1998-99

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

WINNER: Michael Owen

Runners-up: 2nd Vegard Heggem, 3rd= Jamie Carragher, Patrik Berger

Wooden Spoon: Sean Dundee

Most Controversial Player: Jamie Redknapp

Nicest Bastard: Mike Taylor

Nastiest Bastard: Stephen Farnsworth

Player ratings

 

10 - world class

No-one

 

9 - excellent season

1. Michael Owen
Av. 8.54, Hi 10, Lo 7 (1998: 1st with 9.50)
Signs of a slight backlash here, as SuperOwen's average drops by a whole point. Missing the end of the season can't have helped. Only three still consider him world class, while Alex and Colin Watt only gave him 7.

 

8 - good season

2. Vegard Heggem
Av. 8.28, Hi 10, Lo 7 (1998: n/a)
A surprise to me, and in my opinion, a premature rating, hence the fact that I was one of a few people who gave him 7, but Chris Khalil and Kay (Crouchenders) both gave him 10 (although one of these was for "being cute"!).

3=. Jamie Carragher
Av. 7.80, Hi 9 Lo 6 (1998: 5th with 6.90)
Last year I wrote "promising, but he'll presumably get a rougher ride next year when promising won't be enough" but he's certainly proved me wrong. Four 9s but Maura Clark was the only one unconvinced and giving him 6. He was the success story of the season for most people, unless you count ….

3=. Patrik Berger
Av. 7.80, Hi 9, Lo 6 (1998: 20th with 4.18)
Almost double last year's rating - a renaissance to rival Mark Wright's. I am still one of the doubters who feel that he has too many poor games, although Maura Clark was his harshest critic (again) with 6, while he picked up three 9s.

 

7 - on balance, a successful season

5. Steven Gerrard
Av. 7.16, Hi 8, Lo 6 (1998: n/a)
As a newcomer, opinions have not yet polarised. Lots of 7s, a few 8s and just three 6s.

6. David Thompson
Av. 6.96, Hi 8, Lo 5 (1998: 8th with 6.45)
Despite largely appearing as a sub, wee Davie managed to boost his credibility, picking up several 8s, but Erling Baldorf and Mike Humphrey are still unconvinced and only gave him 5.

7. Robbie Fowler
Av 6.84, Hi 9, Lo 5 (1998: 14th with 5.55)
An improvement on last year, but still far short of his heights (if this poll had been going a few more years what would Robbie have been scoring 4-5 seasons ago?). Only one 9, from Stephen Farnsworth, and a few 8s, while the Andys (Thomas and Nix) could only give him 5. Off-field problems obviously influenced some voters, however.

 

6 - a qualified success, good in parts

8. Rigobert Song
Av. 6.46, Hi 8, Lo 5 (1998: n/a)
Hasn't had the impact we expected, but most people are still giving him the benefit of the doubt. Only Andy Thomas is impressed enough to award an 8, while Phil Sirvid is least impressed with a 5.

9. Jamie Redknapp
Av. 6.34, Hi 9, Lo 1 (1998: 4th with 7.18)
Has he won round his detractors, I asked last year. No is the answer this year, as Jamie looks set to become the sole scapegoat at the club (although see Paul Ince). Torbjorn and Andy Thomas are his biggest fans, while most people gave him 6-8. Only five gave lower marks, but these included 3 from Colin Watt and 1 from Alex (!).

10. Dominic Matteo
Av. 6.24, Hi 8, Lo 5 (1998: 13th with 5.61)
A moderate improvement for Dom, obviously influenced by his new found left wingback skills. Andy Thomas was the most impressed with the only 8, while three people still only rated him at 5. Useful squad player seems to be his limit these days though.

11. Karlheinz Reidle
Av 6.00, Hi 8, Lo 4 (1998: 12th with 5.95)
The same score as last year, but a greater range of opinion (polarised opinions seem to be much commoner the longer the player has been at the club). Two 8s, from Mike Taylor and Kay (crouchenders), but a 4 from Tony Mackenzie.

12. Paul Ince
Av 5.96, Hi 8, Lo 4 (1998: 3rd with 7.32).
Over-rated (in my opinion) last year, he seems to have been found out. This despite his goal against Man Utd, which certainly increased my vote by a mark. Far too anonymous in the matches that really matter as far as I am concerned. His only 8s came from either end of the spectrum (Mike "Mr Nice" Taylor and Stephen "Hang 'em High" Farnsworth) but Kevin Owens, Alex Brown and Chris Hadley will be awaiting that transfer bid from Middlesboro' with anticipation.

 

5 - pretty average (or nothing more than squad players)

13. Danny Murphy
Av. 5.33, Hi 9, Lo 4 (1998: 6th with 6.90)
Many declined to vote, those that did all gave 4 to 6, except for Kay (crouchenders) 9 "for helping Crewe avoid relegation", which misses the point as far as I'm concerned (if this is disallowed as an invalid vote, then Danny get s just 5.00).

14. Oyvind Leonhardsen
Av 5.17, Hi 7, Lo 3 (1998: 15th with 5.20)
Still one or two people impressed by his effort, with 7s from Mike Taylor, Derry Mercer and the otherwise harsh Colin Watt, but 3s from Paul Bird and Quek Tze-Ming.

15. Steve McManaman
Av. 5.08, Hi 7, Lo 1 (1998: 2nd with 7.41)
Oh, come on! Worse than Leo!!? The problem was that even Macca's supporters couldn't justify more than the 7 given by Tony Mackenzie and Maura Clark, while his harshest critics took the opportunity to put the boot in - 1 from Stephen Farnsworth (unusually generous there), 2 from Quek Tze-ming and 3s from Alex and Colin Watt.

16. Brad Friedel
Av. 4.80, Hi 6, Lo 1 (1998: 10th with 6.23)
Goalkeeper of the year!! Lucky to get this mark in my opinion, although eight gave him 6, but he's another name on the Stephen Farnsworth hit-list.

17. Steve Harkness
Av. 4.65, Hi 10, Lo 3 (1998: 18th with 4.38)
Yes, Alex gave 10!? Harko's "real" mark (without Alex's contribution) was 4.39. Maura Clark and Andy Nix gave the lowest marks.

18. David James
Av. 4.60, Hi 6, Lo 0 (1998: 17th with 4.59)
Couldn't even beat Brad Friedel. Several people gave him 6, but Andy Nix gave him 2 and Farnsworth gave him 0!

 

4 - rather poor

19. Jean-Michel Ferri
Av. 4.27, Hi 5, Lo 1 (1998: n/a)
Most people refused to make a comment, those that did gave 4 or 5 except for a 1 from Chris Khalil.

20. Phil Babb
Av. 4.24, Hi 6, Lo 0 (1998: 7th with 6.70)
After surpassing himself last season, the knives were out again this year. I was one of just three to give him a 6 (mainly for the ManU performances), but there were several 3s and yet again Stephen Farnsworth gave him 0 (was he really taking this seriously?).

21. Steve Staunton
Av. 4.04, Hi 6, Lo 0 (1998: n/a)
Welcome back Stan! Torbjorn, Kevin Owens and Chris Khalil were the least critical, but Alex and Andy Nix gave 1 and there was yet another 0 from Stephen Farnsworth.

22. Jason MacAteer
Av. 3.68, Hi 6, Lo 0 (1998: 11th with 6.18)
A general feeling of thank God he's gone so we don't have to defend him any more, although still a few positive comments about heart and commitment, and even a 6 from Mike Humphrey, but 0s from Andy Nix and Stephen Farnsworth.

 

3 - awful

23. Bjorn Kvarme
Av. 3.17, Hi 4, Lo 1 (1998: 16th with 4.82)
Shame we didn't do this 2 years ago so we could really see Bjorn's fall from grace. I never rated him (honest, ask anyone, I'm not just saying that … oh, alright, don't believe me). The 1s came from Derry Mercer, and Stephen Farnsworth - not a 0, Steve?

24. Stig Inge Bjornebye
Av. 3.04, Hi 5, Lo 0 (1998: 21st with 3.09)
Nice, sensible lad, Stig. One good season (in the PFA team of the year). Just a drain on the wages nowadays.

 

2 - diabolical

25. Sean Dundee
Av. 2.00, Hi 4, Lo 0 (1998: n/a)
Undoubtedly, donkey of the year. His five 0s is a record I hope that will never be beaten!