2000-01

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

WINNER: Sami Hyypia

Runners-up: 2nd Steven Gerrard, 3rd Markus Babbel

Wooden Spoon: Christian Ziege

Most Controversial Player: Christian Ziege

Nicest Bastard: John Anderson

Nastiest Bastard: Andy Nix

Overall average was 7.5 compared to 6.5 in 2000, 5.6 in 1999 and 5.7 in 1998.

Player ratings

10 - world class

1. Sami Hyypia

Av. 9.67, Hi 10, Lo 9 (2000: 1st with 9.44; 1999: n/a; 1998: n/a)

The highest ever mark in a poll of the year. The best value purchase Liverpool have ever made? Hang your head in shame those of us who said 'Sami who?'

 

9 - excellent season

2. Steven Gerrard

Av. 9.43, Hi 10, Lo 8 (2000: 2nd with 8.47; 1999: 5th with 7.16; 1998: n/a)

I thought Stevie might just pip Sami to the post this year, but I suspect that those who gave less than 10 felt that he needs another season of sustained form (and fewer injuries) to be truly world class.

 

3. Markus Babbel

Av. 9.23, Hi 10, Lo 8 (2000: n/a; 1999: n/a; 1998: n/a)

I had to remind myself midseason that Babbel was still in his first year at the club. He seems to have been here forever and his quickly made himself look indispensable, even if he doesn't look quite so confident in his favoured position of centre-back. Quite a few of us had reservations to begin with, but he's won almost everyone over and he was nominated as player of the year by several voters.

 

4. Michael Owen

Av. 9.13, Hi 10, Lo 8 (2000: 10th with 6.56; 1999: 1st with 8.54; 1998: 1st with 9.50)

Yes, we really were that harsh on him last season! If it wasn't for a quiet midseason (when all he did was score twice in Rome!) he might have scored even higher. As Kevin Howson said 'watch the last 10 minutes of the FA Cup Final and tell me he isn't world class'. I can't argue with that.

 

5. Gary McAllister

Av. 8.87, Hi 10, Lo 7 (2000: n/a; 1999: n/a; 1998: n/a)

As Paul Clough said, he deserved an 11 for the last two months, and but for a quiet start to his career (due to matters out of his control) he may have scored even higher. Reservations about his age may have meant that only John Anderson and Paul Bird were prepared to award a 10 and surely even Andy Pearson must feel it was harsh of him to only award a 7.

 

8 - good season

6. Jamie Carragher

Av. 8.33, Hi 9 Lo 7 (2000: 11th with 6.50; 1999: 3rd= with 7.80; 1998: 5th with 6.90)

As Chris Hadley said, 'he couldn't possibly do so well in so many positions without being a gifted player', but there are a few who thought he was quite as good as some make out, or wasn't attacking enough, although nobody awarded less than 7. Mike T. said he fears for his future, and it's true that every time we bring in a new player its Carra's position they fill (Hyypia and Henchoz when he was CB, Babbel when he was RB and we all expect a new LB next season) but it seems you just can't keep a good man down.

 

7. Stephane Henchoz

Av. 8.23, Hi 9, Lo 7 (2000: 3rd with 8.46; 1999: n/a; 1998: n/a)

A measure of our improvement in that Henchoz drops a few points, but falls 4 places down the ladder. Slightly more reservations possibly due to the odd ill-timed lunge (and do we honestly think we would have won anything this season if we'd lost the Worthington?). Tellingly, no-one has ever considered Henchoz world class in 2 years of voting (although I readily concede that CBs are all about partnerships, not individuals).

 

8. Emile Heskey

Av. 8.03, Hi 10 Lo 6 (2000: 12th with 6.21; 1999: n/a; 1998: n/a)

Well, he's won most of us round hasn't he, although only Colin Watt was prepared to declare him world class. I wonder if that would have been the case midseason? I suspect Heskey lost marks for having his bad spell at the end of the season (much better to have it midseason when fans can forget it) and for being perceived as being above the rotation system. As a few people said, when he's good he's very, very good but when he's bad he's awful.

 

9. Dietmar Hamann

Av. 7.93, Hi 9, Lo 6 (2000: 9th with 6.79; 1999: n/a; 1998: n/a)

No rise in the rankings for Hamann, but a clear improvement in his rating and much less controversy about him, although there were still three 6's. He carried the team on occasions, but I wonder how many marks he lost for a lacklustre performance in the high profile FA Cup final?

 

10. Robbie Fowler

Av 7.55, Hi 9, Lo 4 (2000: 14th with 5.64; 1999: 7th with 6.84; 1998: 14th with 5.55)

Easily Robbie's highest rating, despite a season which saw him on the sidelines a lot of the time. Came good at the right time and will undoubtedly have picked up marks for his determination to stay put. I wish we had been doing this poll in 1995/96 so we could see how we'd rated a fully fit Fowler.

 

7 - on balance, a successful season

11=. Danny Murphy

Av. 7.43, Hi 9, Lo 5 (2000: 13th with 5.86; 1999: 13th with 5.33; 1998: 6th with 6.90)

Our most controversial player so far - four fans who award him 9 but Andy Pearson considers him just average. A general feeling that he is playing at his limits already and this will be as good as he gets. However, he'd have got plenty more brownie points in previous seasons when winning at Old Trafford could have been our only cup final.

 

11=. Nick Barmby

Av. 7.43, Hi 9, Lo 6 (2000: n/a; 1999: n/a; 1998: n/a)

Less difference of opinion about Barmby, but a general suspicion that his injuries came at a bad time and his important contributions were too early in the season to be remembered by some. His mark would have got him second place him 1998!

 

13. Jari Litmanen

Av. 7.05, Hi 10, Lo 6 (2000: n/a; 1999: n/a; 1998: n/a)

A hard one to mark, some people felt that couldn't ignore his obvious class and although only Ian Fletcher awarded a 10 several others commented that he was world class really. However, the more conservative of you (small c!!) want to see more before they judge.

 

14. Sander Westerveld

Av. 7.03, Hi 9, Lo 5 (2000: 6th with 7.37; 1999: n/a; 1998: n/a)

I thought he had a better season, but his rating and his ranking have both fallen. Paul Clough commented that he started the season at 3 and ended with 10, but only three people thought he had an excellent season while three thought he was just average.

 

15. Gregory Vignal

Av. 6.73, Hi 8, Lo 5 (2000: n/a; 1999: n/a; 1998: n/a)

His progress will be watched with interest. Five people gave him 8 but Maura, Andy Pearson and Andy Nix are unconvinced so far.

 

16. Vladimir Smicer

Av 6.63, Hi 8, Lo 4 (2000; 19th with 4.93; 1999: n/a; 1998: n/a)

Well, we're still not convinced are we? And we disagree with the management team quite strongly. Phil Thompson awarded him more MotM awards than anyone except Gerrard in the Matchday magazine, while he second only to Beckham for assists in the OPTA stats. His reputation for diving will not have helped. However, it's worth pointing out his score is still higher than the one we gave Owen last season! Four people awarded 8s and, while Andy Nix was the only one to award 4, its high praise from someone who gave him 0 last season.

 

6 - a qualified success, good in parts

17. Patrik Berger

Av. 6.47, Hi 8, Lo 5 (2000; 4th= with 7.56; 1999: 3rd= with 7.80; 1998: 20th with 4.18)

Yo-yo man according to his past marks, so due a resurgence next year. Few people felt they could criticise him after such an injury-ravaged season, but he just wasn't around enough to score highly.

 

18. Igor Biscan

Av. 5.73, Hi 8, Lo 3 (2000: n/a; 1999: n/a; 1998: n/a)

Started so brightly but faded badly. Two sendings-off in so few appearances won't have helped. Was it really just tiredness after completing the Croatian season? He looked best playing in his favoured position of CM, but when we were at full strength there he couldn't force his way back in. Only John Anderson still remembered his early promise and awarded an 8, Andy Philip will need a lot of convincing after awarding just 3.

 

5 - pretty average

19. Djimi Traore

Av. 5.20, Hi 7, Lo 2 (2000: n/a; 1999: n/a; 1998: n/a)

Not yet ready? Played out of position? Even the management seemed to have changed their mind at the end of the season as Traore disappeared back into the reserves. 'Nice' John Anderson gave the only 7, but Nasty Nix (sorry, I had to get that in) gave the only 2.

 

4 - rather poor

20. Christian Ziege

Av. 3.70, Hi 6, Lo 0 (2000: n/a; 1999: n/a; 1998: n/a)

Not even the highest mark for a woodenspooner I'm afraid, as Staunton scored higher last season. Officially the most controversial player as only Chris Khalil could remember enough good crosses to award a 6, but Andy Philip
awarded this year's only 0. Opinions varied from 'you never know what influence Houllier can have in a full preseason' and 'a shame as he's not as bad as some other woodenspooners' to 'has done nowt to convince me that the money grabbing arrogant shit has a career with us'. I suspect the latter may get his wish.

 

Not eligible, but voted on in the past

Vegard Heggem (2000: 16th with 5.39; 1999: 2nd with 8.28; 1998: n/a)

Jamie Redknapp (2000: 17th with 5.11; 1999: 9th with 6.34; 1998: 4th with 7.18)