2006-07

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

WINNER: Jamie Carragher

Runners-up: 2nd Jose Reina, 3rd Javier Mascherano

Wooden Spoon: Gabriel Paletta

Most Controversial Player: Jermaine Pennant

Nicest Bastard: Mike Taylor

Nastiest Bastard: Stephen Farnsworth

Overall average was 6.1 compared to 6.7 in 2006, 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

No-one.

 

9 - excellent season

No-one.

 

8 - good season

1. Jamie Carragher

Av. 8.45, Hi 10 Lo 7

(2006: 2nd with 9.18; 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)

Jamie becomes the 4th player to win the award twice (after Owen, Hyypia and Gerrard), but no-one has ever won it three times. Just a single 10, from Kevin Howson - 'watch his performance against Ronaldinho at Anfield and tell me the lad isn't world class'. 'We have come to depend on Jamie', commented Chris Hadley, 'and have total confidence in his dependability.'  Just three 7s (2 from Fennoscandia, the other from Andy Nix). We all dream of a Team of Carraghers but, as Mike T reminded me, the great man himself pointed out that this would mean a lot of nil-nils.

2. Jose Reina

Av. 8.30 Hi 10 Lo 6

(2006: 4th with 8.42)

Pulled away from the pack in the end to finish a comfortable second, although it is worth noting that his average is slightly lower than last year. A shaky start to the season, but his performance against Chelsea was exemplary, even before the penalties: hardly anything to do but he when he did it, he did with confidence. Just two 10s, from Jeff Quantrill and Maura Clark, high praise indeed from Lemmy, whose 4 from last year rose to 8 this year, but just 6 from Matt Clark. 'It's clear that we have a top, top class keeper on our books,' summarised Chris Hadley.

3. Javier Mascherano

Av. 8.06 Hi 10 Lo 6

There was a dogfight for 3rd place, but who better to win a dogfight that the scrapping Argentinean who has shown that you can break up play AND pass the ball. His only 10 came from Gaz Copp and the two 6s were both from Finland (did I miss something or has Argentina just invaded the Aland Islands?). there was a general feeling that the acquisition of Mascherano was one of the coups of the season - but have we bought him yet?

4. Steven Gerrard

Av. 8.03, Hi 10, Lo 6

(2006: 1st with 9.88; 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)

Less than his impressive best, and I suspect that some people vote on him according to his own high standards, but as Ian Fletcher pointed out 'still shows everything you want in a footballer to try and score at one end and defend at the other.' 'Below par,' as Jaron Collis highlighed, 'but he's still the heartbeat of the side.' His only 10 this season came from Maura Clark, while there were 6s from Chris Khalil and Paul Clough, the latter calling him 'the most over-rated player since Bryan Robson'.

5. Daniel Agger

Av. 8.01 Hi 9 Lo 6

A late run saw Agger almost break into the top 3. Just four 9s, with Paul Clough commenting that 'displacing Hyppia from the back 4 has to be an excellent season by any standards' and Mike Taylor asking 'what more can you ask of a new centre-back stepping into Hyypia's shoes?' Stephen Farnsworth was out on a frequently occupied limb with the only 6.

6. Peter Crouch

Av. 7.66 Hi 9 Lo 4

(2006: 12th with 6.71)

How fickle are we? Last season we complained that we weren't even sure if he was plan B. This season we bemoan the fact that he wasn't used enough and that plan B wasn't used early enough in the Champions' League Final. Well most of us: there were still only 6s from Finland while Stephen Farnsworth gave 4 and commented 'he's tall, ugly and sh*te.'  In contrast, four 9s and the comment from Mike Taylor 'has scored several sublime goals, and plenty of messy ones, too. In short, it's not clear what he's done wrong to not be an ever-present. I wonder whether even after all this time the fact that he looks funny still counts against him.'

7. Steve Finnan

Av. 7.60, Hi 9, Lo 5

(2006: 7th with 7.84; 2005: 8th with 7.48; 2004: 18th= with 4.56)

Consistency all round. That was this year's overall opinion and his marks and placing were very similar to last year. The only 9s were from Jaron Collis and Tze-Ming Quek, the only 5s from Andy Nix and Stephen Farnsworth, although one of the latter's most splenetic outburst was reserved for Finnan: 'a work horse - but wouldn't get into the Man Utd or Chelsea teams. Good, solid, dependable squad player but ain't no Stevie Nicol.'

 

 

7 - on balance, a successful season

[The Manager

Rafael Benitez

Av. 7.49 Hi 9 Lo 5

(2006: 9.44; 2005: 8.65)

No 10s this year, and a general feeling that the difference between domestic and European form is beginning to worry. There were differences in opinion on how to deal with this discrepancy: a scatter of 9s; others gave marks for both Europe and domestic form and split the difference, while some gave 6 because the overall performance was only 'good in parts'. Marko went one further and gave the only 5.]

8. Dirk Kuyt

Av. 7.29 Hi 8 Lo 5

We are impressed by some things, but the lack of any mark higher than 8 tells a story. 'A fantastic debut where he looked like Keegan at his pomp, reminisced Ian Fletcher, 'but flitted in and out of form.' 'You've got to love him for his effort and his enthusiasm' said Kevin Howson. 'At the same time you've got to recognise that he is probably too slow and misses too many chances to really be the answer.' Great for the squad but hardly frightening for the top 2 when he's on the teamsheet. Chris Khalil is least impressed with the only 5.

9. John Arne Riise

Av. 6. 77, Hi 8, Lo 4

(2006: 8th with 7.64; 2005: 5th with 7.90; 2004: 14th with 5.40, 2003: 13th with 6.00; 2002: 5th with 8.71)

I'm a bit surprised here. I though Riise had a pretty good season and has made  himself an essential part of the team but clearly others disagree with me. Erling Baldorf maybe has the explanation: 'Not a full back and not a wide midfielder. Would be perfect in a 3-5-2!'  I was one of several giving an 8, but there were two 5s and even a 4 from Marko.

 

6 - a qualified success, good in parts

 

10=. Sami Hyypia

Av. 6.25, Hi 8, Lo 4

(2006: 6th with 8.04; 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)

His lowest mark since he arrived, but at least we have a capable replacement and he is a great back-up: 'it's a testament to the man as to how well he's played when he has had a game' as Jeff Quantrill pointed out. His only 8 was from Mike Taylor and his only 4 from Stephen Farnsworth.

10=. Jermaine Pennant

Av. 6.25 Hi 9 Lo 3

It will come as no surprise to learn that Pennant is the most controversial player. There was a body of opinion that he got better as the season went on, although he was erratic right to the end. 'Sees a lot of the ball,' commented Maura Clark 'does sod all with it.' His only 9 was partly in spite ('probably overall only worth a 7 but I like the way he overcame adversity and the stick of the Gerrard worshipping twats'), while he got a 4 from Matt Clark and a 3 from Chris Hadley: 'he's got pace and some tricks, but his final ball is woeful, his finishing is even worse, and he lacks the awareness and finesse to be a truly penetrating winger.'

 

12. Xabi Alonso

Av. 5.99 Hi 7.5 Lo 4

(2006: 3rd with 8.70; 2005: 2nd with 8.66)

We have already commented that it was poor season for Xabi - a goal from his own half was the highlight of his season and as Tze-Ming Quek pointed out 'he gave away possession far too often.'  His best mark was a 7.5 from Mike Taylor, his only 4 from Stephen Farnsworth: 'Fernando Alonso would have been more effective' was his pithy comment.

13. Alvaro Arbeloa

Av. 5.80 Hi 7.25 Lo 3

A good start out of position at left-back, a well-taken goal from a right-back and then it all started to go a bit pear-shaped, hence the low average. An exceedingly precise 7.25 from Kevin Owens was the highest mark, but there was a 3 from Stephen Farnsworth. Damned with faint praise from Gaz Copp: 'Better than the last Spanish RB we signed (!)'. Will he be another La Liga flop?

14. Luis Garcia

Av. 5.78 Hi 7 Lo 4

(2006: 9th with 7.28; 2005: 4th with 8.02)

Garcia's injury affected his rating with several voters commenting that they couldn't remember his early season form, although even then he was a bit-part player. Several people commented that we missed his trickery at the end of the season, when he would have been a shoe-in for leftwing. 'Frustrating at times, exhilarating at others, but always creative', as Chris Hadley reminded us. A few 7s but a 4 from Stephen Farnsworth.

15. Aurelio

Av. 5.60 Hi 7 Lo 4.5

Unlucky, but overall we felt we  hadn't seen enough to really know, so nearly everyone gave 5 or 6, the sole exceptions being a 7 from Mike Taylor and a 4.5 from Brian Lewis. A general feeling that he deserves another chance and was finding his feet, but the telling comment from Jaron Collis: 'the Brazilian Stig Inge Bjornebye, famous for crosses rather than defending.'

16. Momo Sissoko

Av. 5.59 Hi 8 Lo 3

(2006: 5th with 8.33).

I was pretty scathing last year in the face of almost universal approval, but his shortcomings have been revealed this season - £10M from Juve? I'd bite their hands off. I gave a 6 because he can break up play and did so very effectively against Barcelona - but passing? goalscoring? I don't see it. Mike Taylor gave the only 8 while Stephen Farnsworth gave the only 3.

 

5 - pretty average

 

17. Craig Bellamy

Av. 5.16 Hi 6.25 Lo 4

A big disappointment, but unfortunately not the biggest. 'Always looked at him as a player who could burn any defender with his pace, but he's come to us and I've not seen hardly any of that ability on show' as Ian Fletcher pointed out. 'More a play on the break type and not a "break them down" type' as Erling Baldorf commented. More harshly, Chris Hadley pointed that he 'doesn't have the finesse, subtlety, or vision to be effective once his pace has been nullified.' And if he is so fast why is he offside so often? Another precise mark of 6.25 from Kevin Owens was his highlight. A whole host of 4s (and several attempts at a 4 iron/fore! type golf joke) with the only surprise being that no-one was harsher given the low average.

 

18. Robbie Fowler

Av. 5.00, Hi 7, Lo 3 

(2006: 11th with 7.24; 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)

Thanks Robbie, but in the end of the season games he should have scored 2-3 goals and could have had half a dozen. He looked a pale shadow of his former self. Rose-tinted 7s from Mike Taylor and Ian Fletcher, a slightly harsh 3 from Kevin Howson - 'Ouch! It gives me no pleasure but it's time to retire and look after your houses lad.'

19. Boudewijn Zenden

Av. 4.81 Hi 7 Lo 3

(2006: 17th with 5.63)

Limited in his opportunities and in his abilities. A 7 from Ian Fletcher but 3s from Paul Bird, Matt Clark and Andy Nix. Mike Taylor damned him with faint praise: 'Did a solid job in the final, when a spectacular job was required.'

20. Stephen Warnock

Av. 4.74, Hi 7, Lo 1

(2006: 15th with 5.66; 2005: 16th with 6.03)

Several comments along the lines of 'more a Blackburn player than a Liverpool one' as Erling Baldorf stated. Disappointingly, he is the nearest we have had to an academy breakthrough since Gerrard. His only 7, from Tze Ming-Quek, was awarded for Blackburn performances (I should have made it clear, we mark on Liverpool performances only), while there was one of the usual 'he's left so he doesn't matter' 1s, from Stephen Farnsworth.

21. Mark Gonzalez

Av. 4.50 Hi 7 Lo 3

The biggest disappointment of the season. 'What exactly does this guy do? Looked completely lost most of the time,' said Brian Lewis.  The greatest young player in Chile is off to be a big fish in a small pond again. 'Hello, goodbye, good luck with a little club elsewhere,' as Jeff Quantrill said. A generous 7 from Maura Clark and 3s from Brian Lewis, Torbjorn Flatin and Andy Nix.

 

 

4 - rather poor

22. Danny Guthrie

Av. 4.46 Hi 6 Lo 1

A couple of abstentions, and several comments that the mark given was a default 5 as he was just lost amongst all the other mediocre players just above him in this list, he never had a chance to shine. Is this the future of academy players? Will we ever see Paul Anderson or Adam Hammill or Craig Linfield make a breakthrough? A couple of optimistic 6s from Kevin Howson and Ian Fletcher and a harsh 1 from Stephen Farnsworth.

23. Jerzy Dudek

Av. 3.75, Hi 6, Lo 2

(2006: 16th with 5.63; 2005: 9th with 6.90; 2004: 6th with 6.52; 2003: 12th with 6.32; 2002: 1st with 9.52)

Unfortunately, even when he was given he chance he looked poor.  A generous 6 from Maura Clark, but a clutch of 2s. 'Thanks for Istanbul and that,' pointed out Gaz Copp. 'Don't let the door hit you on the way out though.'

 

3 - awful

 

24. Gabriel Paletta

Av. 3.47 Hi 5.25 Lo 1

A hapless performance out of position at rightback against Arsenal sticks in the memory and reinforces the opinion of those who thought he needed to step up a level in Argentina first. 'Rafa obviously has faith in him', mused Erling Baldorf 'I haven't!' Can he claw his way back? The precise Kevin Owens, with 5.25, thinks that maybe he can. The Finnish duo of Marko and Lemmy are still worried the Aland Islands are under threat with 1s.