2002-03

The highlights (for those who don't want to read much)

WINNER: Danny Murphy

Runners-up: 2nd Michael Owen, 3rd Dietmar Hamann

Wooden Spoon: Abel Xavier

Most Controversial Player: Emile Heskey

Nicest Bastard: Mark Scanlon

Nastiest Bastard: Andy Nix and Andy Philip

Overall average was 6.0 compared to 6.9 in 2002, 7.5 in 2001, 6.5 in 2000, 5.6 in 1999 and 5.7 in 1998.

Player ratings

10 - world class

no one

 

 

9 - excellent season

 

1. Danny Murphy

Av. 8.75, Hi 10, Lo 7 (2002: 8th with 7.55; 2001 11th= with 7.43; 2000: 13th with 5.86; 1999: 13th with 5.33; 1998: 6th with 6.90)

Previously, he's had the odd fan but a lot of detractors, but this season he carried the team at times and was deservedly the winner of the LFC-EB Player of the Season award. As I suspected, only two people (Tony Henshall and Mike Taylor) could dare call him world class ('we hardly ever a score a goal he's not somehow involved with' said Mr Taylor) and even Andy Pearson admitted he was 'always a doubter but this year he's won me round', but Andy Nix was still unconvinced.

2. Michael Owen

Av. 8.59, Hi 10, Lo 7 (2002: 3rd with 9.09; 2001: 4th with 9.13; 2000: 10th with 6.56; 1999: 1st with 8.54; 1998: 1st with 9.50)

The phrase 'form is temporary, class is permanent' summarises Mikey's season. He was totally out of touch at times, most noticeably during our good start to the season, and he may not be as speedy as he was a few seasons back, but he is the undoubted class, reflected in the fact that he got four maximum 10s, although Erling Baldorf and Andy Philip presumably judged him against his high standards in awarding 7.

 

 

8 - good season

3. Dietmar Hamann

Av. 7.68, Hi 9, Lo 7 (2002: 6th with 8.57; 2001: 9th with 7.93; 2000: 9th with 6.79)

The battle for 3rd place went almost to the last vote, and a few more voters could have changed things, but its nice to see Didi doing a Danny and gradually worming his way into our affections, despite initial scepticism. Officially, the least controversial player (all 8s and 7s except for 9s from Mike Taylor and Chris Hadley). His absence mid-season emphasised his importance to the team although, as Kay put it, that is 'if we have to carry on with the current tactics' (!). Opinions varied about his rumoured exit - some suggesting it would be 'criminal', others hoping it would herald a new set of tactics.

4=. Stephane Henchoz

Av. 7.63, Hi 10, Lo 6 (2002: 4th with 8.95; 2001: 7th with 8.23; 2000: 3rd with 8.46)

Absence makes the heart grow fonder, I suspect. Henchoz's injury-troubled season has meant that he missed most of our frequent disasters and comes through untarnished. At least that's my theory on his high rating. Okay, he didn't have any really bad games this season, and his consistency is laudable, but was he lucky in missing out on some horrible home defeats? Not in Steve Davis' opinion, a 10 with the comment 'world class when fit, looked an absolute class above most of the defenders in the league'.
 

4=. Milan Baros

Av. 7.63, Hi 9, Lo 6  

I'm glad he didn't finish in the top three. All those players who have got a top 3 place in the poll in their first full season have had disastrous careers - Heggem and Babbel struck down with career-ending injuries, Dudek was Corriganed into the reserves. As for Milan, the 'still-has-a-lot-to learn-but-is-trying-to-do-the-right-thing' debate has been covered on the list recently. Let's see what next season brings us.

 

7 - on balance, a successful season

6. Chris Kirkland

Av. 7.43, Hi 9, Lo 6  

His brief spell as custodian was enough to convince Jeff Quantrill and Paul Bird that he was the keeper for the future, as they awarded 9s, but the many 6s were presumably a reflection of the fact that, through no fault of his own, he still needs a longer spell as first choice for his true value to be assessed. Worries for the future though - who was the last 'keeper to improve while at Liverpool?

7. Steven Gerrard

Av. 7.38, Hi 9, Lo 4 (2002: 7th with 7.84; 2001: 2nd with 9.43; 2000: 2nd with 8.47; 1999: 5th with 7.16)

Third in the Offal online poll, 7th with the EBs. The debate started by Gaz Copp's infamous 4 has been covered - should we judge relative to other players or relative to expectation of the player's ability? His performance next year will be crucial to our aspirations. Outside the Treble season, Gerrard has received just one 10 - is that a true reflection of his value?

8. Sami Hyypia

Av. 6.68, Hi 8, Lo 5 (2002 2nd with 9.41; 2001: 1st with 9.67; 2000: 1st with 9.44; 1999: n/a; 1998: n/a)

A somewhat spectacular fall from grace. One bad season and five people say that he is only average, although he also received may 8s. Not as infallible as we thought, and with Henchoz's injuries, H&H's lack of pace and Hyypia's fallibility, central defence becomes a source of concern, where once we felt that this area, at least, was sorted.

 

6 - a qualified success, good in parts

9. Neil Mellor

Av. 6.46, Hi 8, Lo 5  

Three 5s, three 8s. Generally, most people were reasonably impressed, but frustrated by his failure to be given a run in the first-team. A typical rookies mark - it remain to be seen whether he will do a Steven Gerrard or a Stephen Wright.

10. Jamie Carragher

Av. 6.43, Hi 8 Lo 5 (2002 9th with 7.32; 2001 6th with 8.33; 2000: 11th with 6.50; 1999: 3rd= with 7.80; 1998: 5th with 6.90)

'Good in parts' was a description intended to mean that the player had some good games, some poor games. In Jamie's case it describes his overall contribution - good in defence ('Mr Consistency' in Sam Johnstone's words) but giving us almost nothing as an attacking force (did he really score on his debut!?).

11. Djimi Traore

Av. 7.32, Hi 8 Lo 4 (2002: n/a; 2001 19th with 5.20)

'Good in parts' again. Left back - no! Centre back - probably (but what about the Charlton goal at Anfield!!). Mark Scanlon and Kevin Howson (both awarding 8s) have been watching Djimi the centre back, but Tony Becker, who award the only 4, was watching Djimi the full back.

 

12. Jerzy Dudek

Av. 6.32, Hi 8, Lo 5 (2002: 1st with 9.52)

Last year - 'Comments along the lines of the best keeper in Europe/World/last 30 years were commonplace'. This year, he lets Diego Forlan score twice at Anfield. Hopefully, that's as low as any keeper can get. In general, many people gave him credit for coming back so well, especially Tony Henshall and Mike Humphrey, who awarded 8s. Presumably, even the word 'Forlan' still brings Jaron Collis out in a cold sweat, as he only award 5.

 

13. John Arne Riise

Av. 6.00, Hi 8, Lo 5 (2002: 5th with 8.71)

Good first season, poor second, although at least he hasn't done a Heggem/Babbel. Mike Taylor is still a big fan, with the only 8, but nobody wants to be too harsh.

 

14. El Hadji Diouf

Av. 5.73, Hi 7, Lo 4

Two goals on his home debut, equal top in number of assists, some decent performances once put out on the right wing, but not what we expect for our money and a two-time African player of the year. Three 7s, but Paul Bird and Andy Nix are not fans, as the latter pointed out  'all the diving, rolling about and spitting soured me'.

 

5 - pretty average

 

15. Salif Diao

Av. 5.18, Hi 6, Lo 3

A promising start, culminating with the goal at Leeds, and a great stop-gap right back performance in the Derby, but the Senegalese duo looked better playing the green of their country, than the red of their club. Several 6s, but Paul Bird doesn't seem to be fan of these fancy-dan African players. For every Yeboah there's been several Daniel Amokachi's.

16. Igor Biscan

Av. 5.11, Hi 6, Lo 3 (2002: 21st with 4.82; 2001: 18th with 5.73)

Surely any future at the club lies as a central defender, possibly just cover. Not according to Jaron Collis though

17. Vladimir Smicer

Av 4.75, Hi 6, Lo 1 (2002: 16th with 5.80; 2001: 16th with 6.63; 2000: 19th with 4.93)

Surely his time has come - four season of mediocrity and occasional flashes of something better. Nothing better than 6s. Andy Nix gave the only 1, but Sam Johnstone's 2 was accompanied by the comment 'We should have got shot last year, and I'm worried that Ged will keep the infuriating little monkey' (!).

 

 

4 - rather poor

 

18. Emile Heskey

Av. 4.36, Hi 8 Lo 1 (2002: 11th with 6.96; 2001: 8th with 8.03; 2000: 12th with 6.21)

He had to be here somewhere! Officially the most controversial player, with votes ranging from Mike Humphreys 8 to Andy Philip's 1. The whole Heskey debate has gone on ad infinitum (or is that ad nauseum) but even Heskey max only scored 8.03. His epitaph might be 'he's an awfully nice guy but ...'

 

3 - awful

 

19. Bruno Cheyrou

Av. 3.29, Hi 5, Lo 0

Unfortunately, while we have seen some good players go bad, we've never had a bad player come good (even the Danny Murphys were only middling, rather than bad). Soon to be off to Camp Diomede I suspect, despite his optimistic words about next season, and a surprising amount of optimism from some voters. The only 5s were from me and Erling Baldorf, but Andy Philip awarded a 0! As Chris Hadley pointed out, he' didn't quite score diabolical, because I did once see a sublime pass'.

 

20. Markus Babbel

Av. 3.14, Hi 5, Lo 0 (2002: n/a; 2001: 3rd with 9.23)

I almost changed the rules so that Markus was ineligible, because it is hardly fair to judge him on this season but, as Paul Tomkins predicted, there is no way back from the illnesses he suffered. He was one season away from being a Liverpool great (he has a place in the annexe of the Hall of Fame on his one season alone) but we have been robbed of truly world class player who could have given this year's team experience, maturity and width from defence. Even sadder to see him being badmouthed by Ged before he leaves, his attitude is due to frustration (ask Paul Tomkins) but Ged always does that before someone goes.

 

 

2 - diabolical

 

21. Abel Xavier

Av. 1.89, Hi 5, Lo 0 (2002: 17th with 5.39)

Worse than Sean Dundee!! The lowest ever ratings and no less than nine 0s - which, in Mike Taylor's words 'is harsh, but also fair' (!). It seemed funny pinching him off the blueslime, we were duped by the goal at Leverkusen but now, if Galatasaray can't afford him, we'll organise a whip round to pay for him to go! 'Gone and already forgotten' as Sam Johnstone said.