Player Of The Season

26 points from his 25 games is an average of just over 1ppg.. which is bang in line with the team average (we are 37 from 37). He’s played in 6 of our 9 wins.. which is, again, statistically in line with his appearances.

Serge, on the other hand, played in 8 of our 9 wins. His 23 games yielded 32 points, at 1.4ppg.

Danilo is 16 points from 13, at 1.2ppg, playing in 4 of our wins. Given he didn’t get a run of full games until the saving flourish, that speaks to a notable correlation with results and/or playing when Serge plays.

The only other one I looked at was Taiwo, who looks comparable to Yates. I wouldn’t expect anyone else to have better numbers because all the good ones played too many games and so would cluster around the average. So, and this wasn’t what I was expecting, it’s probably Serge by a distance, with Baz a very creditable deputy.

Well contrary to popular belief I was mostly looking forward to Morgan Gibbs white being signed over everyone else, (yes even more than Conor Gallagher who even though I thought would be a good signing never thought it realistic), but even though he is technically our best player, the argument for Yates, angry Serge and Barry are way higher.

Barry has had a massive impact but Serge provided a stability we didn’t have when he wasn’t in the team. Ryan also, always shithousing. Always winding up oppositions and generally being a nuisance. When those two weren’t playing in the same side I am pretty sure our points total was disastrous.

So the heart says goal threat (because he has been an immense asset to the side), but the head says Serge because without him we were generally a defensive disaster.

He was also fucking ace against Arsenal too.

So I say Serge.

I love Felipe, (almost as much as man crush Geddy) because he is a great great defender and devilishly handsome but he cut his hair so fuck him.

Chicago: Being logical.

PS: A massive shout out to Taiwo who came, saw and conquered at the end of the season. Most improved player of the season (and Brennan came on in leaps and bounds too).

This ^ is possibly the sanest post to appear under the Chicago by-line in years.

Chic, you might want to change your passwords; looks like you’ve been hacked.

Honestly, even with signings having the impact of Bade, Biancone, Richards, Ayew, Wood, the loaners, LO'B, Scarpa, Jlingz, etc, I'd put Shelvey and Dennis in a class of their own for bad decisions.

Boly would probably be my biggest positive surprise though.

I went for MGW. Our indefatigable engine-room, creative and passionate, a player who started well and just got better. Yes, a couple of off games mid-season, but the same could be said for most on the list.

I have Brennan in second place, because every time he receives the ball in the opposition half, we can expect exciting things to happen. Tucked in just behind is Angry Serge. Commitment and focus, energy and muscle. A proper premier league player stepping up to the plate when he was needed.

Honourable mentions for Taiwo and Ryan. I just hope Taiwo can start next season the way he finished this one. There were too many times earlier in the season when his control and/or finishing let him down. But what a final three games. And I enjoy the fact that he never stops smiling. Jesus and football. He loves them both.

Ryan is a hero. He's never going to be the most technically gifted of players, but he's worth his place. His passion and commitment make a huge difference to the team's performance, and probably account in part for why we win so many games when he's playing.

Hell, honourable mentions too for Felipe, Niakhate, Neco, Danilo, Boly and Navas. That makes 11 players. It may have taken four games shy of a season, but we now, finally, have a promising, competitive Premier League team.

The Athletics "Rookie of the Year" has Brennan J an option but no MGW.

docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfoP8sdodz5Qhm2hWWVR7gW_q55BxT8iAYUk2ocO6Kr0_e1Dg/viewform

I noticed you can go back and vote as many times as you like. I went with three, but might up that number later.

Presumably because MGW has played premier league football before.

I've done at least 20

So has Caicedo.

Turns out it’s “ players aged 23 or under in their first Premier League season where they played at least 1,500 minutes.”. So no idea. One per club and they felt Brennan was more deserving?

There feels no point in voting when Haaland is in the list.

Haaland's had a spectacular season but I think there's a strong argument for Caicedo, he's been magnificent and the heart of that Brighton team. He's done for them what Kante did for Leicester.

I read what you said, and voted for BJ again.

I already pay The Athletic to read their content, if they want me to help create it they can start paying me.

On that, their fee.... I paid $1/month for a year, then I got a year for $10. That's coming to an end, so went to cancel, immediately offered $24 for the year including New York Times games. So three years for under $50.