Ok...we're close enough to the end of the season to start this...

-- Anonymous, April 16, 2002

Answers

Absolutely .... Positively....

Shay Given...fantastic season apart from the weak goal he let in at Chelsea... he has been the heart of the team

-- Anonymous, April 16, 2002

Aye, gotta give it to shay. Some remarkable performances.

-- Anonymous, April 16, 2002

no contest. Without Shay we'd be in the doldrums/relegation zone

-- Anonymous, April 16, 2002

That's a Given.

-- Anonymous, April 16, 2002

Er, hate to spoil the party, but for me it's young Craig, as witnessed by the last 7 or 8 games. And yes, I was an early season sceptic, if not quite in the Swft camp. Humble pie and my hat, please.

-- Anonymous, April 16, 2002

If Craig doesn't get the player of the season award, then his entry in the Guiness Book of Records for having covered more faces with more egg than any man in history, should be reasonable compensation.

-- Anonymous, April 16, 2002

Craig has had a great year and would be second in the voting, but Shay has made the difference more often than Craig has. He has bailed out our pitiful defense more often than enough!

-- Anonymous, April 16, 2002

Well, despite some great performances for the Resorves, I'm not going to give it to Farcelino. Bellamy has made a huge difference to the team's style of play but IMHO, he hasn't scored as many of his chances as I'd like. I don't think his own performances have been as good as Given's, who generally made most of the saves he was called on to do - other goals against were not his fault. Tough one to call, but Given just Shayds it for me.

-- Anonymous, April 16, 2002

Indeed. If Given was as poor at one-on-ones as Bellamy, Gav's early season predictions would probably have come true!

-- Anonymous, April 16, 2002

No question, it has to be Shay Given. Bellamy's been great, but hasn't won us nearly as many points as Shay's saves. If Bellamy works on his finishing skills over the summer, he could be an easy contender next season.

-- Anonymous, April 16, 2002

Barton.

-- Anonymous, April 16, 2002

Vote goes to Shay followed closely by Bellers and tie for third Robert and Nobby.

-- Anonymous, April 16, 2002

Has to be Bellamy. Not just for his performance, but the way in which the team has changed because of him. Given has been outstanding and justifiably in the Premier XI but Bellamy has added so much, pace, aggression etc.

We have missed him badly whilst he's been injured, we wouldn't miss Given half as much.

-- Anonymous, April 17, 2002

Given has been fantastic but this year I vote for Bellamy for proving everyone wrong and changing our team for the better. His attitude has been brilliant. He wanted to win the fans over and he did and although his big mouth gets him into trouble, we all like to see a bit of feistiness don't we? He's grateful to Bobby for giving him a chance and he always gives 100%.

-- Anonymous, April 17, 2002

1. Shay 2. Bellers 3. Nobby

-- Anonymous, April 17, 2002

Have to go with DSS on this one.

-- Anonymous, April 17, 2002

Bellamy changes the way everyone else plays; they are still dodgy however well Given plays. Got to be the Bellend for me.

-- Anonymous, April 17, 2002

Aye,

all this good, but to give it to a single player when a number of players have excelled is a tad unfair. I would give my TPOTY _season_ award to three players, listed in alphabetical order:

- Bellamy, Given, Hughes.

TPOTY award for _a number of good displays_ in B&W go to:

- Robert, Solano.

TPOTY _golden english boot_ has to go to

- Shearer, because he has scored more league goals than any other English player. Isn't that amazing?

-- Anonymous, April 17, 2002

Tight call between CB and Seamus, but Bellamy shades it for me.

Given has been outstanding and consistent, but I feel Bellamy has been the big difference between NUFC last season and this season.

-- Anonymous, April 17, 2002

AArrgghhh. Difficult choice. Bellamy has provided such a new dimension to what was a stagnant Newcastle last season and has combined well with the other new boy Robert. His pace, passion, skill and tireless running have shown just how good he is and how stifled he was at Coventry. How they must be kicking themselves at wasting such a talent. The PFA Young player of the year is certainly a leading contender.

In the other corner (well, other end of the pitch anyway, can't save much from the corner) is Shay Given. After a widely advertised error in the opening game of the season which probebly led many fans to the conclusion of here we go again, Shay has more than made up for those two lost points. In many games this season we can point to the Irish stopper for inspired performances and saves which have saved Newcastle from not only a bad defeat but also losing that vital win. No match sums this up more than his contribution to a hard fought win against derby rivals Sunderland. The biggest danger on the pitch was quoted as Kevin Phillips, and certainly as the match went on he was one of only two players to really push a hard working Newcastle defence. With some good efforts flying in Shay pulled off save after save and even one from KP which I have heard described as sensational. For this and many others I feel that Shay has just pipped little Bellamy to the post. Though had Bellamy not been injured who knows what may have happened.

If anyone would like to know my biggest dissapointment of the year it is Carl Cort.

For Substitute of the year it's Bernard as he's turned the game many a time.

Best signing is Bellamy.

-- Anonymous, April 17, 2002

1. Given has probably had his finest season with us, and was voted on the Premiership Best XI. He is world class, and will get even better.
2. Bellend has also been outstanding and has revolutionised our attacking play, no question. But he's not shown himself world class yet - that's for next season :-)
3. Solano has also changed up a gear to our benefit.
Honourable mention for Robert, who has given us everything from controversy, sublime skill and a hell of a shot on him. Has made goals aplenty and when on song is unstoppable.

Relegated - Dabizas. We may have seen his swansong at the Stade de Merde, but YBR's patience seems to be running short. Too many errors.
Most improved player - Dyer. From perma-crock to England place before you can blink. And well deserved too. Now sign that contract extension, Kev!
Best Nose - some true contenders to take the Phil Thompson Trophy, but Andy O'Brien snuffed out the strong challenge from Robbie Elliott. Shearer may yet make a late entry, depending on how the plastic surgery goes.
Best Rid Of - only 2 on this shortlist: Barton and Lee. Wozza spent his career at SJP from day 1 on the backfoot looking to justify the millions. I think he gave us VFM. And a great example of clapping. Lee has been legendary, and worth the money 10 times over. However, his inclusion in recent times has frustrated with lack of pace and some wayward midfield play. His long range shooting has also become something of a hazard for low flying planes (apart from the crucial one vs Man U :-) ). Rob Lee takes the award.

-- Anonymous, April 17, 2002

votes so far...

Shay 11, Craig 7, Wozza 1 (WHAT????)

The polls will remain open until the end of the month (figuring those strgglers wwho may pop in)

-- Anonymous, April 17, 2002

Shay Given without a shaddow of a doubt

-- Anonymous, April 17, 2002

Nice to have to choose between some good candidates ratehr than trying to pick the least worst. Shay for me but Bellamy would have been if he'd stayed fit, Hughes and Solano should get 'bets couple' award

-- Anonymous, April 17, 2002

Difficult choice. Shay Given has been fantastic and kept us in more games than I can remember. But Craig Bellamy gets it for exceeding all our expectations and showing the team another way to play.

-- Anonymous, April 17, 2002

A bit like comparing apples and oranges isn't it? Might be less debate if we were comparing two outfield players. Also, I think the question of judging a player by how much you (would) miss them if/when they're injured is spurious - quality of replacements isn't really the question. I also wonder if votes for Bellers are more to do with the extent to which he's exceeded expectations than actual contribution. Yes, he's been great, but if we'd signed Michael Owen instead and he'd contributed the same to the team...we'd probably be slightly disappointed and Given would have had more of those votes. if you follow me.

-- Anonymous, April 17, 2002

Shay has been outstanding. We have come away with points where we may have had none due to his displays. However, CB has been been the 'spark that lit the flame'. His performances have encouraged the whole team. He's been magic, especially as I was one the biggest doubters of his ability when YBR signed him. Nice to see some good performances from Nobby, who I think has had one of his best seasons for us.

-- Anonymous, April 17, 2002

If you are going to take points away from Bellamy for not being a natural finisher then surely you ought to be deducting them from Given for not commanding his area?

-- Anonymous, April 17, 2002

Why don't we just do a 'senior' and 'young' player of the year? That way we'll all be happy, and I suspect the winners of each will poll in the region of 99%.

-- Anonymous, April 17, 2002

Bellamy.

We are not the same without him.

-- Anonymous, April 17, 2002

Bellamy has been good, but i knew he would be all along...

but the best is Given. Shearer deserves a mention, for a player who is finished he's done well.

-- Anonymous, April 17, 2002

Distin has been very influencial this season.

-- Anonymous, April 17, 2002

Very tough one but it's Shay all the way for me. Week in, week out his heroics have seen us take points we'd otherwise have lost. Bellers has undoubtedly transformed our style of play for the better but I think Mr. Given has done more to put us where we are now.

Honourable mention as well for Alan 'Terminator' Shearer. He never gets tired, he never gives up and he ABSOLUTELY WILL NOT STOP...

-- Anonymous, April 17, 2002

Swift...you're shit at predicting how good players will be....that's speed and bellamy you've been wrong about now....

Shame those deals for rivaldo and ronaldo you told us about never came off cos we'll never know how your predictions for them would've worked out ;)

-- Anonymous, April 17, 2002

He never said Speed was gonna be good did he ????

-- Anonymous, April 17, 2002

Bellamy. It simply has to be. If he hadn't missed the last eight games we would still be in the title race. End of story.

-- Anonymous, April 17, 2002