Source: Daily_Mail
Alex McLeish, James Milner and Barry Ferguson scoop our end of season awards - THE MIDLANDER
It's that time of year again. The good, bad and Robbie Savage of Midlands' football over the past season is re-produced for you to agree or disagree with as you see fit. [LNB]Enjoy![LNB] BEST GAMEOut of those that I saw, both Championship play-off semi-finals were crackers but for all-round incident, the first east Midlands derby at the City Ground takes the biscuit.[LNB] Best game: Fireworks exploded in the clash between bitter rivals Nottingham Forest and Derby, as seen here when a crowd of Forest players confront James McEveley[LNB] A first minute goal from 30 yards, Forest on fire then the Rams on the rampage. The two management teams clearly dislike each other as do the players. [LNB]Nathan Tyson tops it off by sparking a melee at the end. I shouldn't write this: Great stuff.[LNB]WORST GAMEWolves v Stoke City. Thirty thousand people should have had their money back. Absolutely nothing to commend it.[LNB]BEST DECISIONAlex McLeish - keeping faith with Joe Hart after Maik Taylor had deputised so well for Birmingham against Manchester City last November. [LNB]A gaffe in the game previous to that, against Sunderland, had raised the possibility of Taylor keeping his place. McLeish kept faith with Hart. And how it paid off.[LNB]WORST DECISIONCannot split these three - so all of them are getting a mention. [LNB]First, the manner of Tony Mowbray's defection from West Brom. Asking for loyalty from his players following relegation and thenwhere's Tony gone? [LNB] Worst decision: Carling Cup final referee Phil Dowd should have sent Nemanja Vidic off after awarding Gabriel Agbonlahor a penalty at Wembley[LNB]Secondly, the Premier League's criticism of Wolves over Mick McCarthy's team selection at Old Trafford was just blatantly and horribly unfair. They should revoke the suspended fine immediately.[LNB]Thirdly, Phil Dowd, Carling Cup final. Wembley. If it's a penalty, Nemanja Vidic has to go.[LNB]THE 'THANK GOODNESS THAT ONE WORKED' AWARDMick McCarthy for his multi-change at Old Trafford. [LNB]Victory over Burnley was the only justification that was going to stem howls of derision from the world outside football. And his players delivered. Good for him. [LNB]Funniest moment: Mick McCarthy found Arsene Wenger's 'hypocrite' jibe highly amusing[LNB]I WISH I'D BEEN THERE WHENMartin O'Neill chased after Arsene Wenger in the tunnel at Villa Park minutes after the Frenchman accused Villa of being a long-ball side. [LNB]Mr O'Neill was not a happy bunny, oh no.[LNB]BIGGEST PR GAFFECarson Yeung turning up at Birmingham City and saying he was going to spend untold millions by the end of this summer.[LNB]FUNNIEST MOMENTMick McCarthy falling off his chair laughing during a press conference after learning that Arsene Wenger had called him a hypocrite.[LNB]BEST INTERVIEWRobbie Savage prior to the FA Cup Fifth Round tie against Birmingham City at Pride Park. [LNB]He has finally got the hang of self-deprecation (I know it's difficult to believe, but he has).[LNB]MOST VALUABLE PLAYERIn monetary terms at this precise moment, it has to be James Milner. Whatever he eats, I want some. He doesn't stop. Fantastic energy all season.[LNB]PLAYER-OF-THE-SEASONBarry Ferguson. Brings a calmness to Birmingham City's midfield that has not been seen for a couple of generations. [LNB] Player of the year: Barry Ferguson was a cut above the rest in Birmingham's midfield this season[LNB]Mark Ward and Peter Shearer did it in Division Three but this boy is the real deal. Didn't waste a pass until February. [LNB]For the record, Richard Dunne faded towards the end and James Milner is feted elsewhere.[LNB]THAT BOY DESERVES A SUMMER HOLIDAYKevin Doyle. Absolutely worked himself to a standstill for Wolves. [LNB]In fairness, most of them did. There are teams with bucketloads' more ability than Mick McCarthy's lot, but none with more heart.[LNB]THEY SAY THERE'S NO NEW STORIES IN FOOTBALL, BUT (PART I)Self-declared BNP voter Wayne Brown and Leicester City proved otherwise a couple of weeks ago. Unbelievable.[LNB]THEY SAY THERE'S NO NEW STORIES IN FOOTBALL, BUT (PART II)Sven, Sol, Notts County. [LNB]BEST GOALCameron Jerome. Anfield. November. Stood minding my own business in a pub near Solihull and never seen a reaction quite like it. [LNB]'Disbelief' is the word that springs to mind. [LNB] Best goal: Cameron Jerome's strike at Anfield last November was a scorcher[LNB]ONE-FOR-THE-FUTUREJack Hobbs at Leicester City. Looks the part. Interesting to see whether he can step up in years to come. I'm also going to mention West Brom's Graham Dorrans. [LNB]No question about his ability but does he do the work going the other way? Cannot help but think he reminds me of Jason Koumas. This season will tell us.[LNB]THAT ONE SNEAKED UNDER THE RADARWest Brom's promotion under Roberto di Matteo. It may be the Baggies' fourth in the past decade but it's still worthy of a mention. [LNB]The only problem is, it's difficult to rate him for an award. Di Matteo is a head coach, not manager.[LNB] Dan Ashworth is widely-acknowledged as identifying the talent. Got it? Thought not.[LNB]PROMISED SO MUCH BUTNottingham Forest's second-half to the season. Their romp at the Hawthorns was the best performance I had seen from a Championship team since Jean Tigana's Fulham absolutely dismantled a half-decent Birmingham City side over a decade ago. [LNB]Paul McKenna has been the best player in the division during that decade and I cannot help but think his absence through injury caused Forest's eventual decline. [LNB]Well done to Billy Davies, though. It's been a long time since Nottingham Forest have reached such lofty heights.[LNB]BIG SURPRISELeicester City. Nigel Pearson is a man's man. No messing. I think he, like McLeish, may be destined for greater things. [LNB]Milan Mandaric needs to keep Mr Pearson sweet. It took him a long time to find a manager to lick his club into shape. Now he needs to make sure that he keeps hold of him. Sorting out the promised new contract would be a start.[LNB]NEXT YEAR IS A BIG YEAR FORNigel Clough. Thirty thousand Derby fans deserve more than mid-table this season. [LNB]Those punters really have made football sit up and take notice of them since that year in the Barclays Premier League. [LNB] Big year ahead: Nigel Clough must revive Derby's fortunes in 2010/11[LNB]Fingers crossed because Mr Clough is one of the good guys (just don't tell that to Billy Davies).[LNB]COVENTRY CITY AWARDThey need a mention because I feel for the fans. One top ten finish now in a decade. Not nearly enough to shout about, despite all the financial problems. [LNB]And the appointment of Aidy Boothroyd has led to one less season-ticket holder taking up a seat next season. Yes, Mrs Moxley has had enough. After 20 years her resistance has been broken. No fair-weather fan, she. [LNB]Save for Kieren Westwood and Sammy Clingan there is a dearth of quality in that squad. Ray Ranson's spin-doctors are putting out the line that the new manager will be given every assistance necessary. Believe it when I see it. Best of British, Aidy. [LNB]Championship football at the Ricoh in 2011-12 will be a success.[LNB]Best manager: Alex McLeish worked wonders to achieve a top ten finish for Birmingham[LNB]BEST MANAGERAlex McLeish. Birmingham City ninth? Having spent £10m? Incredible. Honorable mentions to Messers O'Neill, McCarthy, Di Matteo, Davies and Pearson but the club's best league finish for 51 years was way above and beyond for the Scot.[LNB]MOST WELCOME INVITATIONTo Mick McCarthy's post-season de-brief. In a spit-and-sawdust boozer in Pennfields, Wolverhampton. [LNB]A game of pool, a big screen showing Atletico Madrid versus Liverpool and as much curry and beer as any man can throw down his neck. To top it all, I won at 'Killer.'* [LNB]Big Mick stood it for the rest. Quite simply, the way it should be done.[LNB]*Indicates that winnings were donated to the bar staff! [LNB] Zigic completes £6m Birmingham move as giant striker pens four-year dealTottenham eye £7m move for Villa flop Davies and seek talks with ModricStephen Ward agrees new deal to stay at Wolves until 2013'Ambitious' Cotterill set for Pompey after walking out on Notts County [LNB]
