1997-98

The highlights (for those who don't want to read much)

WINNER: Michael Owen

Runners-up: 2nd Steve McManaman, 3rd Paul Ince

Wooden Spoon: Neil Ruddock

Most Controversial Player: Jason McAteer and Mark Wright

Nicest Bastard: Gaz Copp

Nastiest Bastard: Stephen Farnsworth

Player ratings

 

10 - world class

No-one (not quite)

 

9 - excellent season

1. Michael Owen
Av. 9.45, Hi 10, Lo 9
What more can you say - 18 years old and beats everyone else by more than two points.

 

8 - good season

No-one.

 

7 - on balance, a successful season

2. Steve McManaman
Av. 7.35, Hi 9, Lo 5
Mostly given 7s and 8s, but three 9s and some harsh critics - 5.5 from John Mackin, 5 from Steve Farnsworth.

3. Paul Ince
Av 7.2, Hi 9, Lo 6
His only 9 was from Steve Farnsworth, nearly everyone gave him 7 or 8. I was one of his detractors (one of three 6s), mainly because I felt he didn't make enough impact in big matches e.g. Europe.

4. Jamie Redknapp
Av. 7.15, Hi 10, Lo 6
The only other player to get a 10, although no-one else gave him 9. Everyone gave himat least 6 and I suspect it was mainly injuries that made people give him this mark. Has he won round his detractors?

5. Jamie Carragher
Av. 6.84, Hi 8 Lo 6
Promising, but he'll presumably get a rougher ride next year when promising won't be enough :- )

6. Danny Murphy
Av. 6.82, Hi 9, Lo 5
A bit more disagreement about Danny's impact - Brain Lewis is a fan and he picked up three 8s, but Erling Baldorf is unconvinced.

7. Phil Babb
Av. 6.63, Hi 8.5, Lo 5
Nearly everyone gave Babbsy a 7 or a 6, but he got an 8 from Steve Downing and 8.5 from Derry Mercer. Ian Fletcher was the only person to harbour doubts.

8. David Thompson
Av. 6.5, Hi 8, Lo 5
The least convincing of the young guns for most of you - 8s from Mike Taylor and Nick Ayre but 5s from Andy Thomas and Erling.

 

6 - a qualified success, good in parts

9. Rob Jones
Av. 6.4, Hi 8, Lo 5
Took along time for Trigger to get anything but 6s but in the end three people gave him 8s and a couple gave him as low as 5.

10. Brad Friedel
Av. 6.25, Hi 7, Lo 5
The jury is still out. Nearly all 6s and 7s but his harshest critics are Mike Taylor and Tony Mackenzie.

11. Jason MacAteer
Av. 6.2, Hi 9, Lo 3
Easily the most controversial player - a massive 6 point difference between Andy Thomas's verdict and Steve Farnsworth. He picked up one 8 and two 5s but the rest were 6s or 7s. Controversy over his position is to blame.

12. Karlheinz Reidle
Av 5.9, Hi 7, Lo 5
Admired in the most part, but didn'y play or score enough to convince.

13. Dominic Matteo
Av. 5.58, Hi 6, Lo 4
A surprise to me - I thought he had more admirers than just Glenda. Nobody gave him more than 6 and Ian Fletcher was even less convinced. Whatever happened to the new Alan Hansen?

14. Robbie Fowler
Av 5.5, Hi 7, Lo 4
Jeff Quantrill and John Banks were the sole dissentors everyone else gave him 5 or 6, presumably on the basis that if you play that badly and still score there's something special.

 

5 - pretty average (or someone put it, nothing more than squad players)

15. Oyvind Leonhardsen
Av 5.08, Hi 8, Lo 3
Some serious detractors (two people gave him 3), several prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt (several 6s) and one admirer who thought his decsision so controversial he wanted anonymity!

16. Bjorn Kvarme
Av. 4.8, Hi 6, Lo 3
Never been anything more than a squad player in my opinion while Ian Fletcher wouldn't even have him in the team!

17. David James
Av. 4.7, Hi 6, Lo 3
Generally 5s and 6s but some very harsh critics including 2s from Nick Ayre and Steve Farnsworth.

 

4 - rather poor

18. Mark Wright
Av 4.47, Hi 6, Lo 0
Several people didn't want to vote and his final score was affected by two 0s - presumably meant to indicate his career is over. Strange how many people thought Wright (7 games) hadn't played enough to make an opinion, but everyone had an opinion on Ruddock (4 games).

19. Steve Harkness
Av. 4.32, Hi 6, Lo 2, one vote disqualified for being outside stated range
A big surprise, I really thought he had more fans than this, but only two people gave him 6 and Andy Thomas gave him 2. Interestingly, the lowest average markers generally gave him the highest ratings. I would have liked to known Alex's considered opinion on Harky's season. Was he any better than 6?

20. Patrik Berger
Av. 4.15, Hi 6, Lo 2
Another big surprise - I thought a few people would stand up and defend him but no, four 6s was the best he got and Mike Taylor and Steve Farnsworth agreed on how bad he was. Personally I think it's about right - even in his best games he has not been part of a team, he has gone it alone.

 

3 - awful

21. Stig Inge Bjornebye
Av. 2.95, Hi 5, Lo 1
I was one of just two to give him a 5, just because I didn't think he was any worse than usual. Nick Ayre and Ian Fletcher will he helping him pack his bags.

22. Michael Thomas
Av. 2.94, Hi 5, Lo 0
Yet he played in the game against Derby! His only 5 came from Tony McKenzie, Andrew Davidson considered Thomas to be dead.

 

2 - diabolical

23. Neil Ruddock
Av. 2.4, Hi 5, Lo 0
Still with some friends (Mike Taylor and John Mackin gave him 5) but definitely past it to most.