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Nemanja Vidic of Manchester United
The superb form of Nemanja Vidic has helped Manchester United cope with the frequent absence of Rio Ferdinand. Photograph: Jason Cairnduff/Action Images
The superb form of Nemanja Vidic has helped Manchester United cope with the frequent absence of Rio Ferdinand. Photograph: Jason Cairnduff/Action Images

Player of the season: Premier League 2010-11 review

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Whom did we shortlist as some of the top-flight's best performers? And who are yours?
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Welcome to guardian.co.uk's review of the 2010-11 Premier League season. As the campaign draws to a close, we want you to help us find the most spectacular goal, biggest flop and best signing, as well as the winner in seven other categories. Our writers have nominated some contenders, but this is just the starting point for the conversation: we would like your suggestions so that we can compile the best into final polls that you can vote on. As the season obviously doesn't finish until Sunday afternoon, the nomination blogs will be open until later that evening, with the polls then open from Monday 23 May. Thanks.

Nemanja Vidic

"Perhaps if the Football Writers' Association voted for their player of the year by AV, then Vidic would have got the recognition he deserves," reflected David Pleat this month. Perhaps if the Yes to AV campaigners had used examples like this they would have got their referendum through. Even by his own high standards, the Serbian defender has been magnificent this season, taking on the Manchester United captaincy and holding things together at the back in a season which has seen his central defensive partner, Rio Ferdinand, miss almost half of United's games. When he's not doing that, Vidic even manages to chip in a few goals up front, including the one that effectively settled the title against Chelsea.

Luka Modric

Despite having Vidic in his team, Sir Alex Ferguson told reporters last month that he would have nominated a Tottenham man as his player of the season. Much as it may shock fans of running really really fast, he wasn't talking about Gareth Bale. He was referring to the brilliant Modric, whose contributions may have been less eye-catching than those of the Welshman – or even, indeed, his team-mate Rafael van der Vaart – but were also far more crucial to making Tottenham tick. The Croatian's ability, despite his size, to protect possession and select the right pass are almost unrivalled. If Tottenham were left cursing their strikers' failure to convert chances at key moments throughout the season, it was usually to Modric's credit that the opportunity had existed in the first place.

Peter Odemwingie

"Thanks West Brom," read the infamous racist banner, accompanied by a picture of a banana, displayed by Lokomotiv Moscow supporters after their club sold Odemwingie to the Midlands club. "Thanks Lokomotiv," read the response from the West Bromwich fans after the player opened his account against Sunderland. Since then Odemwingie has added a further 14 league goals – playing the starring role in what would once have appeared an unlikely rise to 11th. He is also the only person this season to have won the Premier League's Player of the Month award more than once.

Scott Parker

Some may disagree with the inclusion of a player from a team who will finish rock bottom of the Premier League, but it was not for naught that Parker picked up the Football Writers' prize. From scoring goals to dominating midfield and even giving half-time team-talks, Parker did just about everything a person could to keep the Hammers up. Unfortunately for him, there is just no place for a one-man team in the Premier League.

Charlie Adam

In the end Adam didn't even win Blackpool's own Player of the Season award – losing out to David Vaughan – but there's a tiny possibility that vote may have been skewed following the player's January transfer request. Adam's form may also have dipped after a startling start, but there's a reason Liverpool were interested in the first place. His vision and range made him the star attraction in a Blackpool team who dazzled the Premier League for months, and may yet be enough to save them from relegation.

Now check out the other nine categories:

Manager of the season

Goal of the season

Match of the season

Signing of the season

Flop of the season

Gripe of the season

Pundit of the season

Innovations needed for next season

League of the season

More on this story

More on this story

  • The Guardian football writers' awards for the 2010-11 Premier League season

  • Who are the best and worst of the 2010-11 Premier League?

  • Premier League 2010-11: The story of the season in pictures

  • Manager of the season: Premier League 2010-11 review

  • Match of the season: Premier League 2010-11 review

  • Goal of the season: Premier League 2010-11 review

  • Signing of the season: Premier League 2010-11 review

  • Flop of the season: Premier League 2010-11 review

  • Innovations for the future: Premier League 2010-11 review

  • Gripe of the season: Premier League 2010-11 review

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