2005-06

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

WINNER: Steve Gerrard

Runners-up: 2nd Jamie Carragher, 3rd Xabi Alonso

Wooden Spoon: Josemi

Most Controversial Players: Djibril Cisse, Jose Reina

Nicest Bastard: Jeff Quantrill

Nastiest Bastard: Lemmy

Overall average was 6.7 compared to 6.1 in 2005, 5.6 in 2004, 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 lowest average mark was 4.3 given by Andy Philip in 2004.

The highest average mark was 8.6 given by John Anderson in 2001.

Player ratings

10 - world class

1.  Steven Gerrard

Av. 9.88, Hi 10, Lo 8

(2005: 3rd with 8.06; 2004: 1st with 9.70, 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)

Last year complicated; this year easy. Only Andrew Fraser and Paul Clough with 9.5 and Lemmy with 8 (a mark Steve Downing intimated he'd a given if he'd voted) gave less than 10 and the overall mark was a new record high. There has been debate over the years about what World Class means - in the World 1st XI?; coveted by other top clubs? To me it means, would we swap him for anyone else? And no we wouldn't. The fact that he is 'one of us' may bias us, but then Liverpool FC  is also about Liverpool the city.

 

9 - excellent season

 

[The Manager

Rafael Benitez

Av. 9.44 Hi 10 Lo 6

(2005: 8.65)

All 10s and 9s except for a 6 (that's six) from Lemmy. A general feeling that Rafa has learned from his mistakes of last year and improved but the final step to be made is winning the Premiership, although I would agree with those who say that perhaps that is a step too far with the current situation whereby Chelsea can buy their way to the title indefinitely. As Kev Howson said 'if they land #19 in today's league then anything but straight tens and a 999999999999999999999999999999999 for Rafa would be churlish.']

 

2. Jamie Carragher

Av. 9.18, Hi 10 Lo 7

(2005: 1st with 9.72; 2004: 2nd with 7.98; 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)

A general feeling that perhaps Jamie isn't quite world class (but still 6 10s were awarded) as his lack of pace will always hamper him but he has, in Mike Taylor's words ' made himself the very best player he could possibly be.'  The only people who didn't award 9 or 10 were Tze Ming-quek with 8.5 and (are you noticing a pattern here), Lemmy with 7.

3. Xabi Alonso

Av. 8.70 Hi 10 Lo 6

(2005: 2nd with 8.66)

More or less the same mark as last year and more 10s awarded (four no less): 'it's like someone has stuck Molby through a weight loss, pace inducing time machine' said Jeff Quantrill. There was a general feeling that he was not quite as good as we thought he can be, that there is maybe a little more to come. 'Not quite as inspirational as last season,' observed Gaz Copp, and 'didn't reach the heights of last season' commented Paul Clough but maybe with Momo and Stevie G he didn't need to be. Only  three votes of less than 8, the lowest being Lemmy's 6.

 

8 - good season

4. Jose Reina

Av. 8.42 Hi 10 Lo 4

An impressive first season, although as Jaron Collis said 'strangely, I can't remember him making that many saves!' but Paul Bird pointed out that 'you can't knock a keeper who keeps that many clean sheets.'  The fact that he gave off an aura of confidence was the key to his success, as we decided earlier in the season. Only Stephen Farnsworth awarded a 10 (but there was a 9.5 from Mike Taylor)  and no-one gave lower than 8 - except Lemmy who awarded a 4 (!!) which means Reina is officially joint most controversial player.

5. Momo Sissoko

Av. 8.33 Hi 9 Lo 6

Another impressive debut season, but there is a tendency in this poll to award promising debut season very highly and then become more critical in the future. Mainly 8s and 9s, just two 7s (one from me, the other from Paul Bird) and a 6 from Lemmy. Not denying his impact, but 'distribution is a bit wayward at times' as mentioned by Gaz Copp amongst others, although I would add cutting out the rash tackles and free kicks, and improving the disciplinary record, while Fletch asked 'can he just add 10 goals to his repetoire to become another Stevie G?' I rather doubt it at the moment.

 

6. Sami Hyypia

Av. 8.04, Hi 9, Lo 6

(2005: 7th with 7.50; 2004: 4th with 7.02; 2003: 8th with 6.68; 2002 2nd with 9.41; 2001: 1st with 9.67; 2000: 1st with 9.44)

Most people though that Sami was almost back to his imperious best, although Jeff Quantrill was worried that 'I fear we may not be able to replace him' while Paul Bird said 'it pains me to say it, but Sami's on the wane'. Several 9s, and the only 6 was from Lemmy.

7. Steve Finnan

Av. 7.84, Hi 9, Lo 5

(2005: 8th with 7.48; 2004: 18th= with 4.56)

Basically a repeat of last year - a slightly improved average, three 9s, as last year, and just one 5, from Stephen Farnsworth, as last year. Consistent and reliable, but does he add enough forward threat from right back would be my question.

8. John Arne Riise

Av. 7.64, Hi 9, Lo 5

(2005: 5th with 7.90; 2004: 14th with 5.40, 2003: 13th with 6.00; 2002: 5th with 8.71)

Like Finnan, very similar to last year, except with a few doubts emerging. The only 9s were from Chris Hadley and Stephen Farnsworth but the only 5 was from Lemmy. I though he did rather well once he was put at left-back and, unlike Finnan, he does have some offensive potential.

7 - on balance, a successful season

 

9. Luis Garcia

Av. 7.28 Hi 9 Lo 5

(2005: 4th with 8.02)

As said earlier, we tend to be harsher in the second season. So was Garcia that much poorer this season than last? He did seem more of a bit-part player but in a team that can be quite predictable at times he remains, along with Gerrard, one of the few players who can produce the unexpected: 'vital goals in vital games forgive his other sins' as Kev Howson put it. The only 9 was from Jeff Quantrill and the only 5 from Lemmy.

10. Dietmar Hamann

Av. 7.26, Hi 8, Lo 5 

(2005: 6th with 7.59; 2004: 5th with 6.62; 2003: 3rd with 7.68; 2002: 6th with 8.57; 2001: 9th with 7.93; 2000: 9th with 6.79)

Overshadowed by the emergence of Sissoko, Hamann's occasional appearances still gained a healthy mark. A few 8s and the only 5 was from ... oh, I think you know already don't you?

 

11. Robbie Fowler

Av. 7.24, Hi 8.5, Lo 5 

(2002: 15th with 5.91; 2001: 10th with 7.55; 2000: 14th with 5.64; 1999: 7th with 6.84; 1998: 14th with 5.55)

The prodigal son returns and we (almost) all smiled fondly and gave rosy-tinted marks - and quite rightly so IMO. 'Still deadly after all these years,' as Jaron Collis put it. Brian Lewis gave the only 8.5 but Stephen Farnsworth and Lemmy were the only ones to give less than 7.

12. Peter Crouch

Av. 6.71 Hi 8 Lo 3

It was a bit of an up and down season for the big lad. Generally surprised compliments for his early season link-up, worries about his failure to score, quiet contentment when he came good, but then an increasing disquiet with his failure to score regularly over the the rest of the season. As Mike Taylor rightly said 'when it comes right down to it, he only scores half as many goals as a Proper Striker would from the same chances. Sorry, Crouchy, but it's true.'  So, better than some people thought he was and 'not bad for a Plan B player' in Jaron Collis's words but hopefully not option A, as seemed to be the case at times at the end of the season. In the end just four 8s, but two 5s and a lowly 3 from Lemmy.

13. Harry Kewell

Av. 6.60, Hi 8, Lo 4

(2005: 27th with 3.17; 2004: 7th with 6.18)

Well, we acknowledge that this season was an improvement but was it good enough? Was he the player that was at Leeds? Did he score enough? Can anyone not be influenced by his failure to deliver on the big occasion, even if it was just bad luck? Some people were converted, with four 8s, while even the lowest mark of 4 from Stephen Farnsworth was 4 more than he got from the same source last year. But this year has to be make or break.

6 - a qualified success, good in parts

14. Florent Sinama-Pongolle

Av. 5.74, Hi 8, Lo 4

(2005: 13th with 6.16; 2004: 8th with 6.04)

We're consistent again here, giving very similar marks to last year, but with a slight decline as we begin to realise that he probably isn't going to take the step up. An 8 from Kevin Owens and 4s from Torbjorn Flatin and Lemmy

15. Stephen Warnock

Av. 5.66, Hi 7, Lo 4

(2005: 16th with 6.03)

Consistent and reliable back-up, and 'tackles hardest at the club maybe' said Fletch, while Jeff Quantrill said 'I think this kid would tackle a tank'  but unfortunately we cannot see much more of future for Warnock beyond useful back-up. But 'how did he get into an England squad?' asked Tze-Ming Quek. Severals 7s while the only 4 ... yeah, you know.

 

16. Jerzy Dudek

Av. 5.63, Hi 7, Lo 4

(2005: 9th with 6.90; 2004: 6th with 6.52; 2003: 12th with 6.32; 2002: 1st with 9.52)

Lots of sympathy for Jerzy: 'genuinely sad', 'I feel sorry for Jerzy', 'good luck to the lad', 'one year on, I still love him to death', 'it was a shame to be replaced so soon after THAT final.' Or from Brian Lewis 'He sat well. (Very sad after the heroics of May 25 2006, but the right thing for Rafa to do IMO).' Several 7s but the only 4 came from ...

17. Boudewijn Zenden

Av. 5.63 Hi 7 Lo 3

It's so long since he played that a few people had forgotten him - one person even refused to vote. Three 7s from people who remembered that he was just running into some form when he got injured but a 3 from Lemmy.

 

5 - pretty average

 

18. Jan Kromkamp

Av. 5.46 Hi 7 Lo 4

A good swap for Josemi but ... Okay he was played out of position at right-wing most of the time, rather than at right-back, but he has that Nunez factor to me ('what does he do well then?'). He was our only outlet in extra time in the FA Cup final but then he should have been as the fittest player and why did West Ham give him so much room - his failure to do anything useful with it failed to alarm then? If Ajax offer £3M I'd bite their hand off.

 

19. Djibril Cisse

Av. 5.40, Hi 8, Lo 2

(2005: 15th with 6.14)

Ah, the really controversial player. 'A worthy inheritor of the mantle of Heskey and Diouf,' as Mike Taylor scathingly put it, continuing 'I want Rafa to find the key and unleash the world-beater within ... but I can't quite make myself believe he will.' 'Add to this the biggest shrug on Merseyside... oh, I could go on, but frankly I'm bored with him and think it's time we got some dosh for him instead.' said Chris Hadley. I honestly thought his terrible sub appearance in the Chelsea semi-final, when he failed to close anyone down, got caught offside regularly and generally made things more difficult for his team - and then sulked about it - would be his last. He has his supporters, Jeff Quantrill awarded an 8 ('I know this will be controversial but I don't care'), but there were only two 7s and while I gave a 6 (because he was good in parts) I didn't really want to because when he's bad he's really, really bad. So, I'm surprised that Stephen Farnsworth's 2 was the lowest mark he got ('he did score about 20 goals - but he's still sh*te').

 

20. Djimi Traore

Av. 4.60, Hi 6 Lo 2

(2005: 12th with 6.22; 2004: 20th with 3.92; 2003: 11th with 7.32; 2002: n/a; 2001 19th with 5.20)

I think we've given up haven't we? 'Time to call Monsieur Houllier,' said Paul Bird. 'How he has contrived to stay at Anfield as long as he has despite looking impossibly uncomfortable in every position he has ever played is beyond me,' said Chris Hadley. A few 8s last year but just three 6s this year and a 2 from Stephen Farnsworth.

4 - rather poor

 

21. Fernando Morientes

Av. 4.39, Hi 6, Lo 2

(2005: 17th with 5.88)

We had a discussion during the season on the biggest transfer disappointment and I suggested Nando, but was told wait until he's completed his time at the club. Now he's gone, does he officially take on the mantle? Just one 6, from Kevin Howson, and a 2 from Lemmy.

22. Darren Potter

Av. 4.39, Hi 6, Lo 2

(2005: 20th with 5.18)

Another who I doubt will be given much chance next year. He's had his opportunity and he hasn't really impressed. Just one 6, from Tony Becker, and a 2 from Stephen Farnsworth.

23. Josemi

Av. 3.60, Hi 6, Lo 1

(2005: 25th with 4.52)

Adios! Just one 6, from Tony Becker again, but 1s from Gaz Copp and Stephen Farnsworth