireland international does have a fair amount of assists to his name, though, and should be a comfortable fourth in the voting for this award.[LNB]PEDRO MENDES (RANGERS)[LNB]Former Portsmouth and Tottenham midfielder Mendes has been a classy performer since his summer move from the English Premier League.[LNB]The Portuguese has been a stand-out in almost every home game for Walter Smith's side, although he has been posted missing on a number of occasions away from home. Though that may in part be down to his partnership with Barry Ferguson, a player similar in style. [LNB]His best performances have arguably come alongside Kevin Thomson, now injured, and Maurice Edu, with his recent spate of assists backing that up.[LNB]CONCLUSION[LNB]Had the voting come later in the season, St Mirren's Andy Dorman would surely have been in the running. The midfielder has netted nine of Saints' 28 league goals and has had a hand in a fair amount of others to almost single-handledly keep them up. Madjid Bougherra's absence from the nominees is a surprise as many would argue he has been Rangers' best player of the season while team-mate Kris Boyd has many critics - including myself - but with 26 league goals does it really matter what his outfield play is like? Boyd has ended three of the last four season's as the SPL's top scorer but has yet to be nominated for player of the year. The votes have been cast and the nominees revealed, though, and I'd come down on the side of Caldwell.[LNB][LNB]
