The problem with this, from our perspective anyway, is that we’ve been largely awful for the second half of the season which makes it hard to nominate an NUFC Blog Player of the Season.
But we’ll try. I’ll bet most of you will be thinking that none of them deserve any recognition because I’m thinking along the same lines. However, surely someone somewhere, has performed admirably? I can think of three player who have been the best of a bad bunch throughout the course of the season, which is one of my stipulations for being considered for such a prestigious award, otherwise Yohan Cabaye would be my winner without a shadow of doubt. So who is left to consider?
Loic Remy
Now it’s extremely unlikely that we’ll see Remy in the black and white of United again. That is partly down to finance, which shouldn’t be an issue for us but apparently is for everything, but it’s also down to how he has played for us. His 14 league goals this term have reinforced the view that he can cut it at this level after signing for QPR last season and his goalscoring influence has been exceptional for us. I think we only won one game without him in the side all season although I’m prepared to be corrected on that.
Mathieu Debuchy
The former Lille right-back has been a solid performer for us this season after a shaky start to life in the Premier League previously. All in all, Debs made 32 appearances for us over the course of the season and I struggle to remember any real bad games from the lad. Of course as a full-back he’s not likely to chip in with many goals although he did manage to find the back of the net once in our defeat at Sunderland and grabbed three assists.
Cheik Tiote
Tiote hasn’t really done anything exceptional on the pitch if I’m being honest, but he has been steady and his performances as stand-in Captain in the absence of Fabricio Coloccini were impressive. No goals again and only one assist is not great but he’s kept thins ticking over in the middle of the park. However his influence waned somewhat with the departure of Yohan Cabaye.
If you’re looking for a damning enough indictment of our season then surely this is it? The fact that I can only pick out our top scorer and two other who have done alright kind of says it all. But perhaps I’ve missed something? Maybe I’ve been too harsh? Perhaps even finding a positive in three players is too much?
So you’re best option is to get involved. I’ve set out a poll below with my three suggestions and with the option of ‘other’ or ‘nobody’ but don’t forget to leave your reason as to why you’ve voted the way you have.
[poll id=”79″]
Remy has my vote. Without his goals we’d have been screwed. Shame he’ll be off now.
toonsy(Quote)
Loic is well ahead in the early going! Huzzah! 😆
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Good finish from Perchy! Be good to see him back up in the prem. Shocking dive by McClean though, what a diving pikey fecker 😀
Newkie(Quote)
Well, it has to be Remy really doesn’t it, even though he he aint even our player. That in itself is one of the saddest things about our season. Goof may have edged it if we only counted the first half of the season, Debs and Tiote have been solid for the most part, but the rest? Willo has probably exceded some expectations and that’s about it.
Newkie(Quote)
Pretty clearly Remy for me. Honorable mention to Debuchy and Tiote, both of whom I really rate
MDS(Quote)
Probably could give a mention for Cabaye; if not for his performances surely for the fact that his sale presumably led to the firing of Kinnear
MDS(Quote)
Remy’s got the footy talent granted but the Tea Lady gets my vote.
Loyalty is a rare trait these days and nobody else at the club comes close. 😆
geordiedan(Quote)
What a laugh!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂 Player of the season… On what measuring scale are we supposed to judge it on? First half of the season if go Cabaye, second half – forget it!
Stuart79(Quote)
Between Remy and Debbie for me Toonsy, but Remy edges it because as you say without him we’d been buggered.
kIMTOON(Quote)
be not been 🙄
kIMTOON(Quote)
Fuk this is a hard one I hate the thought of voting for another teams player.
Debs has been good but has been injuried , Tiote when he had the armband has IMO been the best but again hasn’t been often enough, so will have to think a bit more 😉
Big Dave(Quote)
I had to go with Debuchy
Big Dave(Quote)
Remy, Debs, Cabaye, Williamson
mark(Quote)
Lerner has Villa for sale for about 200M pounds and will take a 100M pound loss if he gets that much. They need huge investment in players or they will be back in the same position next season. How are clubs going to continue in the current climate other than the top 5 or 6? Looks like we’re headed for a disaster to me. How many owners can invest the 100M or so needed to really improve?
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Dave – I agree about Tiote as Captain. For me I think Cabaye was our best player by far in the first half of the season. Most improved player was Debuchy, but player of the season has to be Remy for me. Without Remys goals this season I dread to think how our season may have turned out.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I know our squad needs strengthening alot this summer, but I really want to see the manager use Sammy, Campbell and Armstrong more. I really want us to bring through and give a chance to the young lads – not just for cup games but a really chance to prove themselves.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Biggest disappointment of the season as a player? De Jong? Or possibly Santon if we only count our own players? Player to gain the most weight during the season? Got to be Benny. Player who struts about the pitch best? Saylor hands down.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Player with the skinniest feet? Krul. Best head ****? Pardew.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Most annoying git of the season? Very difficult choice. I go for a 2 way tie between Ashley and Kinnear.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Shapy-I thought sammy showed some good touches when he came on vs pool. He’s had some good outings this season, I defo think he could have been used more. He tracks back as well which Pardew likes, and he has the pace and size to actually beat a player down the line which not many of our boys can do. Not sure whether he’s fancied though, he’s not getting any younger either.
Newkie(Quote)
What about some quality reinforcements Newkie mate? Surely we need at least 5? Randy Lerner is giving up. What is Ashley doing? Is he going to do the job properly this summer?
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Newkie – yeah, I think during the bad run Sammy actually stood out a bit. I also thought he look decent at times against the pool. I’d love to see him get the chance though. If he doesn’t make it then fair enough, but at least he’s been given a go.
I loved the toon when we had local lads playing – Clark, Watson, Howey etc. I like Saints because of all the young players they are bringing through at the moment and would love for us to follow suit. We need to invest heavily in established first team players, but I would love to improve the coaching set up of the youth team as well so the likes of Streete, Satka and Rolands might come through as well.
Sharpy17(Quote)
For me Sammy shows glimpses of skill but for most of the time he is like a headless chicken, I think he would make a good Championship player.
Big Dave(Quote)
Player of the year ??? I dare to think. Remy, Dubuchy, Cabaye.
Cabaye because we have been **** without him.
stem(Quote)
Got to be Remy for me.. but would have been Cabaye if he had stayed (or as he pushed?)
Toon would have been absolutely knackered, dead and buried this season without these two. Dread to think of what might have happened… i’m embarrassed enough!
YorkieGeordie(Quote)
Dave – do you not think that from what you’ve seen, he deserves at least a chance to show what he has?.
If he isn’t good enough then let him go, I have no issue with that, but how are we ever gonna know how good Sammy or Bigi for example really are if they aren’t played.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Most annoying person of the year is no other than Mike Ashley.
1. For not sacking Pardew
2. Hiring Kinnear
3. No replacement for Cabaye
4. Showing absolutely no ambition in cups and doesn’t want to qualify for europe.
Worst player of the year Steven Taylor
stem(Quote)
Apparently according to Luke Edwards Pardew isn’t getting sacked and Ashley has given him a £60m budget with the first signing to be announced in a few days (possibly Cabella)
Stuart79(Quote)
G2-I agree mate, we need four or five talented players. A number 10, two strikers, a winger, cover at right back. There is no excuse to spend any less than 20 or 25 mil as that’s what we got for cabs and saved on wages after we sold him-I’m already resigned to Ashley pocketing the tv money…and how much quality can we get for that kind of dosh now anyway bearing in mind most of cabby’s replacements were touted at 15 mil and Remy’s price around 17mil? 😕
Sharpy-exactly mate, I always have a bit of a soft spot for Geordies even if they are daft/***** like Shola and Tayls. Now if we can actually get some good ones again I will find reason to cheer! Dummett will struggle now I think, he lacks the raw ability of Haidara and Santon, he does try hard but I think a lot of fans have already made their mind up on him, which is sad. Campbell has really struggled to get going on loan which is a shame, Armstrong is still very young and needs to get out on loan himself, not be playing in our first team (imo). It’s tough for any hanging round our academy, I mean look how highly rated Vuckic was by everyone, and look how he’s ended up, although he just seemed constantly crocked.
Newkie(Quote)
Stu – unfortunately the only part of that I believe that will come true is that we will remain stuck with Parsnip!.
Newkie – Dummett reminds me of Robbie Elliott.
Sharpy17(Quote)
If it’s £60m then that’s one hell of a ‘Wor chest’! Seriously though, that should bring in a couple of strikers, couple of wingers, a centre half and centre midfielder to replace Cabaye.
Whether it’s actually anywhere near that I will be amazed but still, we can dream!
Stuart79(Quote)
I voted for me as blogger of the season! I might check the results to see who else voted for me!
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Feckin hell.. its player of the season! I misread the headline! 😉
debuchy for me… been good all season!
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
So the Championship play offs is Derby v QPR then.
I’d like Derby to do it personally, though if they don’t then a Will Hughes bid may be back on.
Interestingly though – all promoted managers are British. I say that coz I’ve read on here for most of the season that all British managers are gash.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Well IF true 60 million could revamp our squad but dont forget free transfers aren’t free . New names in a couple of days must mean players out of contract my guess Colback and Gomis .Gomis would be an up grade on Shola and Colback surely must be better than Gosling .Its all just guess work though .
AXEL(Quote)
Remy without a shadow of doubt. He has stood out as a top quality striker.
He is a natural goalscorer and in the top 5 strikers we have had since the premiership began.
There is not a player at the club now who gets near him for quality.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Aussie
If it’s any consolation I would vote for you as blogger of the season.
You have provided myself & others countless hours of entertain with your posts.
Never has someone been so funny when their intention was to be serious. 😛
Go on Aus, give us another post about your views on footy, I’m dying for a good belly laugh. 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆
Troy Stavers(Quote)
@Sharpy
Shirley you don’t need to keep watching Sammy to realise he isn’t up to premier league standard. He’s played enough for even Aussie to realise it. 😉
Troy Stavers(Quote)
So fans shy and media banning Ashley has told the papers we have 60mil war chest to spend 🙄
If true, marvellous 😛 , if not, its no surprise..
mark(Quote)
@Troy.
I don’t hate Pardew. I have given him loads of chances and would be willing to give him another go as I’m a forgiving chap. I don’t detest him and his football, its 1 step up from Big Sams so I can just about stomach it. A little too defensive regardless of the players we deploy..:razz:
Hopefully all of the promises he’s made in the last 2 years will be on show next year. such as. no goals from corners, its something we’ll look at in training. no goals after conceding first, its something we’ll look at in training. not many goals from other players in the team, its something we’ll try and address in training.. we like to keep teams on the back foot.. (really) maybe try that in training. 😛
So a vote of confidence from me, its his last chance tho 👿
mark(Quote)
£60m looks impressive (if you say it quickly) isn’t that roughly how much extra tv money we get this year? then there’s the Cabaye £20m (give or take) that’s sat in the bank 👿
When you think that Shola, Remy, Gosling, De Jong will be gone and I suspect Benny, Marveaux, Jonas, Obertan, Krul and a couple of the young un’s, then chuck in the fact that we also need to strengthen the defence as well as replace all those players then £60m doesn’t look so much then does it?
Hopefully a couple will step up from the young un’s into the first team and we’ll get a couple of free’s in too. If the club are using their “old con” of the £60m includes wages, signing on fees, agents fees etc etc then it should just about be enough to replace Shola 😉
For the record, £60m!!! I’ll believe it when I see it 🙄
richietoon(Quote)
Mark – The club contacted the journo in question last night about 30 mins after the article went on line and said they hadn’t committed to spend £60 and the budget is undisclosed.
Good while it lasted… 😯
Stuart79(Quote)
Troy – players improve though dont they mate. I remember watching a young Christiano Ronaldo play for Man Utd and thinking he was gash – now before you start, I’m not for a second suggesting he’s as good as Ronaldo or will develop to be like him.
All I’m saying is that if a bit of faith and time to develop he may improve from a Championship player to a decent PL squad player.
Sharpy17(Quote)
@Mark
As I’ve repeated and I believe you totally underestimate, the quality of the players within the squad is woeful.
Everyone simplifies their arguments.
We’ve got Debuchy, Remy , sissoko, Colo, Krul, etc.
However rarely do we have our strongest 11 out. Drafted in are Shola, Je Dong, Gosling, Taylor, Sammy.
You can’t win games or play attractive football with these players.
It’s nonsense to suggest other.
As I mentioned the other day, how would Liverpool have coped this second half of the season with their strike force being Shola, Je Dong and Goof?
Do you believe they would have finished second?
They wouldn’t have finished in the top 4 !
You have to be realistic.
Forget about his excuses. That’s his job to make excuses and protect his players. He doesn’t mean a word of it.
So give me an honest answer where you believe Liverpool would have finished with out strike force?
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Troy…I wouldn’t wish our strike force on anyone, even Liverpool 😉
richietoon(Quote)
@STUART79
lol aye, very good while it lasted 😆
mark(Quote)
@ Sharpy
Well I suggest if you once looked at Ronaldo at Man United for a split second and thought he was hash then it proves my point. You have some ridiculous views on football hence I rarely agree with you. 😉
We got Hugo Viana the same time as M Utd got Ronaldo. The difference in class was immediate to the trained observer like me. 😉
You don’t help yourself Sharpy 😉
Troy Stavers(Quote)
@Mark
Have a go at answering my question. And answer honestly. 😉
Troy Stavers(Quote)
troy.. regardless of who we have in our team, Pardews tactics are the same. Yes, we did look a little better when we had Ba then Cisse scoring for fun but we still remained cautious in our play.
I’m sure you mentioned it yourself a year or go that we havent played many enjoyable games under Pardew. I have only witnessed a dozen or so in his reign.
like I said, I can stomach it for another season so please smithers, put the ‘Pardew for president’ banner down, 😛 I’m supporting him…for now 😉
mark(Quote)
60 million….That’s almost dare to dream time!!!! Haha! Never going to happen!
Let’s play FM15
CM: Y Cabaye
CB: S Taylor
CM: D Gosling
RM: G Obertan
LM: J Gutierrez
LM: S Marveaux
ST: L Remy
ST: L De Jong
ST: S Ameobi
In:
CB: S Caulker
CM: L Holtby
RM: V Moses
RM: A Musa
LM: N Redmond
ST: E izaguile
ST: B Gomis
CAM: A Hunt
ST: A Lacazette
Right now for the waiting and disappointment.
“I really think Calton Cole showed his worth for West Ham this season and he can be our new target man!” – Pardew August 2014
Oblong(Quote)
Aussie just out of interest, did you get a bonus from Jabba for being his doctor of Spin and PR man
Big Dave(Quote)
Troy – when Ronaldo was coming into the team and doing all his step overs with no end product. He was clearly a skillful player but no one knew he would develop into the player he has.
Maybe Routledge would have been a fairer comparison, as he was written off as no good when with us, but has went on to be an important player for Swansea.
Troy – if we don’t agree much, then I’m happy I’m on the right track mate 😉 😆
Sharpy17(Quote)
Newsflash!!! ,news just in the reported £60m was a typo error, it is in fact 60p 😉
kIMTOON(Quote)
Oh and a greggs pasty 😉 😎 that should tempt em
kIMTOON(Quote)
West Ham apparently winning the race to sign Colback
kIMTOON(Quote)
This just makes me laugh, what would be the point in us even bothering to enquire if City are already looking 😳 that’s assuming it’s even true in the first place.
http://footylatest.com/newcastle-join-man-city-in-race-to-sign-young-spanish-sensation/55630
kIMTOON(Quote)
Kim…”If” it’s true and we were interested then of course we should enquire, we shouldn’t just give up on a player just because a report(which is more likely than not bollocks) says a bigger club is looking at him. Even if we are both interested in him there’s nothing to say City would follow up on that interest, we can’t just not bother with players because a bigger club is “reportedly” interested…of course we could just stick with our current policy of not bothering signing players at all regardless of what other clubs are doing 😉 😆
richietoon(Quote)
@Mark
So you have deliberately ignored my question again about the strikers. 😉
Not a surprise really. 😉
In relation to your comments about him playing cautiously. I again use the same points. If you have players like Obertan, Perch Ryan Taylor etc playing in your side, which we did when we finished 5th, then inevitably you play cautious football. It’s an impossibility to play possession and attractive football.
I get the impression you believe that attractive football is possible no matter the quality of player. I’m at a loss by your logic.
Again use the same analogy. Do you believe Liverpool would play attractive attacking football with Perch, Ryan Taylor and Obertan et al?
I don’t argue they played their part and did a decent job, but never would I expect them to be part of an attacking side.
I don’t expect you to answer this poser either. I’ll add it to the list of questions you fail to answer. 😉
Troy Stavers(Quote)
@Sharpy
You referred to Ronaldo as gash. At no time has he been gash.
Regarding Routledge. He is no better now than he was at the Toon.
He wasn’t bad at the toon but not good enough for a top side which is what we believe we should be. I wouldn’t have Routledge back. Would you?
Troy Stavers(Quote)
BD, I did get a bonus payment from Ashley but I have decided to donate the money! There is a lot of misery out there so the cheque is heading your way in the mail mate! 😆
wow Troy is stealing my material again.. last week I joked that he was a funny guy especially when he was talking football and the week he is passing the material off as his own! 😯 the mind boggles! 😛
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
@Aussie
Maybe you could answer the questions I posed to Mark (aka Clementine Bougelette-Sykes). He hates his double barrelled name. 😛
Cheeses. I’m asking for miracles now. 😛
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Totally deflated by the Pardew staying stories. Probably true. Now all he has to do is get a budget from Ashley (hah ha) and convince new players that:
a) we don’t want to win anything
b) Mid table is our main target
c) No flirting with euro places or else
d) All out defensive football is our style
e) No cup runs in case of euro qualification
f) Play well and we’ll sell you
Now – what and who is it we’re supposed to support?
georgio(Quote)
Caulker is surely a must. Not huge in quality but better than Williamson and Saylor, and he’s captain of a Premier League team at 22.
He’s also (fairly) cheap and English – ticks every box!
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
What was the question?
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Troy – aye ok, gash was the wrong word to use, but you knew what I meant.
Regarding Routledge, he wouldn’t be in my ideal starting 11 for us, but I’d have had him on the right wing ahead of Sissoko this season without doubt. I think he’d be a good squad player to have and should not have been sold to be replaced by Obertan IMO.
Sharpy17(Quote)
@ Aussie
The question was, will you answer the question? 😯
Troy Stavers(Quote)
That depends! 😐
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Sharpy – good call on Routledge. We should never have sold him and he’s looked great for Swans. Of course it would take Pardew to recognise that and guess what. He didn’t. Now he’s interested in Townsend. Apart from 3 good games he’s headless chicken No 1. Also been on loan at 10 different clubs and none were interested enough to sign him. Obertan’s better!
georgio(Quote)
@ Sharpy
I’m sorry I’m not a mind reader. No, when you said gash I thought you meant gash. You used it to counter my Sammy point that he was gash.
Sammy is gash. Ronaldo has always been class. Even when raw and young, it was clear he had class.
Sammy will never be a top prem striker. Take it from me. Or any other person with a modicum of common sense. 😉
Troy Stavers(Quote)
@ Sharpy
You say Routledge wouldn’t be in your ideal starting 11 but you would have him in place of Sissoko this season.
Well that should tell you how Pardew feels. I wouldn’t have Rputledge and I wouldn’t have Sissoko. 😉
But you want Pards sacked cos he doesn’t play attractive football. 😯
Oh the logic I wonderful. 😛
Troy Stavers(Quote)
So have we signed anyone yet? 😉
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Troy – correct, I would like Pardew replacing as his football is ugly.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Jonas is coming back from Norwich, it’s like having a new signing. Parsnip is staying, Wow it’s like having a new manager. Shola Ameobi’s staying as our main striker next season. Wow the fear of losing him. Renew your season ticket and swallow the bull **** Ashley dishes out.
60 million, yeah right!
stem(Quote)
One ridiculous article and everyone’s renewing there season ticket.
stem(Quote)
The club had every right to stamp on edwards story, What a ridiculous thing to put out there. Every club/agent/player we try to negotiate with would be demanding ludicrous ammounts.
CC(Quote)