WeAreBrighton.com End of Season Awards 2010/11 - The
Polls
It's been rather a good
season hasn't it? Promotion to the Championship, the
League One title in the bag with four games left to
play, only two home defeats in the league all season, an
eight game winning streak and some of the best football
ever played by the Albion
To mark the end of a
triumphant 2010/11 campaign, the polls are now open in
the Second Annual We Are Brighton End of Season Awards.
There are nine categories to choose from this year,
ranging from the coveted gong of our Player of the
Season to an award for the best contributor to the
Albion Moan In webcast.
Read on to see who the
nominations are. Happy voting!
WeAreBrighton.com Player of the Season
Holder: Andrew Crofts
Casper Ankergren:
Began rather shakily to have people questioning
his place in the team but answered his critics with point-earning
performances away at Carlisle and
Southampton. Has won two divisional
player-of-the-months this season.
Elliott Bennett: Responsible
for either scoring or assisting around half of
the Albion's goals this season, Bennett's form
tailed off slightly after handing in a transfer
request in the wake of interest from
Premiership-bound Norwich City.
Gary Dicker: Gets play moving
once he receives the ball, he has also weighed
in with a couple of timely strikes in this
campaign. Gus Poyet constantly describes him
as the man who understands the way the manager
wants his team to play.
Adam
El-Abd: Easily been the most
improved player since the arrival of Gus Poyet,
his place at the heart of central defence
has been assured following
accomplished displays alongside both Gordon
Greer and Tommy Elphick.
Glenn Murray: His first injury-free season
since signing has yielded his best goal return,
ranging from the simple to the sublime. Will be
extremely difficult to replace should he walk on
a free as his contract expires.
Marcos Painter: Mr Consistency at left back
has played in every league game this season
and has easily been one of the most underrated
players in the side. You could count the mistakes
he has made on one hand and still be able to
operate a handgun.
Goal of the
Season
Holder: Gary Dicker v Exeter City
Kazenga
LuaLua v Milton Keynes Dons Home: From a free-kick around 25
yards out, the ball was teed up for the on-loan
Newcastle wide man and boy did he hit it - the
keeper can barely react before it whistled past
him.
Kazenga
LuaLua v Bournemouth Home:
Yes, him again. The ball was
knocked square, and with one deft touch
to get it out of his feet, it was leathered with
incredible power and swerve into the bottom corner of the goal.
Inigo
Calderon v Yeovil Town Home: 50 yard lofted pass from
Marcos Painter found Calderon
who had gone rampaging forward. His first touch
bought the ball down; his second unleashed a
shot with his left foot from the
edge of the box.
Liam Bridcutt
v Carlisle
United Home: Some ping ball in the box
saw the ball fall onto Liam Bridcutt's
left foot, where it was promptly smashed into
the net on the volley. In the 94th minute. Cue
mental Withdean running track scenes.
Glenn Murray
v Tranmere Rovers Home: A
throw found Murray who got the ball under
control well before rolling his marker, making
ground in the box despite the challenge of a
defender and firing a powerful drive
Liam Bridcutt
v Dagenham and Redbridge Home: A cross was half
cleared by the defence, leaving Bridcutt
to smash home from twenty five yards leaving the
'keeper with no chance to send the Albion on
their way to promotion.
Elliott
Bennett v Walsall Away: A mazy run saw no
Walsall player attempt to put a challenge in,
and Bennett punished them with a fine strike
from distance that looped over the goalkeeper to
secure the League One title.
Memorable Moment of the Season
Holder:
Southampton Away
Fran Sandaza
Goal v Oldham Athletic:
Substitute Fran Sandaza bundles home a stoppage
time winner to send the Albion to the top of the
table, where they would stay for the remaining
eight months of the season.
Charlton
Athletic Away:
A 4-0 victory in front of over 3000 travelling
fans at The Valley, after which Gus Poyet's team
were applauded off by the home support. Maybe
we did belong at the top of the table after all.
Peterborough
United
Away: Just two weeks after that Charlton
win, another masterclass from the Albion as
they stuck three past the Posh without reply.
And it could have been a lot more were it not
for Joe Lewis.
Liam Bridcutt
Goal v Carlisle United: Harry Arter's last minute
equaliser for Carlisle was trumped by a 94th
minute winner thanks to Liam Bridcutt's stunning
volley. "The stuff of Champions" it
certainly was.
Dagenham and
Redbridge Home: The Albion return to the
Championship after a five year absence as
Dagenham were defeated 4-3 at Withdean, leading
to an invasion and Paul Samrah's near breakdown
over the tannoy.
Walsall Away:
Southampton's failure to beat Rochdale coupled
with a fine 3-1 victory for the Albion at the
Bescott Stadium saw Gus Poyet's side crowned as League One
Champions to round off a perfect season.
Dismissal of the Season
Holder:
Colin Hawkins v Stockport County
Gordon Greer
v Rochdale Home: What better way to mark
your debut as captain than by hitting an
opponent in the face off the ball, conceding a
penalty and receiving a red card at the same
time?
Liam Bridcutt
v Hartlepool United Away: 2-1 down during a tough
looking assignment against Hartlepool at Victoria Park, Liam Bridcutt flies in with a two footed lunge on
Andy Liddell. Straight red, thanks for coming.
Mauricio
Taricco v Woking Away: Tano's first game in
six years ends early as he receives a second
yellow for mouthing off at the ref. He probably
just didn't fancy extra time against a
non-league side.
Inigo
Calderon v Charlton Athletic Home: Ex-Albion loanee
Thierry Racon was on the end of a nasty two
footed jump tackle that earned Calderon a
straight red with less than 15 minutes on the
clock.
Gordon Greer
v Sheffield Wednesday Home: The captain was
at it again, this time going in with a headbutt
in another off the ball incident. In the final
minute. Of a game that the Albion were leading
2-0.
Penalty Miss of the Season
Holder:
New Category
Glenn Murray
v Leyton Orient: Nobody really cared about
the Johnstone Paint Trophy, so nobody was too
bothered when Jamie Jones saved Murray's spot
kick and the Albion went out with a 2-0 defeat.
Elliott
Bennett v Peterborough
United Away: After earning the
penalty himself, Bennett see's his effort well
saved by Joe Lewis. Thankfully it didn't
matter as the Albion would go onto win
the game 3-0.
Chris Wood v
Southampton Away: Having weathered the
Saints onslaught in the first half, Brighton
have a chance to snatch all three points. Kelvin
Davis denies them with a great stop. Finishes
0-0.
Elliott
Bennett v FC United of Manchester: A last minute
penalty to avoid a Tuesday night replay against
a team of part-timers in Manchester? Elliott Bennett
see's his effort saved by a postman. Or similar.
The game ends 1-1.
Glenn Murray
v Huddersfield Town Away: Murray gets hauled down
in the area and Poyet is incensed that no red
card is shown. Albion fans are incensed as Alex
Smithies makes it five missed penalties by
December! 2-1 defeat.
Ashley Barnes
v Brentford Away: Barnes becomes the fourth
player to miss from 12 yards as Richard Lee
saves his spot kick. Brentford had the decency
to score a shocking own goal though to give the
Albion a 1-0 win.
Gary Dicker v
Swindon Town Home: Having scored from the spot
earlier in the game, Dicker misses his second
penalty of the afternoon to make it five
separate players to miss from the spot in the
season. The Albion go onto win
2-1
Ashley Barnes v Huddersfield
Town Home: Despite seeing his spot
kick saved by Ian Bennett, Ashley Barnes was able to
tuck home the rebound. Not that it really
mattered as Brighton would go onto
lose 3-2.
Flair
Moment of the Season
Holder:
Inigo Calderon celebration v Charlton
Adam
El-Abd Play Acting v Sheffield Wednesday Away:
Neil Mellor headbutts El-Abd in the chest. El-Abd goes to the ground and writhes about holding
his face. It didn't work, as Mellor received
only a yellow.
Kazenga
LuaLua Celebration v MK Dons Home: Kazenga LuaLua
produces one of the biggest backflips ever in a
show of gymnastics that wouldn't be out of place
in London next year to celebrate his rocket of
a goal against MK Dons.
Mauricio
Taricco gets
sent off v Woking Away: You wait six years
to make a return to the professional game. And
then you get sent off for mouthing off about a
nothing decision. An excellent example for the
assistant manager to set.
Cristian Baz
Penalty v Woking Away: The deciding penalty
in a shoot out against tricky non-league
opposition, and Cristian Baz decides to scoop it
down the middle. Thankfully, it worked - which
is more than can be said about some of our
penalties.
Gus Poyet
plays hide and seek: Brighton's poor record
from the penalty spot lead Gus to hide behind
the home dugout whenever a penalty was awarded
at Withdean, much to the South Stands amusement.
Peter
Brezovan goes up for a corner v Huddersfield:
The last ever act at Withdean? No, not some
great goal, but Sexy Pete Brezovan running back
and making a tackle on the halfway line after
going up for a corner.
Villain of the Season
Holder: Dean Hammond
John Farries:
Despite being 40 yards from play, the linesman
from the Bournemouth home game awarded the
visitors a last minute penalty for a handball
that was a) outside the box, and b) made by a
Bournemouth player.
Scott
McGleish:
Ok, he hasn't done anything this year. But we'll
never forget his actions to the North Stand back
in 96/97 and the part it nearly played in
getting us thrown out the league. So he is
on the shortlist.
Nigel Adkins:
"Will it be you and Brighton fighting out the
title at the end of the season?" "Well, if they
can keep with us maybe." Nothing more to be said.
Nigel was a cheeky little chappy wasn't he?
Lee Clark:
He may have been nice in the game at Withdean,
but Clark was far less complimentary after their
victory at the Galpham, claiming Poyet tried to
get his man sent off because "that's what he does in
his home country".
Albion
Related Podcast of the Season
Holder:
The Albion Moan In
The Official
Podcast: Hosted by Comedy Steve, the
Official Podcast features interviews with the
players and staff from the club with some
probing questions.
The Albion
Roar: On every Saturday morning, the Roar
welcomes guests ranging from fans to ex players
into the studio to take about the week that was.
The Albion
Moan In: A wide range of callers phone in to
discuss the probing issues in this monthly feast
of serious debate and bizarre conversations
about your sexiest ever Albion player.
Albion
Moan In Caller of the Season
Holder: Gangsta Al
Charles:
With three generations of his family supporting
the club, Charles has a wealth of opinion to
show. His shrewd suggestions with what the club
should do with money are rather unique.
Gangsta Al:
Al has a wide range of contacts in the Brighton
underworld, and has put them to good use this
season to come up with inside information from
the club.
Ken Jolly:
Ken spent the early part of the season scouting
for players and his knowledge about
who or what may be coming in has given the Moan
In many exclusives this season.
Lionel:
Not a fan of Gus Poyet, Lionel has advocated the
club becoming a franchise this season and moving
to Belgium should it be the case that Falmer
turns out to be a white elephant.
Rupert:
Splitting his time between the Albion and
Arsenal, Rupert has admitted to being suicidal
in the past but the recent upturn in form has
seen him become a much more jolly soul this
season.