Rovers Season From the Fan's Perspective

Total Tranmere's Mark Ridgway takes a look back at the 2008/09 season which has just ended using the help of Rovers Fans who recently filled in a survey online giving their views on certain aspects of the season.

Not too long ago I set up a survey for Rovers fans to fill in which gave Total Tranmere readers the chance to express their opinions on certain issues from the 2008/09 season.   Forty people took the survey so thanks to everyone for that and here is a review of the results.......

1. Player of the Season

Rovers had a terrific campaign and there was a number of consistent performers who contributed to this, some more obvious than others. The official player of the season was Antony Kay but here is what you, the readers of Total Tranmere thought....

1st Antony Kay - 45%

2^nd Ben Chorley - 30%

3^rd Steve Jennings - 20%

4^th Ian Goodison & Ian Moore - 2.5%

Antony Kay had a superb season.  After being made captain in August he took it in his stride and became Rovers most important player.  He netted twelve goals in important games, and also netted crucial late goals in a number of vital games.

2. Young Player of the Season

With Rovers operating with a smaller squad this season, the youth were used a lot and were vital to the play off push.  Some were home-grown and some were brought in from elsewhere.  The official Award went to Charlie Barnett but Total Tranmere readers thought differently.....

1^st Ryan Shotton - 57.5%

2^nd Charlie Barnett - 27.5%

3^rd Aaron Cresswell - 12.5%

4^th Terry Gornell - 2.5%

Ryan Shotton arrived in September on loan from Stoke and was a key player, he came as a centre back but played the majority of the season as Rovers first choice right-back.  He was crucial going forward as well bagging six goals.

3. Goal of the Season

There have been a number of classic goals this season from all areas of the pitch and the official goal of the season went to an unusual position of the right back in Ryan Shotton.  Here's what you thought....

1^st Ryan Shotton Vs Colchester - 37.5%

2^nd Charlie Barnett Vs Oldham & Ian Moore Vs Leeds - 20% each

3^rd Bas Savage Vs Huddersfield - 12.5%

4^th Antony Kay Vs Leicester & Chris Shuker Vs Leyton Orient - 5% each

Other Votes went to...

Ian Moore Vs Scunthorpe - 3 votes

Edrissa Sonko Vs Huddersfield - 1 vote

Ryan Shotton's goal against Colchester was immense!  He turned his marker inside his own half and ran towards the area, and little challenge he released a thunder bolt from about 30 yards and it rocketed into the top corner.

4. Most Important Goal

1^st Bas Savage Vs Walsall - 57.5%

2nd Ian Moore Vs Leeds - 20%

3^rd Antony Kay Vs Walsall - 10%

4^th Terry Gornell Vs Mk Dons - 7.5%

5^th Craig Curran Vs Scunthorpe - 5%

Other votes went to.......

Antony Kay Vs Yeovil - 2 votes

Ryan Shotton Vs Colchester (away) - 1 vote

With Scunthorpe losing the night before it was vital that Rovers won away at Walsall on Easter Saturday and Rovers away form at that point in time wasn't great.

After a lot of huffing and puffing the breakthrough finally came when Bas Savage headed in at the back post with ten minutes left to lift Rovers into 6th place.

5. Moment of the Season

There have been many memorable moments this season, with many crucial and memorable victories this one was bound to be a close one.  Here's what you thought....

1^st Beating Oldham - 37.5%

2^nd Craig Curran scoring Vs Scunthorpe - 32.5%

3^rd Beating Leicester - 17.5%

4^th Beating Leeds - 7.5%

5^th Winning away at Walsall - 5%

Other Votes went to.........

The fans at Scunthorpe - 1 vote

Winning away at Colchester - 1 vote

After a poor run of results, Oldham Athletic brought in their former hero Joe Royle before the Rovers gain to try and change their fortunes. Rovers took a superb following who cheered them on throughout.

After an even first half, Rovers took the lead in the second half when Charlie Barnett superbly volleyed in, the lead was doubled when Ian Moore scored from the spot against the team he rejected for Rovers!  Nothing like a good old derby win.

6. Worst Moment of the Season

This one proved the most comprehensive result, its predictable the amount of pain felt, after such a hard fought campaign. Here's what you thought....

1^st Scunthorpe Away, last two minutes crushed our play off hopes - 75%

2^nd Scunthorpe's late goal to crush Wembley dreams in JPT - 12.5%

3^rd Disaster at Crewe, throwing away the lead - 7.5%

4^th Losing away at Cheltenham & Southend - 2.5% each

Going into the last game away at Scunthorpe United it was a winner takes all showdown with a draw being good enough for the hosts.  Rovers took an amazing support and took the lead through Craig Curran.

Heartbreak came for Rovers with just two minutes left when Scunthorpe equalised book pip Rovers to 6^th place.

7. Most Entertaining Game

There have been a number of exciting games that Tranmere have been involved in, whether its Rovers punching above their weight or an out and out thriller.  Here's what you thought....

1^st Tranmere 2-0 Leicester - 40%

2nd Tranmere 3-4 Colchester - 17.5%

3^rd Oldham 0-2 Tranmere - 15%

4^th Tranmere 2-1 Leeds & Tranmere 2-2 Southend - 12.5% each

5^th Peterborough 2-2 Tranmere - 2.5%

Other votes went to.......

Huddersfield 1-2 Tranmere

Tranmere 4-1 Carlisle

Leicester City came to Prenton Park on a Wednesday evening in high hopes of moving further ahead of League one but the run away leaders were to have their 23 game unbeaten run ended by Rovers.

After a close first half Antony Kay drove in the opener after the break. Rovers defended bravely and when Savage was brought down Steve Jennings rapped up the point from the spot to earn a memorable victory.

8. Toughest Opponents

With many clubs financially better off than Rovers there is bound to be teams that proved too much for Rovers however we never got blown away and always gave as good as we've got. Here's what you thought....

1^st Millwall - 55%

2^nd Peterborough - 40%

3^rd Leeds & Leicester - 2.5% each

Other votes went to........

Yeovil - 1

There was one team that came to Prenton Park this season and played us off the park which was Millwall who ran out 3-1 winners.  Rovers played better at the Den but still failed to get anything going down 1-0.

They have now progressed to the play off final and are favourites to return to the Championship.

9. Most Impressive Stadium

There are a number of impressive stadia even at the third teir of football, a number of them being previous Premier League grounds.  Here's what you thought....

1^st Walkers Stadium - 42.5%

2^nd Elland Road - 22.5%

3^rd Stadium:mk - 17.5%

4^th Galpharm Stadium - 15%

5^th The Den - 2.5%

Its not a surprise that the 32,500 seated Walkers Stadium won this one. Despite Elland road holding more the Walkers Stadium looks neat and a bit too good for League one many would argue.

10. Least Impressive Stadium

At the other end of the spectrum there is a number of grounds that are either run down, old fashioned or just unsuitable. Here's what you thought....

1^st Withdean - 32.5%

2^nd Edgar Street & Fraser Eagle - 22.5% each

3^rd Glanford Park - 15%

4^th Whaddon Road - 5%

5^th Blundell Park - 2.5%

Other votes went to......

Stockport - 1

The Withdean Stadium is an Athletics Stadium which is also used as a football stadium whilst Brighton wait for their new ground to be built.

As a result of this the fans are miles away from the pitch in an uncovered stand. To add to that its one of Rovers furthest away games and the fact that the teams played out a 0-0 draw it wasn't a surprise this was the winner of this vote.