Safety has been assured and now we can’t get relegated, thankfully, but with the end of the campaign fast approaching we’re now at the stage of the season where awards are dished out and accolades are given for good performances throughout the season.
That’s the problem though. How on earth do you pick out the best player from a team that had performed so poorly all season? How do you give accolades to players in a team that should never have found itself pondering relegation yet still had it’s Premier League future up in the air with just two games of the season remaining? It’s almost impossible…
Usually I’m pretty good at highlighting the good from the ugly but I’m really struggling to come up with options to add into a poll for this one. Maybe it shouldn’t be a “Player of the Season” award and should instead be an award doled on the basis of who has not been as bad as the rest.
Let me give you an example. To me a Player of the Season has to have performed above expectation, to be the one that has turned matches or helped us save them on a regular basis. Using that criteria I honestly can’t think of one player who has done any of that on a consistent basis this season.
So now I’m dropping down to the next level where I stumble across James Perch. Unfancied and unfashionable and by no means our best player, but can you honestly recall a time where he has let us down this season? Or a time where he has been the worst layer on the pitch?
So there is my nomination for Player of the Season (and I can’t believe I’m being serious) based on nothing other than the fact that he’s not let us down when called upon unlike so many other of the fashionable names within our ranks. But we can’t just have one nomination surely? I’m looking for a number of suggestions which I can eventually add into a poll before we can decide ultimately who we, as fans, deem to be our Player of the Season. Which is where you guys come into the equation…
Please leave a nomination in the comments below, ideally with a reason behind it, and I’ll count up the top nominees and use them in what will be our defining NUFC Blog poll for our Player of the Season.
I know the Mackems tried to rig one a vote a couple of years ago by voting for James Perch, such is their obsessive nature about anything to do with Newcastle, but the sad thing is that they may not be far wide of the mark when it comes to this season.
Comments welcome.
Someone should buy Pardoh the “football management for Dummies” book.
😆
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
ANDYMAG.
Are you serious?
You would consider playing Jonas as a wingback on sunday, he offers nowt as a defender or attacker. For gods sake young man get a grip, he is finished!
When Jonas is in the team it is like playing with 10 men!
Personally though I blame the “FOOL” for selecting him.
TonyGreenSupreme(Quote)
Jonas puts in a shift but that alone isn’t enough. If that’s all it took then Alan Smith would still be playing ahead of Tiote 😆
The only position Jonas is any good these days is DM but even there he shouldn’t be starting….especially on this seasons performances.
Oblong(Quote)
MM
Think they are both injured and I like someone that’ll ‘put a shift in’ 😉
Mcmannaman knee injury… 😆 😆 😆
Andymag(Quote)
that ref looks like Jasper Carrott
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
What I can’t understand is why the hell can’t Wigan play like that all season. They outclassed City and are makeing life awful hard for Arsenal tonight . It’s the same every season come the end they turn over 2 or 3 big boys and survive ,it must drive their fans nuts , I couldn’t cope with that every bloody season.
KIMTOON(Quote)
That’s what it’s going to come down to MM @219. Any more six nils against at home surely will be the end of Pardew next season? Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that. I think Ashley will spend some in the summer, perhaps as much as 20M but it more depends on how the squad feel about Pardew and whether we can keep our best players motivated and fit often enough. Wigan can really entertain, can we?
GeordieTwo(Quote)
BB ,Knowing the standard of this seasons PL officiating it probably is him 😉
KIMTOON(Quote)
Player of the season would be Cisse for me like. He’s always put a good shift in and he’s always just got on with whatever has been asked of him. Even playing through his current rib injury.
Most improved player would be Santon IMO.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Kim, somebody said this and I wonder–Is it because Wigan always loose their best players each season and then Martinez has to rebuild?
Fans Should Own The Club(Quote)
Icedog@225, I tend to agree with you regarding Pardew, but maybe we will get some good new signings through the door with his smooth patter. If he bladders it, and gets fired, at least the new manager will have some good players to play with.
If we don’t spend a bunch of money this close season then all the blather coming out of Pardew will be for nowt. It’s gonna be tough though cos everyone will be looking to strengthen.
Munich Mag(Quote)
Oblong
At the moment I’d rather have smith back 😕
TGS
Enough with the Jonas bashing, he is still a good player and your being ridiculous suggesting he can’t defend or attack as he does both for the team in every game.
Andymag(Quote)
dammit 👿
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
That’s how we should cross the ball to Cisse.
On the ground, not in the air ffs
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
“Putting a shift in” is entirely meaningless without SOME end product, be that goals, assists, crosses, tackles, headers, freekicks or whatever.
Without those things it means running around and achieving nothing.
Pootle(Quote)
Ah well Scum will be happier now
KIMTOON(Quote)
ANDYMAG what you smoking???
last season yes, this you have to be smoking sumit
icedog(Quote)
Fans @235 That’s actually a fair point ,could be mate.
KIMTOON(Quote)
TGS how did the Kids game go ? is it Dede’s wee mate
Big Dave(Quote)
Andymag
I will back you on the fact that Jonas still has something to offer the team and he always puts a shift in. Don’t think he should be starting for us though when everyone is fit.
Your on your own with the Alan Smith vs Tiote argument though (even on this seasons form) 😆
Oblong(Quote)
bye bye Wigan
nice try 😕
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
Down Wigan go. I thought it was their turn a few weeks ago. The cup is nice though. For us more sweat, blood and tears next season I imagine.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
I remember when Cabaye first arrived everyone was creaming there jeans because he always put a shift in, covering 11 km in a couple of games from what I can recall.
I would be curious to know how many km’s Jonas typically covers when “putting in a shift” ?
Munich Mag(Quote)
Would have preferred Sunderland to get relegated ….
stevep(Quote)
@Dave
Well considering two of the Europa teams are Wigan and Swansea, I feel fairly safe!
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
Man, one almost….almost…feels for Wigan…this is becoming a slaughter
NorCal Toonfan(Quote)
Andy your a feisty young lad stick with your opinion mate even if I think your wrong, but if you believe it thats your right. get stuck into them
Big Dave(Quote)
And now the trap door is wide open ,bye bye calum mcmanaman lol ,Karma is a wonderfull thing. Only thing better than this would be to see dejected Villa fans as they are due a spot of karma in all .Ah well maybe next year 🙂
KIMTOON(Quote)
How old is Jonas? My sense is his legs have gone.
When he first came in from Spain, I asked a couple of my Spanish friends and they said he ran up and down the field nonstop. His nickname there was “The Greyhound.” But maybe he’s just physically worn himself down. Not fatigue, but actual wear and tear that will not recover.
I’m hearing the same things about Rooney, actually, that he’s been playing for a long time already, even though he’s relatively young, and physically he’s just worn out.
Dunno.
Fans Should Own The Club(Quote)
Arsenal’s going to want our scalp for certain now. Let’s see, how has our home form been recently under Pardew? Sorry, couldn’t resist.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
ST @250 so is it only the British teams that are in the europa ?
Big Dave(Quote)
Solano@250, but one of those two teams you mention aren’t in wor league next season 😉
Munich Mag(Quote)
If Wigan can keep the majority of this team together they will probably come strait back up.
Players like Boyce, McArther, Watson, Alcaraz, Boularuz and Di Santo will look class in the championship.
Oblong(Quote)
@ ST
If by “different Europa league teams” who wouldn’t be able to buy our players you meant this season, that includes Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham, Inter Milan, Benfica and Lazio. I’m pretty sure most of those teams would be appealing to international players who don’t have an interest in hoofball under Pardew next season.
Pootle(Quote)
FSOTC @254 I feel the same about Jonas. He is 29 or 30 now but runs like he is 50. He would need a summer of proper fitness workouts and no meat pies at the very least. Then assess his fitness in training camp. As it stands he should find it hard to even make the bench.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
McManaman will not be in Championship, he’s interesting quite a few prem clubs by all accounts and is actually a decent player – tackles like the one against Haidara happen and I doubt he meant to almost break his leg, could easily have been Cabaye or Tiote making that tackle… in fact they have but just caught player in the wrong (or right ) spot
stevep(Quote)
Wigans on loan keeper seems to be milking it a bit 😕
Oblong(Quote)
Chelsea, Inter, Benfica and Liverpool aren’t even in Europa. 😕
Players moved to us from playing in the CL, whether it is wages or incriminating photos I don’t know, but they did. In fact there are only two players that have signed for us when we have been on a high – Cisse and Anita. So tbh I’m not too worried about this season affecting us in the transfer market. We are struggling to pick a player of the year, any player that wants a move because we haven’t challenged for Europe can fck off as far as i’m concerned.
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
Steve p @261 Trouble is he’s done it before ,I just sense he’s a bit of a hot head ,he was proper snarling at the ref on saturday aswell.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Well Arsenal will be going all out for a win at SJP at the weekend.
Munich Mag(Quote)
These are the teams so far qualified:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013%E2%80%9314_UEFA_Europa_League#Teams
As I said, I’m not too worried.
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
Talking now about their goals theo says ” yeah hopefully we can get a few more next weekend ” Well Theo I think we can pretty much promise you that .rolls eyes red face .What was it last time ,oh yeah 7.3
KIMTOON(Quote)
On thread my 1st thought was also Perch with Cisse as an alternative.
Premandup(Quote)
@Pootle
Have just reread and seen you were referring to teams in this seasons Europa. Half those teams were Champions League, not Europa league teams. Completely different ball game.
Most Europa League teams are completely random one season to next, especially because so many qualify via the cups. If we aren’t pushing for CL in the next two seasons most our players will be off, regardless of Europa.
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
ST. Are you stoned??
Who’s in the Europa League final then?
I’ll give you a clue. Its Benfica and Chelsea.
Pootle(Quote)
Is there a case for Colo as player of the season since in his absence we’ve seen how **** poor our defense is?
If I counted this right (which is highly unlikely), it’s:
31 goals conceded with him playing in 21 games, or 1.5 goals against per game
36 goals conceded without him in 16 games or 2.25 goals against per game
So Colo’s worth half a goal per game? With those numbers, our defense would have conceded 55 goals and had us at the 9th worst defense in the league… instead of the 67 we’ve given up as the co-worst in the league.
Fans Should Own The Club(Quote)
Genuinely sad to see Wigan go, wanted to see Villa go down, the horrid bastards. 😡
Andymag(Quote)
For me it has to be without a doubt Demba Ba.
In fact it is beyond debate.
Michael12(Quote)
@kimtoon – and Cabaye/Tiote have done it how many times, plenty of people on here were calling Tiote a red card waiting to happen not so long ago, in fact I think thats why he’s been so poor this year, he’s actually stopped being so rash which has taken a lot away from his game
stevep(Quote)
@Pootle
Not yet, no. Come on mate you’re killing me here – they were CL teams at the start of the year weren’t they? That’s like me saying “they wouldn’t move to a club in Europe” and you saying “duhhh Man City”, just because they didn’t get out the group stages. flipping hell.
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
“Most Europa League teams are completely random one season to next, especially because so many qualify via the cups.”
Proving the point that your 100% guarantee that no Europa league team could buy our players is patently ridiculous because there are plenty of teams including the CL cast offs that would be a waaaay more interesting proposition than mid to lower table mediocrity under “Thank God we aren’t in Europe” Pardew.
Pootle(Quote)
Don’t worry Kim our defence has been better since then 😕 … well last few … well since Colo came back … the penalty doesn’t count 🙄 . I reckon we might surprise a few and break that double figures conceded in one match record (is there one?) nah reckon we might get something from the game.
Andymag(Quote)
What was it Whelan said to Ashley “There’s a big football club in the north son and you’re not part of it .”
If I was Ash I would be sending that quote straight back to him now .
KIMTOON(Quote)
It looked like a bridge too far for a team that played and won a cup final only 3 days ago. I don’t think we should forget that. What can be done by a team with very limited funds. They went down but they have an entertaining style of play and they won silverware.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
So are you saying Chelsea aren’t in the Europa then?
That’ll be embarassing for UEFA if they win it, eh?
😀
Pootle(Quote)
Well Walcott has done Pards teamtalk for him and prob done a better job, just need to print that out and tell the players that **** expect us to roll over and have our tummy rubbed
stevep(Quote)
@Pootle
I am saying, that I don’t think that any of our players will move to a team that has qualified for the Europa league. If you want to be **** and pick teams that come down from the CL then fine, you may as well include Man Utd, Real Madrid etc in as there’s a chance they’ll be in Europa. Jesus.
My point on the cups is that there is no guarantee they would be in Europe the following year, so much of the time it isn’t a move to a consistently playing in Europe club.
I can see it now – Real Madrid buy Cabaye, finish 3rd in their CL group and go down to Europa, Pootle signs on with a “I TOLD YOU SO”, and for that reason, I’m done.
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
Steve ,exactly why would we want another potential leg breaker ,Tiote is bad enough ,hate it when he tackles like that , as do many others on here.
Micheal @273 , You really are a troll arn’t you lol. It has to be one of our players not a guy who ****** off to fill his pockets with more coin thanks.
KIMTOON(Quote)
275
*move to a club not in Europe
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
@Kim
Demba Ba has been are best player this year by a country mile no debate about it as Micheal says.
The fact he only played half a season for us is an embarrassment for us. Ba always give us his all and doubled his wage in going to Chelsea who on here wouldn’t make that same choice and we are actual Newcastle fans, he isn’t.
If it is someone who still plays for us i would say Santon he was amazing and the start of the season and only really had a few bad games during our horrendous run of form.
Simpson hasn’t been to bad either.
Santii(Quote)
It would have just been easier to admit your original point was facile, rather than just going in the huff.
😉
Pootle(Quote)
@Santii
Yeah it’s unfortunate for Santon as he had a great run of form but just a couple of bad games at the end, which is what we all tend to remember.
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
@Pootle
Rather than joking, you could just admit you tried to take an idiotic slant on it that backfired.
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
Pootle@148 😆 😆
Very good.
I’m afraid I’d have to agree.
Been a staunch Jonas advocate for a long time now, but this season he’s been bobbins. I simply can’t defend him anymore. I hold my hands up. 😮 🙂
Player of the season though is an almost impossible one to call, for me.
Our team has been a mish-mash of square pegs in round holes, under the guidance of a blathering buffoon and reckless owner.
Pass.
Ask me next year.
Rodzilla(Quote)
Santi It has to be our player not Chelseas thems the rules .
KIMTOON(Quote)
Santi ,As for the extra money issue , maybe the club couldn’t afford to break their wage cap for fear all the others would ask for more. And maybe he was asking for too much for too long and given his ‘ so called timebomb knee’ maybe insurance is an issue to cover it and we don’t have the resources cash wise of Chelski to cover such a possibility. Who knows . All I know is he must of been earning more than I will ever see and he had the adoration of the fans yet still chose to leave ,so for me it is thankyou and goodbye.
KIMTOON(Quote)
So, I suppose the Martinez fans are all happy that we can now get a manager who took a stabilised premiership side into three relegation battles and finally relegation itself….albeit with a cup to their name…
Newkie(Quote)
In general …
[Comment voluntarily withdrawn to avoid upsetting people]
But on thread, it’s a difficult one. Nobody actually stands out. So I thought about who I miss the most when they are not playing. That gave me a short list: Cabaye, Cisse, Ben Arfa, Colo and Krul. However, Cisse would only have been missed for half the season and Ben Arfa has been injured for half of it, so I dropped them both for that.
Of the three remaining, the last couple of games have helped me decide: Coloccini
brisvegas(Quote)
Offering a 100% guarantee that no Europa League team is capable of attracting our players when what you actually mean is ‘no Europa League team other than all the ones that you conveniently choose to ignore due to them being more attractive (including all the ones that enter via the Champions League)’
Now THAT was idiotic!
Pootle(Quote)
I see your point Newkie. You’re saying Pardew might actually have a slim chance of winning us silverware before he gets us relegated.
Pootle(Quote)
Pootle-No, not really…just that the cream of the crop for the SSN “alternative” crowd has taken a side that STEVE BRURCE established solidly into the premier league down into the CC…but it’s ok because he’s in a competition with them that they won’t win, following in the trend of greats like Alex McLeish 😉
Newkie(Quote)
Interesting article about Jonas http://www.eplindex.com/30543/his-name-is-jonas-gutierrez-stats-analysis.html
I’m a big fan of his despite what others may think of him. He is incredibly hard working. I can remember when he was injured and missed a few games and the team was much worse for being without him.
For player of the year though it is hard when so many have been out and not been able to make many appearances. But Krul and Coloccini must surely be in the running. I’ve also enjoyed Marveaux, just wished we had seen more of him and Santon and Steven Taylor. Hope we keep Simpson. Sorry we are not keeping Steve Harper with us in some role as he has been the most loyal, uncomplaining guy around. Respect him a lot. I hope he gets to manage Huddersfield if that is what he desires. Happy for him that he will go out before SJP crowd for his last game. HWTL
Jill(Quote)
At least we’re headed the same way with the idiot surrender monkey.
We’ll be able to share true empathy with the Wigan fans.
Fortunately we won’t have to worry about compting for European silverware under Pardew. “Thank God we aren’t in Europe”.
Pootle(Quote)
Pootle-would you fancy a friendly wager on the coming year’s final position then? 😉
Newkie(Quote)
I bet you a packet of jelly babies its not as good as youre expecting.
😉
Pootle(Quote)