KUMB Awards

With hundreds of entries it's taken us ages to tot up the results again this year. But, we finally got there; so here, for your enjoyment, we proudly present the winners of the 2000/01 season KUMB awards.

PLAYER OF THE SEASON

1. STUART PEARCE (32%)
2. MICHAEL CARRICK (27%)
3. NIGEL WINTERBURN (23%)

Psycho walked the club's Player of the Year competition, but it was a hell of a lot closer here on KUMB with young Michael pushing the old timer all the way. A testament to a great player surely enjoying his swansong at the top flight. Special mention also to Nigel Winterburn in third, who pleasantly surprised a lot of people over the course of the past 10 months.

Previous Winners:
1997:John Hartson 1998: Steve Lomas 1999: Paolo Di Canio

YOUNG PLAYER OF THE SEASON

1. MICHAEL CARRICK (55%)
2. JERMAIN DEFOE (24%)
3. JOE COLE (21%)

Michael's second successive win in this category comes after yet another huge season for the Geordie lad. By far the most influential player of the Hammer's Engand triumverate this term, Michael has become one of the most wanted home-grown midfielders in the country. Can he make it three in a row next year, or will Jermain go one better next time around?

Previous Winners:
1997:Rio Ferdinand 1998:Rio Ferdinand/Frank Lampard 1999: Michael Carrick

BEST SIGNING

1. FREDERIC KANOUTE (70%)
2. SVETOSLAV TODOROV (19%)
3. HAYDEN FOXE (5%)

Strangely Freddy finished second in this category last year, when Harry Redknapp brought him in on a three month loan spell. Despite still occasionally showing signs of Wanchope-like finishing he has more than justified Harry's investment of a touch under £4m. Special mentions also to Toddy and Foxey who came in second and third.

Previous Winners:
1997:Eyal Berkovic 1998:Trevor Sinclair 1999: Igor Stimac

MOST IMPROVED PLAYER

1. MICHAEL CARRICK (62%)
2. JERMAIN DEFOE (25%)
3. JOE COLE (5%)

The Geordie wonderboy does it again, topping his second category this season. He started the season as a bit player for the England under-21's, now he's vying with the likes of Beckham and Gerrard for a role in the first team. Jermain will doubtless go one better in at least one category next year, whilst Joe can feel safe in the knowledge that he is just one part of a very exciting future for the club.

Previous Winners:
1997:Frank Lampard 1998:Frank Lampard 1999: Marc-Vivien Foe

MOST MEMORABLE MATCH

1. MANCHESTER UNITED 1-0 (a) 28/01/01 (93%)
2. CHARLTON 5-0 (h) 26/12/00 (4%)
3. SUNDERLAND 1-0 (a) 17/2/01 (2%)

An obvious winner this one; probably not just the best game of this season but the most fantastic day out for years. Anyone who was there will remember the moment that Paolo mugged Barthez for the rest of their lives. Mentions also to the Boxing Day massacre of Charlton and the fifth round Cup win at the Stadium of Light.

Previous Winners:
1997:Tottenham 4-3 (h) 1998: Palace 4-1 (h)/Barnsley 6-0 (h) 1999: Arsenal 2-1 (h) 3/10/99

GOAL OF THE SEASON

1. DI CANIO v MANCHESTER UNITED (93%)
2. SINCLAIR v CHARLTON (6%)
3. DI CANIO v CHARLTON (1%)


Technically far from the best goal scored by a Hammer this season, but for the memories it holds no other moment was going to come close. Whilst Fabien hailed a cab Paolo knocked the Reds out of the Cup - on their own turf. Tricky Trev's Boxing Day volley would probably have won this category but for that magical January day, whilst Paolo's beauty in the 1-1 draw at The Valley drew a respectable number of votes.

Previous Winners:
1997:Hartson v A.Villa 1998:Lazaridis v Newcastle 1999: Di Canio v Wimbledon

WORST PLAYER OF THE SEASON

1. TITI CAMARA (60%)
2. RIGOBERT SONG (12%)
3.DAVOR SUKER (10%)


Sh*tty Titi, as he has become affectionately known could well have been the catalyst for Harry Redknapp's untimely departure. Bought from Liverpool in December for £1.5m of Rio's money he promised 'goals, goals, goals' ... and here we are six months later still waiting for the first. Bertie Song perhaps surprisingly comes in second, with the Croat deserter coming in third.

Previous Winners:
1997:Iain Dowie 1998:Iain Dowie/Andy Impey 1999: Neil Ruddock

ORST SIGNING

1. TITI CAMARA (61%)
2. DAVOR SUKER (29%)
3. RIGOBERT SONG (9%)

Another gong for our Guinean superstar. Arrived (dubiously?) from Liverpool where he had finished top scorer the previous season. Came here, put on loads of weight and is now ranked up there with the Dumitrescu's and Boogers' as one of Harry's worst. As is Davor Suker who fleeced us for a season, with Bertie 'oh but he gives 100%' Song coming next.

Previous Winners:
1997:Ian Pearce 1998:Andy Impey 1999: Sasa Ilic

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT

1. FA CUP QUARTER-FINAL DEFEAT (51%)
2. SELLING RIO FERDINAND TO LEEDS (27%)
3. HARRY REDKNAPP 'RESIGNING' (7%)

With Walsall, Manchester United and Sunderland already put to the sword a quarter-final at home to Spurs looked like a dead cert. But West Ham being West Ham our dreams were made to fade and die for at least another season. The sale of Rio still irks many, whilst Harry's departure probably came too late to have any major influence on the result.

Previous Winners:
1999: Mannygate

So that's that for another season; let's hope 2001/02 brings us a little more to cheer! Finally, a big thankyou to everyone who took the trouble to enter their votes in this years awards.