Travelling back to work this morning with a bout of the January blues... so I've been thinking of about the season so far and who my Players of the Year so far are. It's testament to these boys that there are 6 or 7 who would be fully deserving of that award! But here's what I've gone for; 3. Marley Watkins 2. Conor Hourihane 1. Josh Scowen Who would others pick?
1. Conor 2. Winnall 3 Watkins Honourable mentions for Scowen, Davies, Yiadom, Angus, Roberts (apart from the Brum and Forest home games). So much quality, and a team playing greater than the sum of their already formidable parts. I noticed on the Forest forum one of their fans put that player for player they are better than us. I nearly ruptured my spleen laughing.
Rather than choose the obvious "superstars" in Connor and SSW, I thought I'd go for some of the players that allow them to be so effective. Scowen is this sides lynchpin for me, and his work rate and will to constantly press the opposition seems to spread throughout the team. Against Brum on New Years Eve, I thought we looked a bit flat before he came in(despite bagging a few goals). But his introduction was a bit of a turning point and we were suddenly pressing all over the pitch and creating the chances. He even put over a world class cross for SSW which should have won us the game with 10 men. So for me is Josh, closely followed by Adam Davies, who's saves have allowed us to pick up lots of points this year.
I'm a big fan of Josh but he seemed to struggle with the step up to the championship initially and doesn't always work efficiently with Conor. He seems to have been most effective on the wing this season and has played his best football there in my opinion. Still love him to bits though.
Top spot is easy for me but 2nd and 3rd are tricky because as you said there are 6 or 7 fully deserving candidates but as I have to narrow it down to 3 1. Hourihane 2. Yiadom 3. Winnall apologies to Davies, Watkins, Roberts, Bree, Morsy and Scowen for not finding room for them in the top 3
Hourihane's number 1 for me. Behind him it's Yiadom, Winnall & Watkins battling for 2, 3 & 4 but even after that there's Davies, Bree, Roberts, McDonald, Scowen & Morsy who've all done well. Aidy White was playing well before his injury as well.
Tough call... 1. Davies - Kept us in so many games 2. Winnall - Goals 3. Hourihane - All rounder, but mainly quality of service. Closely followed by Watkins, Bree, Scowen, and Yaidom. Not forgetting Morsy, Roberts, McDonald, Jackson, Kent and Hamill who have all played their part. To be fair to the lads every one to a man has played there part. Hecky has built a good team. Generally in past seasons there are at least one or two players that I have felt we have carried and should let move on. But this year is different, and if they have not yet produced I am excited to see them develop and get better. Isgrove had a slow start last year and came out of the traps in second half of the seasons, he set the tempo in games. I hope if they stay Armstrong and Kent emulate that. Then there is young Moncur, who knows what his future may be. Plus if we keep the squad together and possibly add a couple.
1 Connor 2 Watkins 3 Winnall...... Sam 3rd cos he struggled like **** 1st 10 games... where the other two have been bang on from day 1
Last season I thought that Josh Brownhill was often underestimated. He did a quiet, but very effective job in tandem with Conor and also chipped in with a goal or two. We missed him when he wasn't available. I think that Josh Scowen is operating in a similar way this season. There isn't a bigger grafter in the team, and the way he positions himself between opposition players and the ball is uncanny. He'd be right up there. But if you base it on who we'd miss most, it can only be Conor. We're going to have to find a way to deal with that in the Summer.