and vidic too

What do you think of Malbranque season?

Very good season for him, has looked more like the player we were expecting from Fulham but never got. I was slating him before the season started and my main gripe was his fitness, he could not play a full 90 minutes at the top tempo. But this season he has improved his fitness no end, and fully deserves his spot in the team.

For players that have been here all season id put him right behind Keane and Berbs in the player of the year race.

I hope we keep him as a squad player next season to back up our all new and top class midfield.

I agree . Hutton was going to say also. Cracking player

Hutton i think will prove to be a cracking player for us, thats the rightback position sorted forthe next 5 years imo.

True. Bargain money for him.

Keane for sho.

I think if Woodgate had signed in the Summer i would of gone for him, but Keane throughout the whole season has been aswesome again.

Javier Mascherano for Liverpool in my opinion. He's been outstanding, having more Man of the Match performances then anyone in our side i think. He's constantly prominent in the huge games and frankly is integral to our success - when he's not playing we really do miss the palisade-like wall he offers our defence. He's even improving on his offensive attributes too, particularly passing, and also with scoring his first goal.

A close second is Fernando Torres. Scoring what could well be over 30 goals in his first season, doubling his final seasons' tally achieved in an Atletico shirt. He's a match-winner to rival Gerrard and gives us a huge outlet that we've seldom had in the past - not only lightning pace but something who's strong, loves to dribble himself and can shoot from anywhere. Nobody expected what he's produced, with quite a few suggesting 15 goals would be pleasing for his first season... He needs to improve in away games though.

Gerrard has been superb at times but slightly too hit-and-miss to rival the other pair. Moving into a purely attacking midfield position in February, with Alonso and Mascherano behind him, is really conjuring the very best from our skipper, and he's had some excellent performances.

Had Skrtel been signed in the summer, and replicated the start he's had over the course of this season, he'd be in contention also - as it is, it would be a little unfair to include him because of the sheer lack of games he's featured in by only joining in January.

For Man Utd I think there could be several players that have shown alot of quality throughout the current season.

Anderson & Nani have had a wonderful first season at Old Trafford. Anderson with his attack minded and pace as beem immense and as been that little something different to the Utd midfield. Nani with his skills and his Ronaldo style of play. I wish i could say the same for hargreaves who hasn't quite had the same impactas these two. Tevez also has had a great first season since joning from West Ham on loan. His goal contribution this season has been a big factor for United's title push. As for Rooney & Ronaldo these are in a league of their own.

Arsenal: Sagna
Aston Villa: Laursen
Birmingham: Larrson
Blackburn: Friedel
Bolton: Nolan
Chelsea: J.Cole
Everton: Cahill
Fulham: Dempsey
Liverpool: Torres
Manchester City: Elano
Manchester United: Ronaldo
Middlesbrough: Downing
Newcastle: Butt
Portsmouth: Defoe
Reading: Long
Sunderland: Jones
Tottenham: Woodgate
West Ham: Ashton
Wigan:

Long has has played nowhere near enough to say he has been our best player.

Haha. Ok yeah maybe. Harper a better choice? Maybe Hunt?

Certainly NOT Harper. Hunt early season yes, but he has been nothing short of woeful of late (todays performance was better). As you will look back at my post my choice was Hahnemann.

Kevin Keegan. He was an inspirational signing.

3 wins and your calling it an inspirational signing.

It is the way we won those games and in the few months he has been here to turn the shambles of a team we had into something resembling a squad capable of pushing for a european spot next year. If we go on to beat Portsmouth away next week, I think we have that squad, we just need some more players to bring in to challenge for those 4th 5th and 6th spots. Last time we put 3 wins in a row in the bag was 2 seasons ago.

As witty as that is Monty, you may need to read the bit in red. Unless Keegan has got on a kit at any point, you cannot class him as a player.

I'd actually be interested in who you think has been your best player this season.

I think Keegan has played a big part in the turnaround at Newcastle even if he didn't go out and kick a ball. He has made more difference than any one individual player on the pitch has. This game is about teamwork not one player.

That it is, but you don't win anything without stand-out individuals.

Keegan may have played a big part, but he isn't a "player", which is what the threads about. If you had to vote for Newcastle's "Player of the Year", who would you vote for?

I know but we were saying how good Ramos has been and then along comes people on this forum calling him and his tactics a joke when he doesnt win a game and we get beat by 2 or 3.

Best as in biggest contribution to the team ethic?
Best as in most consistent performer?
Best as in most improved player (i.e. one who you got far more out of than you would have thought)?
Best as in best player generally (based on ability, not neccessarily performances)?

It depends on how each individual attacks the question, but I'll attack this as "best" meaning our "biggest contribution to the team ethic". Robbie Keane would probably nick my vote, although I've been very impressed with Steed Malbranque and Jon Woodgate since his arrival. And surely Dimitar Berbatov deserves a mention? Yes he had a slow start, but he's picked himself up since then and has been a major player for us in the second half of the season. But personally, I can't look past Keane. Legend!



That would be me, BJ. And I stand by my comments. Because when Adebayor's goals dried up, who else was banging them in? NO ONE! When Van P got injured, the pressure intensified on Adebayor but he stepped up to the plate, and has added a totally new dimension to their previously predictable play - the ability to play the ball long and direct, and the ability for them to cross the ball into the box. Henry couldn't serve that purpose.

You can talk about your Flamini's, Clichy's and your Cesc's but when you consider Adebayor's impact, one would understand that it is he who has given them a totally new aspect to their football.