As expected, Cristiano Ronaldo scooped the PFA player of the year award yesterday - edging out Didier Drogba into second place with Paul Scholes coming in third. It was widely expected he would win the award after a season in which his stature and performances have grown tremendously.

Not content with the overall award, Ronaldo - reminding us just how young he is, went home with the Young player award as well, the first person since Andy Gray back in 1977 to do so.

As well as the individual awards, the 'team of the year'  was also announced and in somewhat of a surprise. eight Manchester United players were sent to the all-star side with only Steven Gerrard, Dmitar Berbatov and Didier Drogba breaking the monopoly.

The team in full:

Edwin van der Sar
Gary Neville
Patrice Evra
Rio Ferdinand
Nemanja Vidic
Steven Gerrard
Cristiano Ronaldo
Paul Scholes
Ryan Giggs
Dmitar Berbatov
Didier Drogba

Whilst United have been at the forefront of the table all season, the selected team probably shows the lack of thought given to this by footballers in that they can return some players who have barely been above average to the side.

Edwin van der Sar has surely been outplayed by Carson, Foster and James at the very least whilst Patrice Evra has barely been a permanent fixture in the United side. Equally, the selections of Neville, Ferdinand and Scholes smack as being 'safe' selections rather than actually thinking outside of the top four for possible players.

It clearly shows what a powerful tool the media is and how players can also be affected by the profiles of those players who are constantly in the limelight - often at the disposal of the more unsung and off the radar players who perhaps are better deserving of such an honour.