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End of Year Player Awards

Discussion in 'Liverpool' started by Master Yoda, May 16, 2014.

  1. Master Yoda

    Master Yoda Well-Known Member

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    This sparked some decent debate/fun last season so let's have another crack at it... Obviously better candidates this time round <laugh>

    Categories are:

    • Most improved
    • YPOTS (u21) award
    • The Luis Suarez POTS award
    • The 'Not Luis Suarez' POTS award
    • The Dirk Kuyt award
    • The Voronin award
    • The Joe Allen award
    • The Abel Xavier award


    MOST IMPROVED

    Nominees - Jon Flanagan, Jordan Henderson, Raheem Sterling

    Runner up - Jon Flanagan
    Winner - Jordan Henderson

    All three nominees could win this award, such has been the pleasure this season of watching previously maligned players rise to the occasion. However, this is an award that Henderson perhaps deserves the most. From a national joke under Dalglish who began to make himself important to Brendan last season, Henderson is now regarded by many as the obvious choice for England's midfield in Brazil.

    Don't let the City game cloud your judgment of Henderson's season. He's visibly a different player - and has had to go it the hard way. He looks like he feels he deserves to wear a Liverpool shirt now, and the difference is telling.

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    Young Player of the Season

    Nominees - Jon Flanagan, Raheem Sterling, Philippe Coutinho

    Runner up - Philippe Coutinho
    Winner - Raheem Sterling

    There's not much beyond the obvious to be said for Raheem's radical improvement this season. An instrumental figure in the run which put Liverpool back into the title race, with goals against top opposition - Spurs, Arsenal, City. Most pleasing has been his adaptation to a central role - proving that he has more to his game than pace. There is obviously much more to come from Raheem, who with some improvements to his shooting, could easily reach double figures next season.
    His pace has added another dimension to our attacking play - with Sturridge and Suarez marked tightly, Sterling's athleticism has been very dangerous. 9 goals and 7 assists is a healthy return.

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    The Luis Suarez POTS award

    Nominees - Luis Suarez, Luis Suarez, Luis Suarez

    Winner - Luis Suarez

    Luis Suarez.
    [video=youtube;SLGibwTGpQM]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLGibwTGpQM[/video]​


    The 'Not Luis Suarez' POTS award

    Nominees - Daniel Sturridge, Steven Gerrard, Martin Skrtel

    Winner - Steven Gerrard

    Although this may not be the prize Stevie wanted the most this season, he certainly deserves huge plaudits for his efforts this season. Reinvented in a 'quarterback' role - and not without teething problems - Gerrard played a fundamental role in Liverpool's title challenge. Without spending words on hyperbolic praise, which we are all prone to lavish on Stevie, his cool from the spot and set piece delivery were a huge bonus this season. Moments like his pass against Fulham rolled back the years in style. An absolute servant who was subject to a most cruel slip.

    One could quite easily make a case for Sturridge - but he did tail off due to injury and/or fatigue rather noticeably by the season's end.

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    The Dirk Kuyt award

    Nominees - Jordan Henderson, Jon Flanagan, Joe Allen

    Winner - Jon Flanagan

    Quite simply this award recognises players who - like Kuyt - may not be blessed with the effortless skill we as fans love, but other endearing qualities such as passion, graft and tenacity.

    Undoubtedly we have seen much of these attributes this season. Allen has played his way in from the cold and performed very well in must win matches vs Spurs and City; Henderson is essentially the human representation of hard-work. However - and perhaps I'm just balancing things out - Jon Flanagan has shown an exceptional level of commitment this season, performing beyond all expectation after appearing a certain failure. He might never be Cafu, but he'll certainly try.

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    The Voronin Award

    This rather unique and perhaps cruel award goes to a player who whilst good in preseason, turned out to be a beautiful lie. Or in this case, just a lie. There are no nominees. There is only one Iago Aspas. Please click this vine and enjoy.

    [video]https://vine.co/v/Mg1gaW7PP3d[/video]

    The Joe Allen Award

    Nominees - Glen Johnson, Lucas Leiva, Daniel Agger

    Winner - Lucas Leiva

    This award goes to a player who has gone backwards over the season in terms of performances or our estimation. Daniel Agger has flitted in and out of the side, but has performed reasonably well when fit. Yet he is no longer 'untouchable' and many would see him sold for a good offer. Glen Johnson has, in comparison to the rest of the squad, seemed demotivated and lacklustre this season. Few would argue against his sale if an acceptable offer was tabled.

    Yet the winner is Lucas Leiva. Undoubtedly this is with regret - Lucas is a cult hero, a story of relative success from the pits of despair. The sad truth however is that Lucas has never recovered from his injury. He doesn't fit our system any longer, looking lethargic and a hindrance to our expansive game. He should depart this summer with our thanks but also with eagerness for a more suitable replacement.

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    The Abel Xavier Award

    Nominees: Philippe Coutinho, Raheem Sterling, Jordan Henderson

    Winner: Raheem Sterling

    Jordan looks like his pillow is made of Brylcream; Coutinho sports a rather daring shaved number. Yet Raheem Sterling picks up his second award as the winner of the Abel Xavier award for stupendous hair with this effort:

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    Your grandmother meets council estate chique.​


    ... Would you agree?

    Let's forget about about any title disappointment. It's been a fantastic, thrilling season of football, and Liverpool have been at its heart. We are relevant again in a big way with CL secured for next season and a team of exciting players. Look back and enjoy. Here's an imagine which encapsulates the togetherness that's been so evident this season:

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    #1
  2. moreinjuredthanowen

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    Most improved I vote Skertl, frankly he's been transformed and has been domineering.
    YPOTS (u21) award hmmmm as sterling is too obvious I vote jack Dunn
    The Luis Suarez POTS award pointless but Suarez
    The 'Not Luis Suarez' POTS award sturridge
    The Dirk Kuyt award Flanagan then, crap but worker
    The Voronin award aspas the useless f
    The Joe Allen award this is for just being average isn't it prob Moses then
    The Abel Xavier award...... Bad hair? Coutinho
     
    #2
  3. Milk not bear jizz

    Milk not bear jizz Grasser-In-Chief

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    YPOTS (u21) award
    Raheeeeeeeeeeeeem!
    Runner up: Flannel

    The Luis Suarez POTS award
    I'm going to be slightly controversial with this and pick David N'Gog
    Runner up: Luis Suarez

    The 'Not Luis Suarez' POTS award
    Studge
    Runner Up: Skirty. Been fantastic all season and not received the plaudits he deserves
    Honourable Mention: Raheeeeeeeem, Gerrard

    The Dirk Kuyt award:
    Hendo
    Runner Up: Flannel

    The Voronin award:
    Cissoko. - So many people hyped him before the tournament and yet he turned out to be worst player.
    Runner Up: Aspas
    Honourable Mention: Moses

    The Joe Allen award :
    Lucas- agree completely he has moved backwards
    Runner Up: Johnson
    Honourable Mention: Coutinho. Still an absolutely fantastic prospect... but I don't think he was anywhere near as good as last year.

    The Abel Xavier award:
    Coutinho
    Runner Up: Raheeeeeeeeeeem.
     
    #3
  4. Master Yoda

    Master Yoda Well-Known Member

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    Would agree about Cou, although he seems to have upped his workrate.
     
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  5. Magic Ted

    Magic Ted Talulah

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    Most Improved: Flanagan - Has to be? He was 5th choice RB at the start of the season! (Behind Johnson, Kelly, Wisdom and even McLaughlin)
    YPOTS: Sterling - Pretty obvious but the lad is still 19 so you can't ignore it!
    Luis Suarez POTS: Luis Suarez
    Not Suarez POTS: Can make shouts for Skrtel, Gerrard and Sturridge.. Has to be Henderson for me, most vital, consistent player for us this season.
    Dirk Kuyt award: Flanagan - No arguments with you there.
    The Voronin award: Moses
    The Joe Allen award: Tough one this, for me maybe Sahko
    Xavier award: Sterling!
     
    #5
  6. Milk not bear jizz

    Milk not bear jizz Grasser-In-Chief

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    Yes, especially towards the end of the season!
     
    #6
  7. Master Yoda

    Master Yoda Well-Known Member

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    It's the way he pisses 99% of his shots wide that annoys me.
     
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  8. Milk not bear jizz

    Milk not bear jizz Grasser-In-Chief

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    Again... I agree completely! Funny enough- in the Man City game I was getting angry at him for constantly shooting wide. Would get annoyed everytime he took a shot instead of passing to someone who could hit the target... ... and then he got a goal.
     
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