brighton logo
 
 

WeAreBrighton.com End of Season Awards 2013/14 - The Polls

We had a great idea for this seasons WeAreBrighton.com Awards. Why not name them The Oscars? Photoshop Oscar's head onto a trophy, build them up as the Accademy Awards of Brighton and Hove Albion Football Club.

And then he resigned. So for the second year running we've reached the top six, lost in the play off semi finals and then waved goodbye to the manager. Albeit in a far more dignified manner than last season.

Still, the show most go on as far as the End of Season Awards are concerned. As well as all the normal suspects, there is one new coveted award for the best themed day to be voted on as well which you can find further down the lists.

Reaching the play offs has to be considered a decent season for the Albion in 2013-14. But who has shone the brightest for you? Happy voting!

 

WeAreBrighton.com Player of the Season
Holder: Liam Bridcutt
Andrew Crofts: Injury against Birmingham in January wrecked his season but the midfielder was on absolute fire before that. Despite missing half the season, he still managed to end up joint second scorer on six and was sorely missed once out.
Rohan Ince: Liam Bridcutt's injury woes followed by departure could have been a disaster for the Albion. But the emergence of the gangly holding midfielder meant they weren't, with a run of collosus appearances particularly in the opening months.
Tomasz Kuszczak: One of the main reasons why the record for most clean sheets in the division went to The Amex. Match winning performances away at Wigan and home to Blackburn stick in the mind and you can count the mistakes on one hand.
Leonardo Ulloa: Struggled with injuries in the first half of the season but a return of 16 goals in a side that hardly set the world alight going forward was frankly a brilliant return on his first full season in England.
Matt Upson: A towering figure of consistency, his arrival from Stoke in Janaury 2013 coincided with the beginning of the Albion's remarkable defensive record. Lynchpin at the back, he has barely put a foot wrong all season.
Stephen Ward: How do you replace a man like Wayne Bridge? Why, with an even more reliable left back of course. Arrived on loan from Wolves and improved the defence instantly while weighing in with four goals. A brilliant contribution.


Goal of the Season
Holder: Craig Mackail-Smith v Burnley away
Jake Forster-Caskey v Doncaster away: Eight minutes into the game at the Keepmoat Stadium and the England under 21 midfielder lets go a rocket of a shot from 35 yards into the top corner to give the visitors the lead.
David Lopez v Doncaster away: That Doncaster game wasn't a bad one for stunners, Spanish Dave rounding off the 3-1 win with a 90th minute free kick from 25 yards curled over the wall and crashing into the back of the net in trademark fashion.
Ashley Barnes v AFC Bournemouth away: You'll struggle to find anything better technique wise than this one. The striker collects a chest down, plays a bit of keepy up and then smashes a volley from the edge of the box into the far corner.
Craig Conway v Leicester home: David Lopez breaks down the middle before floating a wonderful ball forward onto the chest of the Scotish winger who brings it down, cuts inside his man and fires home low and hard into the corner.
Solly March v Port Vale away: Short corners never work. Oh yes they do. The winger picks up the ball unmarked and with everyone expecting a cross, drinks the ball with a ridiculous amount of curl and backspin over the flummoxed goalkeeper.
Dale Stephens v Charlton home: What a way to open your home account against your former side. Cutting inside from the right hand side, the midfielder curls a scrumptious shot from the edge of the D into the stanchion of the goal.


Last Minute Goal of the Season
Holder: David Lopez v Blackburn away
Leonardo Ulloa v Millwall home: Steve Lomas' Millllllllllllllll arrived at The Amex winless on the last day of August. It was only that man from Argentina's far post tap in from Kazenga LuaLua's cross that denied the ten man Lions their first three points.
Keith Andrews v Sheffield Wednesday home: Another home game against a struggling side, another last minute goal to rescue a point - the on-loan Irishman volleying home from a Stephen Ward header.
Stephen Ward v Bournemouth home: To say the New Years Day game with Bournemouth had been ruined by the referee would be an understatement. Thank Christ then for the left back handing home in an almighty goal mouth scramble.
Dale Stephens v Blackburn away: Jordan Rhode's 86th minute penalty looked like it had given Rovers the three points. That was without reckoning with the former Charlton midfielders first Albion goal, a glancing header from a Jesse Lingard cross.
Leonardo Ulloa v Nottingham Forest away: Last minute of the season, Reading are in the play offs. That is until Craig Mackail-Smith crosses and the man from Argentina heads home to spark mental scenes in the away end of the City Ground.


Own Goal of the Season
Holder: Dean Hammond v Blackpool home
David Lopez v Bolton home: Spanish Dave gives Bolton the lead at The Amex as his tame flick on Chung-Young Lee's cross somehow ends up evading Tomasz Kuszczak and trickling into the back of the net.
Tomasz Kuszczak v Derby home: Dominating a home play off semi final against a stronger side, the last thing you want to see then is the ball strike the cross bar, rebound into your goalkeepers back and into the back of the net.

Memorable Moment of the Season
Holder: Crystal Palace Home
Birmingham City away: It hadn't of been the smoothest of starts for Oscar in the job as Albion manager so there was great relief all around when he finally got his first win at the fourth attempt away at Birmingham City.
Scoring three in five minutes v Bolton: After David Lopez's own goal gave Bolton the lead, the Albion turn the game completely on it's head with three goals in four second half minutes of stunning attacking play.
Paul Barber buys everyone a pint: A five hour train journey is more than enough time to have a few beers. So God bless Paul Barber who decided to top up the alcohol levels of every fan who went to Middlesbrough by buying them a pint.
Leicester City away: One game earlier The Foxes confirmed their promotion to the Premier League. Brighton were in no mood to celebrate though, smashing the Champions elect 4-1 on their home turf.
Nottingham Forest away: 3000 Albion fans make the journey to the City Ground in hope more than expectation. And then Leonardo Ulloa scores THAT last minute goal to secure a play off spot right at the death.
Reading fans pitch invasion: On the same day, Reading fans mistakenly believe Forest have grabbed a 90th minute winner and begin invading the Madjeski Stadium pitch to celebrate making the play offs. Only for the bad news to filter through. Don't laugh now.


Dismissal of the Season
Holder: Ashley Barnes v Bolton Wanderers away
Inigo Calderon v Newport County home: A no nonsense flying lunge on Byron Anthony results in a double leg fracture for the Newport County captain and an early bath for the right back. Incredibly, the red card was rescinded.
Leonardo Ulloa v Reading away: With Pavel Pogrebnyak receiving two yellows within half an hour, the Albion had a chance to claim a big three points. Until eight minutes later when their star striker saw red for a near-decapitating kung fu kick.
Ruben Martinez v Nottingham Forest home: Nathan Chalobah's dismissal for two bookings sparked a furious set of technical area handbags between the Albion and Forest with goalkeeper coach Ruben Martinez being shown a red as a result.
Gordon Greer v Reading home: It wouldn't be a Dismissal of the Season poll without the Albion captain. His first booking comes from hauling Adam Le Fondre to the ground and then a cynical second half body check on the same man seals his fate.


Flair Moment of the Season
Holder: Liam Bridcutt spins out of trouble v Derby
Oscar's outfit v Leeds United away: Want to make a good impression on your new fans? Wear a black blazer, light blue shirt (no tie), grey trousers and a pair of chinos for your first game in the dugout.
Jonathan Obika overhead kick v Wigan home: A vital game in the race for the play offs with the Albion attempting to battle back from 2-0 down. And Jonathan Obika decides it's the perfect time to send an overhead kick into the roof of the North Stand.
Nigel Adkins wanders around West Lower: Being despised by most Albion fans clearly doesn't bother Nigel, as he somehow found himself wandering casually around the West Lower concourse among Albion fans after the game with Reading.
Leonardo Ulloa penalty v Middlesbrough home: With Middlesbrough leading 1-0 at The Amex, the Albion are handed a golden opportunity to equalise from the penalty spot. But the top scorer sends his effort into orbit as Boro end up winning 2-0.
Gordon Greer v Blackburn away: He rarely scores so you can imagine how happy the captain was after his 79th minute equaliser at Ewood Park. Joy however turned to confusion five minutes later as he gave away a penalty to put Rovers back in the lead.
Andrea Orlandi celebrating v Forest: In the mental scenes that followed that last minute goal at Forest, the midfielder ran a full 70 yards from the dugout to join in the celebrations and then walked slowly off across the pitch, earning a booking for time wasting.


Villain of the Season
Holder: El Hadji Diouf
Nigel Adkins: He is only on the list half heartedly for being his normal smug self through the campaign. Most of that was wiped away after the events of the final day. Are we keeping up now Nigel?
Billy Davies: It was an absolute delight to see the poisoned dwarf sacked after failing with a huge budget at Forest. The definition of little runt during the Tricky Tree's victory at The Amex including that brawl between the dugouts.
Justin Edinburgh: The Newport County manager didn't exactly cover himself in glory in the aftermath of his sides win at The Amex with his part in the sending off of Inigo Calderon being particularly pathetic.
Simon Hooper: What would the result of the home game against AFC Bournemouth been had a competent referee been in charge rather than Mr Hooper? Missed several Albion penalty appeals and gave the softest one you are likely to see to the Cherries.
Tony Pulis: This should've been the year Palace came down with a record low points total, completely embarrassed. Their baseball capped manager not only kept them up but did it in style and won Premier League manager of the season as well to boot. Bastard.
Tim Sherwood: He may well yet get the Brighton job, but that doesn't excuse him nicking Jonathan Obika's only ever contribution to football - the goal celebration salute as seen at Port Vale - and claiming it for himself.


Themed Game of the Season
Holder: New Category!
Spanish Day v Bolton: With such a Spanish theme to the Albion squad and management, a Spanish Day was held against Bolton. Which naturally meant we nearly had as many Scots playing as we did men from Espana.
Fright Night v Watford: A Brighton game billed Fright Night was always asking for trouble. But the Haloween game against Watford passed off without too much of a horror performance as the sides drew 1-1.
Blue and White Day v Doncaster: Doncaster visited for the first time since that unforgettable opening of The Amex. To recreate the magic, the club asked fans to turn up in blue and white - with items available discounted from the club shop obviously.


Sexiest Player of the Season
Holder: Andrea Orlandi
Sexy Pete Brezovan: Oscar was clearly a fan of the Slovakian's sexiness as well, using him eight times over the course of the season until a somewhat woeful performance away at Hull.
Will Buckley: Another injury hit year for the gruff Lancashireman but he remains a hit with the ladies for his dark and mysterious complexion.
Gordon Greer: The hair may once again be thinning, but that hasn't stopped the captain remaining a popular figure even more enhanced by his new found status as a full international.
Craig Mackail-Smith: His new hair style gives him a more sophisticated look that will appeal to the older ladies having battled back to fitness. An absolute gent into the bargain.
Solly March: The new kid on the block has made enough of a name for himself to have got into England under 21 reckoning and he does so looking very good. Popular with the younger crowd.
Andrea Orlandi: Last years winner may have spent a lot of this season in the treatment table but that hasn't made any difference to his absolutely stunning looks.


Receding Hair of the Season
Holder: Bruno
Kemy Agustien: The Dutch midfielder isn't just bald - he also has a beard to go with it, creating the illusion that his head is on upside down. If only we'd seen more of this unique combo on the pitch.
Bruno: Las years winner has continued in similar vein this time around, refusing to allow his hair to grow back and continuing to shave it in a Matt Prior fashion.
Inigo Calderon: The right back seems to have decided that the best way to combat his thinning hair line is by growing it even longer. He isn't falling us though.
Gordon Greer: The captain appears to have won the battle with his crown but will almost certainly lose the war as receding begins to take place at the front with potentially disastrous consequences.
Leroy Lita: He was only at The Amex briefly but despite that he must rank as the player with the shiniest head ever to pull on the stripes with some West Upper fans complaining of being blinded.
David Lopez: A definite thinning of his hair this season coincided with a worrying loss of form. Perhaps he is in fact the Samson of the footballing world?