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Football League Awards: Matej Vydra named Player of the Year

Last updated on .From the section Footballcomments135

Watford's Matej Vydra

Watford striker Matej Vydra has been named Championship Player of the Year at the Football League Awards.

The 20-year-old Czech, one of Watford's loan signings from Italian side Udinese, beat off competition from Crystal Palace forward Glenn Murray and Blackpool winger Tom Ince.

Vydra has scored 20 goals this season to spearhead the Hornets' bid for promotion under Gianfranco Zola.

There was consolation for Ince who was named Young Player of the Year.

The 21-year-old, now managed by his father Paul, has hit 18 goals despite Blackpool's struggles this season and pipped Vydra and last year's winner, Crystal Palace's Manchester United-bound winger Wilfried Zaha, to the award.

He said: "It's been a whirlwind 18 months for me. It's been fantastic. I left Liverpool to get games in the Championship and I'm enjoying it at Blackpool.

"It's a proud moment for me and my family."

The League One Player of the Year award went to Matt Ritchie, who started the season with Swindon before moving to their promotion rivals Bournemouth in January, with Port Vale's 25-goal striker Tom Pope collecting the League Two honour.

Bradford boss Phil Parkinson was rewarded for his side's remarkable run to the Capital One Cup final with the Outstanding Managerial Achievement award.

He said: "I'm very honoured to receive this award. My name might be on it but it is a team award - not just the team on the pitch but the team off it as well."

Former England goalkeeper Peter Shilton, who played more than 1,000 Football League matches, received the Contribution to League Football award.

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135 comments

  • Comment posted by User0342164241, at 09:14 25 Mar 2013

    How can a 20 year old win the Player of the Season, yet a 21 year old won the Young Player of the Season? Shouldn't Vydra have got both awards?

  • Comment posted by User0175979809, at 09:07 25 Mar 2013

    Brilliant player and well deserved award. The quality of his goals this season has been outstanding. All from a player on loan, Cue another rant from Ian Holloway and palace fans

  • Comment posted by sydneyhorn, at 09:14 25 Mar 2013

    Well done Matej!

    One of the most complete strikers I've ever seen. Speed, strength, skill and clinical finishing...he's got it all.

    A future superstar without a doubt.

  • Comment posted by iamthebatman, at 10:24 25 Mar 2013

    Why is this award decided before the end of the season? so many big games left! What if Murray hits 2 hat-tricks and spear heads palace into the prem, likewise Vydra could do the same. However congratulations to Vydra, definitely the best player this season!..... so far

  • Comment posted by James, at 13:06 25 Mar 2013

    Palace fan here. Congratulations to Vydra, well deserved. Whilst Murray's been a revelation at Selhurst Park this season, I'm not even definite that he's been our player of the season. So no complaints.

    However, it's absurd that these awards are given out when the play-off finals are more than 2 months away.

  • Comment posted by User0175979809, at 09:20 25 Mar 2013

    If you take into consideration the number of penalties Glen Murray has scored then the right man won............simples

  • Comment posted by Geijo lets go, at 16:09 25 Mar 2013

    I won't take lectures on transfer etiquette from Palace fans. Man United have paid you to keep an expensive promotion-chasing team together. If Zaha wasn't sold, someone else would've been. Furthermore, United are taking the risk of Zaha getting injured.

    Whether he should have won or come 2nd/3rd is a moot point. Today is the day to celebrate the fantastic season that Vydra has unquestionably had

  • Comment posted by James M, at 10:18 25 Mar 2013

    And to everyone moaning that Glenn Murray not winning, I understand your surprise that he didnt win, but don't take anything away from Vydra, he's been in stunning form and consistently performing

  • Comment posted by Zola is god, at 09:16 25 Mar 2013

    I see the ranting has started on the Palace forums about loans etc, WFC have done nothing wrong you crunchers, broken no rules, OK then says Hollowhead, it's morally wrong, OOps Mr Zaha sold to Man U then loaned back, is this not morally wrong circumventing the " Pre-contract signing rule " that both Palace and Zaha were not entitled to do this season, get over it or feel the backlash at Wembley.

  • Comment posted by Baxtero Rodriguez, at 17:45 25 Mar 2013

    Watford have just done what every other Football League club wishes they could. I'm not a Watford fan, but I am a fan of their clever interpretation of the rule book. Are we saying that only clubs with predominantly permanent signings deserve awards? They still have to perform in a ridiculously tough league week in, week out.

  • Comment posted by Cool Dude Thomas, at 11:15 25 Mar 2013

    It's brilliant all these people saying vydra shouldn't have won the player of the year, you're all right Almen Abdi is by far watford's and the divisions best player

  • Comment posted by stuart wallace, at 13:34 25 Mar 2013

    Grow up lads I have supported WFC since 58 and we have gone through good and bad times but we were always known as the Giant Killers in the FA Cup. We've had some cracking players and some not so good players but it has always been an honest Club, To all those Elton Taylor Made Army members he is 66 today happy birthday Elton and thanks for the memories!!

  • Comment posted by User0117013480, at 15:55 25 Mar 2013

    Some absolutely ridiculous comments on this page. Most notably 61. Stuart.

    The rule regarding loan players is exactly the same for all clubs... it's funny how at the start of the season nobody seemed to care and thought it would actually be a hindrance to have the loanees in but now WFC are flying high it's 'underhand tactics'.

    As for Holloway, worst and most whiny personality in football!

  • Comment posted by Tom, at 12:03 25 Mar 2013

    Don't understand this obsession with goal-scoring as the be-all and end-all of deciding who the best player is at the moment. It's the same in the Premiership where seemingly only Bale, Suarez and van Persie are being considered.

    There are far more influential players in different positions who play their role just as well, without taking the plaudits for hitting the target.

  • Comment posted by Yoosername123, at 11:50 25 Mar 2013

    People might not agree with the way Watford have done things, but they have broken no rules. Holloway is just annoyed he cannot do it & it could cost Palace promotion, the best 2 teams will go up and the luckiest will win the playoffs thats football. He should be more annoyed that a non English club look like winning promotion from a league they should not be in.

  • Comment posted by James M, at 10:01 25 Mar 2013

    @5.

    It's like last year with Sergio Aguero being nominated for Player of the year, but didnt win Young Player of the year despite none of the other young players being nominated for the top award.

    Sidenote, Credit to Vydra and Ince who are both deserving of recognition

  • Comment posted by pineapplemike, at 09:52 25 Mar 2013

    11.tleaf100, obviously a L*t*n fan. I wouldn't call Vicarage Road a dump, sure it's not Old Trafford. So where was all this money floating around? I've missed something as it's been a stated aim, when money is available, to sort the East Stand out. As I said, when available. Nothing worse than bitter and jealous fans....

  • Comment posted by User0957268766, at 12:42 25 Mar 2013

    So scoring the most means that Murray deserves player of the season? Based on your logic, jealous Palace fans, should we be top of the table since we've scored the most goals?

  • Comment posted by Yoosername123, at 10:03 25 Mar 2013

    Now lets hope he fires the goals that stop the odious little Ian Holloway getting promotion.

  • Comment posted by Wicket the Cat, at 13:26 25 Mar 2013

    I believe Mile Jedinak has been Palace's POTY so far, so influential on the team as a whole. Without him Palace would rarely have the ball to even get it to Murray.
    Afraid it's all about the goals though.

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