WeAreBrighton.com End of Season Awards 2012/13 - The
Polls
Aside from the final week
of our intended season which has been messier (in more
ways than one) than any of us could ever have imagined,
it has been another relatively successful season for
Brighton and Hove Albion.
Despite Gus Poyet's complaints
about his poor budget, we've got to see two former
England international defenders show their class, two
more Spaniards who have played European football in the
last few seasons at right back and right midfield and a
goalkeeper with a Champions League winners medal. Oh,
and another £2m striker. Who would have thought that
would be the case a few years ago?
We've also had the best
season in the clubs history for 30 years and no matter
who is in charge next year, the club could be all set up
for another promotion push. It's just a shame those
scummers from up the road ended things on the sourest
note possible.
Now it's time for you to
cast your votes for the winners in our prestigious
annual End of Season awards as the polls open - happy
voting!
WeAreBrighton.com Player of the Season
Holder: Liam Bridcutt
Liam Bridcutt:
Has been even better than he was when taking
this award last season. Now a full Scottish
international, Rio Ferdinand has Tweeted to say
how he good he is and Gus reckons he could play
for Real Madrid.
Wayne Bridge:
Many wondered whether he was just coming to The
Amex for a final swansong but he proved them all
wrong by being named in the PFA team of the
year. One of the main reasons the Albion had the
best defence in the division.
Bruno:
The cavaliering right back instantly became a
fans favourite after his summer move from
Valencia. Another who played a key role in our
defensive record despite missing chunks of the
second half of the campaign injured
Will Buckley:
Despite another injury hit campaign he peaked
around November time with claims being banded
about he was better than the £15m man Wilfried
Zaha. Still young with time on his side, on his
day one of the best wide men in the league.
Gordon Greer:
The captain had a fair few people write him off
in pre-season, with some suggesting he should
have been sold to Barnsley! Has been superb
again however and that is recognised with a
belated call up to the Scotland squad.
Tomasz Kuszczak:
The reason that the Albion had the best defence
in the league this season. He has easily
won the side more points than anyone else.
Without him, the play offs just wouldn't have
happened.
David Lopez:
Took some time to settle in following his
arrival from Bilbao but since November
he hasn't looked back. Scored regularly from
midfield, mainly as a set piece expert he was in
the top three for every player of the month for
a record five months.
Craig Mackail-Smith:
Finished the season top scorer despite his own
campaign ending in March with a nasty injury
that will keep him out into 2013-14. Was in red
hot form at the start with that double at
Burnley in particular sticking long in the
memory
Andrea Orlandi:
Another revelation since arriving from Swansea
at the close of the summer transfer window. Like
Spanish Dave, he has chipped in with a number of
goals and is recognised as the Albion's creator
in chief.
Leonard Ulloa:
Where would we have finished if the man from
Argentina had been here from the start? After 18
months, a replacement for Glenn Murray was
finally found and his record since January and
that of the teams was absolutely superb.
Matt Upson:
If Ulloa was the man who turned us around attack
wise from January, then the former England
defender was the one who did the same
defensively. A rock at the back, keeping him
will massively improve Brighton's chances of
another promotion push.
Goal of the
Season
Holder: Inigo Calderon v Bristol City
Craig
Mackail-Smith v
Burnley away:
Having already scored a screamer in the
match, the Albion's record signing went a
step further and completed his brace with a
stunning overhead kick from a Bruno cross
Craig
Mackail-Smith v
Wolves away:
Another ball in from Bruno leading to
another goal of the season contender for
CMS, this time with the Spaniard winning
possession, crossing and the striker
whipping into the top corner from 12 yards.
Will
Buckley v Wolves away:
Another one for the "good goals v Wolves"
record. Liam Bridcutt won the ball in
midfield, charge forward 50 yards and then
played it to the wideman who drilled it into
the bottom corner first time from 18 yards
out.
Bruno
v
Bolton home: A set piece delivery isn't
convincingly cleared by Bolton with the ball
falling to Bruno around 25 yards out and
after bringing it down on his chest, he lets
a dipping volley fly into the top corner.
Craig
Mackail-Smith
v
Charlton away: Another worldie from the
top scorer, this time as he equalised at The
Valley, bringing down a poor headed
clearance on his chest at full pace before
firing home a volley.
David Lopez v
Crystal Palace home:
The Spaniard writes his name into Albion
legend as, right on the stroke of half time
with Gus Poyet's side already 1-0 up, he
bends in a free kick via the bar that left
Julian Speroni with no chance.
Leonard
Ulloa
v Crystal Palace home:
The team goal of the season. Clever passing
down the right leads to Liam Bridcutt
chipping the ball into the box and with
Andrea Orlandi nodding into the middle, the
Argentina fired home a volley for 3-0.
David Lopez v
Middlesbrough away:
Yet another goal in which Liam Bridcutt was
involved, this time sending in Spanish Dave
one-on-one and with Boro keeper Jason Steele
undecided on whether to come, the ball is
calmly scooped over the top of him.
Last Minute Goal of the
Season
Holder:
Will Buckley v Doncaster
Stephen Dobbie
v Peterborough home:
Proof that the striker actually did something
other than collect a wage before buggering off
to Palace with a late winner against the Posh.
Unfortunately, it's only one of three goals by
the Albion that makes the list.
Stephen Dobbie
v Wolves away:
Given the Albion's problems from the penalty
spot, anything could have happened with this
89th minute penalty. What should have been a
fine winner against 10 men only earned a point,
thanks to our next candidate...
Roger Johnson for Wolves away:
Stephen Dobbie's penalty really should have been
game, set, match, 3-2 Brighton. But the Albion
completely failed to pick up from a 92nd minute
corner as Johnson headed an equaliser for
Wolves.
David Ngog for Bolton home:
Gus likes to think it's the budget that is why
we didn't go up, but dropped points in the final
minutes were more costly. Two weeks after
Wolves' late equaliser, David Ngog repeated the
trick as Bolton escaped with a 1-1 draw.
Nicola Zigic for Birmingham away:
Tomasz Kuszczak's one and only mistake all
season couldn't have come at a worse time as he
allowed Zigic's header which was straight at him
slip through his hands to earn the Blues a
point.
David Lopez
v Blackburn away:
Bit of a role reversal as after being completely
and utterly battered, the Albion steal a point
as Spanish Dave is cool, calm and collected
under pressure to stroke him a 96th minute
penalty.
Henri Lansbury for Forest away:
Anything Tomasz can do, Casper can do better.
The Danes first league start of the season ends
in disaster as he let's the simplest of shots
trickle through his legs to give Forest a last
minute equaliser
Own Goal of the
Season
Holder:
Lewis Dunk v Liverpool
Gordon Greer
v Burnley away:
Burnley had done next to bugger all as an
attacking threat at Turf Moor until the captain
decided to divert a cross into his own net. He
did make up for it by scoring at the other end
later in the game.
Dean Hammond
v Blackpool home:
Many people never thought that Colin Hawkin's
classic v Hartlepool would be beaten. It nearly
was when a full length diving header from the
midfielder with no one around put a cross into the back of the
net.
Memorable Moment of the Season
Holder:
The first game at The Amex v Doncaster
Frankie in a
Brighton shirt:
We sign a former England international left
back on loan. Just when you think it couldn't
get much better than that, his unbelievably fit
popstar girlfriend posts a photo of her in a
Brighton shirt. Sweet lord.
Blackburn
Away Postponement:
Memorable for all the wrong reasons as 1000
odd Albion fans either en route to or already at
Blackburn find out the game is postponed at
1.30pm. Cue a big boost to Accrington Stanley's
attendance.
Newcastle
Home:
When it comes to Brighton, Alan Pardew has
always been a bit of a cock. So it was a
fantastic moment when his Newcastle side were,
for the second season, embarrassed at The Amex
in the FA Cup.
Leonard
Ulloa's hat-trick:
We'd been waiting 18 months for somebody to
convincingly replace Glenn Murray. With his
scoring of the first ever Amex hat-trick against
Huddersfield, Leonard Ulloa did just that.
Crystal
Palace Home: Easily the best day at The Amex
so far as Ian Holloway's side were completely
and utterly dismantled by the Albion with pace
and precision. If only it had happened again two
months later.
Blackpool
Home:
A wonderfully sunny Brighton afternoon was
rounded off with the biggest win at the stadium
so far as the Albion rampaged through Blackpool
to come away with a 6-1 win. It was as close to
perfect as we saw.
Atmosphere v
Palace play off: Gus may have had a rant
about it, but the atmosphere prior to the Palace
play off home game was superb as the
teams emerged to see of blue and white and a
cauldron of noise. The 90 minutes that followed,
not so good.
Dismissal of the Season
Holder:
Mauricio Taricco v Southampton
Lewis Dunk
v Palace home:
It's a rare start at the centre of
defence for the Albion in the biggest game
of the season so far away at Palace. So you
repay the faith by hacking down Yannick
Bolasie for a straight red after just seven
minutes.
Ashley
Barnes v
Sheffield Wednesday away: An horrific
lunging tackle left the referee with no
choice but to dismiss the striker after 30
minutes at Hillsborough. To add salt to the
wounds, Wednesday score the resulting
free-kick.
Ashley Barnes
v Bolton away: His place as the thickest
man in professional football is confirmed
with a second red card in a month, this time
for attempting to trip up a referee. Yes,
you have read that correctly.
Inigo
Calderon v
Leeds away: The right back hacks down El
Hadji Diuof in the penalty area at Elland
Road and is dismissed. Diuof scores the
resulting spot kick, runs to celebrate in
front of the away support and is then shown
red himself. Brilliant.
Penalty Miss of the Season
Holder:
Ryan Harley v Millwall
Ashley Barnes
v Leicester away: Despite Craig Mackail-Smith
having been successful from 12 yards against
Watford, his strike partner grabebd the ball and
saw his spot kick saved, which lead to a very
angry Tomasz Kusczcak confronting him after the
game.
Craig Mackail-Smith
v Leeds home:
Having already netted twice, this was the golden
chance for a first Albion hat-trick and to
secure a win over Leeds. Paddy Kenny saved the
penalty to ensure he had a good excuse for a
party on the way home.
Leonard Ulloa
v Barnsley away:
The Argentinian was handed a late chance to net
his second of the game and ensure a point
against relegation threatened Barnsley but his
kick was saved by Jason Steele as the Albion
left Oakwell empty handed.
Flair
Moment of the Season
Holder:
Vicente beats the entire Derby County team
Bruno
stepover v Barnsley home:
He's meant to be a right back, but the former
Valencia man shows just how good he is going
forward with an outrageous stepover in
Barnsley's visit to The Amex.
Buckley and
CMS collide v Millwall home: Buckley and Cms
show all the grace and poise of the Chuckle
Brothers by running into
each other to bring an end to an attacking move.
Just what we needed when 2-0 down at home to
Miiiillllllllllll
Liam Bridcutt
spinning v Derby home:
Derby can't get close as he spins around in a
circle not once, but twice to escape the
attention of no less than four players. A
YouTube sensation no less.
Gus Poyet
wades into biting row:
As soon as Luis Suarez bit somebody, most Albion
fans were praying Gus didn't get involved to
defend his fellow Uruguayan. No prizes for guessing what
happened.
Kazenga
LuaLua's celebration:
He'd be told not to do it anymore by the doctor, but much to
the delight of a record Amex crowd his second
goal against Wolves saw the return of the backflip.
Will Buckley
scoop v Palace home:
It was one of the only highlights of the home
play off match as the winger scooped the ball
over his marker, ran around him and scampered
off down the line.
Villain of the Season
Holder: Glenn Murray
Paul Barber:
#FansNotCustomers, no more Gully's Girls and
the lovely pie boxes are no more. Profit Paul
hasn't had the best of starts to his time as CEO
at The Amex in terms of popularity with his
drive for FFP.
Craig Davies:
The original Barn Door celebrated his goal
for Barnsley at The Amex like he'd won the
lottery in front of the North Stand. Real shame
he ended up on the end of a 5-1 defeat wasn't
it.
El Hadji
Diuof:
Running 60 yards to celebrate in front of
opposition fans is bad enough. Grabbing your
genitals when you to do so is enough to create
the excellent sight of Liz
Costa "screaming for a police officer".
Stephen
Dobbie:
Two goals, bugger all effort on a huge wage,
leaves after three months and starts scoring for
Palace as they make the play off final before declaring he hopes they go up.
Nice one.
Glenn Murray:
30 goals thanks a lot - there is one major reason
Palace are in the play offs and that is because
of the man who left us for Selhurst on a free
transfer. Where would we be with him at The
Amex? FFSMurray
indeed.
Gus Poyet:
You know things have gone drastically wrong when
your own manager is on this list. Needs more
money or he will resign, refusing to deal with
players contracts - more maturity in a nursery.
Wilfried Zaha:
Before May he was a diving little man who had
done nothing against Brighton. We wondered what
all the fuss was about. Then he scored
twice to send Palace to Wembley. At least they
won't have him next season.
Sexiest Player of the Season
Holder: Vicente
Sexy Pete
Brezovan:
We only saw him briefly away at Huddersfield
and warming up on a few occasions, but that's
still enough to know that Sexy Pete is a sexy
man.
Wayne Bridge:
His missus is unbelievably fit and the left
back isn't a bad looking chap either so there
expected baby should have all the tools to be a
looker when he/she grows up.
Will Buckley:
23 years old and with a gruff Lancashire
accent, the wideman has proved to be a popular
choice with the ladies this season.
Gary Dicker:
Has had a decent season after recovering from
last years broken leg and has proven to be a
popular choice among some of the older ladies.
Gordon Greer:
Has addressed his baldness issue that
threatened to hamper his fit appeal last season.
Must be easily the best looking member of the
Scotland squad.
Will Hoskins:
Another frustrating season for the forward but
he has put in enough appearances to convince
people that he is a good looking man.
Tomasz
Kuszczak:
Not only is he arguably the best player at the
club for earning points, he also carries that
Eastern European, sophisticated, good looking
man look off very convincingly.
Craig Mackail-Smith:
It remains to be seen how much being bald affects his sex appeal, but with the flowing
blonde locks and deep blue eyes he was popular
before that season ending injury.
Andrea
Orlandi: Women were instantly swooning over
him after his arrival from Swansea. Good
looking, a fine body and that accent makes him
the full package
Vicente:
No shirt removal to celebrate scoring as we
were treated to last season this time around,
but the Spaniard still has his admirers for his
Latino appeal.
Receding
Hair of the Season
Holder: Gordon Greer
Bruno:
It's very rare that you see a bald Spaniard,
yet Bruno is the thankful exception to the rule.
His hairline is Matt Prior-esque in that he
shaves it to avoid people noticing he is a shiny
bonce.
Inigo Calderon:
Attempting to grow your hair if you are going
bald is the worst thing you can do. In the dry
the Spaniard is ok, but when it rains his lack
of on the crown is somewhat alarming.
Gordon Greer:
From the alarming rate he was losing his hair
last season, the captain's bald patch has failed
to grow substantially this time around. Which
can only mean he has treatment.
David Lopez:
Normally we're too busy gushing over his skill
and how good he is on the ball, but those in the
West and East uppers will have noticed the hair
leaving the top of head.
