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WeAreBrighton.com End of Season Awards 2011/12 - The Polls

Brighton and Hove Albion's first season at The Amex has been rather a good one by all accounts.

Easily surviving in the Championship and even flirting with the play-offs as late in the day as the end of March with the transfer record being broken three times to build a squad that has looked more than capable of competing with the best in the division on their day.

Albion fans will never forget the 2011/12 campaign right from the opening game against Doncaster through to the memorable for all the wrong reasons hammering at West Ham. And now it is your chance to have your say on the best from a fantastic campaign as we open the polls for the annual WeAreBrighton.com End of Season Awards.

Read on to see who the nominations are. Happy voting!

WeAreBrighton.com Player of the Season
Holder: Glenn Murray
Ashley Barnes: Continues to divide opinion among fans but the facts don't lie as he has ended the season top scorer. Does an important job defensively and has made the step up to Championship second striker well.
Liam Bridcutt: He continued his fine form of last season with another fantastic campaign in the holding midfield role that quite rightly has had Premier League suitors queuing up. Only him and Gordon Greer have been guaranteed names on the team sheet.
Will Buckley: The £1.5m man missed most of the opening months with injury but has been an integral part of the side when playing, scoring vital goals along the way - not least the two on his debut against Doncaster.
Adam El-Abd: Didn't feature until November because of injury, he slotted straight back into the side and didn't miss a beat, renewing his superb partnership with Gordon Greer at the back. One of the biggest success stories of Gus Poyet's reign.
Gordon Greer: The captain is another who has had Premier League interest and it is no surprise as he has been a rock at the back this season. Vital to Gus' style of football and one of the best defenders the club has had in many a long year.
Craig Mackail-Smith: The Albion's record buy hasn't scored as many goals in his first season at The Amex as he probably should have done, but his workrate has made him a popular figure with supporters.
Alan Navarro: For a man who didn't even have a contract at the start of the season, he has become another key player alongside Liam Bridcutt in the midfield. Keeps things simple and has shown that a serious injury is not the end.
Vicente: That good he can make the shortlist just playing regularly from March onwards. Some say he is the best player ever to wear the stripes and whether he stays or goes, he will always be remembered by those lucky enough to have seen him play.


Goal of the Season
Holder: Liam Bridcutt v Carlisle United
Ryan Harley v Peterborough home: Having been chased by Gus Poyet for eight months, the midfielder marked his long-awaited debut for the club with a perfectly stunning free-kick to help defeat Peterborough 2-0.
Vicente v Ipswich away: The Spaniard gave an early glimpse of what was to come with a stunning goal which saw him take one defender completely out the game with a feigned pass before curling the ball into the top corner from the edge of the box.
Craig Mackail-Smith v Derby away: CMS netted his first goal in two months with a thunderbolt from the edge of the box that left Derby keeper Frankie Fielding with no chance to secure a 1-0 win at Pride Park.
Matt Sparrow v Southampton home: The first goal of his brace that helped bring down leaders Southampton was an absolute rocket as the midfielder bent an unstoppable effort in from 25 yards out after a quick exchange with Liam Bridcutt.
Inigo Calderon v Bristol City home: Clever build up play saw the right back eventually come charging forward and he bent a shot from a 25 yards after cutting inside the left back straight past David James and into the stanchion of the South Stand goal.
Kazenga LuaLua v Millwall home: With just two minutes left on the clock, the winger stepped up to fire a trademark free kick with so much power it went straight through David Forde's hands to rescue a point for the Albion
Kazenga LuaLua v Liverpool away: Six days after his first goal of the season, LuaLua did it again with another free-kick from distance - this time deceiving Spanish international Pepe Reina in front of a shell shocked Kop.
Ashley Barnes v Ipswich home: The top scorer netted his 11th of the campaign after cutting inside a defender and bending the ball past the goalkeeper into the right hand corner of the goal from the edge of the box.
Vicente v Portsmouth home: Having come off the substitues bench and won the free-kick himself, the midfield maestro dusted himself down to curl an inch-perfect effort into the bottom left hand corner of the goal.


Last Minute Goal of the Season
Holder: New Category
Will Buckley v Doncaster home: A 98th minute winner by a substitute making his debut to secure a win in the first game in your brand new stadium. It doesn't get much better than that.
Will Buckley v Nottingham Forest home: Forest had battered the Albion for 90 minutes but that mattered not to Will Buckley as he smashed Romain Vincelot's layback into the back of the net.
Will Buckley v Peterborough away: Toby Agdestein marked his league debut by setting up Buckley as his late effort beat goalkeeper Joe Lewis who perhaps should have done better.
Will Buckley v Leicester home: As if three sendings off in a game wasn't enough drama, Will Buckley popped up with yet another late goal in the battle for the play-offs.
Alan Navarro v Leeds away: The midfielder couldn't have picked a better time to score his first goal in an Albion shirt as a drive from distance secured victory at Elland Road.


Own Goal of the Season
Holder: New Category
Adam El-Abd v Reading away: A disappointing Boxing Day at Reading was summed up nicely by the defender turning a cross into his own goal late on to give the Biscuitment a 3-0 win.
Liam Bridcutt v Liverpool away: A game of ping pong in the box following a Liverpool corner ended when Sam Vokes' clearance hit Bridcutt to make it 2-1 to the Reds.
Liam Bridcutt v Liverpool away: Bridcutt completed his brace at Anfield when Steve Gerrard's shot on the counter came off the unfortunate midfielder.
Lewis Dunk v Liverpool away: The young defender's attempts to play keepy-upys in his own box go drastically wrong as he ends up smashing the ball into the roof of the net.
Gary Dicker v West Ham away: A fine finish from a corner from the midfielder as he guided the ball into the bottom left hand corner of the goal with unnerving accuracy.

Memorable Moment of the Season
Holder: Charlton Athletic away
Doncaster Home: After a 14 year wait, Brighton and Hove Albion played their first league game in their own stadium. Flags, Will Buckley and tears - it'll never be forgotten.
Vicente Signs: Former Spain international and a man who was once wanted by Real Madrid, Manchester United and Chelsea for a rumoured €30m signs for Brighton and Hove Albion.
FFS Murray: The video that became an internet hit as one Albion fan totally loses the plot as Glenn Murray marks his return to The Amex with a goal in Palace's 3-1 victory.
Burnley Home: With the Albion down to nine men after just 12 minutes, The Amex was a cauldron of noise as it nearly inspired the most unlikely of comebacks.
Southampton Home: League leaders Southampton arrive to take on a Brighton side with no win in a month. Cue a 3-0 victory for the Seagulls. Nigel, what's the score?
Liverpool Away: A big day out at Anfield and the chance for FA Cup shock and glory didn't quite go to plan as the Albion scored three own goals on their way to a 6-1 defeat.


Dismissal of the Season
Holder: Mauricio Taricco v Woking
Gus Poyet v Doncaster home: Telling his players not to be overcome with the emotion of the day, Gus fails to practice what he preached as he gets sent from the dugout in the first half.
Marcos Painter v Leicester away: The left back goes for a second yellow card for a deliberate hand ball with the Albion losing 1-0 and just 11 minutes left on the clock.
Mauricio Taricco v Southampton away: Last seasons winner repeated his trick as he was shown red again for telling the referee exactly what he thought after he awarded the Saints a penalty.
Romain Vincelot v Burnley home: The Frenchman took exception to an arm in the face by shoving his attacker - in full view of the fourth official who informed the ref for red card one.
Ashley Barnes v Burnley home: And red card two happened as the striker failed to control his temper, stamping on Chris McCann as the Burnley player made a tackle.
Gordon Greer v Southampton home: The captain repeated his party trick that saw him claim two reds last season by smashing Jonathan Forte in the face with his elbow.
Matt Sparrow v Leicester home: A studs up challenge on the ankle of a Leicester player right in front of the referee saw the midfielder receive his first red of the season.
Gonzalo Jara Reyes v Blackpool away: Another delightful two footed, studs up challenge in front of a referee saw the Chilean dismissed in the first league defeat of 2012 at Blackpool.
Matt Sparrow v Nottingham Forest away: His second red of the season was the result of two yellows for a ludicrous challenge and then a totally unnecessary manhandling of a Forest player.


Penalty Miss of the Season
Holder: Elliott Bennett v FC United of Manchester
Ryan Harley v Millwall away: More like a back pass than a penalty as the midfielders claims that he doesn't feel the need to practice set pieces are made to look a little silly at The Den.
Ashley Barnes v Reading home: A weak penalty from the striker allows Adam Federici to add it to his list of impressive saves on the evening the Royals won 1-0 at The Amex.


Flair Moment of the Season
Holder: Cristian Baz penalty v Woking
Mauricio Taricco stretchered off v Barnsley: Tano is stretchered off like a man with a serious injury, only to run back on completely fine two minutes later.
Gus Poyet wades into racism row : A racism row between the two biggest clubs in the country - so what was the Albion manager doing wading in and sticking up for Luis the Racist?!
Gus Poyet storms off v Burnley home : Incensed by the referee, Gus throws down his coat and storms down the tunnel with the first half still in progress, before returning ten minutes later.
Vicente beats the entire Derby team: The Spanish wizard dribbles round the entire Derby team before hitting the bar from 30 yards. Shades of Maradona.
Gus Poyet storms off v Burnley away: Five minutes to go in a vital clash if the Albion are to realise a play-off dream - and Gus has seen enough to walk off.
David Gonzalez's South American Goalkeeping: South America is not known for it's production of good goalkeepers, and the Columbian lived up to it with a performance of sheer flair.


Villain of the Season
Holder: Nigel Adkins
Glenn Murray: Walked out on a free transfer for Crystal Palace after firing the Albion to promotion. And then scored on his return to The Amex in the first league defeat at the new ground. FFS.
Kevin Nolan: As if scoring at The Amex wasn't enough, he decided to rub it in with that stupid chicken dance in front of both the North and West Stands.
Craig Pawson: Two questionable red cards within 12 minutes of the start of the Burnley game from Mr Pawson effectively killed off any chance the Albion had of taking anything from the match.
Sam Allardyce: "We didn’t hoof it. We sat in and played on the break, won 1-0, did them tactically. So when Gus Poyet criticises us, he’s done well. Fabulous. Let’s see him in 20 years."


Sexiest Player of the Season
Holder: New Category
Roland Bergkamp: Uncle Dennis was a good looking man, but Roland takes things to a new level as he makes the shortlist without actually having taken to the pitch this season.
Sexy Pete Brezovan: There is a reason the big Slovak is named Sexy Pete, with the many female fans of the club delighted with his shock recall for the second half of the season
Liam Bridcutt: The clubs official player-of-the-season has not just impressed in the football side of things, becoming a key man in terms of the good looks portrayed by the Albion.
Will Buckley: At 22, he's got youth on his side and his mop of dark hair made him an instant hit following his summer arrival from Watford.
Inigo Calderon: That Latino flavour often gets the pulses flowing, and when you combine being a passable look-a-like of Jesus it's a sure fire winner with the women.
Gary Dicker: He may have missed half the season with a broken leg, but everybody likes an Irishman and he is known to be popular among some of the older ladies.
Gordon Greer: He maybe going bald (see below), but the captain has that Scotish rogue appeal and with his disciplinary record will no doubt attract the votes of those who look a bad boy.
Will Hoskins: The signing from Bristol Rovers hasn't had much game time this season, but in the short spell he had in the team he did enough to make an impression on the eye.
Craig Mackail-Smith: His blonde locks and blue eyes certainly added to the overall good looking-ness of the Albion team when he arrived from Peterborough in the summer.
Vicente: Another of the Spanish contingent, the wait to see him lace up his boots was well worth it. As was the yellow card he received for removing his goal celebration against Pompey.
Sam Vokes: One reason to hope that the strikers loan move from Wolves is turned permanent in the summer is because he is a bloody good looking man.


Receding Hair of the Season
Holder: New Category
Inigo Calderon: He may have long hair that looks particularly good, but a closer inspection of his crown indicates that a minisule bald patch is definitely starting to creep in.
Adam El-Abd: Rumours persist that the reason that Adam El-Abd shaves his head is because he is covering up the fact he is going bald. You'll need to be your own judges of that...
Gordon Greer: Around Christmas time those in the West Upper began to notice a 50p sized bald patch in the captains hairline, which since then has begun growing at an alarming rate.
Alan Navarro: Ever since joining the club, the midfielder has had a questionable hairline, but this season in particular an impressive bald patch has developed on the top of his head.