WeAreBrighton.com End of Season Awards 2014/15 - The
Polls
Forget the General
Election - the vote that everybody wants to be taking
part in is for the coveted WeAreBrighton.com End of
Season Awards 2014/15.
Generally, we don't like to
award mediocrity but at the end of the day such is the
prestige of winning one of our gongs is such that we have
decided to press ahead with the awards anyway despite the
disappointment that this season has held.
That poor form throughout
however has yielded a couple of positives - the Manager of
the Season category can make it's first appearance since
2010 as we've got through three of them this season and it
also has allowed us to introduce a new category - the
Exaggerated Attendance of the Season.
There is also the addition
for the first time ever of the Look-a-like of the Season.
Yes, things really have been that bad that we've had to
resort to it.
Happy voting!
WeAreBrighton.com Player of the Season
Previous Winners: Stephen Ward (2014), Liam
Bridcutt (2013, 2012), Glenn Murray (2011),
Andrew Crofts (2010)
Inigo Calderon:
Played in a variety of different positions
throughout the season and enjoyed a purple patch
through February in which he turned into a goal
machine - by the Albion's standards at least.
Lewis Dunk:
Aaron Hughes' arrival in the summer looked like
he would spend another season as back up to an
experienced defender but he won his place back,
put in a string of fine displays at the heart of
the defence and ended the season top scorer.
Rohan Ince:
A second fine campaign in a row for the young
holding midfielder in which he score a couple of
absolute peaches. Continues to learn the trade
but constantly impresses with his athleticism in
the middle of the park.
Beram Kayal:
Only arrived in January from Celtic for £325,000
but that is looking like an absolute bargain as
he was without a doubt the star player in the
second half of the season. Different class to
any of his team mates as the Albion survived the
drop.
David Stockdale:
Divides opinion among the fans as for every
three or four top draw saves there seems to be
one howler thrown in for good measure. He has
certainly earned his fair share of points to
ensure the Seagulls remain a Championship club.
Joao Teixeira:
Highly rated by Liverpool and it wasn't hard to
see why during two blistering spells at the
start and middle of the season in which he
struck fear into opposition hearts as our only
creative player.
Goal of the
Season
Previous Winners: Jake Forster-Caskey (2014),
Craig Mackail-Smith (2013), Inigo Calderon
(2012), Liam Bridcutt (2011), Gary Dicker
(2010)
Rohan Ince v
Swindon away:
A great counter attacking goal saw Adrian
Colunga break away, cut back and cross to
the edge of the box where Rohan Ince arrived
and without breaking stride powered a first
time volley into the roof of the net.
Danny Holla
v Brentford away:
Danny Holla looked quite the player in his
opening few games for the club, none more so
than when he bent one into the cup corner
from 25 yards away at Brentford.
Bruno
v Cardiff
home: This was the sort of goal that
would have made Gus Poyet cry and Albion
fans scream "HOOOF" a few years ago. A 50
yard pass from Lewis Dunk is guided over
David Marshall on the volley from the
advancing right back.
Sam Baldock
v Ipswich home:
Playing in his new position out on the left,
the striker collected the ball out wide, cut
inside and unleashed a devastating effort
through a crowd of players that flew into
the corner of the Tractor Boys goal.
Matt
Kilgallon
v Blackburn
away: Scoring any sort of goal from mid
March onwards was a struggle, so praise be
to Blackburn captain Matt Kilgallon whose
bullet header from a Chris O'Grady cross
ensured the Albion left Ewood Park with a
vital win.
Last Minute Goal of the
Season
Previous Winners: Leonardo Ulloa (2014), David
Lopez (2013), Will Buckley
(2012)
Lewis Dunk
v Charlton home:
The centre back was beginning to make a name for
himself as a goalscorer having already notched
earlier in Charlton's visit to The Amex before
adding a 90th minute equaliser for a vital point
in a 2-2 draw.
Inigo Calderon v Reading home:
Nathan Jones' first game in caretaker charge
looked dead and buried after Glenn Murray gave
Reading an early 2-0 lead. The Albion showed
fight and spirit to battle back and take a point
thanks to the right backs late leveller.
Lewis Dunk v Brentford away:
An FA Cup replay was the last thing that was
needed in the midst of a relegation battle. Step
forward then Lewis Dunk whose goal in the 88th
minute set the Albion on their way to a rare win
at Griffin Park...
Chris O'Grady v Brentford away:
And that Dunk effort wasn't the only late goal
in west London that day, Chris O'Grady notching
his first for the club to secure a glamour tie
with Arsenal and cue an emotional post match
interview from The Rock look-a-like
Memorable Moment of the Season
Previous Winners: Forest away (2014), Palace
home (2013), Doncaster home
(2012), Charlton away
(2011), Southampton away (2010)
Sami Hyypia
resigns:
With the Albion in the relegation zone and
having recorded one league win in 18, Sami
Hyypia finally did the decent thing and resigned
to relieve all around that maybe we'd now have a
chance of staying up.
Fulham away:
A week after the resignation, caretaker boss
Nathan Jones took his side to Fulham and in
front of over 3000 fans singing their hearts out
at Craven Cottage, recorded a 2-0 win that was
just like the Brighton of old.
Ipswich home:
The Tractor Boys were on an excellent run of
form when they arrived at The Amex but they
couldn't cope with the best home performance of
the season as Chris Hughton recorded his first
home win in style.
Scoring a
goal at Wigan:
Over a month had passed since a Brighton
player found the net so Dale Stephens goal at
Wigan was extremely memorable. In true Brighton
style we of course went and conceded again but
at least we had finally managed to score.
Season ends:
It's been an absolutely dreadful season so
perhaps the greatest moment was when it finally
all came to an end with the final whistle at
Middlesbrough and the relief that we wouldn't
have to watch that rubbish for at least three
months.
Manager
of theSeason
Previous Winners: Gus Poyet (2010)
Sami Hyypia:
Arrived in the summer amid something of a
fanfare after guiding Bayer Leverkusen into the
Champions League but never really got to grips
with the Championship thanks to his stupid wing
backs system and some spectacularly poor
signings.
Nathan Jones:
The only Albion manager to remain unbeaten, he
inspired the side back from 2-0 down at home to
Reading as well as that win at Fulham which set
the foundations for Chris Hughton to lead us
away from relegation.
Chris Hughton:
Began life with a bang playing decent football
and picking up wins all over the place before a
terrible end to the campaign in which only one
win was registered from the middle of March -
and that came thanks to an own goal.
Dismissal of the Season
Previous Winners: Leonardo Ulloa (2014), Ashley
Barnes (2013), Mauricio Taricco (2012,
2011), Colin Hawkins (2010)
Andrew
Crofts v Sheffield Wednesay home:
The Albion midfielder lasts a grand total of
50 minutes of his first game back after six
months out injured before receiving a
straight red for a horror tackle on Sam
Hutchinson.
Inigo
Calderon v
Burton Albion away: What do you do when
you are 3-0 up against League Two opponents
and cruising into the last 16 of the COCup?
Why, put in a ridiculous tackle in the 88th
minute to get yourself a straight red card,
of course.
Kazenga
LuaLua
v Huddersfield away: The last minute of
a tough game away from home when you are
holding on for a draw is not the best time
to make a rash challenge for your second
yellow of the evening and first red card of
your career Kazenga.
Adrian
Colunga v Fulham home:
Another late red card, this time for the
striker for a needless foul on Scott Parker.
And then to top it off he proceeded to walk
as slowly off the pitch as possible with the
clock running down and the Albion 2-1
behind.
Bruno v
Wolves away:
Bruno completely loses his bald head with a
ridiculous two footed lunge to earn a
straight red with 50 minutes played and the
Albion 1-0 up away from home and looking
reasonably comfortable chasing only a second
win 18 games.
Lewis Dunk v
Brentford home:
Already on a yellow card after a pretty
silly foul in first half stoppage time,
Lewis Dunk decides the best course of action
in the circumstances is to push an opponent
to the ground right in front of the referee
to earn a second booking.
Flair
Moment of the Season
Previous Winners: Andrea Orlandi (2014), Liam
Bridcutt (2013), Vicente (2012), Cristian Baz
(2011), Inigo Calderon (2010)
Kemy
Agustien's red beard:
His contribution on the pitch over two seasons
at The Amex amounts to the sum total of bugger
all. In fact, the only good thing he has done
came at the start of the season when he died his
goatee beard bright red.
Paddy McCourt
takes on the Middlebsrough team:
The Derry Pele glided his way past half of the
Middlesbrough team on a solo run from his own
half before firing just wide. Like a bearded,
alcoholic slower version of Vicente.
Adrian
Colunga penalty v Norwich:
A15 minutes left at Carrow Road and Brighton are
awarded a penalty to take the lead against the
promotion chasers. Up steps Adrian Colunga who
does a little dance in his run up on the way to
rolling it into the corner.
Darren Bent
celebration v Fulham:
Darren Bent marked his debut for Brighton by
scoring against his former club. Not content
with that, he sprinted from the North Stand to
the South to celebrate in front of the visiting
fans, Adebayor style.
Chris O'Grady
waves fans onto pitch:
"If O'Grady scores, we're on the pitch" was sung
loud and proud on the Griffin Park terraces. And
the striker duly did, celebrating in front of
the away end by waving the fans to come and join
him. Nobody did.
David
Stockdale's Twitter meltdown:
Not content with rowing with the WeAreBrighton
team about his weight, the Albion goalkeeper
seeks out a month old tweet from Adam Virgo and
proceeds to spend the evening arguing with him
about it.
Villain of the Season
Previous Winners: Nigel Adkins (2014), El Hadj
Diouf (2013), Glenn Murray (2012). Nigel Adkins
(2011), Dean Hammond (2010)
David Burke:
The Head of Football Operations had an
absolute terrible time of it during his spell at
The Amex, culminating in the terrible summer
transfer business that left Hyypia with a squad
ill equipped for the division. Sacked in
December, thank Christ.
Schteve
McClaren:
His Derby County side may have battered us
at The Amex when we somehow took the three
points, but to say the Albion's goals were
lacking in quality was sour grapes at it's
absolute worst.
Glenn Murray:
It was another case of FFS Murray, this time
with the former striker in a Reading shirt
rather than that of Palace as he scored twice in
the first half to put the Biscuitment into a 2-0
lead on Boxing Day.
Gus Poyet:
Not contented with turning Liam Bridcutt's
head the previous year, the former Albion
manager then took Will Buckley off us in the
summer as well. Still, he'd hit that much fabled
glass ceiling by the end of the season. Shame.
Exaggerated Attendance of the Season
Previous Winners: New category!
Cardiff City
- 23,712 :
With Cardiff once again given a Tuesday
night game at The Amex, the away end was
particularly bare for this one, despite which
there was apparently a crowd present of nearly
24,000.
Wigan
Athletic - 23,044:
It was later confirmed that the actual
attendance for Wigan's visit was just over
16,000, with a whopping 7,000 ticket holders
therefore deciding not to attend and missing a
first league win since August courtesy of Gary
Gardner.
Reading -
26,173:
Boxing Day represented a bit of a travel
nightmare in terms of getting to Falmer given
the reliance on public transport. So fair play
to the 26,000+ who supposedly were in
attendance.
Huddersfield
Town - 23,270:
Another Tuesday night meeting with opponents
from miles away meant a low away attendance. The
fact the Albion hadn't scored a goal of their
own for a month also meant a low home
attendance.
Look-a-like of the Season
Previous Winners: New category!
Sam Baldock -
Ed Miliband :
It is far too much of a coincidence that the
summer signing for Bristol City missed the
second half of the season "injured" at just the
same time as Labour leader Ed Miliband was
hitting the campaign trail.
Inigo
Calderon
- Fernando Alonso:
The double Formula One world champion moved
over the winter from Ferrari to the terrible car
of McLaren. With less pressure on his grand prix
career, the result has been a reinvention as a
goal scoring right midfielder.
Lewis Dunk -
Neil from The Inbetweeners:
If you believe what you read, then The
Inbetweeners were done after their second movie
which has allowed Dunk to concentrate 100% on
his football this season. The result? Top scorer
and his best campaign yet.
Chris Hughton
- Barack Obama:
Both men arrived amongst great hope and
initially lived up to the hype. Fingers cross
Hughton doesn't go the same way as the
President, otherwise in the cut throat world of
football he won't be lasting four more years.
Chris O'Grady
- The Rock:
O'Grady became The Peoples Champion of the
Albion when he returned from a loan spell at
Sheffield United to score at Brentford and give
an uplifting and emotional interval. We
certainly smell what he is cooking.
Sexiest Player of the Season
Previous Winners: Andrea Orlandi (2014, 2013),
Vicente (2012)
Joe Bennett:
The young Aston Villa left back has come in and
although not been as good on the pitch as his
two predecessors Wayne Bridge and Stephen Ward,
he has certainly added to the eye candy factor.
Inigo
Calderon:
We caused quite the stir last year by leaving
out the Basque man from the shortlist but no
such mistake has been made this time around with
the right back offering a Spanish option
following the sad departure of Andrea Orlandi.
Gordon Greer:
If designer stubble and an ever growing bald
patch that screams "I am a man with experience"
are what gets you going, then look no further
than the rugged Scotland international and
Albion club captain.
Rohan Ince:
Those deep eyes, that silky voice and not to
mention the rumoured python if you listen to one
of the more interesting songs in homage to the
midfielder. He could be the full package.
Craig Mackail-Smith:
A stylish mop of blonde hair, delightful blue
eyes and it is well agreed that he is one of the
nicest men in football. Brighton will be a
poorer place without the clubs record signing
brightening things up.
Solly March:
He may not have played much this season owing to
a succession of injuries but he has still done
enough to make the cut for the sexiest player
list. An England under 21 international and a
man with youth on his side.
Dale Stephens:
Another new addition to the options having
controversially missed out on selection last
year. Back from injury and now fully
operational, the midfielder is bags of fun as
his tweeted photo of himself dressed as Harry
Potter goes to prove.
Joao Teixeira:
His season may have come to a premature end with
that broken leg but there should be no shortage
of Albion fans wanting to nurse him back to
health with his sun kissed Portuguese good
looks.
Best Bald Head of the Season
Previous Winners: Bruno (2014, 2013),
Gordon Greer (2012)
Kemy Agustien:
Given that he is partial to tweeting ridiculous
selfies and he died his beard red earlier in the
campaign, it is no wonder that rumours that
Agustien achieves such a shiny head by polishing
it have begun to spread like wildfire.
Ali al-Habsi:
He was only here for one game but in it he
sported the ultimate bald man approach, going
for the bald head with beard combo that forever
gives the impression of a man with his head on
upside down.
Bruno:
The Spanish right back takes the Matt Prior
approach to his shiny bonce, shaving it in such
away that it appears to be going naturally. That
formula has won him this award for the past two
seasons so he would be mad to change it now.
Inigo
Calderon:
Sit in the upper tiers of the West or East
stand and it has been noticable for sometime now
that despite his Jesus of Nazareth style long
locks, the popular Mr Calderon is developing a
50p piece of visible scalp on his crown.
Gordon Greer:
Seems to stemmed the loss from back in the
last season but is now beginning to go from the
front to the point where he can often be seen
now leaving games wearing a beanie hat to cover
up this disastrous turn of events.
