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Magpie007 · 05-17-2008, 12:39 PM

Middlesbrough

Player Of The Season - David Wheater
Not the prettiest boy in the playground, but Wheater was the surprise story of the season. Middlesbrough's Academy is perhaps the most valuable in the country at the moment, given that 12 of their current first team squad are homegrown. Wheater's form was rewarded with a nod of recognition by Fabio Capello in February, but surely a number of full caps await.

Disappointment Of The Season - Mido
Â£6million? Those who scoffed at the idea of paying that much for an undoubtedly talented but overweight and injury-prone striker with a suspect attitude have been proved correct. Two goals in his first two games were followed by a series of soporific and lethargic displays, culminating in a brainless red card at Arsenal that would turn out to be his last appearance of the campaign.

Newcomer/Signing Of The Season - Sanli Tuncay
Afonso Alves may turn out to be Middlesbrough's most important signing made in 2007/8, but Tuncay's sheer enthusiasm and occasional excellence sneak him ahead of the Brazilian.

Revelation Of The Season - Jeremie Aliadiere
'He's not a striker' was the consistent cry from those who chuckled at the idea of Aliadiere (Premier League goals before signing for Boro: One) replacing either Mark Viduka or Yakubu. However, in a display of managerial nous that suggests he might have a bright future, Gareth Southgate employed him as a wideman for much of the second half of the season, and while the quality is still slightly lacking, you can't fault his workrate or industry.

Newcastle United

Player Of The Season - Nicky Butt
Butt seemed to lose his way rather after leaving Manchester United in 2004, and suffered the ignominy of being shunted on loan to Birmingham a season later. However, this term Butt was the very model of consistency, and was one of the few players to emerge with any credit from the calamitous first half of the campaign.

Disappointment Of The Season - Alan Smith
Is he a midfielder? Is he a striker? On the basis of the season past, he is neither, and it's telling that Newcastle's excellent end-of-season run directly coincided with Smith's omission from the first team and ended when he came off the bench against Chelsea. To be the most hopeless player in a squad that includes Claudio Cacapa is quite an 'achievement'.

Newcomer/Signing Of The Season - Habib Beye
Perhaps deserves a mention for inspiring the chant of the season ('Monday, Tuesday Habib Beye' to the 'Happy Days' theme tune), but his excellence at right-back - particularly in the second half of the campaign - was one of the surprises of the campaign. Who thought a Newcastle defender would receive such fulsome praise?

Revelation Of The Season - Michael Owen
He's not the player he was a few years ago, when he wasn't the player he was a few years before that, but Owen's transformation from one-dimensional sniffer to forward link-man was mighty impressive. His adaptability bodes will for his international prospects as well, as does the continuation of his scoring record. Eleven goals in 24 starts is not to be sniffed at for a man written off after his last serious injury. Also deserves a nod for simply steering clear of the treatment room for much of the campaign.

05-17-2008, 12:39 PM	#4 (permalink)
Magpie007 Administrator Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Newcastle (ish) Posts: 1,366 Thanks: 7 Thanked 14 Times in 13 Posts Nominees Submitted: 1 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts Has Not Won Any TOTM Yet	Middlesbrough Player Of The Season - David Wheater Not the prettiest boy in the playground, but Wheater was the surprise story of the season. Middlesbrough's Academy is perhaps the most valuable in the country at the moment, given that 12 of their current first team squad are homegrown. Wheater's form was rewarded with a nod of recognition by Fabio Capello in February, but surely a number of full caps await. Disappointment Of The Season - Mido Â£6million? Those who scoffed at the idea of paying that much for an undoubtedly talented but overweight and injury-prone striker with a suspect attitude have been proved correct. Two goals in his first two games were followed by a series of soporific and lethargic displays, culminating in a brainless red card at Arsenal that would turn out to be his last appearance of the campaign. Newcomer/Signing Of The Season - Sanli Tuncay Afonso Alves may turn out to be Middlesbrough's most important signing made in 2007/8, but Tuncay's sheer enthusiasm and occasional excellence sneak him ahead of the Brazilian. Revelation Of The Season - Jeremie Aliadiere 'He's not a striker' was the consistent cry from those who chuckled at the idea of Aliadiere (Premier League goals before signing for Boro: One) replacing either Mark Viduka or Yakubu. However, in a display of managerial nous that suggests he might have a bright future, Gareth Southgate employed him as a wideman for much of the second half of the season, and while the quality is still slightly lacking, you can't fault his workrate or industry. Newcastle United Player Of The Season - Nicky Butt Butt seemed to lose his way rather after leaving Manchester United in 2004, and suffered the ignominy of being shunted on loan to Birmingham a season later. However, this term Butt was the very model of consistency, and was one of the few players to emerge with any credit from the calamitous first half of the campaign. Disappointment Of The Season - Alan Smith Is he a midfielder? Is he a striker? On the basis of the season past, he is neither, and it's telling that Newcastle's excellent end-of-season run directly coincided with Smith's omission from the first team and ended when he came off the bench against Chelsea. To be the most hopeless player in a squad that includes Claudio Cacapa is quite an 'achievement'. Newcomer/Signing Of The Season - Habib Beye Perhaps deserves a mention for inspiring the chant of the season ('Monday, Tuesday Habib Beye' to the 'Happy Days' theme tune), but his excellence at right-back - particularly in the second half of the campaign - was one of the surprises of the campaign. Who thought a Newcastle defender would receive such fulsome praise? Revelation Of The Season - Michael Owen He's not the player he was a few years ago, when he wasn't the player he was a few years before that, but Owen's transformation from one-dimensional sniffer to forward link-man was mighty impressive. His adaptability bodes will for his international prospects as well, as does the continuation of his scoring record. Eleven goals in 24 starts is not to be sniffed at for a man written off after his last serious injury. Also deserves a nod for simply steering clear of the treatment room for much of the campaign. __________________ http://www.zazzle.com/magpie007.