FA England Fans Player Of The Year 2006

18th October 2006

“Former Boo-Boys Lead The Way In England’s Annus Horribilis”

Much like the race for this years BBC Sports Personality honour, the prestigious FA England Fans Player of the Year award for 2006 is struggling to find a worthy recipient. Darren Clarke has rightly leaped to the top of most betting lists for the BBC award, but the performance of the England football team in this calendar year leaves a lot to be desired.

One look at the names heading the betting with Sporting Odds emphasises the point that a week might be a long time in politics and aren’t football fans a fickle bunch. Peter Crouch is a strong odds-on favourite at 2/5 after a goalscoring spree that has seen him net eleven times for the “Three Lions”. Bayern Munich midfielder Owen Hargreaves is second favourite at 11/4. Both players have seen their stock rise with solid performances while the supposed big names around them have failed to deliver. They were both met with boos at some stage of their international careers from their own fans, and it could be those same fans’ votes that decide the winner.

A closer look at the leading candidates:

Peter Crouch (price 2/5fav) As one studious commentator once said “it’s goals what pay the rent” and the big mans exploits in front of goal have been one bright spot this year.

Owen Hargreaves (11/4) The bloke down the pub will tell you that he’s “always rated that Hargreaves fella” and he’s probably the same one that threw a pint glass at the screen when he came on as sub against Hungary in May.

John Terry (6/1) Dependable and solid “JT” does exactly what it says on the tin. Although a few lapses in concentration that have cost the team goals, mean that the new captain is no certainty for this award.

Joe Cole (12/1) Barring a serious injury that has cost him most of the tail end of the season, the Chelsea midfielder would have been a lot closer in the betting. Could still go far based on his most telling contribution – that wonder goal against Sweden at the World Cup.

Steven Gerrard (16/1) His England record is patchy this year and bears no relation to his club form, and for this reason I can’t see him getting his hands on this award.

Wayne Rooney (33/1) At one stage a 2/1 favourite in this market, but a lot has happened in “Wayne’s World” since then, and not much of it in front of goal.

Frank Lampard (33/1) Frank has carried the weight of expectation this year and hasn’t delivered. Has won the award for the past two years but unlikely to make it a hat-trick this time round.

David Beckham (50/1) Discarded by the new regime, but could be the subject of a few nostalgic votes. Don’t write him off. Winner in 2003.

The players have one more chance to appeal for your votes when they take on Holland in a friendly in Amsterdam on the 15th of November. Be sure to check Sporting Odds to place a bet on your choice.