Player of the Season

[Football Special]

Usually presented before the last home game of the season, will that be tomorrow night vs Ipswich? 

[Barton Saint]

Daniel Peretz has transformed us

[Patrick Bateman]

I couldn't even pick a "most improved", let alone a player of the season, where do you start? 

 

[RedArmy]

3 minutes ago, Patrick Bateman said:

where do you start? 

 

I couldn’t pick anyone other than Scienza. 
 

He made it worth watching us during some very dark times this season. Week after week after week he has been a joy to watch. 

[Pilchards]

Leo followed by Peretz.

Also a special mention to Larin, Finn, Jander and Harewood-Bellis.

Young player - Bragg.

Most improved - Manning & Breeeeeee.

Worse player and is fucking shite - Bazunu.

 

[Willo of Whiteley]

You could pick so many players now for a number of reasons. Or certainly players that have made valuable contributions.

Daniel Peretz - a goalkeeper that has an ability to use his hands, he’s transformed us at the back.

Taylor Harwood-Bellis - he’s come on leaps and bounds this season, always a decent player but he’s stepped up that leadership style this season, no berating, just passion and encouragement.

Ryan Manning - fair play to him, he’s learned how to defend again in a back four and contributed with goals and assists.

Flynn Downes - certainly since Christmas there’s been a consistency around how we’ve played and a tenacity in the centre of the pitch.

Leo Scienza - all that flair, definitely someone we should enjoy having while we can.

Some notable mentions for James Bree, Cyle Larin Finn Azaz and Ross Stewart for their contributions.

Edited April 27 by Willo of Whiteley

[Harry_SFC]

Top 3

1. Scienza

2. THB

3. Peretz 

[Pilchards]

Worse manager for us this season.

Will Still

 

How the hell did he get employed? Even his brother at Watford has taken them to new lows.

 

[whelk]

Obviously has to be Leo. Loads of really good performances and improvements from others but he has been such a revelation.

[trousers]

Joint winners.... Peretz and Scienza 

[suewhistle]

No mention of Jander on the thread. I don't think he's a candidate but his improvement is also great to see after a patchy mid season. If we go up another who'll not look out of place.

[Football Special]

11 minutes ago, suewhistle said:

No mention of Jander on the thread. I don't think he's a candidate but his improvement is also great to see after a patchy mid season. If we go up another who'll not look out of place.

Young player of the year? Or is he too old for that? 

[Bakovnetski]

For the second half of the season it has to be Peretz and Bree

[Saint86]

Very very hard to chose between:
Scienza, THB, and Peretz for me - for the top award.

But even that is harsh on the likes of Azaz, Downes, Bree, and Manning... and its not like the majority of the squad haven't had very good seasons as well. After the misery that was last season, this year has yielded a special team - one that has to get promoted or face dismantling.

[Lighthouse]

As I said on another thread, for me it's Leo because he's the only one who's been genuinely decent, if inconsistent, throughout the whole season. Plenty of others could be 'player since 2nd November or 21st January' but before that they either weren't here or we seriously underperforming.

[Football Special]

24 minutes ago, Bakovnetski said:

For the second half of the season it has to be Peretz and Bree

That's the odd thing isn't it, feels odd giving a season award to someone only here for half of it. 

Is Adam Armstrong still our top scorer? 

[Saint_clark]

16 minutes ago, Football Special said:

That's the odd thing isn't it, feels odd giving a season award to someone only here for half of it. 

Is Adam Armstrong still our top scorer? 

Joint with Azaz, yeah.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

Leo for me. He made a massive impact in turning us around on the pitch. But it's not just for his own ability. When we were struggling, he was always there encouraging and supporting his colleagues. I think he also had a large part to play in turning around the culture of the squad too. 

[Saint Garrett]

Scienza - the catalyst for us being half decent this season.

Honourable mentions to Jander and THB.

Difficult to not mention impact Peretz has had, but cant give it for half a season performances for me.

[Mr X]

Scienza will definitely be off should promotion not be achieved, especially with the release Clause, definitely good enough for the next level and good luck to him 

[Saint Pete]

Has to be Scienza for his impact throughout the whole season, even in the dark periods. Second half of the season, Downes and Peretz have both been consistently superb. But many other good performers since Tonda took over, honourable mentions for Larin, Bree and Manning, who I think has proved the doubters wrong who said he couldn't possibly play in a back four. 

[UpweySaint]

Amazing to actually have a collection on names we can actually make a good case for. For me it has to be Leo. He’s one of my favourite Saints to watch since Tadic.

[AlexLaw76]

Finn Azaz

[Stud mark of doom]

There are so many good candidates.

If/when we secure promotion we should make a point of awarding it to the entire squad*

 

* with a footnote specifically excluding Bazunu and Damien Downs. 

[pimpin4rizeal]

1 scienza 2 azaz 3 peretz these three a mile clear of the rest 

[Saint Fan CaM]

Difficult decision. Obvious choices include Scienza and Peretz. Surprise most improved standout player for me is Jander - just been dominant in a box-to-box type midfield role. THB has seen an improved Captains ability, although he has some inconsistent moments in his pass completions. Azaz has proved he can be great, but equally a lack of consistency is a concern (would be a major concern at Prem level).

Overall: Peretz.

[leeham_69]

Adam and Jo went with Ryan Manning which I thought was interesting for a guy who (fairly) copped a lot of flak at the start of the season. 43 appearances and 8 goals.

For me it's Jander - the team just plays better when he is in it in my opinion.

[SNSUN]

2 hours ago, leeham_69 said:

Adam and Jo went with Ryan Manning which I thought was interesting for a guy who (fairly) copped a lot of flak at the start of the season. 43 appearances and 8 goals.

For me it's Jander - the team just plays better when he is in it in my opinion.

I'd probably have Manning as "most improved player", which is unusual for a 29 year old but he has definitely been good this season - although it probably helps that he has had another good left back challenging him for the spot. Welington's injury could have spelled trouble for our season but thankfully Manning stepped up, and has shown he can take a decent free kick too. There are still flaws in his game defensively, there always will be which is why he's a Championship level full back at best, but he has truly had a good season. 

[Football Special]

https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/26075271.vote-daily-echo-southampton-player-year/#

Can vote here 

[Holmes_and_Watson]

9 hours ago, leeham_69 said:

Adam and Jo went with Ryan Manning which I thought was interesting for a guy who (fairly) copped a lot of flak at the start of the season. 43 appearances and 8 goals.

For me it's Jander - the team just plays better when he is in it in my opinion.

Interesting. No question that Manning's goals and delivery have been important. He's had a number of excellent defensive moments too.

Like a lot of the team, I think there are factors that give everyone a boost.

Larin, and LND's return, giving us a different option up front

Tonda tactics, with clarity, and directness Still struggled with.

Peretz making us a lot more confident at the back.

For Manning, Bree's return really helps our defense as a unit. It allows Manning to finally have that more forward role he had at Swansea. KWP stopped him having it here.

And as mentioned, Welington being fit enough to challenge, but not fit enough to keep a place.

Good to see so many different players getting plaudits.

[BARCELONASAINT]

Scienza 100% for me

[Cabrone]

It's a tough one this season and that makes a nice difference from last.

Right now I'd jointly give it to Peretz and Larin, one has been transformational at the back and the other has been transformational at the front. Could change though post playoffs....

 

[waterlooville saint]

Has to be Scienza, he's been standout throughout the season.

Since mid-January a whole lot more names come into the hat - Peretz, Larin, Azaz, Downes, Manning, THB, Bree ... in fact you can list most of the rest of the squad. 

[revolution saint]

Hard one to call and there's at least 4 or 5 that I wouldn't complain about if they won. I'm leaning towards Scienza, however, if I had to pick a player I'd least like to see missing from the starting 11 then it would be Peretz.  

[John Boy Saint]

As an aside

After watching THB on the iPlayer interview after the Arsenal quarter final, its a shame we can't throw Tonda into the ring on this. THB was saying what Tonda has done for him since being in charge, most notably stopping him getting over excited, and over involved in his defensive duties which often resulted in costly mistakes. By the same token when watching Ryan Manning it use to drive me up the wall him more often than not when defending, him turning the wrong, and long, way round to track an oppo player thus giving him an advantage to beat Ryan - that seems to have vanished out of his game. He seems to have gotten Larin also looking leaner and fitter and in contention for a, probably to him unlikely 6 months ago, world cup place (even my Dutch work colleague said that he looks nothing like the donkey they had a Feyenoord).

Watching the game from my sofa on Saturday we just looked so much more fluid than we had been in recent seasons. I am guessing that's down to Herr Eckert.

Sorry for the interlude - please continue

[Gerrys Dark Forest]

For.me the difference this year is there is no single player head and shoulders above the rest..yes individual players have played a part in our dramatic improvement since hull, but i think that the game changers on the day have come across the squad with Larin, Azaz and LND getting key goals, fellows and scienza pulling defences all over the place, Jander, Charles, Downes and Bragg rotating in and out and the defence settling nicely aided by THB and Manning stepping up and Bree and Peretz solidifying everything.... hard to single out a clear winner and lots have different opinions which is great! For me at a pinch I think THB, Downes and Scienza.....no order!