Ok, so lately the board has been littered with either Brad or Lloris, AVB or Harry, 4-4-2 or 4-5-1 and so on. It's got a little boring I think we can ALL agree on that. So as it's a Saturday afternoon, I'm bored and can't really afford to go out tonight due to an upcoming trip to Amsterdam D), I thought I'd create a little thread of awards 12 games into the season. Player of the season so far: Marouane Fellaini - Every time I've seen him this season he's been great. A constant thorne in oppositions sides and has popped up with some very important goals for the Toffees so far. I can see him joining a title chasing team next summer, even if Everton manage to get a CL place. Runner up: Juan Mata - Was a very tough call between him and Fellaini for the top job but I picked Fellaini as he's in an inferior team, none the less Mata has been superb for Chelsea and all of us know how devastating he has been this season as he pretty much single handedly raped our defence. Worst player of the season so far: Fernando Torres - 4 goals so far from a player who cost £50m is unacceptable. Whenever I have watched Torres this season, he has looked so out of his depth upfront it's unreal. The fact Drogba left and allowed Torres another chance to shine also strengthens the case for me for a player who I once dubbed the best striker in the world just 3/4 years ago. Oh how the mighty have fallen. Runner up: Kyle Walker - A close one between him Dempsey for the runner up spot, but Walker has just been dire for pretty much every game this season, I don't know what's happened to him lately, he's a shadow of the player from last season that wowed the crowd and picked up the Premier League YPOTY award. Really needs to sort it out. Manager of the season so far: Steve Clarke - With no prior managerial experience bar a one game caretaker role at NUFC, he's managed to make West Brom look a real force, as I'm writing this he's currently just beaten Sunderland away from home and his team currently sit 3rd in the table and deservedly so from the way they've played. What is it with Scottish managers? Runner up: David Moyes - Still defies the odds with a small budget at Everton and his side sit 5th in the table despite losing Rodwell to City and Cahill leaving for the MLS. Worst manager of the season so far: Mark Hughes (now sacked) - To have been able to bring in the players he has and currently be without a win is terrble. Of course players must also take the blame for poor results and form but Hughes clearly didn't have the skills to bring out the best in some very good footballers. He's always come across arrogant to me despite never really achieving anything as a manager, deservedly sacked in my opinion. Runner up: Martin O'Neil - AVB was a contender in this for me but similar to Hughes, O'Neil has managed to bring in a few decent players and yet they look like a Championship side trying to compete in the Champions League at times. I expected Sunderland to be a challenger for Europa League places this season and so far they're in a relegation battle and don't look like they'll be turning a corner anytime soon and O'Neil has to take part of the blame for that. Game of the season: As much as I'd love to stick our away win at Utd here, I'm trying to remain neutral and I give it to Reading 3-3 Fulham. A high scoring game where 4 of the goals were scored in the last 13 minutes to leave a nail biting finish. Also two great strikes from Leighertwood (SP?) and Ruiz topped off a great game. Runner up: Man Utd 2-3 Tottenham. A great first half, arguably our best 45 minutes of the season then saw a fight back from Utd in the second in which Rooney hit the bar and other chances were put wide. Our first win in donkeys years there and one we'll savour. Signing of the season so far: Michu - Swansea. Never heard of the bloke prior to his signing but he's done wonders for Swansea. 7 goals from a CAM/ SS position and bought for something like £1.75m means he's already tripled his value easily. Looks a very decent player. Runner up: Dimitar Berbatov - Fulham. Hate having to praise this guy but he's been a great signing for Fulham. An estimated £4m fee for player I'd put very close if not in the "World Class" bracket, he's got 5 goals in 8 games and links the play with such ease like we've seen many times for Spurs. A truly great player and an absolute bargain, why no other teams seemed interested is beyond me, still good enough to play for a title chasing side.
Player of the season - Juan Mata Worst player - Sigurdsson, where is the player that Swansea had last year. No1 expected him to be Van Der Vaart but he's been absolutely awful so far. Manager of the season - Steve Clarke, 3rd with West Brom, the manager should be offered the Chelsea job when Rafa gets sacked next month. Worst manager - Hughes, to not get at least one win after 12 games is horrendous and he rightly got sacked. Game of the season - if just PL then the 3-3 you mentioned is right up there but if including all competitions then the 7-4 Capital One Cup game between Arsenal and Reading has to be one of the best games ever, drama all the way. Signing of the season - Santi Cazorla, great player and a proper pleasure to watch, just a shame he's playing for Arsenal
Completely forgot about Cazorla, class act. Just like you said though, shame about the team he plays for.
Best Player so Far: Eden Hazard. Runner up: Luis Suarez Both have been amazing in my opinion. Hazard has not only adjusted to a new league, but has just been a joy to watch. Luis Suarez is now proving what a brilliant striker he really is. Worst:Clint Dempsey Runner up: Sigurdsson (can't believe I'm putting 2 spurs players in there, but they've been such a let down. both seem like a waste of money and are not playing to the ability we saw at their former clubs.) Best manager: obvious one in Steve clarke. it's worry how many points west brom are picking up. CL anyone? runner up: Michael Laudrup. - some great signings, good football and some good results. A very similar transition to us, but a tougher one. (worrying for us really) he's doing really well, IMO Game of season: Man united 2-3 Spurs. has to be, just because a long record came to an end in an exciting game of 2 halves. Runner up: Can the Reading v arsenal cup game count? signing of the season: Hazard Runner up: Vertonghen Worse manager:Hughes. 34 games @QPR 20 defeats. says it all Runner up: Martin Oneil. - for the first time, i think Martin Oneil is doing a bad job at a club.
Best Player so Far: El_Bando Runner up: Moorpheus19 Both have been amazing in my opinion. Bando has not only adjusted to a new league, but has just been a joy to watch. Moorpheus is now proving what a brilliant striker he really is. Worst:John White's Ghost Runner up: Original Spurcat (can't believe I'm putting 2 spurs players in there, but they've been such a let down. both seem like a waste of money and are not playing to the ability we saw in former times.) Best manager: obvious one in PleaseNotPoll. it's worry how many points posters are picking up. BBC anyone? runner up: Yid Vicious. - some great posts, good points and some good debates. A very similar transition , but a tougher one. (worrying for us all really) he's doing really well, IMO Game of season: PNP 6-0 PISKIE. has to be, just because a long bore came to an end in an exciting game of 2 halves. Runner up: Can the HIAG v District Line bitter game count? signing of the season: Roo Runner up: Spurm Worse manager:Ghoddle10. 340 posts same point. says it all Runner up: nobody comes close. - for the first time, and the second, doing a bad job for the club. With thanks to Roo for the original post
When I read the first line and the winner being El Bando, I initially tried thinking of a player with that nickname , got myself all confused then clocked on - Epic fail for me .
