Tom Cleverley takes top award and Lloyd Doyley lands Hornets' leading goal gong

11:30pm Sunday 18th April 2010 in Sport By Anthony Matthews, Group Sports Editor

Tom Cleverley with Watford Observer sports editor Anthony Matthews. Picture: Alan Cozzi/Watford FC Tom Cleverley with Watford Observer sports editor Anthony Matthews. Picture: Alan Cozzi/Watford FC

Tom Cleverley’s impressive loan season at Watford ended in the best way possible tonight when he was named the club’s Player of the Season at the Hornets’ end of season awards night at Shendish Manor.

The Manchester United loanee, who remains the top scorer at Vicarage Road despite his campaign being prematurely curtailed by a knee ligament injury in the 1-1 draw with West Bromwich Albion, was the resounding choice of his team-mate, the fans and the away supporters to lift the prestigious Watford Observer trophy.

The England Under-21 international found the net 11 times in 35 starts and polled 1,525 voting points to finish ahead of Lloyd Doyley (789) and Scott Loach (652).

Despite finishing second, Doyley had the significant consolation of claiming the Goal of the Season trophy.

Arguably the most memorable moment of the campaign came in front of the live TV cameras at Vicarage Road in December when the club stalwart’s long search for his first professional goal finally came to an end in the 3-1 victory over Queens Park Rangers.

Like Cleverley, Doyley was the clear first choice of all three polling categories and gained 1,749 points to finish emphatically ahead of Henri Lansbury, whose first goal of his brace in the 4-1 win over Sheffield Wednesday scored 371. The Arsenal loanee’s second goal of that game was not far behind in third (322), with the top five goals all coming from those two matches – against QPR and Wednesday.

Comments(37)

Forest Hornets says...
12:02am Mon 19 Apr 10

Well done Tom, richly deserved and many thanks for your efforts this season in a struggling side, class apart and good luck at Man Utd next season

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Elton Bog says...
8:43am Mon 19 Apr 10

Unbelievable - no real problem with Cleverly (except he's a loanee - was he there or did he send a video message from Old Trafford, I wonder), but Doyley second and Loach third - you've got to be kidding. Anyone who lets in 72 goals in 43 league and 1 cup game is not a candidate for player of the season in my view, however bad our defene - s defence which includes, apparently, our best owned player.
If i was John Eustace I would be well p1ssed off - the only player who turns up every week and tries to get the team going.
I wonder who was player's player?
Of course -John Eustace.
Makes you wonder how many people who vote on here actually go to any games.

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rookery boy says...
9:36am Mon 19 Apr 10

Should have been:
1 Eustace
2 Cleverly
3 Lansbury
The only player in the back four who can hold their head up high,is Dale Bennett,and he has only played a few games!!
I hope this doesnt affect JE when he reviews his new contract offer!!! (if we can still afford him)!!
With regard to all the players,wouldnt it be nice to get three points on tuesday,rather than waiting for palace and sheff wed to drop points!!
I m not sure whether this event should be held till all the games have been played!!

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rookery boy says...
9:36am Mon 19 Apr 10

Should have been:
1 Eustace
2 Cleverly
3 Lansbury
The only player in the back four who can hold their head up high,is Dale Bennett,and he has only played a few games!!
I hope this doesnt affect JE when he reviews his new contract offer!!! (if we can still afford him)!!
With regard to all the players,wouldnt it be nice to get three points on tuesday,rather than waiting for palace and sheff wed to drop points!!
I m not sure whether this event should be held till all the games have been played!!

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Derek Payne says...
9:57am Mon 19 Apr 10

Elton Bog wrote:
Unbelievable - no real problem with Cleverly (except he's a loanee - was he there or did he send a video message from Old Trafford, I wonder), but Doyley second and Loach third - you've got to be kidding. Anyone who lets in 72 goals in 43 league and 1 cup game is not a candidate for player of the season in my view, however bad our defene - s defence which includes, apparently, our best owned player.
If i was John Eustace I would be well p1ssed off - the only player who turns up every week and tries to get the team going.
I wonder who was player's player?
Of course -John Eustace.
Makes you wonder how many people who vote on here actually go to any games.
Loach has been fantastic this season EB. Think how many Foster conceded when we were in the Premier, and he was still a very deserving player of the season.

He's only a kid (and he's our kid) get behind him for Christ's sake!

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Elton Bog says...
10:13am Mon 19 Apr 10

Not really having a go at Loach, just mystified how he and Doyley can be ahead of Eustace, really, and I worry, like Rookery Boy, how it will affect his attitude to contract talks.

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ralphinator says...
12:07pm Mon 19 Apr 10

Quite agree Eltonbog, Doyley 2nd is preposterous and Loach is lucky to get third, although in my book there is no third place; Cleverley the winner by a mile, with Eustace an equally clear second and take your pick for third place - no-one deserves it.

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fairwater says...
12:08pm Mon 19 Apr 10

garston edl wrote:

fairwater wrote: Not even 2000 fans have renewed their season tickets yet according to the official Watford FC website! This does not bode well for next season despite Graham Taylor's plea for all fans to remain loyal during the current difficult climate. I guess many are just fed up with the recent form both on and off the pitch!

Where does it say this on the official site? I'm not doubting you, i just can't find it! Talking of tickets, there's still over 1000 unsold for our local 'derby' with QPR - shocking!

Reply: The article is now back in the News section. The headline is "Commit Online Before The End Of April", and it is in the 4th paragraph.

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hemels golden says...
12:13pm Mon 19 Apr 10

Lloyd Doyley 2nd place what a joke, that just goes to show what a bunch of happy clapping window lickers actually support our club, it just makes a mokery of the award, John Eustace deserved this award more than any of our owned players but its obviously not the Watford way to reward someone with ability!

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herts hornet says...
12:21pm Mon 19 Apr 10

Well done to Tom cannot argue with decision BUT am absolutley astounded that John Eustace was not 2nd let alone not in top 3 ,Doyley second is an absolute joke ,1 goal enough to get the vote from fans ,well shame on you who voted ,who would you rather have in team now and next season Eustace or Doyley !! I would expect Eustace to look at that and be on his bike to a club who may appreciate him next season .anybody there give a fans view of the evening ,see MM still in a job STAGGERING !!

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jasonwatford says...
12:43pm Mon 19 Apr 10

Did i read that ?? Loach fantastic ? Better than Foster ?? It sums what is wrong with the world !!!

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Chris the Vic says...
12:56pm Mon 19 Apr 10

I guess Tom deserved it but how do you measure how well has a player played.

To me in hindsight the best player this season was Cathcart. Whilst he was here I thought he was underperforming and made several errors, but whilst he played we were up there collecting points and challenging for the play offs. He got injured and sent back and we have fallen apart, but does that make him the player of the season?

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herts hornet says...
1:22pm Mon 19 Apr 10

As we look back on this season and On eve of game vs QPR sobering to look at the eve of last game at home vs QPR ,the Russo's had just been removed we were on verge of play off's ,since then GT taken over chairmanship our record since that night of 7th December
PLAYED 25
won 5
drawn 6

LOST 14

says it all ,a confortable manger under no pressure from the board same players ,if not stronger with Taylor added after all ?
we are lower than BLACKPOOL ,DONCASTER whose managers i.e Sean o' driscoll and Ian Holloway both applied for our job when BR left and never even got an interview ,and also below Scunthorpe ,all with gates much lower than us and resources much poorer BUT with managers who know what they are doing ,
OUR manager has had very very good players to pick from ,CLEVERLEY,LANSBURY, LOACH,DEMERIT,EUSTAC

E,HH,GRAHAM and look were we are ,and to think the same manager will be manager next season SHOCKING ! IF PALACE HAD NOT HAD 10 POINTS DEDUCTED .........

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Prof Plum says...
1:25pm Mon 19 Apr 10

Good to see the Doyley- knockers who show their stunning ignorance week-in, week-out on this site, put in their place. A little surprising that Lloydinho didn't run Cleverly a little closer for the top prize after the excellent season this loyal, hard working and excellent professional has had.

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hemels golden says...
1:47pm Mon 19 Apr 10

Prof Plum, you were exactly the happy clapping window licker type I was refering too so im not suprised at all by your post, just suprised you didn't post sooner, hand on heart you trully cannot believe Doyley should come 2nd above the likes of Eustace, I for one admire Doyleys effort which is never in question but his ability certainly is in question, and has never been near player of the season standard and never will.

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ralphinator says...
1:55pm Mon 19 Apr 10

Prof Plum wrote:
Good to see the Doyley- knockers who show their stunning ignorance week-in, week-out on this site, put in their place. A little surprising that Lloydinho didn't run Cleverly a little closer for the top prize after the excellent season this loyal, hard working and excellent professional has had.
Prof, I wouldn't dream of calling you a happy clapping window licker, or even a window licking happy clapper (where do these ridiculous insults comee from and why descend to them just because a fellow fan holds a different opinion? OK, I'll make an exception for Rick!), but have to disgree re Doyley. To me, player of the season can't be decided on loyalty. He's not a bad defender, but his all round game is simply not up to it. He's got the goal of the season award by dint of who scored it, rather than it being the best goal per se, surely that's enough?

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kjeffrey says...
1:56pm Mon 19 Apr 10

I love love love John Eustace for his never say die attitude, you see him trying to gee up the players far more than Demerit does, he chases lost causes and unleashes regular killer passes. My conscience is clear though. I voted him top ahead of Cleverley and Lansbury. John, in the unlikely event you are reading this, we do appreciate you, please sign a new contract.

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Elton Bog says...
3:25pm Mon 19 Apr 10

Seconded, kjeffery (I voted for him too)

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jasonwatford says...
3:28pm Mon 19 Apr 10

Ive just read that WATFORD FC a football club are extending the contract of Liam Henderson ....yes thats right LIAM HENDERSON...Why would you waste money on this player ??? He will never make it in Championship or above and prob find his level at blue sq or struggling div 2 side...

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WFC4ever says...
3:41pm Mon 19 Apr 10

Maybe that bloke on here who really doesn't like Eustace got his mates to vote for anyone but John!?

No surprise Tom C won (golden - he has some very good ability!)

TBH I cannot think of guy who has been consistent enough really to warrnt 3rd position.

Loach and Doyley would have not been in the top 3 for me but there you go..its only an award and I'd rather we got it right on the pitch than worry about some minor placing in our awards.

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Prof Plum says...
3:51pm Mon 19 Apr 10

jasonwatford wrote:
Ive just read that WATFORD FC a football club are extending the contract of Liam Henderson ....yes thats right LIAM HENDERSON...Why would you waste money on this player ??? He will never make it in Championship or above and prob find his level at blue sq or struggling div 2 side...
I find it hard to believe that Malky Mackay and, presumably, Graham Taylor are better judges of a young player's potential than you, Jason, so it's odd that we've taken him when you clearly don't rate him. T!t.

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Paul_Caruso says...
4:19pm Mon 19 Apr 10

York City's Richard Brodie could be shrewd purchase, seen him a few times this season, young, quick and knows where the goal is, top scorer by a country mile for the Minstermen. Comparatively speaking can't imagine would command a huge fee, even for our limited budget and far better prospect than our alternatives. Let him see off the Hatters in the play-offs and welcome him in a yellow shirt. Not sure our scouting network operates anywhere else but Scotland beyond the M25...and where is the Bishop?

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jasonwatford says...
4:39pm Mon 19 Apr 10

Malky - Severin - Graham Taylor - Domanic Foley - There is one each prof plum...i can go on if you wish...tit you are idiot. When you know nothing about me dont be so cocky ! Get me 5 people on here that rate him as a good player who will blossom ????

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Derek Payne says...
4:45pm Mon 19 Apr 10

The people on this site never fail to amaze me.

You've all taken an article on a truly brilliant footballer winning an award after being outstanding for us this season and turned it into the most miserable thread of juvenile moaning you could ever imagine.

Who care if you like Eustace, and someone else likes Doyley. The best way to see who the fans think is the best player is a vote. And the WO did that!

Some people on here really think too highly of their own opinions

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Prof Plum says...
6:42pm Mon 19 Apr 10

jasonwatford wrote:
Malky - Severin - Graham Taylor - Domanic Foley - There is one each prof plum...i can go on if you wish...tit you are idiot. When you know nothing about me dont be so cocky ! Get me 5 people on here that rate him as a good player who will blossom ????
You'd be hard pressed to find five people from the manic depressives who post on here to say something positive about anything, so that's not fair.

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duckfan10 says...
7:17pm Mon 19 Apr 10

Derek Payne wrote:
The people on this site never fail to amaze me. You've all taken an article on a truly brilliant footballer winning an award after being outstanding for us this season and turned it into the most miserable thread of juvenile moaning you could ever imagine. Who care if you like Eustace, and someone else likes Doyley. The best way to see who the fans think is the best player is a vote. And the WO did that! Some people on here really think too highly of their own opinions
Thank you Mr Payne for being the first person with a sensible posting on the subject.

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WFC4ever says...
7:48pm Mon 19 Apr 10

duckfan10 wrote:
Derek Payne wrote: The people on this site never fail to amaze me. You've all taken an article on a truly brilliant footballer winning an award after being outstanding for us this season and turned it into the most miserable thread of juvenile moaning you could ever imagine. Who care if you like Eustace, and someone else likes Doyley. The best way to see who the fans think is the best player is a vote. And the WO did that! Some people on here really think too highly of their own opinions
Thank you Mr Payne for being the first person with a sensible posting on the subject.
Good point!

Its only an award which people are allowed to vote for whoever they want.

Cleverley won by miles anyway.

Everyone knows he is/was our class player of the season.

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garston edl says...
8:22pm Mon 19 Apr 10

Doyley being voted second just sums up what a sad sad joke our club has become this season.

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martinbester says...
8:30pm Mon 19 Apr 10

Lloyd Doyley should win the award for running backwards and passing the ball to the opposition. John Eustace is one of the few players who can hold their head up high in a ultimately disastrous season.

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Rick Almighty says...
8:47pm Mon 19 Apr 10

I find it disgusting that, 24 hours after a humiliating thrashing, and with three games left to decide our championship fate, the club shoud be holding an awards evening.

No one can deny the excellent Cleverely his award, but the rest of them???? Are fans that stupid that they think Doyley is worthy of second place???? He gets goal of the season just because he actually managed to score????

What a small minded and feeble set up this is. Can anyone imagine the likes of Clough or Ferguson allowing an "awards" evening when the club is on the brink of relegation.

Why should failure be rewarded in this way? I've just seen that pathetic excuse of a manager on Sky Sports News basically saying that relegation wouldn't be a disaster. And where do you think he got that line from....the part time chairman of course who is at the root of the problems on the pitch.

Make no mistake, if we do go down, then i and others like me want a full scale enquiry....with the end result being the removal of a man who should never have been given the job of first team manager, and the man who could have done something about it but chose not to.

An awards evening? It should have been an emergency fans forum with the Scot in the firing line and some of the cretins who make the starting 11 week in week out.

This club is a joke!!!!!

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V-o-R says...
9:30pm Mon 19 Apr 10

You all had your chance to grill MM at the fans forums but decided to leave him looking like a spare part.
I said from the word go that he was the wrong appointment and hardly any of you lot would believe and now giving it the large one on here.
Anyway I find it staggering that you so called fans are publicly voicing your anger at the players at this time of the season, pretty much what happened under AB, we scrapped it then, lets hope we do likewise again.
Get behind the team until the end.......then voice your displeasure!

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WFC4ever says...
9:36pm Mon 19 Apr 10

Rick Almighty wrote:
I find it disgusting that, 24 hours after a humiliating thrashing, and with three games left to decide our championship fate, the club shoud be holding an awards evening. No one can deny the excellent Cleverely his award, but the rest of them???? Are fans that stupid that they think Doyley is worthy of second place???? He gets goal of the season just because he actually managed to score???? What a small minded and feeble set up this is. Can anyone imagine the likes of Clough or Ferguson allowing an "awards" evening when the club is on the brink of relegation. Why should failure be rewarded in this way? I've just seen that pathetic excuse of a manager on Sky Sports News basically saying that relegation wouldn't be a disaster. And where do you think he got that line from....the part time chairman of course who is at the root of the problems on the pitch. Make no mistake, if we do go down, then i and others like me want a full scale enquiry....with the end result being the removal of a man who should never have been given the job of first team manager, and the man who could have done something about it but chose not to. An awards evening? It should have been an emergency fans forum with the Scot in the firing line and some of the cretins who make the starting 11 week in week out. This club is a joke!!!!!
For whatever reason fans complained that is was after the final match so they couldn't see the player reciving his award at the end of the season so they moved this event forward way before they knew we'd be in a relegation fight TBF...

I wonder how many would have turned up for a Fans Forum on a Sunday evening (very hot..)?

Lets be honest...we all do a lot of talking here but actually when it comes to it at an event like the forums ask very little apart from the obvious.

Don't pin your hopes on major changes unless they is key investment into the club..

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pfwhornets says...
10:30pm Mon 19 Apr 10

Love to know how many votes Demerit got from his fellow players. Eustace winning player's player sends out a little message don't you think?

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WMH says...
8:53am Tue 20 Apr 10

Rick Almighty wrote:
I find it disgusting that, 24 hours after a humiliating thrashing, and with three games left to decide our championship fate, the club shoud be holding an awards evening. No one can deny the excellent Cleverely his award, but the rest of them???? Are fans that stupid that they think Doyley is worthy of second place???? He gets goal of the season just because he actually managed to score???? What a small minded and feeble set up this is. Can anyone imagine the likes of Clough or Ferguson allowing an "awards" evening when the club is on the brink of relegation. Why should failure be rewarded in this way? I've just seen that pathetic excuse of a manager on Sky Sports News basically saying that relegation wouldn't be a disaster. And where do you think he got that line from....the part time chairman of course who is at the root of the problems on the pitch. Make no mistake, if we do go down, then i and others like me want a full scale enquiry....with the end result being the removal of a man who should never have been given the job of first team manager, and the man who could have done something about it but chose not to. An awards evening? It should have been an emergency fans forum with the Scot in the firing line and some of the cretins who make the starting 11 week in week out. This club is a joke!!!!!
Because the fans complained about not seeing the POS on the pitch at the last game and the Club has tried to respond........I would have thought that was a good thing.

I only come on these Boards occasionally because sadly they attract the worst sort of winging malcontent but I have to give you credit Colin for the longest wind-up I have ever seen from the classic 'buy Hasselbank and Fowler', 'Williamson is useless' (nice goal Sunday!) and 'Marlon looked fat in Tesco' comments to this very day. Congratulations!

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BooRaider says...
12:20pm Tue 20 Apr 10

The fact that Eustace won the Playersd Player Award speaks volumes! If he stays he should be Captain.
That Tom Cleverley won the fans award came as no surprise, 11 goals and lots of close misses gets peoples attention.
A friend of mine and myself both said that Doyley would win Goal of the Season right after the QPR game. A lot of people only see the list of goals and don't remember the actual goals in some cases.
Don't post to often on here as most of the time the posts are made by people not interested in the actual article they are posting on.

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4boys says...
5:34pm Tue 20 Apr 10

Brilliant well deserved
and the other 2 places show truly that most people who post on here dont know anything about football and have probably never kicked a ball in their lives.
What a joke you all are!
(EUSELESS HA HA)

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michael furlong says...
6:38pm Wed 21 Apr 10

Herts hornet, I was the awards and was an oustanding eve. The whole room was out of their seats when JE recieved his PP award and I like you was a little miffed that he didnt get fans player. Spoke with him after and he said that he was 100% sure that we are staying up, and he seemed genuine and honest enough and filled me with hope.I also asked hoskins why MM seems so against giving him a run of games.. I asked if they had had rows or if perhaps WH attitude was lacking at times, he said that he trains hard all the time and for the life of him cannot understand why he has not been givien a chance at times.Again seemed honest and different to the type of character I thought he might be (not bigtime at all).Anyway it seems that the club are desperate to keep JE and are making it a priority.Just thought id share my findings, as a fan I have been desperate to know if there is any belief left in the squad and if we would be able to keep JE.

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