Joys and Sorrows Player of the Season …and the Winner is…

…with three votes, in joint eleventh place, Stephen Carr, proving you don’t actually have to play for the mighty Blues to be popular with the fans…Jonathan Spector picked up the same amount of votes.  I find myself wondering if he’d have picked up more votes if he’d had a secure place in one playing position.  Defender?  Midfielder?  Thirty two league appearances under his belt, the versatile (United States of) American perhaps deserved a larger share of the plaudits, and we certainly missed him in the close-season, even without him being the goal threat we may have wished for after his expolits for West  Ham.

…with seven votes, in joint tenth, we have Jordon Mutch and Nikola Zigic.  Strangely, if you asked the average Joe Blues on the streets, who you thought would finish ahead in a popularity contest, you would think it would be young Mutch.  The Academy graduate has proven himself much improved in maturity this season, even if his contribution waned with a perceived tiredness towards the end of the season.  Despite scoring 12 goals in 21 league starts, some still criticise Zigic’s lack of goalscoring prowess, even though he’s never been touted as an out and out goal scorer, his ability is not really in doubt, and Hughton obviously thinks he’s worth a start in royal blue.  His heading and passing have shown some real quality this season, especially in comparison to last season.  His lumbering bulk makes him look a little slower than we may like to see, which – in my view – means more fans get on his back than he needs…still he amassed a huge 1% of the vote, which is an infinity more votes than those attained by Jean Beausejour and Liam Ridgwell combined.   Ahem.

…with 8 votes, in 9th place, we have cult terrace hero Guirane N’Daw.  A slightly wobbly start, a solid middle, followed by African Cup of Nations duty and a slightly injured close season, we seemed to see all aspects of the on-loan St Etienne midfielder.  He didn’t manage to get that all-elusive goal, and I’d love us to sign him, just in the hope we could see his thunderbolt shot hit the back of the net, rather than the crossbar…

…with 10 votes, in a slightly surprisingly low 8th place, we have Nathan Redmond.  Undisputed young player of the season, his goal against CD Nacional at St Andrew’s really marked the arrival of the hottest prospect in Birmingham since Trevor Francis.  He was used sparingly by Chris Hughton in a way that reminds me of the kid gloves used on Wayne Rooney back in his Everton days.  He impressed as a substitute and flattered to deceive a little when making starts.  This is perhaps why we utilised him in only 37 games overall this season, though he still managed 7 goals.

…with 15 votes (3%), in 7th place, we have the solid and dependable stand-in Captain, Steven Caldwell.  The tough Scot built an excellent partnership, before injury, with Curtis Davies, 43 league appearances possibly tells you how we managed such a strong reputation for keeping a positive goal difference.  Let’s forget about that Portsmouth game, eh?

…with 19 votes, in 6th place, we have Boaz Myhill.  The on-loan keeper started off shakily, but despite Colin Doyle’s generally good form and amazing penalty saving against Chelsea, some pointed to his absence as a contributing factor to all of Blackpool’s goals in the Play-Off Semi-Final.  Whilst the debate rages over the future of Jack Butland and Ben Foster, let’s hope Boaz – who has said he’d love to stay at Blues – doesn’t slip off the radar!

…with 21 votes, in 5th place, is Marlon King.  Our top scorer this season was looking good money for twenty goals at one stage, but fell just short, at 18 in all competitions.  Not bad for a team where any striker in double figures is a luxury, and any striker being top scorer is a blessing!  I for one don’t miss the days when a defender and a midfielder finished top of the goals table.  Marlon has risen above the huge amounts of abuse he gets from away fans, to score his way to Birmingham City popularity.  Arguably best when paired with Zigic in a 4-42, or with Nathan Redmond playing in the 4-4-1-1 formation behind him.  He was rewarded for his form by a call up to the Jamaican  national squad, after a two year absence.

…with 28 votes, in an ‘up-yours-boo-boys’ position of fourth, we have Irishman Keith Fahey, who has had arguably the best season of his career.  Winning a place in the Irish Euro 12 squad, before his injury ruled him out was a just reward for the hero of St Patrick’s Day when his individual goal against Crystal Palace (for me) was goal of the season!

…with 56 votes, double those of fourth place, we have third placed David Murphy.  He’s definitely had his best season in a Blues shirt.  He recently signed a two year contract, rather than simply agreeing the one year option we had on his old contract.  Great news.  His seven goals from defence, general sturdiness and athletic ability overlapping on the left wing have been one of the highlights of our system.  I would have voted him player of the season in all honesty, but as this is a democracy, it wasn’t up to me!  Heh heh.  Only 32 league starts, due to injury, suspension and the initial presence of Liam Ridgewell, we were a far better team with ‘Smurph’ in the backline.

…with 81 votes, and a VERY close candidate for the top spot amongst the fans on the terraces, we have Curtis Davies.  He played in 54 matches last season, scoring 6 goals and receiving one red card.  He had a torrid time against former club West Brom in our last Premiership season, and people raised a few eyebrows (quite rightly) about his rustiness.  He came back from the pre-season all guns blazing and hasn’t looked back.  Many folks are tipping him to leave for a Prem club, but I’m hoping he stays put, to see if he can push for the top spot next season! (Edit by Kev – I was very critical of Curtis last year but he has been the most improved player this year, and for me the player of the season – however it wasn’t up to me!)

…Anyway, without further ado, the moment you have all been waiting for…the winner of the Joys and Sorrows player of the season is… (opens up gold…erm, no, blue and white envelope)…

…Wade Elliott?  No, Peter Ramage?  No, Pablo Ibanez? No, Morgaro Gomis? No, Adam Rooney? No.  Sadly our poll didn’t have the ‘room’ or ‘facility’ to include such revered names, it’s hard to suggest any of those didn’t deserve a spot in our top ten for one reason or another, my ‘pick of the bunch’ there would be Adam Rooney for his selfless play and invaluable seven goals.  He wouldn’t have made the top spot though, so – totally deserved (though grudgingly ahead of David Murphy for me) is….

…Mr Chris Burke…

…a MASSIVE 51% of the votes, 268 of them, it seems obvious he’s most fans’ choice with a combined vote total of more than the other players combined!  It’s not hard to figure out why, either.  The former Cardiff man, reknowned for his goals from the wing and assists, played in all 48 of our league games this season.  Only once as a sub!  Chris Hughton not only recognises his value, but the physios must have been wondering how on earth his body coped, featuring in a further 13 Euro and Cup competitions too!  He scored 14 goals all told and provided more assists ((last time I checked) than anyone else in the Championship (18).  His presence in the squad next season MUST be vital if we’re to push on to the Premiership next year!

Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls, the Joys and Sorrows Player of the Season 2011/12 is…

CHRIS BURKE!

Keep Right On!

Russell Dempsey