Two-thirds of the way through the season. Simple enough question, who is your player of the season so far?
I think I said Puncheon before but I think I'll change that to Jack Cork. He's been bloody brilliant. It was very close between him, Rickie and Morgan.
I've gone for Schneiderlin, but Cork's been better lately. Puncheon's been the best of our attackers, but has had a few off-games as well. Schneiderlin's had maybe one poor game and Cork hasn't had any that I can remember, but loses out to Schneiderlin at this stage because he's played in fewer. Lambert's been excellent too but those three have been better overall I think.
Difficult one. With few exceptions, they've all played out of their skins. I'm going for Schneiderlin, though he has looked so much better since Jack Cork stepped up alongside him, and I can't really pick Cork because he was out for a long time, early in the season. This may be of interest... I was watching the Saints v Pompey 2-2 match fromm last season, and I couldn't quite believe how poorly Saints were playing compared to how they play now. The difference has been the introduction of Boruc, J-Rod, Ramirez, Yoshida and Davis, with the juggling of the existing squad. They are consistently playing to a much higher standard now.
I know Morgan will probably walk this poll but I have to make a stand on the Rickie Lambert platform. Without his goals and his leadership, his playmaking and his all-round brilliance we would be deep in the relegation mire instead of climbing relentlessly out of it.
I completely agree. We haven't produced as many crosses for Lambert in the areas in which he is so dangerous, if you consider the amount of assists Fox and Richardson had last season we are missing that this season. Despite this he still has 11 goals to his name. He dominates CBs, holds the ball up well, has fantastic vision and passing and I think I love him.
I have to agree with you as well. But I did go for Cork because it's not easy to come back from injury and slot back in, especially in the PL. Out of 10 Rickie and Morgan get a 9 and Cork gets a 9.1 for the season.
For me this year it's more a case of 'Most Improved'. We already knew Lambert, Lallana and Schneiderlin were quality, but the manner in which Puncheon, Cork and Shaw have become so vital to the team really puts them above the former three for me. Ultimately, I'll go for Cork. Always liked him, and just glad that he is getting the recognition now for all the 'unglamourous' work he puts in.
I'm finding this very difficult. Went for Puncheon in the hope that if he wins he won't want to leave! But I'd be happy to make a case for Morgan, Jack Cork or Sir Rickie ... and while I'm at it Luke Shaw has to have a mention, not forgetting (see what I mean). I'm with the "who-cares-isn't-it great-we-have-such-a-wide-choice" gang. There have been too many seasons when no-one deserved the accolade.
It's good that we have quite a few solid options of who could be our best player this season. I wonder who Man Utd would vote for as their best player for this season...
I like Cork, but for the benefit of this vote you could argue he has gained from missing the opening couple of months. People have noticed the impact he makes, whilst Morgan & Rickie could be taken for granted. For consistency I'm going for Schneiderlin and he is adding goals to his game which tips him ahead of Jack for me.
Hi Folks, New poster here, thought I'd finally take the plunge after years of visiting this and the old 606 site. Its got to be Morgan for me, didn't really rate him that highly before the season started as he didn't impose himself enough on the game and would often go missing, but this year he has been immense. Luke and Rickie joint second.
I can't vote as you have rather foolishly left our best player off this list. I mean our very own Guly of course. He was our best player against Everton at St Mary's.
I picked Morgan, with Lambert and Cork coming in close 2nd/3rd What I love about our DM partnership is that when one of them has a quieter game than usual, the other seems to really step it up, i think it was against Everton that Schneiderlin seemed to be everywhere and running to get every ball, and then against City i felt that Cork was involved in almost every break up of their play. Maybe I'm just perceiving it wrong, but I do feel that they work absolutely fantastically together
For some reason can't vote on friend's stupid tablet. Remind me never to get one. Difficult choice because every player has brought something to the table. We stopped leaking goals when Shaw started. We had an upturn in form when Cork returned. Spider is great. At last we have a keeper in Boruc. Puncheon is a revelation this season. Hard to omit anyone, but will vote for Rickie when I get home because to discover he was out for a month would frighten me the most.
I doubt a single Saints fan would have predicted that Puncheon would get 6 votes to Lallana's 0 before the season started.
