View Full Version : Huckerby is Division 1 player of the year.
Lewin9
06 May 2004, 01:46 PM
Norwich forward Darren Huckerby has been named the Football League's player of the season for Division One. The former Newcastle and Manchester City star inspired the Canaries to the title, scoring 13 goals along the way.
Deano says: His pace frightens defences and 13 goals is not to be sniffed at, but should somebody like Andy Johnson who has netted 27 times have won the award instead ? Thoughts and alternatives anyone ?
Deano.
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sendorange
06 May 2004, 04:08 PM
Huckerby was brilliant for Norwich, his influence cannot be understated. Not just his goals but his creativity for others and the way in which he would suck defenders into him. IMO Norwich would not have been promoted this year, even via the playoffs, if it wasn't for him. Let alone winning the championship.
Although you are right that there are other candidates out there who no-one could have really complained about if they'd won it, like Andy Johnson, Andy Reid or possibly Jason Koumas.
Lewin9
07 May 2004, 04:28 AM
Huckerby was brilliant for Norwich, his influence cannot be understated. Although you are right that there are other candidates out there who no-one could have really complained about if they'd won it, like Andy Johnson, Andy Reid or possibly Jason Koumas.
I'm not so sure that Spurs bound Andy Reid would have been a worthy winner but Andy Johnson, Jason Koumas and maybe even Marlon Harewood (25 goals for West Ham and Forest) would have been ?
Deano.
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sendorange
07 May 2004, 06:05 AM
Without Reid's goals and wing play Forest could well have been relegated.
Without Harewood I don't think it would have made too much difference to WHam, whoever took his place in the team would have chipped in with some goals. Etherington was their player of the year.
Lewin9
07 May 2004, 06:27 AM
Without Reid's goals and wing play Forest could well have been relegated.
Reid may have scored 13 goals this season, but he has only netted 3 goals in his last 28 games. That doesn't tell me that we would have been relegated had it not been for his goals. In my opinion we would have been relegated had a change in management not taken place when it did.
Deano.
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prk166
08 May 2004, 04:30 PM
There are obviously other deserving players. An award like this is likely to go to a player on a team that won the division because determining "best" is more art than science. It's subjective. You can have a striker that nets 30 in a season but maybe the root of his success is the guy running around midfield making some amazing passes. Or what about a defender that anchors a defense that only lets in a goal every other game? To me it's natural that someone on the title team is going to have a bit of advantage. Huckerby is obviously a good division 1 player that had an outstanding year. And with the struggles he's had trying to make in the premeiship, it makes it all that much more alluring to give him the award.
Benvolio
06 Jun 2004, 11:20 AM
Hucks made Norwich's season. I live in Norwich, and the hype around his signing was massive. When he was signed on Boxing Day, Norwich were 2nd or 1st I cant quite remember, but from then on after his signing NOrwich never really looked back. Its not just his playing ability that affect Norwich, its also the fact that the crowd then had big expectations of Norwich, and every game was a sell out after his signing. He brought a lot of popularity to the club, and it must be said, he was the best player in Div 1 for hte off the field part of things. Shirt sales have gone up, Norwich have become noticed and they have matched their high expectations...
sydtheeagle
07 Jun 2004, 09:24 AM
I've got to say that as much as AJ's goals eventually took us up, as a Palace supporter I can't argue with the choice of Huckerby. He seemed to be the difference between a very good Norwich team, and one which decisively won automatic promotion. As such, I think he probably had more influence on his teams season than any other player I can think of in the division this year.