The 25th annual KUMB Awards

[Up the Junction]

Live awards show here from 7.30pm!

There were 12 categories for you to vote in this year, as follows:

Player of the Year
Young Player of the Year
Best Signing
Most Improved Player
Most Memorable Match (nominees selected by KUMB Forum members)
Most Memorable Moment (nominees selected by KUMB Forum members)
Goal of the Season (nominees selected by KUMB Forum members)
Most Missed
Best KUMB Writer

Worst Player of the Year
Worst Signing
Hackett of the Year

Additionally the KUMB team will also be deciding the winner of the KUMB Award of Distinction, a special category for the individual or individuals who have made a significant contribution to West Ham United FC.

You may view the winners of all previous annual awards, dating right back to 1997, here: https://www.kumb.com/awards.php?id=23

All previous winners, as voted for by you, the KUMB readers, are as follows:

Player of the Year

2020/21 Tomas Soucek; 2019/20 Declan Rice; 2018/19 Lukasz Fabianski; 2017/18 Marko Arnautovic; 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

2020/21 Declan Rice; 2019/20 Declan Rice; 2018/19 Declan Rice; 2017/18 Declan Rice; 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

2020/21 Manuel Lanzini v Tottenham; 2019/20 Declan Rice v Watford; 2018/19 Felipe Anderson v Crsytal Palace; 2017/18 Pedro Obiang v Tottenham; 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

2020/21 Tottenham 3-3 West Ham Utd; 2019/20 West Ham Utd 3-2 Chelsea (h); 2018/19 Tottenham 0-1 West Ham Utd; 2017/18 Tottenham 2-3 West Ham Utd; 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

2020/21 Vladimir Coufal; 2019/20 Tomas Soucek; 2018/19 Lukasz Fabianski; 2017/18 Marko Arnautovic; 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

2020/21 Pablo Fornals; 2019/20 Angelo Ogbonna; 2018/19 Robert Snodgrass; 2017/18 Declan Rice; 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 Memorable Moment

2020/21 West Ham qualifying for Europe in the final game of the season; 2019/20 Alvin & David Martin embrace at Chelsea.

Most Missed

2020/21 Robert Snodgrass; 2019/20 Marko Arnautovic; 2018/19 James Collins; 2017/18 Diafra Sakho; 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.

Best KUMB Writer

2020/21 Preview Percy.

Worst Player of the Year

2020/21 Jack Wilshere; 2019/20 Roberto Jiminez Gago; 2018/19 Andy Carroll; 2017/18 Joe Hart; 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

2020/21 n/a; 2019/20 Roberto Jiminez Gago; 2018/19 Carlos Sanchez; 2017/18 Joe Hart; 2016/17 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.

Hackett of the Year

2020/21 Mike Dean; 2019/20 VAR; 2018/19 Simon Beck; 2017/18 Karren Brady; 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.

KUMB Award of Distinction

2020/21 David Moyes.

[Up the Junction]

Let us know who you voted for below!

[steveyrockstar]

Hackett of the Year is a tough one this year! Couldn't choose between the Lyon ref, Zouma and Rio.

Also, I still think that an option for 'worst player of the year' should just be 'no-one'. I know you can leave it blank (which I did), but presumably it still means that a player will get the majority vote, even if only 1 person votes for him and everyone else abstains. Unless you record the number of abstains?

[steveyrockstar]

I voted:

HOTY - Rice
Young HOTY - B Johnson
Match of the year - Sevilla 2-0
Goal of the year - Lanzini vs Palace
Best signing - Zouma
Worst signing - Vlasic (didn't vote for Kral because he was only a loan and Vlasic has been an almighty flop imo)
Worst player - 'left blank'
Moment of the year - Yarmo's celebration vs Villa
Writer - 'left blank' as couldn't decide
Hackett - Lyon ref (although Rio and Zouma were very close)

[Up the Junction]

Also, I still think that an option for 'worst player of the year' should just be 'no-one'.

It's always a contentious issue stevey and every year I contemplate removing it, but I tend to leave it in these days for a bit of fun as it's always been there.

And I think looking at the past list of winners also gives us some notion of just how far WHU have come as a club during KUMB's time; twenty years ago Wayne Quinn won the Worst Signing award; this year it's likely to be an established international!

[wivenhoetim]

Player of the Year Rice
Young Player of the Year Johnson
Best Signing Zouma
Most Improved Player Bowen
Most Memorable Match (nominees selected by KUMB Forum members) Seville 2-0
Most Memorable Moment (nominees selected by KUMB Forum members) Nobes tearful farewell
Goal of the Season (nominees selected by KUMB Forum members) Lanzini vs Palace
Most Missed Lingard
Best KUMB Writer Paul Walker

Worst Player of the Year Cresswell (Harsh but oh so costly sendings off)
Worst Signing Kral
Hackett of the Year Zouma

[funky chicken]

Hackett of the Year without question for me is Rio Ferdinand.

The Lyon ref was but we at least won the tie overall and made it through, so I can forget that one easily.

Zouma is a prat. And gave the club some unwanted attention. But it didn't really have an effect with what happened on the pitch, in terms of the team’s performances or the player in question.

Rio Ferdinand, a player who came through the academy here and was given his big break deliberately urging a young player to leave. Not just the once either! This was even around the time he was allegedly supporting the PAI Capital bid to take over the club.

Now I’ve got no problem about Rio caring or wanting the best for Man Utd. As he did play a large part of his career there. But to constantly encourage a player to leave the club who made you relevant in the first place, the hand that fed you, it’s beyond disrespectful.

He’s a weird bloke that Rio. His brother Anton couldn’t be anymore different. Completely respects the club and remembers where he came from. Rio particularly in the last couple of years gives me the impression he couldn’t give two hoots about West Ham.

[FrankieMacsPerm]

Player of the Year - Declan Rice
Young Player of the Year - Ben Johnson
Best Signing - Kurt Zouma
Most Improved Player - Jarrod Bowen
Most Memorable Match - Liverpool H - 3-2 - Picked as the only game I was actually at
Most Memorable Moment - Mark Nobles Tears
Goal of the Season - Lanzini a v Palace
Most Missed - Lingard
Best KUMB Writer - Preview Percy

Worst Player of the Year - Arthur
Worst Signing - Kral
Hackett of the Year - Ref at home v Lyon

[steveyrockstar]

It's always a contentious issue stevey and every year I contemplate removing it, but I tend to leave it in these days for a bit of fun as it's always been there.

And I think looking at the past list of winners also gives us some notion of just how far WHU have come as a club during KUMB's time; twenty years ago Wayne Quinn won the Worst Signing award; this year it's likely to be an established international!

Definitely don't think you need to remove - it's a fun category, like you say! I just think one of the options should be 'no-one', if that makes sense?

[Up the Junction]

I just think one of the options should be 'no-one', if that makes sense?

That's fair enough. I have made it so.

[psychoscoredthelot]

worst player i just put david martin for a laugh - poor sod

[sendô]

Player of the Year - Declan Rice, though Bowen ran him close
Young Player of the Year - Ben Johnson, the only candidate really
Best Signing - Kurt Zouma, though Areola has been very good when called upon
Most Improved Player - Jarrod Bowen, who has come on leaps and bounds
Most Memorable Match - Liverpool H 3-2, although Seville H 2-0 ran it close
Most Memorable Moment - Andriy Yarmolenko's tears vs Villa
Goal of the Season - Undoubtedy Manu Lanzini's shimmy and volley away to the Nigels
Worst Player of the Year - A harsh award given how well we've done this season, and I nearly went for Cresswell for those red cards, but I've gone for Alex Kral simply because he barely played and thus offered nothing
Worst Signing - Kral again for the reasons highlighted above
Best KUMB Writer - Chris Wilkerson
Hackett of the Year - Rio Ferdinand, and not just because he's been desperately trying to sell Rice to "Yanited" for us but because he is a complete bellend who does not give two hoots about the club that made him except when it suits him.
Most Missed - Jesse Lingard, massively.

[Up the Junction]

worst player i just put david martin for a laugh - poor sod

Harsh!

[Collison Theory]

I voted for Zouma as both signing of the season and Hackett, that would be an interesting double to get!

Noble has to be a shoe in for the award of distinction, right?

Hope the "worst" categories never get removed, they're one of the things that make these awards more interesting than the official ones for me.

[smuts]

HOTY - Bowen
Young Player - I meant to put Johnson but think I clicked Okoflex by mistake. Whoops.
Best signing - Areola
Worst - Vlasic
Most improved - Dawson
Goal of the season - Lanzini vs the Nigels
Hackett - Zouma but could have gone for Rio (can't stand the bloke)
Memorable moment - Yarmo vs Villa
Most missed - Lingard (although I think it's a mistake to bring him back...and that bloody winner against us still rankles as he did eff all else this season)

[Up the Junction]

Hope the "worst" categories never get removed, they're one of the things that make these awards more interesting than the official ones for me.

Duly noted, CT.

[Eggchaser]

Player of the Year - Declan Rice, although Bowen ran him close
Young Player of the Year - Ben Johnson,
Best Signing - Alphonse Areola
Most Improved Player - Jarrod Bowen
Most Memorable Match - 2-0 at home to Sevilla
Most Memorable Moment - Noble's last match
Goal of the Season - Yarmelenko v Villa
Worst Player of the Year - None
Worst Signing - None, personally I think Vlasic and Kral could and should have been used more effectively
Best KUMB Writer - Preview Percy
Hackett of the Year - Matt Law, if Rice is going to leave we should get some money for him.
Most Missed - Jesse Lingard

[ironilunga]

HOTY - Rice
Young HOTY - B Johnson
Match of the year - Sevilla 2-0
Goal of the year - Lanzini vs Palace
Best signing - Zouma
Worst signing - Vlasic
Worst player - 'left blank'
Moment of the year - Yarmo's celebration vs Villa
Writer - 'left blank' as couldn't decide
Hackett - Zouma

[e17]

What a brilliant season it was…

HOTY - Declan Rice. World class.
Young Player - Johnson
Best signing - Areola
Worst - Kral
Most improved - Dawson
Goal of the season - Lanzini v Palarseholes
Worst player - Left back who cost us a semi final
Hackett - Celia Hammond hater Zouma
Memorable moment - Nobes’ farewell
Most missed - Lingard & we’d have won a cup

[last.caress]

A lot of difficult choices to be made this year, and I mean that in its best sense. That said, my biggest struggle there was with the Hackett nominations. Some very worthy (potential) winners in amongst that lot.