Awwwwww...
Statistically speaking, every group of people is probably going to contain a few idiots- except, apparently, among the readers, commenters, and voters here at Avoiding the Drop. While pouring over the results of this year’s voting I often found myself thinking, “Really? You voted for him?!” Upon reflection, however, I realized that I was reacting this way because my choice was different than that of the voter in question, not because my choice was better. Every single vote we received in every single category made perfect sense. Here’s an example: One voter suggested Mark Paston for “Goalkeeper of the Year.” Not my choice, but think about it- here’s a guy whose career “peaked” in the middle levels of the Football League five years before he showed up as part of New Zealand’s team at World Cup in South Africa. New Zealand were thought by many to be the weakest team in the competition, but they went out and drew all of their matches- including giving up only one goal to Italy and shutting out group winners Paraguay. Paston gave up only two goals over three games on the world’s biggest stage- that’s quite a leap from Napier City Rovers- the semi-pro club where he started his career. Well, Mark Paston didn’t win, but if you click through you can find out who did!
- Transfer of the Year: Chicharito to Manchester United
This category showed that our readers will overlook their personal likes and dislikes in order to make the right choice. Who was the last £7m transfer who produced as much and under as much pressure as the young Mexican international did this season? Like him or not, you have to tip your cap to Sir Alex on this one.
There were enough of you with a sense of humor to vote Fernando Torres’ transfer from Liverpool to Chelsea into second place, and almost as many who were astute enough to know that were it not for the transfer of Peter Odemwingie to West Bromwich Albion they’d probably be in the Championship right now.
- Manager of the Year: Pep Guardiola, Barcelona
Believe it or not, Guardiaola was not the run-away winner you might have expected. No less than eight managers who received votes, including people as “unfashionable” as Tony Mowbray and Paul Lambert of newly promoted Norwich City. In the end, Guardiola did enough to pip Sir Alex at the post and take home the first of many awards that would go to Barcelona and Spain.
- Club of the Year: Barcelona
This one wasn’t close, and it shouldn’t have been. Barcelona were the best team in the world this year and for my money they are at least one of the five best club sides I’ve ever seen. In case you are wondering, the rest of my top five are the Treble winning Manchester United side, the undefeated Arsenal side, the Gullit, van Basten, Rijkaard era A.C. Milan clubs, and the Cruyff era teams at Barcelona. The other two clubs receiving votes for this award were Borussia Dortmund and F.C. Porto.
- League of the Year: The Bundesliga
This was one of the most competitive categories this year, but it was the Bundesliga that eventually won out by just a single vote. There was a three-way tie for second between the Premier League, France’s Ligue 1, and, believe it or not, MLS. Had anyone placed MLS in even the top five last year it would have been laughable, but as we’ve been discussing a lot recently on the site, there’s just something different about the league this year. Who knows, maybe next year MLS will take the prize…
- National Team of the Year: Spain
A few other teams got votes, but it could only be Spain in the end. Spain are reigning European and World Champions and they risen to this great height not through punishing efficiency (Germany…) or mind-numbing counter-attacking (Italy…), but by possessing the ball, moving it around with creativity, and coming as close- I can’t believe I’m going to say this!- to the o jogo bonito of the Brazilian sides of days gone by. One voter, James A., also made one of the funniest comments of the competition in support of his vote for France- “France, Racism is so interesting.” Uruguay finished a distant second in this category.
- Goalkeeper of the Year: Edwin Van Der Sar, Manchester United and Joe Hart, Manchester City
It took one of our most competitive categories to produce the first tie of the year. Six other players received votes, but most of you felt that either a) Van Der Sar played like a man half his age and was a key figure in United’s championship season, or b) Joe Hart often spectacular “steadiness” in the City goal was a key to keeping the team competitive while the outfield players sorted out their “issues.” Either way, both choices made a lot of sense
- Young Player of the Year: Lionel Messi
Arsenal’s Jack Wilshere made a late charge, but in the end the best he could do was to secure 20% of the vote. The other 80% went to “The Flea,” he would not be denied. Honestly, what else can you say about the way the little Argentine played this year? He plays with grit, he plays with style, he doesn’t dive, he seems to put every shot on target (and a lot of them go in!), and he does all of this while being a team player. The fact that he might play for another decade or more is reason enough to make any football fan deliriously happy.
- Old Player of the Year: Ryan Giggs and Edwin Van Der Sar, Manchester United
This was another hyper-competitive category in which everyone from Clarence Seedorf to Brad Friedel received votes. In the end, however, you recognized the value of the veteran leadership of these two Manchester United players- and Paul Scholes got a few votes too! With two of those three players now free to concentrate on their golf games (although I confess that the thought of Paul Scoles wielding a golf club is frightening!), it will be up to Giggs to see if he can guide the youngsters to the Premier League Promised Land again next year.
- Player of the Year: Lionel Messi, Barcelona
Xavi got a vote, Chrissy-Pants got a vote, but really, was there any doubt about this one? Here’s the question I’ve been debating with my colleagues at work: Historically speaking, just how good is this guy? Top ten all-time? Top five all-time? Whatever you think, here are some numbers to consider: 180 goals an 73 assists in 269 league and cup matches in one of the most competitive leagues in the world to go along with 16 goals and 11 assists in 55 matches for his country. Oh, and he doesn’t turn 24 until later this month. Thoughts?
- Goal of the Year: Wayne Rooney v. Manchester City
What an amazing group this was! There was Tevez’s free kick against Stoke, Donovan’s hammer blow against Algeria, Matty Burrows RIDICULOUS back-heel, Stankovic’s goal against Schalke, and Luis Suarez’s goal against Sunderland to name only a few of the goals that received votes. In the end, however, the winner was clear-
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/5961289/wayne_rooney_s_bicycle_kick_goal_vs_manchester_city/
Hate the player, hate the club, but you can’t hate that goal- pure class.
- The Gascgoine: Mario Balotelli, Manchester City
Charlie Davies got a vote for “not putting on his thinking cap” and almost ending his career, R— G—- (thanks, James!) got a vote, for, you know, that thing we can’t talk about, Carlos Tevez got one for being perpetually petulant, and Wayne Rooney got a bunch for, well, being Wayne Rooney. But none of these players got enough votes to win. No, the inaugural Gascoigne Award went to Mario Balotelli. an incredibly gifted young man who seems hell-bent destroying his career before it really gets started. He feuds with coaches, he wears the jersey of his club’s rival on television, he’s lazy in training, he dives, he snubs fellow players- the list is virtually endless. I hope we’ve seen the last of this nonsense, but something tells me it’s only just begun.
- The Match of the Year: Newcastle United 4 v. Arsenal 4
A lot of matches received a shout in this category, but only one got more than one vote. This match- in addition to being an absolute cracker of a match showed us two things. First, it showed that newly-promoted Newcastle had both the grit and the ability to remain in the Premier League for at least one more season. As for the second thing that the match showed us, I’ll let commenter Martin sum it up for us, it was a match that showed “the world that the Gunners couldn’t close and that it was all pretending from that point on.” Indeed.
That’s it for this year- I expect lots of spirited debate- and maybe even some name-calling!- in the comments section…have at it!!
I can’t believe you neglected my vote for the actual Droppy of the Year: Sergio Ramos.
He and Martin Stekelenburg tie for that, actually. Considering that Stekelenburg actually has to USE his hands, I’d almost say his was worse.
I’d agree, if Stekelenburg’s Droppy would have been hit by the bus instead of rolling down the street.
In fairness to Skekelenburg it was an over head wire that knocked the plate out of his hands.
i cant believe i forgot Rooney’s bicycle kick. amazing
off the top of my head, i had to go with Donovan’s decapitator in the world cup, that goal is burned into my brain.
I cannot believe the United sycophants came out in droves for this vote.
I’m happy that MLS got some votes other than mine. This year feels like it’s a brand new league somehow.
TY, based on the emails, it was not the United crew that swayed these votes- it was supporters of other clubs doing so through gritted teeth. I can’t tell you how many of the votes for SAF or United players began with, “I can’t believe I’m going to do this, but…” or “Voting for him makes me stick to my stomach, but…”
I was one of those who went with Hernandez, mostly on price and effectiveness. I also pointed out, though, that when Bebe was bought for a similar price, Manchester United actually ends up with one player for about 15 million at the end of the day.
Still, though…Hernandez.
As an Arsenal guy, I couldn’t do anything but shrug and vote for the Man U votes I did. I thought Sir Alex had maybe the best year of his career managing, and while Pep was great, he could take half the La Liga games off and it wouldn’t make a difference.
Also, how many other teams had as many significant old guys as ManU? hehe They should have been sponsored by AARP.
I didn’t vote for Wayne’s Bicycle though, cause that goal vs Algeria, so late and against a team that had clearly decided it didn’t care about winning and had packed it in, was fantastic. Taken not as merely a shot, but as an entire play from Howard’s save to the ball going in, great goal.
Hernandez was great this year, but to me Man U still would be a really good team without him. I voted for Suarez to Liverpool because I think he changed that team from the moment he arrived, and he’s going to be the backbone of the Liverpool attack for the next 5 years I’d bet. Loved him in the WC, super impressed by him in the EPL.
I agree with TY, as I too voted for the MLS. It’s a much more polished league this year, and I felt that the other major FA’s had down years or ones where the overall quality took a step back. My vote wasn’t on the best league, but on the one that gave you more then you expected in the bargain.
I like Messi. I like that he’s a good teammate, that he almost always tries to plow through and make the shot and not take the snipers bullet, and that at 23 he plays like a man, not an overly talented petulant child. The numbers Fuse put up are staggering, and yet, if he had a competent manager on the Argentine National squad, those numbers would be what, increased by 15-20%? At least a handful more goals and assists I’d say.
Last comment. I’d say the commentariat and writers here are more supporters then fans of their teams. As supporters, they are able to shift through the b.s. and acknowledge the weaknesses of their teams, appreciate the excellence of another team or player, and have an enjoyment of the game beyond a narrow circle. As Fuse said about the Paston choice. Maybe he wasn’t the Best Goalie this year, and others can have fine reasons why they pick someone else, but the people here can give you a logical reason why they would pick him, and others will give him the nod and benefit of the doubt, and listen to the reasoning with an open mind. There is an relief and gladness that the comments and thoughts are more progressed then “Man U sucks! Arsenal Rules! Good night now!”