Welcome to the tenth annual KUMB.com awards, for the 2005/06 season. We asked you to vote in ten categories this time around; here's how you saw it.
PLAYER OF THE SEASON
1. CARLOS TEVEZ (59%)
2. ROBERT GREEN (20%)
3. BOBBY ZAMORA (10%)
Carlos Alberto Tevez stunned the world of football when he turned up in East London on August 31st last year in order to represent the Hammers for the coming season. Despite failing to score in his first six months at the club his goals towards the end of season helped save West Ham from relegation. Robert Green also practiced patience before dislodging Roy Carroll from the number one jersey since when he's never looked back. Bobby Zamora - top scorer this season with 11 to his name - grabbed one in ten of your votes for a superb supporting role.
Previous Winners
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 SEASON
1. MARK NOBLE (99%)
2. JONATHAN SPECTOR (1%)
3. HOGAN EPHRAIM/JAMES TOMKINS (0%)
With a worrying lack of young talent emerging from the Academy of late this under-21 category was a bit of a one-horse-race; all but a few of you (Jon Spector's family, one suspects) voted for the overwhelming winner, Mark Noble, who finally came of age after years of promise. Jon Spector's handful of votes saw him beat the two latest Academy hopes, Hogan Ephraim and James Tomkins, into joint third place.
Previous Winners
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.
BEST SIGNING
1. CARLOS TEVEZ (44%)
2. LUCAS NEILL (40%)
3. ROBERT GREEN (15%)
One of the closest categories of the year and a second award for Carlitos, who narrowly pipped Lucas Neill to the post. Tevez arrived a month into the season and rapidly became a fans' favourite despite the fact that barely nobody expected him to stay beyond the end of the season. Neill arrived in the January transfer window as part of the Curbishley revolution and performed valiantly. Rob Green will be best remembered for single-handedly taking on - and beating - Arsenal.
Previous Winners
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
1. JAMES COLLINS (40%)
2. MARK NOBLE (20%)
3. BOBBY ZAMORA (15%)
The Most Improved Player category has traditionally been the domain of the unsung hero, the player less likely to shine in the media spotlight but still performing an important role. That summary certainly applies to this year's winner, James 'Ginge' Collins, who put in some fantastic performances towards the end of the season. Mark Noble blossomed into a Premiership player this term, whilst Bobby Zamora continues to confound his critics.
Previous Winners
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 MEMORABLE MATCH
1. MAN UTD 0 WEST HAM UTD 1 - 14/05/07 (27%)
2. WEST HAM UTD 3 BOLTON 1 - 05/05/07 (17%)
3. WEST HAM UTD 3 TOTTENHAM 4 - 04/03/07 (10%)
One of the most open categories but who could ever forget how the Hammers went to the home of the Champions on the final day of the season and won to preserve their Premeirship status thanks to Carlos Tevez's goal on the stroke of half-time. The 3-1 win against Bolton probably produced the best 45 minutes' football of the season, whilst the amazing 4-3 defeat against Spurs was seen by many as the catylyst for 'The Great Escape'.
Previous Winners
2005/06 Liverpool - FA Cup Final (n) 13/05/06; 2004/05 Ipswich 2-0 (a) 18/05/06; 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).
GOAL OF THE SEASON
1. MARK NOBLE v BOLTON (32%)
2. CARLOS TEVEZ v TOTTENHAM (20%)
3. BOBBY ZAMORA v ARSENAL (10%)
There were some excellent strikes to vote for this season so it was no surprise that there was no clear winner. Mark Noble's stunning volley in the 3-1 win against Bolton just about topped the pack, narrowly beating Carlos Tevez's first ever goal for the club - a 20-yard free-kick against Tottenham - into second place. Bobby Zamora's exquisite volley which won three points at the Emirates completes your choices.
Previous Winners
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).
WORST PLAYER OF THE SEASON
1. NIGEL QUASHIE (19%)
2. PAUL KONCHESKY (15%)
3. CARLTON COLE (9%)
Having 'rested' this category last season due to unprecedented success for virtually all of Alan Pardew's signings last term it's back with a vengeance - and the recipient this year is four-times-relegated Nigel Quashie, who joined the club from West Bromwich Albion for £2m in January. Paul Konchesky surprisingly perhaps polled enough voted to grab second spot, whilst the disappointing Carlton Cole came in third. All are likely to move on in the close season ...
Previous Winners
2005/06 No award; 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
1. MATTHEW UPSON (27%)
2. NIGEL QUASHIE (24%)
3. CARLTON COLE (11%)
£7.5m represented a massive outlay for a player who managed no more than 45 minutes of football, hence this year's reinstated award going to Matthew Upson - although through no fault of his own! Your Worst Player, Nigel Quashie, wrapped up an unwanted double by being named in second place, as did Carlton Cole who came in third.
Previous Winners
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.
BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT
1. FAILING TO BUILD ON LAST SEASON'S SUCCESS (25%)
2. PLAYER's BEHAVIOUR (20%)
3. JAVIER MASCHERANO (16%)
Hardly anybody expected the Hammers to be fighting relegation this season after such a good performance last term, hence this year's winner. The off-field antics of a number of players led to the squad rgabbing second spot, whilst the Mascherano fiasco left many of you wondering what could - and should - have been.
Previous Winners
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
1. DAVE WHELAN - WIGAN (47%)
2. TERENCE BROWN - EX-WHU (28%)
3. NEIL WARNOCK - SHEFF UTD (7%)
A new category and a deserved winner for the Keith Hackett memorial gong. Dave Whelan wouldn't shut up about Carlos Tevez - until his club survived by the skin of their teeth after which he fell strangely silent. Terry Brown, who walked away from the mess he left behind £30m the richer incurred the wrath of many of you, whilst Sheffield United's Neil Warnock left a nasty taste in the mouth for his constant blaming of anyone but himself for his team's relegation.
So that's that for yet another season; possibly the most bizarre in West Ham United's history. A season which had promised so much proved to be a disaster until the players finally got their fingers out to save the day. Thank you to all of you who voted in this years KUMB awards - and for your continued support of KUMB.com.
