LFC-EB player of the year poll 2007-08

NB. to balance the team Arbeloa who was 13th has been placed in the team ahead of Crouch and Lucas

Average rating of the 1stX1 was 8.0 compared to 7.8 in 2007, 8.4 in 2006, 7.7 in 2005, 6.8 in 2004, 7.5 in 2003, 8.3 in 2002, 8.5 in 2001, 8.0 in 2000, 7.1 in 1999 and 7.0 in 1998

7.3 Mike Taylor
7.1 Andrew Fraser
7.1 Tony Mckenzie
7.0 Mike Pennington
6.9 Kevin Owens
6.8 Maura Clark
6.8 Chris Khalil
6.8 Erling Baldorf
6.7 Jaron Collis
6.7 Mark Scanlon
6.6 Ian Fletcher

6.5 Kevin Howson
6.4 Chris Hadley
6.2 Stephen Farnsworth
6.2 Stephen Downing
6.1 Gaz Copp
6.0 Brian Lewis
6.0 Andy Nix
6.0 Matt Clark
5.8 Lemmy
5.3 Marko

Overall average was 6.5 compared to 6.1 in 2007, 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.

‘Yeah, did alright,’ smiled Matt Clark. El Nino becomes the 7th different winner in 11 years, and only the third overseas player (following Hyypia and Dudek). His mark is the third highest ever, after 9.88 for Gerrard in 2006 and just behind Carragher’s 9.72 in 2005. Nearly all 10s of course, but three 9.5s, one 9 and an 8.5 from Marko. ‘A god-like genius,’ says Kevin Howson, ‘ranks with the very best we've ever had’ according to Mike Taylor and ‘I wouldn't swap him for any other striker in the game today’ says Chris Hadley ‘he's got everything’. However, I love Fletch’s classic football supporters’ ability to inject a note of pessimism into any situation: ‘he's got a helluva lot to live up to come August’!

(2007: 4th with 8.03; 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)

We argue every year about how good he has to be to get 10. His best is just so good his marks are a reflection of how he fares against his own high standards. Kevin Howson claims that ‘to argue that he is not World Class would just be churlish’ and Mike Taylor adds ‘I can't believe how fickle people are about a player who scores 21 goals from midfield and has a world-class partnership going with Torres.’ But, says Matt Clark, ‘marked down again because he goes missing in big games,’ although this year’s unusually harsh Brian Lewis leapt to his defence: ‘no man can be monstrous ALL of the time, but he came very close.’ According to Gaz Copp we have ‘now found a position where his attacking skills are utilised fully’ but Lemmy disagrees: ‘his potential is not fully used when playing as a striker … he's a central midfielder.’ In the end, just five 10s, while the least convinced are Andy Nix and Matt Clark with 7s (and 7.5s from Finland).

Apart from the top two, the Chief got the only 10s this year (from Gaz Copp and from Kevin Howson who describes him as ‘an indefatigable monster. A seven nation army in one stocky 5ft 8 Argentine package’). In a bit of a Hamann-like sense of deja-vu, others are less convinced with four marks of under 8, including a 6.5 from Marko. His single infamous show of petulance also cost him: ‘I still can’t forgive him for that act of preposterous childishness at Old Trafford’ said Matt Clark.

Mr Consistency and the Golden Gloves for the third successive season. While Lemmy asks ‘name me a game where Reina has saved us 3 pts’ it could be argued that he does but because of ‘his awareness and positioning rather than flashy saves’ in Jaron Collis’s words. No 10s this year (he was the only player with two last year) but a 9.5 from Tony Mckenzie and only three marks below 8, including 6 and 5.5 from the Finnish contingent.

Has overcome a dreadful full debut in the FA Cup to reassure us that even the loss of Hyypia to age and Agger to injury can be overcome. Tony Mckenzie, with 9.5, was most impressed, while the only 6.5s come from Finland. ‘Quite possibly the scariest man to have played for us since Graeme Souness’ says Kevin Howson, while Stephen Farnsworth is even more colourful: ‘looks like a Serbian Guerrilla and wouldn't like to give him less than 8 [in case] he tracks me down and butchers me’ (Martin, quick, he’s behind the sofa!). Yes, but could he take Tommy Smith in his prime?

(2007: 1st with 8.45; 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)

Almost everyone, even Jamie himself I suspect, would admit that this was not his best season – caught out a few times and gave away a few penalties – but most people still recognise his vital contribution to the side. This is especially the case for Tony McKenzie, with the only 9.5, but the 5s from Matt Clark and Stephen Downing are rating him against his own high standards: ‘by what context do you judge someone to be “pretty average?”’ asked Matt Clark. ‘By Carra’s own phenomenal standards, he’s been just that this season.’

Mixed opinions. The ownership row seemed like a mistake, but in hindsight it was probably the right thing to do as he became, in Kevin Howson’s words ‘the only man at the club that the fans trust.’ But according to Erling Baldorf ‘he took too long to realise that you need to play your best team most of the time, and our domestic cup "runs" were a disgrace’ while ‘his reluctance to field a settled side cost us a shot at the league’ according to Jaron Collis. A 10 from Tony Mckenzie (‘like his style, his decisions … and his class’) but just 5.5 from Brian Lewis (‘I’m not as convinced as others seem to be that he will bring us another championship.’). Who could we replace him with though?]

(2007: 10= with 6.25; 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)

We thought we had seen his swansong last year but he proved us wrong. There were concerns about his lack of pace, but it seemed to me he used his head to overcome them. And the fact that he can use his head in the opposition box is a bonus, as he is our only attacking option in the back four (that goal against Arsenal in the CL!). Only one 9, from Mark Scanlon, and the lowest mark was 5.5 from Brian Lewis.

Many comments that we expect more next season, but we are generally pleased with what we saw. Kevin Howson sums him up well: ‘unpredictable. Sublime, inept and anonymous in pretty much equal measure’ but Matt Clark was one of several to see ‘a tremendously exciting prospect [who] showed improvement as the season wore on … all we can ask of a 20-year old in his first season in English football.’ A high of 8.5 from Brian Lewis, who saw ‘flashes of brilliance’, and nothing lower than the four 6s.

We are less certain what to think about Kuyt – a failure as he hasn’t done what he was bought for (epitomised by a 4.5 from Brian Lewis) or a success for being adaptable (an 8.5 from Andrew Fraser). Even his detractors usually mention his workrate, summed up by Kev Howson’s comment that ‘if there were an award for character then he would win it hands down’ but Lemmy suggests that his ‘workrate is unbelievable’ but unfortunately ‘quite often it's not enough.’ His uncertain role brings both despair from Ian Fletcher (‘his finishing is very average … and I want a proper winger’) and humour from Matt Clark (‘football’s only holding striker’) and Jaron Collis (‘announcing a completely new breed of striker... the defensive forward’). Next season is probably make or break.

I thought he did exactly what he was bought for – be a useful back up, from the bench or in lesser games. He has a trickiness that others don’t have, and often a useful end result. Others disagree, wondering about his role, or his contribution. Nothing better than three 8s, but a 5 from Gaz Copp.

‘I really, really, really hope he stays’ says Mike Taylor and ‘I hope he stays and I hope he plays’ opines Chris Hadley (both awarding 9s) but, judging by the match squads for the last two games of the season, Marko (with the only 3) will be happiest next season, as I can’t see Crouch being here. ‘Funny how it works out,’ muses Gaz Copp ‘when he arrived many were up in arms, now he's leaving many are up in arms!’

Controversy here, with Matt Clark’s 9 accompanied by high praise: ‘a real treasure and someone who will eventually supplant Gerrard as the team’s heartbeat. Passing, vision, movement, maturity, strength, potential ... brilliant.’ But with only one 8 the rest of us can only see potential, while the two 5s don’t even suggest that: ‘a South American fancy-Dan who hasn't quite cut it’, according to Stephen Farnsworth.

Slightly better than last year but still no more than useful and versatile squad player in the opinions of most, although ‘one of the mainstays of the defence’ according to Tony Mackenzie. ‘Better than Kronkamp and Josemi’ says Matt Clark: that is the very definition of damning with faint praise! Vacancy for a right-back (hence Carragher’s reappearance there late in the season)? Just one 8, from Mike Taylor, but three 5s and a 5.5.

Every time he gets a run in the side he gets injured. Enough from him for some to see some promise, although there were several comments on how unBrazilian he is. An 8 from Mark Scanlon, but just 4 from Brian Lewis, who’s pithy comment was ‘[his] main contribution was keeping Riise out of the lineup.’

Understandably, several declined to vote as his few games were many months ago. I’m worried he’s going to do a Heggem (one season of his promise) and, even if he doesn’t, how many players are out for this long and come back as good as they were? Optimistic 7s from Maura Clark and Chris Khalil and a pessimistic 4 from Stephen Farnsworth.

Oh dear, what has happened to the midfielder that six different people regarded as world class in his first two seasons. ‘Seems to have lost his magic touch,’ commented Erling Baldorf ‘and often gives the ball away in silly positions’ while Brian Lewis was harsher: ‘too much petulance and fouling, not enough class and accurate passing.’ Injuries aside, he just doesn’t look the same player any more. Slightly nostalgic 8s from Mike Taylor and Stephen Farnsworth, but three critical 4s. As Kevin Howson commented ‘harsh … but that is because we know what he is capable of.’

(2007: 7th with 7.60; 2006: 7th with 7.84; 2005: 8th with 7.48; 2004: 18th= with 4.56)

Mr Dependable, or so Arbeloa told us, although consistently under-achieving would be our verdict. Almost anonymously solid in the last three seasons, he looked out of depth this. That unlikely couple of Taylor and Farnsworth were, again, the admirers with 7, while only Matt Clark went as low as 4.

Some admirers last year, but most of them are hiding this year. Tony Mackenzie, with 7.5, could see a promising end to the season (it was in the B team though, Tony) but there was an unflattering 2 from Chris Hadley. Signs of frustration with Jaron Collis commenting ‘[he is] more talented than Kuyt, but the latter makes more things happen’, while there was a damning, if bizarre, indictment from Matt Clark: ‘he’s got talent [but] he’s in the chippy on Lark Lane far more often than he should be. And … he must have ordered a sh*t-brown Aston Martin on purpose. Unforgiveable.’

‘Like one of those supermarket offers,’ comments Jaron Collis ‘when you shrug afterwards and say "oh well, it was free".’ ‘Now we know why my little pony wasn't given a new Leverkusen deal’ concludes Erling Baldorf. A promising start, and I didn’t think he was as bad as all that, but how he got ahead of Crouch at the end of the season mystifies me. Five 6s and four 4s, but otherwise pretty average.

Always over-rated IMHO, he gets the ‘he’s gone’ backlash, although Chis Hadley and Brian Lewis think he had a good season with 7s (well, he scored I suppose) and, perhaps surprisingly, nothing lower than three 3s.

Reserve keeper is a tricky position these days. You need a Cudicini – someone who will walk into any other first team but who is happy on the bench. You can see why Benitez has been linked with perennial but reliable understudies like Harper and Taylor as Itandje isn’t reliable. Only Kevin Howson with the only 6 can see Itandje doing a good job while Chris Hadley, with the only 2, obviously watched the LC match at Reading and Havant & Waterlooville in the FA Cup!

(2007: 9th with 6.77; 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 think this is a bit harsh, as Riise has been an excellent servant for the club and that own goal has lost him marks. The only 6.5 came from Tony McKenzie (‘another favourite of mine but even I have to admit he hasn’t done well this year’) but there was a 0 from Brian Lewis who commented ‘I’m convinced we would have been better playing with 10 men.’ Officially the most controversial player.

For three months at the start of his Liverpool career I thought we had a steal, but now we know it was £157,000 per game! Still good value compared to what we must have paid for Sean Dundee, though. A 6 from Kevin Owens but three 0s including one from Stephen Farnsworth who describes him as ‘a big, fat, lazy, injury-prone Sheila.’ Tell us what you really think Farny.