Across at the official club site, it’s already that time of year.
Who, safc.com wants to know, do fans make their player of the season and young player of the season, and what were the goal, save and team performance of the season?
Voting closes on May 11 – which I hope does not mean no one will be trying to pull off the goal, save or team display of the season on May 14 against Wolves or at West ham on May 22 – and each vote is entered into a prize draw with a pair of tickets to the May 18 awards dinner at the Stadium of Light as the prize.
I can think of no one who comes close to Phil Bardsley as player of the season. It is worth recalling that Steve Bruce seemed virtually to have written him off, probably with the agreement of a good proportion of supporters, before he forced his way back into the side and began producing one great performance after another. Not to mention the cracking goals, or being asked to play out of position. Bravo, Phil and let’s hope the voting conforms to reality.
Simon Mignolet is only 22, and deserves recognition for what he has achieved in his first Premier season.
But 20-year-old Jordan Henderson surely has to be young player of the season, having shown himself in many more games than not to be, despite the occasional dip in form, a very good player who will become a great one.
Poor Simon – désolé, mon brave – doesn’t even get save of the year. Not many goalkeepers from any club can have got close to Craig Gordon’s sensational stop at home to Bolton on Dec 18.
Goal of the season? Could Phil Bardsley be in line for a second award? He has three contenders. But I think I’d go for Nedum Onuoha’s amazing surge, dribble and execution at Stamford Bridge.
Team performance. West Brom home or away? Man City, Newcastle or Everton away? Just kidding. We all know the answer to that one, and so do the many opposing fans – including those of Chelsea – who regard our 3-0 win at Stamford Bridge on Nov 14 as the finest away display by any Premier team this season.
Agree with me by all means but please do respond if you have other candidates for any of the five awards.
I disagree with only one choice – save of the season for me was Mignolet from Adebayor vs Man City. I thought it was at least comparable when Craig made THAT save – and knew then that it would be pretty much forgotten by many, which is a shame.
Other than that, I hardly felt as though there is a choice for the other categories – as you seem to indicate yourself. Be nice to see Jordan pull off a Messi after the polls close, though…