Your most improved player of the season so far?

Who do you think has developed the most this year?

The question is a tough one TBH. We've been struggling as a team so it's kinda hard to pick out one individual.

If I had to pick one though, I'd go for Anita.

The lad started poorly indeed.... I remember Diame literally carrying the wee fella around in his pocket when Fat Sam rolled into town.

Since that game he just got better and better and really started to impress me.

I had high hopes for Campbell this year too but maybe his time will come next year.

 

Got to agree with Anita, especially when you consider what he cost to sign in comparison to the fees paid for some of our other signings.
Also feel that Marvo has shown more promise and application when given game time recently.

 

love the avi lady!

Maybe even Bigi would get an honourable mention.

He's really started to come of age.

 

Anita comfortably. You could argue he already had ability though, and just needed time to adapt. In terms of improving in terms of ability, I'd be really struggling to be honest. Obviously Perch was the obvious one last year. Maybe Cabaye who has looked excellent since returning from injury. He seems to have added heart and extra workrate which is nice to see.

Santon would be my most regressive player, along with Cheick. I think Cheick may improve with the strengthening of the squad though, and Santon has just had a spell young defenders can go through. Hopefully they can teach him some basics as in terms of natural ability, the guy is loaded.

 

Simpson. He started the season ****e but the last three games he's looked like a different player

 

Xisco...the bloke is just unrecognisable now !

 

If the recent acquisitions to the squad and how well they played and responded to going behind versus Chelsea, does not inspire every last one of them to want to be part of that team, then nothing ever will.
If l were a young player or on the fringe at NUFC l would be buzzing with anticipation and wanting to break through.
Even those who might feel their names are always going to be on the team sheet, will have competition for places and cannot afford to get complacent. It's all good and can only get better, those with no heart or love for the club will be found out, if they haven't already and their days should be numbered.

 

competition for places is key. It's been ages since we've had genuine strength in depth.
Hopefully our signinigs will convince the likes of HBA to stay around and enjoy the ride.
All aboard Le Toon Train....

 

Couldn't agree more with this, coming from behind on Saturday was brilliant, the heads went down temporarily, but they turned it around and it was superb.
Agree with most here, Anita has been great in terms of improvement, and it's good there will now be competition for places, and we are no longer just plugging the gaps.

 

Haha,

I'd go for Marveaux. It's a shame he got injured recently because he was firmly in the first 11 after starting the season on the bench. He's looked a threat this year and I think is currently our top assister.

 

I'd say Santon. He was comfortably the best player in the entire squad for the first half of the season, even though Tash's best players were Colo and Willo ... He's way better than Jose Enrique ever was for us, mainly because he can cross and shoot.

People still beating up on him for not being two entities tracking back and being the attacking full-back thoroughly miss the point in my opinion, and usually have the nerve to suggest Ashley Cole is the best left back in the world. Hypocritical.

 

Marv for me too. Always knew he had talent but with a run in the team he's proved it to us and has been performing at a consistently high level (as long as you don't want him to defend - which isn't really his job!)

 

As he has the most assists despite fewer minutes on the pitch than most and has looked very good when given a run in the side I'd go for Marv. Has to be the biggest improvement as he was non-existent through injury last season!

 

The reason I'd hesitate to say Marv would be because he's been very good for a while and I don't think he's really developed, he's just had very limited opportunities for a long time while others are failing constantly. He was the best player pre-season, no question for me, but for some reason he didn't even make the squad for the first few months. Similar to Ben Arfa last year, I think Pardew has a thing about unleashing people, or letting them know who's boss.

Certainly a player I like though, and I think his use a substitute was spot on last weekend.

 

Unfortunately as a full back (attacking or not) you do have to have 2 strings to your bow in my opinion. Certainly in the way we play. You have to be able defend and offer an attacking option. Just the nature the role for me. Primarily you have to be good in defence, which Santon clearly hasn't been since November. The goals have flowed from his side, mainly due to a poor positional sense and poor anticipation of danger. However he is young and was terrific earlier in the season so long term there is plenty to work with. Pinpointing obvious problems is just the nature of game analysis.

As for his crossing, generally it has been really poor apart from Saturday. Invariably he hits the first man on his right side or is easy defend as he is cutting back, and his left foot crossing is none existent. Hopefully Saturday marks a turning point in this regard and the start of some much needed assists in his game.

Ashley Cole is one of the best in the world and widely recognised as such because he is outstanding at the primary job of any defender (attacking or otherwise), defending. In attack he is pretty decent too although his crossing is nothing to shout about.

I couldn't rate Santon as highly as Enrique at present. Certainly not the latter version of his career here. However he had rocky spells to begin with and I think Santon has more potential in terms of natural attacking ability, already possesses a better shot and is certainly capable of achieving the same high standard of defensive proficiency. Santon would have walked this poll for me up until November.

 

I think Marveaux has always had ability. His performance has improved massively, but that is just because firstly Pardew has found how to use him correctly (remove defensive responsibility, use him centrally ahead of two sitters), secondly it has taken a while for his confidence in his body to return after some serious injuries, and finally as a light framed individual it has taken him slightly longer to adapt to the rigours of our game. Solano was ****e for 12-18 months remember!

 

Demba Ba over the second half of last season, until he got sold that is! Now he can **** right off.

 

I think Tim Krul has improved, difficult to say Bigi or Mary as they weren't here/were injured and Anita always had the talent. With Krul you just feel so assured.

 

not sure maybe bigirimana to play so comfortably in making a huge step up frm championship

 

You've seen him? I thought he'd disappeared off the face of the Earth.