KUMB Awards

There were ten categories to vote in this year, KUMB.com's twelth annual poll.

KUMB.com PLAYER OF THE YEAR


1. SCOTT PARKER 33.5%
2. MATTHEW UPSON 29.7%
3. ROBERT GREEN 25.7%

In what proved to be the closest Player of the Year poll since KUMB began its annual awards back in 1997 the winner of the club's Hammer of the Year, Scott Parker just nudges Matthew Upson into second spot. Curiously perhaps Parker is the only one of the top three not to feature for England under Fabio Capello. Parker's influence was even more noticeable during his absence in the final few weeks of the season.

Previous Winners
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


1. JACK COLLISON 82.5%
2. JAMES TOMKINS 14.9%
3. JUNIOR STANISLAS 2.3%

The clearest winner in any of this years categories, Collison burst onto the scene earlier in the season with performances that belied his age and expereince before going on to make his full international debut for Wales. James Tomkins performed as impressively in the centre of defence and was rewarded with a call-up to the England under-21s European Championship squad. Junior Stanislas secures third spot thanks to some solid end of season run-outs.

Previous Winners
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.

BEST SIGNING


1. VALON BEHRAMI 63.4%
2. HERITA ILUNGA 35.8%
3. RADOSLAV KOVAC 0.2%

A two-horse race this year and the Swiss David Beckham took almost two-thirds of your votes. The injury came just as Behrami was being touted as a potential Hammer of the Year and the Hammers were never quite the same without him. Herita Ilunga arrived as a virtual unknown but soon proved an able replacement for last year's most improved player, George McCartney. Czech international loanee Kovac grabbed enough votes to snatch third place.

Previous Winners
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


1. CARLTON COLE 64.4%
2. LUIS BOA MORTE 11.1%
3. JAMES TOMKINS 10.7%

Five goals in five games and an England debut was enough to convince two thirds of our voters that the 6'4" striker was a worthy winner of this years' Most Improved Player category. The club's top scorer, Cole has come on leaps and bounds under the tutelege of Zola and Clarke. Boa Morte's inclusion is a well-deserved reward for an impressive second half of the season whilst youngster James Tomkins had fans asking 'Anton who?'

Previous Winners
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 MATCH


1. PORTSMOUTH 1 WEST HAM UTD 4 (26th December) 34.2%
2. CHELSEA 1 WEST HAM UTD 1 (14th December) 15.4%
3. WEST HAM UTD 2 HULL CITY 0 (28th January) 12.1%

United's 4-1 demolition of Portsmouth was a real 'coming of age' moment. Having struggled intitally to adapt to Gianfranco Zola's footballing philosophy the Hammers destroyed Pompey with a performance full of pace and incisiveness. A draw at Stamford Bridge - which was so nearly a win - is always something to cheer these days hence the runners-up spot, whilst 45 minutes of breathtaking football against Hull back in January was enough to earn a mention.

Previous Winners
2007/08 Man Utd 2-1 (h); 2006/07 Man Utd 1-0 (a) 14/05/07; 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. CARLTON COLE V WIGAN (4th March) 78.8%
2. RADOSLAV KOVAC V EVERTON (16th May) 5.1%
3. DIEGO TRISTAN V STOKE (2nd May) 4.5%

A runaway winner in a year of many great goals, Cole's strike at Wigan attracted nearly four of every five votes cast. Starting on the halfway line, the move was an exhibition of one touch football culminating in a tremendous curling finish from the England striker. Kovac's strike at Everton proved good reason for holding the polls back until the season is over, whilst Tristan's beautifully-executed free kick at Stoke gave a breif reminder of a once world-class striker.

Previous Winners
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).

WORST PLAYER OF THE SEASON


1. DIEGO TRISTAN 32.8%
2. DAVID DI MICHELE 25.1%
3. LUIS BOA MORTE 9.6%

Tristan arrived in England out of shape having been out of contract for several months. Bar that great goal at Stoke his biggest contribution was getting nicked for drunk driving and he becomes the latest in a long line of past-their-sell-by-date strikers to strut their stuff at the Boleyn (see John Radford, Iain Dowie, Davor Suker etc). Di Michele at least provided a little more but will be remembered most for some hilarious misses. Boa Morte, runner up in the Most Improved Player category clearly failed to impress some.

Previous Winners
2007/08 Luis Boa Morte; 2006/07 Nigel Quashie; 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. DIEGO TRISTAN 32.5%
2. DAVID DI MICHELE 21.8%
3. WALTER LOPEZ 20.7%

As per the Worst Player category but with Wally Lopez in third spot. Lopez, who was rejected by Alan Curbishley but signed once Curbs had walked achieves a unique record of being dumped by the club twice in the space of a season. None of the nominees will be playing at the Boleyn next season, having already been released by the club.

Previous Winners
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.

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT


1. THE LORD GRIFFITHS/FA PANEL RULING IN FAVOUR OF SHEFFIELD UNITED 27.8%
2. LOSING TO TOTTENHAM - TWICE 12.3%
3. THE BOARD'S DECISION TO SETTLE OUT OF COURT WITH SHEFFIELD UNITED 11.4%

The decision to find in Sheffield United's favour remains not just one of the biggest injustices in West Ham United's history but also that of football itself. It took four hearings before an FA-appointed panel finally decided that Carlos Tevez had indeed been single-handedly responsible for Sheffield United failing to procure enough points to avoid relegation. The two defeats against our local rivals were a huge disappointment to many, whilst the club's decision to concede defeat in their battle with Sheffield United left many supporters feeling angry and betrayed.

Previous Winners
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


1. LORD GRIFFITHS 23.7%
2. KEVIN MCCABE 18.5%
3. CRAIG BELLAMY 18.0%

"We think it more likely than not on the evidence that we heard, that even over the final two games of the season, West Ham would have achieved at least three points less overall without Mr Tevez," - words that cost West Ham £25million and sent shockwaves through football. Last year's winner, Sheffield United Chairman Kevin McCabe remains as reviled as ever whilst turncoat Craig Bellamy gets a worthy mention in third place for doing one just as we were on a roll.

Previous Winners
2007/08 Kevin McCabe; 2006/07 Dave Whelan (Wigan)

So that's that for another year; thank you to all of you who voted in this years polls - and for your continued support of KUMB.com.