KUMB Awards

There were 11 categories to nominate your winners for in this year's KUMB Awards, our 21st annual poll...

KUMB.com PLAYER OF THE YEAR

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1. MARKO ARNAUTOVIC (67%)
2. Angelo Ogbonna (11%)
3. Pablo Zabaleta (10%)

Congratulations to Marko Arnautovic who beomces the first Austrian to be named as KUMB Player of the Year, following a fantastic first season at West Ham.

Having moved from Stoke for a club record fee of £20million, 'Arnie' started slowly but looked like a new player following the arrival of David Moyes, who managed to get something out of the forward his predecessor Slaven Bilic had been unable to find. Top goalscorer, fan favourite and a deserved winner of this year's crown. Angelo Ogbonna - who held the defence together for much of the season - and veteran full-back Pablo Zabaleta made up your top three this year.

Previous Winners
2016/17 Manuel Lanzini; 2015/16 Dimitri Payet; 2014/15 Aaron Cresswell; 2013/14 Mark Noble; 2012/13 Winston Reid; 2011/12 James Tomkins; 2010/11 Scott Parker; 2009/10 Scott Parker; 2008/09 Scott Parker; 2007/08 Robert Green; 2006/07 Carlos Tevez; 2005/06 Danny Gabbidon; 2004/05 Teddy Sheringham; 2003/04 Matthew Etherington; 2002/03 Joe Cole; 2001/02 Sebastien Schemmel; 2000/01 Stuart Pearce; 1999/2000 Paolo Di Canio; 1998/99 Steve Lomas; 1997/98 John Hartson.


YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR

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1. DECLAN RICE (97%)
2. Josh Cullen (2%)
3. Ben Johnson (1%)

One of the most comprehensive results we've ever seen in 21 years of the KUMB Awards. The 19-year-old Irish international was a clear and obvious winner for this year's Young Player award following his breakthrough into the first team, and at such a difficult time as well. Southend's Josh Cullen, who also featured for the first team last term narrowly pipped the highly-rated Ben Johnson, who recently signed his first pro contract, into second place.

Previous Winners
2016/17 Edimilson Fernandes; 2015/16 Reece Oxford; 2014/15 Reece Burke; 2013/14 Dylan Tombides; 2012/13 Danny Potts; 2011/12 Danny Potts; 2010/11 James Tomkins; 2009/10 Zavon Hines; 2008/09 Jack Collison; 2007/08 Mark Noble; 2006/07 Mark Noble; 2005/06 Nigel Reo-Coker; 2004/05 Mark Noble; 2003/04 Chris Cohen; 2002/03 Glenn Johnson; 2001/02 Jermain Defoe; 2000/01 Michael Carrick; 1999/2000 Michael Carrick; 1998/99 Rio Ferdinand/Frank Lampard; 1997/98 Rio Ferdinand.


GOAL OF THE SEASON



1. PEDRO OBIANG vs TOTTENHAM (60%)
2. Mark Noble vs Leicester City (25%)
3. Angelo Ogbonna v Tottenham (6%)

A bolt out of the blue; a goal from nowhere. One of only two efforts he scored during the 2017/18 campaign, Obiang's opening goal in the 1-1 draw at Wembley back in January was a thing of sheer beauty; a perfectly executed strike that appeared to defy the laws of physics by increasing in speed the further it travelled!

Mark Noble's belter against Leicester was a clear runner-up and could've been your winner in another season - and illustrated exactly why KUMB wait until the season has finished before undertaking a poll! Coming in third this year was Angelo Ogbonna's winning goal at Tottenham last October in the EFL Cup - another memorable moment.

Previous Winners
2016/17 Andy Carroll v Crystal Palace; 2015/16 Dimitri Payet v Crystal Palace; 2014/15 Enner Valencia v Hull City (a); 2013/14 Ravel Morrison v Tottenham (a); 2012/13 Mo Diame v Man Utd (h); 2011/12 Ricardo Vaz Te v Blackpool (n); 2010/11 Scott Parker v Liverpool (h); 2009/10 Scott Parker v Wigan (h); 2008/09 Carlton Cole v Wigan (a); 2007/08 Dean Ashton v Man Utd (a); 2006/07 Mark Noble v Bolton (h); 2005/06 Anton Ferdinand v Fulham (h); 2004/05 Bobby Zamora v Ipswich (a); 2003/04 Jon Harley v Sheffield Utd (a); 2002/03 Paolo Di Canio v Chelsea (h); 2001/02 Trevor Sinclair v Derby (h); 2000/01 Paolo Di Canio v Manchester United (a); 1999/2000 Paolo Di Canio v Wimbledon (h); 1998/99 Stan Lazaridis v Newcastle (a);1997/98 John Hartson v Aston Villa (h).


MOST MEMORABLE MATCH

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1. TOTTENHAM 2-3 WEST HAM UTD (51%)
2. West Ham Utd 0-3 Burnley (19%)
3. West Ham Utd 1-0 Chelsea (11%)

There may be a gulf between the two clubs financially at present but West Ham continue to possess that uncanny knack of upsetting the applecart against the odds, as poor Spurs discovered to their collective chagrin last October. Two goals adrift and seemingly destined for defeat, an Andre Ayew brace and Angelo Ogbonna's wildly-celebrated winner condemed hapless Hotpsur to yet another derby day defeat.

The anti-Board demonstrations during the Burnley game made that particular match your clear runner-up in this category, followed by the December defeat of another London rival, Chelsea.

Previous Winners
2016/17 West Ham Utd 1-0 Tottenham; 2015/16 West Ham Utd 3-2 Manchester Utd (h); 2014/15 West Ham Utd 3-1 Liverpool (h); 2013/14 Tottenham (a) 3-0; 2012/13 Chelsea 3-1 (h); 2011/12 Blackpool 2-1 (n); 2010/11 Man Utd 4-0 (h); 2009/10 Wigan 3-2 (h); 2008/09 Portsmouth 4-1 (a); 2007/08 Man Utd 2-1 (h); 2006/07 Man Utd 1-0 (a); 2005/06 Liverpool/FA Cup Final (n); 2004/05 Ipswich 2-0 (a); 2003/04 Ipswich 2-0 (h); 2002/03 Chelsea 1-0 (h); 2001/02 Man Utd 1-0 (a); 2000/01 Man Utd 1-0 (a); 1999/2000 Arsenal 2-1 (h); 1998/99 Palace 4-1 (h)/Barnsley 6-0 (h); 1997/98 Tottenham 4-3 (h).


BEST SIGNING

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1. MARKO ARNAUTOVIC (92%)
2. Pablo Zabaleta (5%)
3. Javier Hernandez (1%)

Never in doubt, it's a second award in this year's poll for Marko Arnautovic who was a runaway winner in a season not particularly renowned for new arrivals. The club's leading goalscorer and talisman, it was a thoroughly successful season for the Austrian despite enduring a difficult start.

In the scramble for second place, Pablo Zabaleta - at the age of 33 - proved there was still life in those old legs yet, whilst Javier Hernandez - who may have been expected to poll more than 1 per cent of the votes when he arrived at the club - snatched third spot by a handful of votes.

Previous Winners
2016/17 Edimilson Fernandes; 2015/16 Dimitri Payet; 2014/15 Aaron Cresswell; 2013/14 Adrian San Miguel Del Castillo; 2012/13 Andy Carroll; 2011/12 Ricardo Vaz Te; 2010/11 Demba Ba; 2009/10 Alessandro Diamanti; 2008/09 Valon Behrami; 2007/08 Scott Parker; 2006/07 Carlos Tevez; 2005/06 Yossi Benayoun; 2004/05 Teddy Sheringham; 2003/04 Matthew Etherington; 2002/03 Rufus Brevett; 2001/02 Sebastien Schemmel; 2000/01 Frederic Kanoute; 1999/2000 Igor Stimac; 1998/99 Trevor Sinclair; 1997/98 Eyal Berkovic.


MOST IMPROVED PLAYER

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1. DECLAN RICE (34%)
2. Arthur Masuaku (24%)
3. Marko Arnautovic (19%)

Prior to being thrust into the first team on the opening day of the season at Old Trafford, Declan Rice had made just one senior appearance - on the final day of the previous campaign at Burnley. By the end of it, he was being touted as one of the Premier League's brightest young stars and a regular in the Irish international side, such was the speed of his rise through the ranks.

Arthur Masuaku, reinvented as a left winger following a season as understudy to Aaron Cresswell at left back gave glimses of what he is capable of whilst Arnautovic's mid-season turnaround saw the Austrian receive enough votes to snatch third place in this particular category.

Previous Winners
2016/17 Pedro Obiang; 2015/16 Michail Antonio; 2014/15 Stewart Downing; 2013/14 Matt Taylor; 2012/13 Winston Reid; 2011/12 Winston Reid; 2010/11 Jonathan Spector; 2009/10 Julien Faubert; 2008/09 Carlton Cole; 2007/08 George McCartney; 2006/07 James Collins; 2005/06 Marlon Harewood; 2004/05 Anton Ferdinand; 2003/04 Stephen Bywater; 2002/03 Glen Johnson; 2001/02 Christian Dailly; 2000/01 Michael Carrick; 1999/2000 Marc-Vivien Foe; 1998/99 Frank Lampard; 1997/98 Frank Lampard.


MOST MISSED

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1. DIAFRA SAKHO (47%)
2. Sofiane Feghouli (28%)
3. Daren Randolph (17%)

Diafra Sakho's love affair with West Ham finally ended in January this year when he was sold to Metz following thee-and-a-half turbulent - yet most productive - seasons in east London. With 24 goals in three seasons, you felt he was the player we most missed in 2018.

Some way behind in second place, with a little more than quarter of the vote was wide man Feghouli, who was never really replaced upon being sold to Galatasary in August 2017, shortly before the season began. Finally, in third spot was goalkeeper Darren Randolph - whoalmost certainly wouldn't have been any less effective than his replacement, Joe Hart.

Previous Winners
2016/17 Dimitri Payet; 2015/16 Carlton Cole; 2014/15 Jack Collison; 2013/14 Dylan Tombides; 2012/13 Wally Downes; 2011/12 Demba Ba; 2010/11 Alessandro Diamanti; 2009/10 Dean Ashton.


WORST PLAYER OF THE SEASON

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1. JOE HART (43%)
2. Patrice Evra (13%)
3. Diafra Sakho (10%)

The most open category in this year's awards was eventually won by some clear distance by the unfortunate goalkeeper, who was paid a king's ransom to spend much of the season on the bench having failed to dislodge Adrian from the first team following a series of high-profile mistakes.

Leading the chasing pack of four or five players was former French international Evra, who appeared to be paid a small fortune just to repeat his newly-adopted catchphrase - whilst your Most Missed player registered in third spot! Unusually, all three have already left West Ham - which probably isn't a bad thing.

Previous Winners
2016/17 Gokham Tore; 2015/16 Carl Jenkinson; 2014/15 Kevin Nolan; 2013/14 Alou Diarra; 2012/13 Emanuel Pogatetz; 2011/12 John Carew; 2010/11 Matthew Upson; 2009/10 Jonathan Spector; 2008/09 Diego Tristan; 2007/08 Luis Boa Morte; 2006/07 Nigel Quashie; 2005/06 Category Suspended; 2004/05 Don Hutchison; 2003/04 Wayne Quinn; 2002/03 Gary Breen; 2001/02 Titi Camara; 2000/01 Titi Camara; 1999/2000 Neil Ruddock; 1998/99 Iain Dowie/Andy Impey; 1997/98 Iain Dowie.


WORST SIGNING OF THE SEASON

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1. JOE HART (41%)
2. Jordan Hugill (26%)
3. Patrice Evra (26%)

It's an unwelcome double this season for the unfortunate Joe Hart, who follows up his 'Worst Player' award with this one having frustrated and disappointed supporters in equal measure following his season-long loan signing from Manchester City.

Poor Jordan Hugill, signed on transfer deadline day in January is yet to start a match and has spent just 22 minutes on the pitch since moving from Preston in an eye-raising £9million January switch. As a result, he was your runner-up - a mere handful of votes ahead of left back Evra, who was equally underused during his brief stay at West Ham.

Previous Winners
2017/18 Simone Zaza; 2015/16 Nikica Jelavic; 2014/15 Mauro Zarate; 2013/14 Mladen Petric; 2012/13 Emanuel Pogatetz; 2011/12 John Carew; 2010/11 Robbie Keane; 2009/10 Benni McCarthy; 2008/09 Diego Tristan; 2007/08 Henri Camara; 2006/07 Matthew Upson; 2005/06 No award; 2004/05 Mauricio Tarrico; 2003/04 Wayne Quinn; 2002/03 Gary Breen; 2001/02 Ragnvald Soma; 2000/01 Titi Camara; 1999/2000 Sasa Ilic; 1998/99 Andy Impey; 1997/98 Ian Pearce.


GREATEST DISAPPOINTMENT



1. CANCELLATION OF ANTI-BOARD PROTEST (46%)
2. A season spent fighting relegation (26%)
3. Burnley pitch invasion (26%)

Thousands of unhappy Hammers fans were gearing up for an anti-Board protest at the beginning of March when the demonstration was cancelled by the organisers for reasons that have never been fully explained. And you voted this as your single greatest disappointment in a generally miserable season that will be remembered with affection by few, if any.

The planned (and eventual) protests were the result of vast disappointment at the realisation that West Ham's move from Upton Park to Stratford would not, as had been suggested by the club's owners, be a ticket to the top six - or anything out of the ordinary given that the Hammers spent their second season in Stratford battling against the drop. The multiple pitch invasions during the Burnley home defeat meant all three leading nominations revolved around the same issue.

Previous Winners
2016/17 Leaving the Boleyn Ground; 2015/16 Referees' inconsistency; 2014/15 Our post-Xmas slump in form; 2013/14 Our style of football; 2012/13 Our away form; 2011/12 No home win in seven matches; 2010/11 Relegation; 2009/10 Dean Ashton's retirement; 2008/09 The Lord Griffiths ruling in favour of Sheffield Utd; 2007/08 The injury situation; 2006/07 Failing to build on the previous season's success; 2005/06 The FA Cup Final; 2004/05 Booing players; 2003/04 Millwall away; 2002/03 Relegation; 2001/02 Chelsea FA Cup defeat; 2000/01 Spurs FA Cup defeat; 1999/2000 Mannygate.


HACKETT OF THE YEAR

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1. KARREN BRADY (44%)
2. David Sullivan (22%)
3. Bobby Madley (9%)

Polling more than double the number of any other candidate, West Ham United's vice chair was the clear winner in this year's Hackett category, named in 'honour' of retired referee Keith Hackett who infamously dismissed Tony Gale during the 1991 FA Cup semi final.

Nominated for her various PR gaffes and newspaper column-related mishaps, Brady beat employer David Sullivan - nominated this year for revealing that his sons "begged him" not to sign Jose Fonte and Robert Snodgrass - into second spot. Meanwhile errant match offical Bobby Madley, who cost West Ham two precious points when choosing to overrule a (correct) liesman's decision at Bournemouth on Boxing Day, grabbed third spot.

Previous Winners
2016/17 Dimitri Payet; 2015/16 Roy Hodgson; 2014/15 Kenny Brown's thieves; 2013/14 Chico Flores; 2012/13 Barry Hearn; 2011/12 Barry Hearn; 2010/11 Avram Grant; 2009/10 Eidur Gudjohnsen; 2008/09 Lord Griffiths; 2007/08 Kevin McCabe; 2006/07 Dave Whelan (Wigan).


And that's it for yet another year - our sincere thanks to everyone who voted in this year's poll and for your continued support of KUMB.com. We'll see you back in the Premier League in 2018/19 and back here next summer for our 22nd annual readers' poll!