PowerPlay Magazine

Another season is behind us and is time to announce the second PPM National Team Awards (NTA). Results of previous NTA you can be found here. The NTA is an international poll where national team’s managers and their assistants could decide about winners in these categories:

• All Star Team of the Season 
• World Player of the Season
• National Team Manager of the Season
  
• Surprise of the Season
  
• Disappointment of the Season

Before voting started it was necessary to nominate players. Nobody knows all important information about all national players. Even I didn’t. So it was necessary to make some shortlist of players from which will voters vote. In last season I had to search stats of about 1,500 players in detailed stats in player’s profile and process almost 700 match reports and replays to get the missing data from profiles to get all needful data. It took me a whole week. This time it took me "only" 2 days because I could use stats on our website for 1st PPM World Cup in football (created by gord007). But I still needed to add some data from reports.

So after I had all important data there was a time for nomination. I chose the 10 best players on each position (central defenders, central midfielders and forwards were 2x10) and I nominated them to NTA. It sounds easy but believe me, it isn’t (laugh). On each position there was a rating’s quota. It means that there was a ratio in which players can get into the final nomination. The ratio of average rating on one side, and stats (goals, assists, man of the match, shutouts, goals against average, save percentage) on the other side. Mostly it was 5:5. Only goalkeepers and forwards had it 3:7 because stats there have bigger informational values about players. Players were chosen from all 60 national teams, there was only one restriction. Limit of played minutes. Players who had less than 40% minutes played, were removed from NTA. It means that semifinalist of WC had to have at least 792 minutes played, quarterfinalists 720 minutes, teams which ended in round of 16 at least 684 minutes, team which ended in group stage of WC 648 minutes and team which did not qualify to WC t least 540 minutes.

Then was the website (created by my otrap) for voting restarted. Also original trophies were made by ThomasHK. Then I posted many post to national team’s managers and assistants from 6th season.

And now finally voting itself. Some categories were thrilling from beginning till the last minutes. Let’s look at the first category.

All Star Team of the Season

10 players were nominated to each position (central midfielders, central defenders and forwards were 2x10). Voters (national team’s managers and assistants) could not vote for their own national team’s players. Each voter could vote eleven players in 4-4-2 formation style. Complete All Star Team I. and II. are at the bottom of this article.

Goalkeepers

Nomination:

MP=matches played, MIN=minutes played, GA=goals against, SA=saves, SV%=save percentage, GAA=goals against per game, MM=man of the match, SO=clean sheets, ARAT=avarage rating

From the beginning was in quite respectable lead Jan Sekela, Slovakian goalkeeper who benefited from his excellent form at the World Cup where he was chosen to the first All Star Team (AST). He managed to lead for a quite long time but then began to grow votes of his competitors. Especially to Folke Kjærluf. This magician from Denmark overtook Sekala in the end. At first sight it should look surprising, but Kjærluf was one of the most important persons in successful Danish campaign in qualification and World Cup. Sekela fall to second AST and third place got (maybe little surprising) Todd, who was in nomination only because of rating quota, his performances in last season was rather below the average. Both goalkeepers had in nomination Czech Republic, but best of them was only on 4th place (Hácha, last season he was 3rd). Last year's convincing winner, Willy Pound, this season neither was in nomination because he had not enough played minutes, however he had not so good season as he had last time.

Left defenders

Nomination:

MP=matches played, MIN=minutes played, G=goals, ST=shots on target, SW=shots wide, A=assists, MM=man of the match, ARAT=avarage rating

In this category it was very balanced. In the beginning was in lead Lenac and Østgaard, later started to struggle also Stanev. Østgaard, who scored 3 times in last season, had victory within reach, but in the end he had not neither second place. After deadline of voting he had the same number of votes as Stanev and at the last minute reached this value also Taiminen. And because Østgaard had the worst average rating from this 3 players, he must be satisfied only with the 3rd place. Stanev, the only one LD with average rating above 19, could rejoice, second place had Taiminen who defended the participation in AST II. from last season. Last year's winner Lenac finished 4th. A little short of expectations remained one of the favourites in this category, Sjögren (5th place).

Centre defenders

Nomination:

MP=matches played, MIN=minutes played, G=goals, ST=shots on target, SW=shots wide, A=assists, MM=man of the match, ARAT=avarage rating

Right from the start there was no doubt that Asser Liukka go for the victory in this category. But behind him was bedlam. In battle for remaining 3 places which guaranteed participation in AST I. and II. was for example Arne Rustand from Norway, who managed to score 4 times, Reino Niinisaari with 3 goals and 2 assists, Jevtič with 3 goals and votes also collected defensive stars Sýkora (member of AST I. in World Cup) and Ventaja. In the final was in first AST also Rustand and AST II. captured very closely Niinisaari and Sykora. Only Liukka was on awarded position also in previous NTA.

Right defenders

Nomination:

MP=matches played, MIN=minutes played, G=goals, ST=shots on target, SW=shots wide, A=assists, MM=man of the match, ARAT=avarage rating

In previous NTA dominated in this category Dudziszewski. He was again in nomination this time, but this time was expected that it would more difficult for him. However, this time as well he won in style start-finish and as well as in previous category Liukka, Dudziszewski defended his victory from previous NTA. On the second and third place are players from small PPM countries, Moldovan Ciodaru Hagi managed as side defender scored 3 times and prepared other 3 goals. This put him to the second AST. Third is Montenegrin Mihajlo Simić who scored 3 goals too. Behind these players was bronze medalist from World Cup (and member of AST I. of World Cup) Veran Strahinjić and Byelorussian Bulatau, best RD according ratings.

Left midfielders

Nomination:

MP=matches played, MIN=minutes played, G=goals, ST=shots on target, SW=shots wide, A=assists, MM=man of the match, ARAT=avarage rating

Even this category was relatively straightforward. In last NTA Savioja lost by a single vote in battle for the first place with Shaposhnykov. But Shaposhnykov neither qualified for the nomination this time. So Savioja went for convincing win. Second place was hunted by Brazilian Bevilacqua, by world champion and member of first AST of World Cup Obhlídal from Slovakia and by Vindleboe who scored 3 goals in last season. But in the end gained second place, little surprisingly, German Stroppel due to the higher average rating before Obhlídal. Stroppel was in nomination also in previous NTA but he did not receive even one vote.

Centre midfielders

Nominated:

MP=matches played, MIN=minutes played, G=goals, ST=shots on target, SW=shots wide, A=assists, MM=man of the match, ARAT=avarage rating

In this category two players maintained a slight lead from start to finish. Portuguese Silva, who attracted attention with his productivity (7 goals, 5 assists) and only slightly less productive Albert Jakobsson from Sweden (4 + 4), however, who had very nice rating. Third place had Pankev from Bulgaria who won this category in previous season. This season he was also the best CM according to avreage rating. 4th place which ensure II. AST held Záhorský from Czech national team, but the last voting manager finally sent to the AST American Monroe instead. Monroe was the discovery of the World CUp, where he also was member of AST II.

Right midfieders

Nomination:

MP=matches played, MIN=minutes played, G=goals, ST=shots on target, SW=shots wide, A=assists, MM=man of the match, ARAT=avarage rating

Mathias Magnusson had a relatively successful season and when Bulgarian Angelov, who was defeated by Magnusson in last season by a single vote, had not played the required number of minutes, was Magnusson the biggest favorite in this category. The expectation was fulfilled and Magnusson won again. Stjepan Kukuljević perhaps a little surprisingly captured second place, he had 5 assists in last season. With a empty pocket walked away, 3 times scorers Fredis Girgensons and Tranquillo Rosi or member of World Cup AST Aleksandar Dimitrijevic.

Forwards

Nomination:

MP=matches played, MIN=minutes played, G=goals, ST=shots on target, SW=shots wide, A=assists, MM=man of the match, ARAT=avarage rating

Last season there were several sharpshooters and so this category could be very exciting and balanced. Most of the voting time were in slight lead trio Lange, Stoev and Həşimov followed by Slovak attackers Hegr and Miklian. At the end Stoeva managed to have decisive lead and became the best striker of the season. This victory was probably mainly due his excellent rating, his productivity was nothing special, on the contrary, among the nominees he was one of the least productive. Stoev defended his victory from previous NTA. Second place was awarded to Dane Lange, who was, along with goalkeeper Kjærlufem main building block of the Danish success. Only Həşimov scored more goals than Lange. This for most of managers unknown player from Azerbaijan scored 15 goals in 13 games! It is true that most of them he scored into the net of below-average opponents but it is still super perfomance. The same number of votes had both Slovak attackers, but Miklian had a better rating, so he is the last member of AST II. His fellow from national team and author of the decisive goal in the final of World Cup Hegr stayed with empty hands, even if he scored 11 goals, Miklian only 5. Also noteworthy is the 7th place for Pavliukovas, who scored only 1 goal and got the nomination only because of ratings.

All Star Team I.

Folke Kjærluf - Boril Stanev, Asser Liukka, Arne Rustand, Jacek Dudziszewski - Janne Savioja, Albert Jakobsson, Gilberto Silva, Mathias Magnusson - Fidan Stoev, Bertrand Nielsen Lange

All Star Team II.

Ján Sekela - Jorma Taiminen, Karel Sýkora, Reino Niinisaari, Ciodaru Hagi - Emanuel Stroppel, Dimo Pankev, Arnold Monroe, Stjepan Kukuljević - Hafiz Həşimov, Stanislav Miklian

7 players were in All Star in previous NTA - Asser Liukka, Jacek Dudziszewski, Janne Savioja, Mathias Magnusson, Fidan Stoev, Jorma Taiminen a Dimo Pankev.

110 players were nominated, 98 of them gaining at least 1 vote. Involved were players from 40 national teams.

Representation of national teams in the nomination:

Representation of national teams in All Star Teams:

In AST were 22 players from 14 national teams.

World Player of the Season

In this category, national team’s managers and assistants chose the best player of the world. They chose 3 players (could not vote for their own national team’s players), 1^st received 5 points, 2^nd 3 points, 3^rd 1 point.

Last year it was a very tight battle between the attackers Brandon Jordan, Fidan Stoev and goalkeeper and later winner Willy Pound. Jordan and Pound were not in the nomination this year. Theoretically, therefore, everything should play for Stoev... but reality was different. National managers appreciated productivity of Azerbaijan striker Həşimov, who maintained a minimum lead of almost all the time of voting. Finally, he defended first place well till the end. Who would think before the season that the best player in the world will from Azerbaijan?

Goalkeepers Sekela and Kjærluf were dragging for second place for a long time. Until came Stoev and Hegr and just before the end of voting also Lange and they skipped Sekela and Kjærluf. But eventually, in second place still got a goalkeeper when Kjærluf defeated by one point his national team colleague Lange. Gold medalist from World Cup once again remained under the stage, Sekela lost one the point to 3rd place, at the 5th place ended Hegr.

Total players voted for was 61 of 110 nominated players. These players who received at least one vote were from 29 national teams. Viz. table below.

National Team Manager of the Season

In this category national team’s managers and assistants chose 3 managers (could not vote for their own national team’s managers), 1^st received 5 points, 2^nd 3 points, 3^rd 1 point.

History repeats itself. In the last NTA AntonGorodecky led a few minutes before the end, but he finished 2nd with the loss of only 2 points to the first place. And this season? AntonGorodecky was again first, but the last voting manager moved him back to the 2nd place, again by 2 points. But lets back to the beginning. The great start had Danish manager HenrikRomby, who right from the start maintained approximately ten points lead to another manager in order. This manager was a gold medalist citellus who was chased by bronze medalist DonPatRon (who defended third place in this category from last year). On the contrary, silver coach at the World Cup, AntonGorodecky, started very slowly and he was in the bottom of the field. Over time, however, began to scramble up and began to be clear that this time it will be between Dane, Slovaks and Czechs. The differences were minimal, each of them was in lead for some time but the most frequently there still was a Danish manager, closer to the end it was the Czech manager. Finally, last voter decided about winner. He moved to the first place HenrikRomby, second place got for the second time AntonGorodecky and only one point behind him was citellus.

Last year's winner, the English manager tensor, this year had not even one vote. Bronze medalist DonPatRon had this time 4th place. Big drop had also Brazilian manager jorgenius who dropped from last year's 4th place to 15th place.

Total managers voted for was 34 of 60 managers.

Surprise of the Season

And what national team was the most surprising for voters?

Disappointment of the Season

And what national team was the most disappointing for voters?

And one more table at the end, the table of awards gained to each country. Award is meant participation in the AST I. and AST II., the first 3 places in the World player of the season, the first 3 places in the National manager of the season and first place in the Surprise of the season.

As we can see, the happiest can be Denmark, they won 6 of 29 trophies. On the contrary, in last NTA highly successful England was this season completely empty-handed.

I want to thank everybody who helped me with this project. And of course also everybody who voted.