http://fulham.theoffside.com/team-news/2009-10-season-awards.html2009-10 Season AwardsBy: timmyg | May 17th, 2010It’s been quite an exhausting season. As I try to make sense of it, do note I probably could have given each player each award. But here is my take on who shined and who did not (hint: Fulham didn’t miss him anyway).
Player of the Year — Bobby Zamora
Was there anyone else? Statistically speaking, his fourteen goals in all competitions was a 250% increase of last season’s four. But there was also how he shaped the entire offense and was the catalyst for the team’s European run. I’ve written seemingly ad nauseam about his contributions to this side, and don’t feel like repeating myself.
Most Valuable Player — Damien Duff
Although Clint Dempsey’s goal against Juventus alone could have won him this accolade, Damien Duff proved his value to the club from his first 30 seconds against Amkar Perm all the way to his vital goal at home to Wolfsburg. I posted this back in February but it’s worth rehashing:
Of his 6 league goals, four have come from when Fulham were losing. And all four have resulted in a combined 8 points. Here’s the breakdown:
Everton (81) tied 1-1
Manchester City (62) down 2-0
Bolton (75), down 1-0
Manchester United (75), up 2-0
Stoke City (61), down 3-0
Birmingham City (59), down 1-0
If goals aren’t enough for you, then add to Duff’s credentials the fact that Fulham would win all three league games he got an assist it. Note the key word there: would; not already.
In both the 3-1 win over Liverpool on Halloween and 3-0 win over Blackburn right before Thanksgiving, Duff helped set up the Fulham’s first goal of the match. On Easter Sunday when Fulham were tied 1-1 with Wigan, Hangeland’s winning header was from Duff’s corner.
Oh, and Duff also got an assist when Hangeland knocked in his cross at Shaktar Donetsk in the Europa League. The vital away goal sealed Fulham’s passage to the Sweet 16 and set up their historic run to the final.
Comeback Player of the Year — Simon Davies
I wrote this back on January 30, after Aston Villa came to the Cottage and left 2-0 victors.
Making matters worse, Simon Davies returned, showed glitters of inspiration, and then left because of his recurring injury. Sadly, today confirmed an ominous feeling I’ve had recently: I don’t think we’ll ever see him back to 100-percent.
Oh how wrong I would be.
But, I had good reason to think it. Davies missed the last month of the 2008-09 season due to a stress fracture and did not return until mid-September. For the next five months he was in and out of the treatment room: he played three games in September before re-injuring himself and was out until late November. He returned, strung four games together and reinjured the stress fracture in early December and he was out until in late January. Three games later he was subbed off in just the 24th minute against Villa. This injury spell would be the shortest, as he returned two games later against Burnley. It would also be the last as he never looked back after that.
Davies managed 10 appearances in Europe and 12 starts in the league (with an additional 5 substitute appearances). Although he did not score in the league, his two goals in Europe were beyond vital. He scored the equalizer against Hamburg and then later the leveller with mighty Atletico. To go from having a questionable future to scoring clutch goals is simply remarkable, and fitting of this award.
Unsung Hero of the Season — Mark Schwarzer
Mark did get a lot of credit this season, but if you go back at look at the tape, he played a vital role in our Europa League run this season. He play in Perm helped Fulham get into the Group Stage. His penalty-save against Roma kept our hopes of advancing alive. He was a wall against the mighty Shaktar Donetsk and later against attacking Hamburg. In the final against Atletico, it took an offside goal and a peach of a flick to beat him.
Even after last season’s heroics Schwarzer further cemented his place in Fulham’s lore. But sadly for him the second bite at the European (NIT) Cup apple was not a success.
Disappointment of the Season — Andy Johnson
Okay, there should be a large asterisk next to this considering his serious, ongoing injuries.
But at any point this season did you think to yourself “When does AJ get back from injury?” like we did with Jimmy Bullard? Sure, things with Jimmy and AJ are different considering we were struggling without Jimmy yet flourished without AJ this year. But it’s not just that he was a non-factor, it’s that at many points this season I straight up forgot he was even on the team.
And when was the last time Fulham forgot about player that cost us 10 million quid?