WeAreBrighton.com End of Season Awards 2017/18 - The
Polls
It was job done for
Brighton and Hove Albion in 2017-18. The aim was to say
in the Premier League and Chris Hughton's side achieved
that with two games left to spare, ending with a highly
respectable 40 points and a 15th place finish to boot.
We've got 11 categories in
our WeAreBrighto.com End of Season Awards 2017-18 including
two brand new ones with Comedy Moment of the Season asking
you to pick the funniest thing that happened and Set Piece
Marking of the Season recognising just how terrible we've
been at defending from corners.
Own Goal of the Season has
been renamed in honour of Lewis Dunk's achievement of
managing to score four of his own and will now be known as
the Lewis Dunk Own Goal of the Season Award while the one
everyone wants to win as our coveted WeAreBrighton.com
Player of the Season.
That's been won in the past
by such names as Inigo Calderon, Andrew Crofts, Glenn Murray, Liam Bridcutt and Stephen Ward
who all left within a season of taking the crown. Curse,
what curse?
It's been a fantastic
campaign so let us round it off in style with some fantastic
voting - Happy voting!
WeAreBrighton.com Player of the Season
Previous Winners: Anthony Knockaert (2017), Bruno (2016), Inigo Calderon (2015) Stephen Ward (2014), Liam Bridcutt (2013, 2012), Glenn Murray (2011),
Andrew Crofts (2010)
Shane Duffy:
The stats don't lie. The Irish centre back made
more blocks, clearances and headed clearances
than any other player in the Premier League this
season as his partnership with Lewis Dunk played
a key role in the Albion's survival
Lewis Dunk:
That much talked about England call may have
never materialised, but it didn't stop him
having a solid first campaign in the top flight
in which he didn't miss one minute of league
action, captaining the side in Bruno's absence.
Pascal Gross:
Eight Premier League assists and seven goals
made for a hugely impressive debut campaign in
Albion colours with many commentators picking
out the £3m signing from Ingolstadt as one of
the bargains of the summer
Glenn Murray:
All that drama in the summer about not signing a
striker was made to look very silly by the
veteran forward who notched 14 goals in all
competitions to spark call of a place in the
England squad at the age of 34.
Maty Ryan:
Endured a shaky start to his Brighton career but
my goodness, what a signing. He has unbelievable
save after unbelievable save this season and it
is no exaggeration to say without him, we'd
probably be back in the Championship.
Dale Stephens:
It seems that plenty of his work goes unnoticed
but it was evident how much the Albion rely on
him during his spell on the sidelines which
yielded three consecutive defeats and two of the
worst displays of the season.
Goal of the
Season
Previous Winners: Steve Sidwell (2017), Jiri Skalak (2016) Rohan Ince (2015), Jake Forster-Caskey (2014),
Craig Mackail-Smith (2013), Inigo Calderon
(2012), Liam Bridcutt (2011), Gary Dicker
(2010)
Pascal
Gross v West Brom home:
Just minutes after the restart in the home
game with West Brom, Pascal Gross collected
a Tomer Hemed layoff, advanced into space
and then struck a low effort from 30 yards
into the bottom corner.
Jose
Izquierdo v West Ham away:
Talk about scoring your first goal for a
club in style. There looked to be little on
as the Colombian sauntered forward down the
left before a devastating burst of pace, a
cut inside and a curling effort that left
Joe Hart clutching at air.
Jose
Izquierdio v West Ham home: West Ham
must hate the sight of Jose Izquierdo. This
time, he collected a a corner on the far
left hand side of the box, spotted Adrian
slightly out of position and hit a strike
that dipped into the top right hand corner
of the goal.
Pascal
Gross v West Ham home:
Another goal against West Ham for the
shortlist. This time, Davy Propper found
Gross who rolled his man with one touch, let
the ball come across his body and then
smashed it right footed into the opposite
corner.
Jose
Izquierdo v Stoke City away:
If Manchester City scored this it would go
down as the greatest passing goal of all
time. One touch football through Izquierdo,
March, Izquierdo and Stephens around the
Stoke defence is ended with Izquierdo
finishing low and hard.
Glenn
Murray v Arsenal home:
A classic Glenn Murray goal and the
definition of text book play from a target
man. Gross delivered a pinpoint cross but
there was still plenty to do as Murray
ghosted between two Arsenal defenders to
leap and powerfully head home.
Lewis Dunk Award for
Own Goal of the
Season
Previous Winners: Fiakyo Tomori (2017) Tomasz Kuszczak (2014), Dean
Hammond (2013), Lewis Dunk (2012)
Lewis Dunk v
Manchester City home:
Lewis Dunk marks his Premier League debut with
his first own goal of the season, sending a
bullet header past Maty Ryan from a Fernandihno
cross for City's second on the opening day.
Lewis Dunk v
Manchester United away:
Dunk gets his second goal of the campaign for a
Manchester club and it gives United a barely
deserved 1-0 at Old Trafford as he uses his face
to divert Ashley Young's shot into the top
corner.
Lewis Dunk v
Liverpool home:
Dunk makes it two goals in two games for
Liverpool, following his own goal at Anfield in
2012 by deflecting Phillipe Coutinho's shot past
Ryan for Jurgen Klopp's sides fifth of the
afternoon.
Lewis Dunk v
Swansea City home:
Another deflected own goal for Dunk as he
equalled the Premier League record for four in
one season, this time ensuring that Tammy
Abraham's effort escaped Ryan for Swansea's
consolation
Gaetan Bong v
Everton away:
An own goal not scored by Dunk? Blimey. This
time Gaetan Bong was the culprit as he showed a
first touch heavier than John Prescott to send
Yannick Bolasie's cross past Ryan when under
pressure from Theo Walcott.
Set Piece
Marking of the Season
Previous Winners: New category!
Huddersfield away - Steve Mounie: 12
minutes into a huge relegation clash at the
John Smith's Stadium and Huddersfield take
the lead when Steve Mounie is left
completely free at the back post to bundle
home a Chris Lowe corner from close range.
Chelsea away -
Marcos Alonso:
Maty Ryan had already made a flurry of saves
from set pieces due to slack marking before
the inevitable happened, Marcos Alonso
meeting a Cesc Fabregas corner at the front
post to double Chelsea's lead.
Bournemouth home
-
Steve Cook: Lewis Dunk has history for
watching what Steve Cook is up to which made
conceding this one all the more
disappointing as the former Albion man was left
unmarked and rose highest to glance a corner
home.
West Brom away
-
Jonny Evans: Without a win in four
months since Alan Pardew's arrival, West
Brom go 1-0 up against the Albion inside of
three minutes, Jay Rodriguez flicking on
Matt Phillips' corner to the unmarked Jonny
Evans who headed home.
West Brom away
-
Craig Dawson: The Baggies sealed their
win when Craig Dawson escaped the attentions
of Gaetan Bong far too easily, directly it a
header down into the ground from where it
managed to bounce over Anthony Knockaert on
the post.
James Tomkins
- Crystal Palace: Cue the Benny Hill
music. A corner came in which Ryan couldn't
claim, a game of pinball ensues with
countless chances to clear which only ends
with James Tomkins firing the loose ball
through Ryan's legs.
Memorable Moment of the Season
Previous Winners: Wigan Athletic (home) Sheffield Wednesday home
(2016) Fulham away (2015), Forest away (2014), Palace
home (2013), Doncaster home
(2012), Charlton away
(2011), Southampton away (2010)
Manchester
City home:
20 years after the Goldstone Ground was sold
and 34 years after we'd last played top flight
football, Brighton stepped out at the Amex to a
sea of blue and white to take on a side full of
the best players in the world in the Premier
League.
West Brom
home:
Pascal Gross scored twice along with Tomer
Hemed as the Albion got their season up and
running with a 3-1 win over a previously
unbeaten West Brom side for a first ever Premier
League victory.
West Ham away:
Nearly 60,000 fans packed into the London
Stadium are shocked as Brighton completely
destroy West Ham 3-0 on what turned out to be an
extremely memorable night in East London.
Maty Ryan v
Stoke:
After battling for 90 minutes to what looked
like a hard fought point, Stoke earn a penalty
in the last minute, yet Maty Ryan confirms his
hero status with a brilliant stop, followed by
Anthony Knockaert heading the resulting corner
off the line.
Arsenal home:
Games with the big six hadn't been kind until
out-of-form Arsenal arrived at the Amex and the
Albion secured their first proper scalp of the
season with a 2-1 win over Arsene Wenger's
shell-shocked superstars.
Manchester
United home:
If you could pick a way to secure Premier
League safety, then beating Manchester United
1-0 at home would surely be it? And that's what
happened, Pascal Gross' goal line technology
assisted header seeing off the Red Devils
Comedy
Moment of the Season
Previous Winners: New category!
Jose
Izquierdo poses with CPFC graffiti:
There is nothing that Jose Izquierdo likes more
than photos for social media. His first efforts
as an Albion player could've gone a little
better though given he was photographed standing
in the Lanes next to CPFC graffiti.
Anthony
Knockaert face plants:Anthony Knockaert is
desperate to join in the celebrations after
Izquierdo's goal at West Ham but hings don't go
according to the plan when his knee slide goes
awry and he face plants the ground in perfect
view of the TV cameras.
Ezequiel
Schelotto first 10 minutes v Spurs:
Given how good he looked from January, its mad
to think that Ezeuqiel Schelotto genuinely
looked like he was playing for the Albion
because he'd won a competition in the first 10
minutes away at Spurs.
Warren
Aspinall heads the ball:
Everyone loves Warren Aspinall and moments like
this tell you why. A skied clearance from Willy
Caballero drops into the press box where
Aspinall, still wearing BBC headphones, simply
heads it back onto the pitch.
Glenn
Murray's pace v Arsenal:
A through ball put Glenn Murray in against
Arsenal. Only trouble being he was still 30
yards from goal so, knowing he possesses the
pace of an lorry going up hill, he turned around
and began heading back towards the Albion goal.
Shane Duffy
back pass v Huddersfield:
You are 1-0 up in a huge game against relegation
rivals. What you don't want to do is play a
blind back pass, leaving the opposition striker
in one-on-one. Step forward, Shane Duffy.
Flair
Moment of the Season
Previous Winners: Blowing the title (2017), Colin Calderwood (2016), Chris O'Grady (2015), Andrea Orlandi (2014), Liam
Bridcutt (2013), Vicente (2012), Cristian Baz
(2011), Inigo Calderon (2010)
Pep
Guardiola's trousers:
We knew there would be plenty of difference
between Championship and Premier League, but who
knew the fashion was so much better? Pep
Guardiola welcomes us to the top flight with a
pair of cream chinos on the opening day.
Maty Ryan's
celebrations:
There is so much to love about Maty Ryan but
perhaps the biggest thing is his goal
celebrations. Never before have we seen a
goalkeeper consistently run the length of the
pitch to join in every time the ball hits the
back of the net.
Ezequiel
Schelotto goes down v Chelsea:
True, there was contact when Ezequiel
Schelotto went down in the box at home to
Chelsea. But the way he threw himself to the
ground, arms flailing as if he'd been shot was
extremely enjoyable.
Jose
Izquierdo celebrates v West Ham:
The only way to celebrate one of the all-time
great flair goals is with a flair celebration.
Jose Izquierdo didn't disappoint, ripping his
shirt off and running around like an absolute
head case.
Anthony
Knockaert skill v Man United:
Nothing says "taking the piss" more than when
you start drag backs and nutmegging people.
Anthony Knockaert knows that, and that's why he
produced an outrageous piece of skill out on the
touchline against United.
Shane Duffy's
new girlfriend:
The way Shane Duffy vehemently denied rumours
about him seeing Katie Price, you'd think he was
telling the truth. Until photos of her
unmistakable pink Ranger Rover parked on the
driveway of his house surfaced.
Villain of the Season
Previous Winners: Alex Pritchard (2017), Mike Dean (2016), David Burke (2015), Nigel Adkins (2014), El Hadj
Diouf (2013), Glenn Murray (2012). Nigel Adkins
(2011), Dean Hammond (2010)
David
Stockdale:
Turned down a new contract in favour of
counting the cash that 'Arry Redknapp threw at
him to move to Birmingham. One relegation battle
later and he's been transfer listed. Turns out
money doesn't buy you everything.
Crystal
Palace fans:
Vandalised a mural of Bruno in the city
centre, broke into the Amex through a fire
escape injuring stewards and their own
supporters, let off fireworks inside the
stadium. Its safe to say Palace fans didn't
cover themselves in glory.
Jay Rodriguez:
Reportedly turned around to Gaetan Bong
during our game at West Brom and said "You're
black and you stink." The row rumbles on with
the FA unable to prove that he didn't or did say
it. Either way, not a very classy bloke
Plastic
supporters and their signs:
"Hazard can I have your shirt?" The moment that
the Albion fanbase and its plasticness was
exposed to the world. It's understandable if the
kid doesn't know better, but the parents should.
You're there to watch Brighton.
BT Sport:
A first FA Cup Quarter Final in over 20
years for the Albion and only the third ever in
the clubs history, so what do BT Sport do?
Select the game at Old Trafford for live
coverage at 7.45pm on a Saturday night. Very
thoughtful.
Burnley fans:
If Rodriguez lacked class for what he may or
may not have said, then Burnley fans were even
worse as they subjected Gaetan Bong to boos
throughout our visit to Turf Moor because he'd
had the nerve to report being racially abused.
Look-a-like of the Season
Previous Winners: Shirley from EastEnders
(2017), Jesus Christ (2016), Neil from The Inbetweeners
(2015)
Sam Baldock -
Ed Miliband: With Jeremy
Corbyn having failed to defeat the worst
government the country has ever had at a General
Election, could Ed Miliband be launching a
political comeback? It would explain why Sam
Baldock has hardly featured this season.
Lewis Dunk
- Neil from The Inbetweeners:
While Neil from The Inbetweeners remains
thick, Lewis Dunk has matured into a centre back
on the verge of the England squad, having cut
stupid red cards out of his game.
Chris Hughton
- Barack Obama:
Chris Hughton's new contract will take him
through to seven years as Albion manager, nearly
rivalling Barack Obama's eight in the Oval
Office, in which time Hughton has already
achieved far much more than the former President
Glenn Murray
- Prince William:
Both Glenn Murray and Prince William used to
have lovely heads of hair which disappeared at
an alarming rate once they reached their 30's.
We doubt the Duke of Cambridge would've scored
14 times this season however.
Ezequiel
Schelotto - Jesus Christ:
It's been a while since we had a Jesus
look-a-like so it was pleasing to see Ezequiel
Schelotto signed to fill the void left by Inigo
Calderon's departure, who actually won the award
for looking like the Son of God in 2016.
Sexiest Player of the Season
Previous Winners: Shane Duffy (2017), Inigo Calderon (2016, 2015), Andrea Orlandi (2014, 2013),
Vicente (2012)
Shane Duffy:
If you believe what you read, then Shane Duffy
is now off the market given that he has been
taken by Katie Price. It isn't hard to see why
she has fallen for his good looks, his Irish
accent and his rugged charms.
Pascal Gross:
A left field entry this one, but we are
reliably told that there is something about the
midfielder that makes him extremely alluring.
Whether it's a liking for Germanic blood or the
fact he can do practically anything,
Tomer Hemed:
He might not have been seen much in the second
half of the season and has probably played his
last game for the club, but that doesn't stop
the husband of a former Miss Israel from being a
bloody brilliant looking bloke.
Solly March:
Unfortunately off the market thanks to his
recent wedding, the winger combines his boyish
good looks with an air of innocence which makes
him extremely alluring. He has the added bonus
of being an England under 21 international.
Maty Ryan:
The new housewives favourite, the goalkeeper is
handsome, has a well chiselled physique and
reflexes to die for. He is also Australian,
which means that you'd get a handful of trips
down under from marrying him as well. What isn't
to like?
Dale Stephens:
It's little wonder that this handsome individual
couldn't bear the thought of upping sticks and
moving to an ugly town like Burnley. With his
no-nonsense northern charm, you'd know exactly
where you stand with him.
Best Bald Head of the Season
Previous Winners: Bruno (2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013),
Gordon Greer (2012)
Bruno:
A five time winner of the Best Bald Head of
the Season award, the club captain has won it
for every season he has been at the club so far.
The hipster beard has proven to be his trademark
but you can still count on that bonce to be
shiny.
Niki Maenpaa:
Just like Bruno, the goalkeeper believes in
the "head on upside down" look and teems his
baldness with a beard as well. Played a couple
of games in cup competitions with his head
looking particularly glowing against Coventry
City in the FA Cup.
Glenn Murray:
Delighted everyone when he gave up on going
bald naturally by rocking up to Old Trafford for
the FA Cup game with a fully on shaven head.
It's unfortunately grown back since then but we
absolutely loved bald Glenn.
Liam Rosenior:
It's been a remarkable three seasons of hair
development for the right back, who arrived with
Lionel Richie style locks and leaves having gone
for a short crop all over. Another who has
decided the chop is the best way to go once in
your 30s.
