2006/07 Poll Part 1
By Leipziger
May 29 2007
You, the fans have spoken on all issues Falcon and here are the first part of the results, including the coveted Falconsrugby Player of the Year award. Matthew Burke has been dethroned after two years at the top of the tree, replaced by new darlings of Kingston Park.
Player of the year
Toby Flood 36%
Ben Woods 36%
Joe McDonnell 27%
"Flood, just ahead of Woods due to England call up and Woods' ill-discipline"
"Toby Flood - composed, dynamic, energetic, imaginative and intelligent"
"Pudding gets it for me"
Most improved player
Matt Thompson 55%
Toby Flood 27%
Others: Jason Oakes, Ben Woods
"Matt Thompson, shows what can happen once the rotation policy was abandoned"
"Matt Thompson. What a total unexpected surprise""
Toby Flood - see above"
Best Falcons try
Tom May v Sale (H) 27%
Toby Flood v Gloucester (H) 18%
Matt Burke v Wasps (H) 18%
All 9%
Others: Tim Visser v Worcester (H), Mathew Tait v Bristol (H) Jonny Wilkinson v Saints (A)
"The Tom May special against Sale: Magnificent"
"Tom May (see I can be objective!) vs Sale"
"Flood v Glos although there have been more great efforts"
"Burkey against Wasps. I know it was an interception but the sight of the oldest man on the pitch leaving the opposition for dead full length of the field, it will stay with me for a long long time"
"Tait v Bristol (H) for Burke's catch on the wing"
"Any of them (I can never remember)"
Best try v Falcons
All / None / Can't choose 55%
No such thing 18%
Actual ones mentioned: David Strettle (Harlequins A), Shane Geraghty (Irish A), Marcel Garvey (Worcester H)
"none I hate them all"
"None of them!"
"No such thing!!!"
"Strettle down there"
Best signing
Joe McDonnell 90%
Mark Sorenson 5%
Russell Winter 2.5%
Carl Hayman 2.5%
"Pudding. Easy"
"Pudding, Pudding, Pudding, say no more!"
"Pudding & Hayman"
"McDonnell (would've said Winter if he hadn't got injured"
"watching Zorro on the telly against Clermont it's amazing how much work he gets through, and is forming a good partnership with Oakes"
Worst signing
Loki Crichton 55%
Jon Golding 18%
None 18%
New food suppliers 9%
"None really, but I guess it would be Loki if I had to pick one of the new boys"
"Loki - only cos of his miss"
"You'd have to say Loki really even though decent"
"None deserve that epithet but Golding has to rise to the mark"
"the contract for the match day food suppliers at KP"
"None"
Player most missed
Anthony Elliott 36%
Jonny Wilkinson 18%
Others: Geoff Parling, Russell Winter, Mike McCarthy, Lee Dickson, None "
I feel Elliott would have provided a more cutting edge in the backs"
"I'd still say Jonny, even with the "backs play wherever you like" he always seems to make a difference when he's on the field"
"Geoff Parling - by Andy Long!!"
"Lee Dickson when he was injured"
"I'm not missing anybody"
Best opposing player
Equally:Dwayne Peel, Andy Gomarsall, Andrew Mehrtens, Martin Castrogiovanni, Steffon Armitage, Ludovic Valbon, Andy Hazell, Owen Finegan, David Strettle
"Mehrtens down there"
"CastroGTX"
"Stefan Armitage L.Irish - thought he was outstanding against us"
"Haven't got a clue. Can I say Melon, just for the hell of it!"
Player you'd most like to see wearing a Falcons shirt, money no object
Richie McCaw 36%
Keven Mealamu 18%
Dwayne Peel 18%
Shane Jennings 9%
Peter Hewat 9%
Schalk Burger 5%
Jonny Wilkinson 5%
"Richie McCaw please"
"I would have said Hayman ;o) Now if we can have McCaw as well..."
"Johnny Wilkinson haha or Schalk Burger"
"Jennings from Leicester"
"the Brumbies full-back looked good last week, he'd be a good replacement for God"
Who is your choice as captain?
Matthew Burke 45%
Russell Winter 18%
Jamie Noon 18%
Joe McDonnell 14%
Phil Dowson 5%
"Burke, he's an inspiration, leads by example, and it would be nice to have some continuity"
"Burke, no complaints there"
"Winter or Dowse. I like No8 to be Cap'n, best lace to run the game from"
"Hmm, probably say Pudding, but I am really pleased for Dowse"