2003-04

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

WINNER: Steven Gerrard

Runners-up: 2nd Jamie Carragher, 3rd Michael Owen

Wooden Spoon: Salif Diao

Most Controversial Players: Vladimir Smicer, Emile Heskey

Nicest Bastard: Mark Scanlon

Nastiest Bastard: Andy Philip

Overall average was 5.6 compared to 6.0 in 2003, 6.9 in 2002, 7.5 in 2001, 6.5 in 2000, 5.6 in 1999 and 5.7 in 1998.

The previous lowest average mark was 4.5 given by Stephen Farnsworth in 1999.

Player ratings

10 - world class

1. Steven Gerrard

Av. 9.70, Hi 10, Lo 9

(2003: 7th with 7.38; 2002: 7th with 7.84; 2001: 2nd with 9.43; 2000: 2nd with 8.47; 1999: 5th with 7.16)

Well, the result was never in doubt, just the margin of victory. A new highest-ever score, just beating Sami's 9.67 three years ago. It could have been even higher with four 11's, a 12, a 1 x 10⁵³ and a 1 x 10⁵⁴ awarded or suggested (or it could have been lower if these votes had been disqualified for being out of the stated range - spoilsport independent electoral observer). Those who gave less than 10 cited a poor first half of the season and a lack of goals among the reasons. Some people really do want jam on it! Highest praise came from Sam Johnstone: 'for me the best Liverpool player I have ever seen. Yes, he's dislodged Kenny and Digger in my all-time list. In a season personified by the laissez faire attitudes of the new boys, Stevie has shone as the real thing. His effort, belief, pride and professionalism have been the only pleasing aspects of this season.'  But then there was the comment  'I'm hard pushed to remember when another Liverpool player has displayed such non-stop brilliance' from Chris Hadley. Simply monstrous.

 

9 - excellent season

 

no-one

 

8 - good season

2. Jamie Carragher

Av. 7.98, Hi 10 Lo 6

(2003: 10th with 6.43; 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)

It is sometimes necessary to go without before you really miss some things - Carragher proved his worth in his absence this year and looked a better player when he came back - 'another season of total dedication and professionalism' said Chris Hadley. A 10 from Stephen Davis ('world class is all three positions') and just one 6 from Andy Philip (presumably reflecting the fact that he was only here in parts).

7 - on balance, a successful season

3. Michael Owen

Av. 7.10, Hi 10, Lo 4 

(2003: 2nd with 8.59; 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)

There were problems assessing Owen's season. Top goalscorer and clearly still a class act, hence 10 from Jeff Quantrill ('like it or not the lad's still top scorer this season, special praise for his "won't do a Bosman" quote'). Clearly lacking in either confidence or enthusiasm or both, hence the 4 from Chris Hadley, who commented 'he seems to require an extraordinary number of games to reach full sharpness after each break ... he's been ... missing chances that my granny would have scored. And ... there's also the penalty fiasco ...' or the comment from Paul Clough when awarding 6 that 'given his ability it should be a 4'.

4. Sami Hyypia

Av. 7.02, Hi 8, Lo 6

(2003: 8th with 6.68; 2002 2nd with 9.41; 2001: 1st with 9.67; 2000: 1st with 9.44)

A general consensus that, while not quite the colossus of yesteryear, Sami is still a valuable member of the team and the dignity with which he relinquished the captaincy, the fact that he has never spoken out of turn and his only public comments are about how happy he is at the club all add to the respect.

5. Dietmar Hamann

Av. 6.62, Hi 8, Lo 5 

(2003: 3rd with 7.68; 2002: 6th with 8.57; 2001: 9th with 7.93; 2000: 9th with 6.79)

The Didi debate has quietened this year (too many other issues) but quiet efficiency is still his main virtue. Only Gaz Copp, with the only 8, see him as essential in the future, while Brian Lewis and Mike Taylor gave the only 5s. A general feeling that we need someone who can do a little more than just be quiet and efficient - 'his presence inhibits Proper Football' commented Mike Taylor.

6. Jerzy Dudek

Av. 6.52, Hi 8, Lo 5

(2003: 12th with 6.32; 2002: 1st with 9.52)

A general feeling that Jerzy has done well to rehabilitate himself and is on his way back to reliability, if not the spectacular form of two years ago. Note that his mark is only 0.2 higher than last year though. Stephen Davis and Kev Howson were most impressed by Dudek's revival, but there several 5s.

6 - a qualified success, good in parts

7. Harry Kewell

Av. 6.18, Hi 7.5, Lo 4

There is no doubt that the end-of-season poll is biased towards end-of-season form. At the beginning of the season Kewell was probably our best player, and as Stephen Davis said 'over 10 goals from open play can't be knocked.' But, after missing games at Christmas, he came back and was never quite the same, apparently because he was carrying an injury (so why wasn't he fixed once it was obvious we couldn't win anything?). Paul Tomkins, with 7.5, presumably had the best memories of early season form, while Ian Fletcher was least impressed.

8. Florent Sinama-Pongolle

Av. 6.04, Hi 8, Lo 5

'Not yet ready - Ged was right' said Sam Johnstone and most people spoke of potential rather than achievement.. Mark Scanlon was most impressed, but there were several 5s. I thought Flo Po lacked a cutting edge in front of goal, but managed to create a lot of opportunities. Not the finished article, then - although Owen was much closer at the same age.

9. Antony le Tallec

Av. 5.98, Hi 8, Lo 4

Again, Mark Scanlon was most impressed, but Andy Philip had the least favourable view. I thought Tony le T had a couple of reasonable spells in the team, but both the French starlets faded from view once the going got tough at the end of the season.

10. Milan Baros

Av. 5.96, Hi 7, Lo 5

(2003: 4th= with 7.63) 

A non-season for poor old Milan, with the leg-break and then a lack of opportunities. Although he was young player of the season on the Offal, there was a general feeling that he should have delivered a bit more by now if he really was the 'Ostravan Maradona'. The narrow ranges of marks reflects the fact that many people felt there wasn't much to judge by.

11. Stephane Henchoz

Av. 5.78, Hi 7, Lo 4

(2003: 4th= with 7.63; 2002: 4th with 8.95; 2001: 7th with 8.23; 2000: 3rd with 8.46)

Most of Stephane's supporters have faded away, with nothing more than 7 this year and a general feeling that perhaps he has been found out or is past his best. Paul Bird and Sam Johnstone were definitely of the opinion that his time has come.

12. Chris Kirkland

Av. 5.72, Hi 8, Lo 4

(2003: 6th with 7.43)

Hmmm - the amazing glass 'keeper. Looks good when he plays but loses marks for his frailty. You want a keeper you can rely on - not only to make saves but to be able to do that without breaking fingers. So Jeff Quantrill, with the only 8, was presumably judging entirely on form, while Gaz Copp and Andy Nix were looking at reliability.

5 - pretty average

 

13. Danny Murphy

Av. 5.48, Hi 7, Lo 3

(2003: 1st with 8.75; 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)

'Season after season of mediocrity, excellent last season, and now back to mediocrity again.' lamented Andy Pearson. Danny's worth was still stressed by some and his winner at Old Trafford drew praise, but his curious lack of mobility outweighs his occasional flashes of vision in most people's eyes. So, three supporters gave 7s, but just 3 from Chris Hadley.

 

14. John Arne Riise

Av. 5.40, Hi 8, Lo 4

(2003: 13th with 6.00; 2002: 5th with 8.71)

A terrible early season was, just about, rescued by an improvement towards the end, an improvement which clearly impressed Mark Scanlon, with 8, more than Andy Nix or Chris Hadley, with the two 4s. Let's hope he may still recover from Norwegian one-season wonder syndrome.

 

15. Jon Otsemobor

Av. 5.24, Hi 7, Lo 3

Generally, not enough to judge was the opinion. 'One dazzling run down the wing and that was that,' said Andy Pearson. I have to say that I thought he was no more than average when I saw him and he is more likely to follow Stephen Wright than Jamie Carragher, an assessment that Mark Scanlon would most likely disagree with, but Andy Nix would not argue with.

16. Vladimir Smicer

Av 5.00, Hi 8, Lo 1

(2003: 17th with 4.75; 2002: 16th with 5.80; 2001: 16th with 6.63; 2000: 19th with 4.93)

A slight improvement on last year, but still a controversial player - as controversial as Heskey, in fact! Stephen Davies really stuck his neck with the only score above 6 and the comments 'our best impact player from the bench by far. Consistent performances throughout his typically, annoyingly, injury-broken season', but even some supporters suggest that he is just not strong enough for the Premiership, while there were ignominious 1s from Ian Fletcher, Andy Philip and Andy Nix.

17. Igor Biscan

Av. 4.76, Hi 7, Lo 3

(2003: 16th with 5.11; 2002: 21st with 4.82; 2001: 18th with 5.73)

A run in the side has done nothing to improve our appreciation of Igor. I couldn't decide whether his anonymity in most games was a good thing or not. The best central defenders should be like referees and Didi Hamann - so efficient you don't notice them - but several high profile mistakes soon put us right, culminating with the sending off at Marseille ('his one moment of note was getting us knocked out of the UEFA Cup' mourned Andy Pearson). Paul Tomkins, with the only 7, would beg to differ, but there were four 3s from EBs who presumably expect us to add a centre-half to our summer shopping list. One of the most frightening comments came from Jeff Quantrill ' I think Igor  will be with us for a while, it wouldn't surprise me to see him taking on Didi's role next year.'!

18=. Steve Finnan

Av. 4.56, Hi 6, Lo 0

'Nothing special' said Andy Pearson. He just wasn't what we expected was he? Some efficient early performances and a few improved outings at the end of the season sandwiched some very poor performances but he wasn't the rampaging full-back we'd been led to expect. A few 6s, but two 2s and 0 from Ian Fletcher.

18=. Emile Heskey

Av. 4.56, Hi 8 Lo 1

(2003: 18th with 4.36; 2002: 11th with 6.96; 2001: 8th with 8.03; 2000: 12th with 6.21)

Well he's gone, but not amid further controversy with a real mish-mash of scores from Mark Scanlon's 7 to Andy Philip's 0.

4 - rather poor

 

20. Djimi Traore

Av. 3.92, Hi 6 Lo 1

(2003: 11th with 7.32; 2002: n/a; 2001 19th with 5.20)

We almost warmed to him last season, but a Zico-esque goal and some unremarkable performances at left-back (unremarkable is supposed to be a compliment!) did nothing to convince us that he has a future at Anfield. 'We should have sent him to Blackburn and kept Babbel' commented Jeff Quantrill.  Only Paul Tomkins could give a 6, but there were 1s from Ian Fletcher and Chris Hadley.

21. Bruno Cheyrou

Av. 3.76, Hi 5, Lo 0

(2003: 19th with 3.29)

A couple of goals were enough to raise last year's average but not by much. A goal at Old Trafford is not enough to endear a player to us (not even three winning goals - ask Danny Murphy). A few 5s, but 0s from Sam Johnstone and Andy Philip. Bye bye.

3 - awful

22. El Hadji Diouf

Av. 3.16, Hi 6, Lo 0

(2003: 14th with 5.73)

Even at the beginning of the season the 'new-improved' Diouf had little end-product. Getting tripped in the box was the best option as passing, crossing and, God forbid, shooting (from a striker!! - unthinkable) were options that never seemed to occur to the twice African Player of the Year. That's before we even mention attitude - 'as if the headless chicken play wasn't bad enough, the lack of professionalism and lack of dedication to Liverpool Football Club make him a "must go"' said Brian Lewis. 'The serial killer,' scoffed Jeff Quantrill, ' with all the menace of a honey nut loop.' A 6 from Chris Khalil (and even Mark Scanlon gave 5 - eh?) but there was even a -1 from Chris Hadley. On his way out, we all hope.

2 - diabolical

23. Salif Diao

Av. 2.24, Hi 4, Lo 0

(2003: 15th with 5.18)

Nice goal in the last World Cup. Five 0s.

Voted on in the past but ineligible this year:

Neil Mellor (2003: 9th with 6.46); Markus Babbel  (2003: 20th with3,14; 2002: n/a; 2001: 3rd with 9.23)