IT'S been a terrific season watching Hull City and picking the outstanding player is as difficult as I can remember in all the years I've covered the club. It could be any one of half a dozen but I've managed to pick out my top five so here goes. ​ FIRST: Ahmed Elmohamady He's been superb week after week since arriving on loan from Sunderland and has been as influential as any player in the 3-5-2 shape that has worked wonders for Steve Bruce. Elmohamady's crossing ability is second to none in the Championship. When a forward or a midfielder sees him shaping to cross from the right, they know the service will be right on the money. That's a brilliant quality. Then he's also got pace, he links the play up well with others and has the ability to get past his defender. You should never underestimate his defensive qualities either. The role he plays demands that he covers a huge amount of ground going up and down the pitch but his fitness levels ensure few opponents have ever got in behind him. It's hard to pick fault in his game and let's hope he's still around next season once his loan expires. SECOND: Robbie Brady IF Elmohamady gets the nod for number one, his wing-back partner Robbie Brady is not far behind. It wasn't the first time we'd seen Brady when he joined on loan in November but he's been a completely different player to the one that blew hot and cold at the KC Stadium last season. It's clear to me that he worked hard on the defensive side of the game during the summer with Manchester United and he's arrived back here as a player tailor-made for the left wing-back spot. With Elmohamady on one side and Brady on the other, there's two constant threats out wide. He's more of an individual player than Elmohamady but he's improving that side of his game all the time. The way he works with Stephen Quinn is excellent. Brady's crossing ability is improving as well and at his age he's only going to get better all the time. If City go on and win promotion then the two wing-backs will have played a huge part, no doubt about it. THIRD: Paul McShane I'D have been amazed if you'd told me that Paul McShane would make my top three at the start of the season but that revival is purely down to the player himself. He forgot all about a horrible couple of years in and out of the club on loan and kept on going until the opportunity Steve Bruce promised came along. Ever since McShane's never looked back. The thing I see every time he plays is that he loves football. Everything he has, he gives to the team. That's a great example to set to the younger players and a big reason why he's become such a popular player with all the supporters. He's also made big improvements to his individual game. Where I used to fear there was a mistake in his game, he's really worked hard to keep those to a minimum. Some of the credit has to go to Steve Bruce. As a former defender I'm convinced he will have told McShane just to simplify his game. He's not a cultured ball player, he's a defender. Putting the emphasis on doing the simple things right is what's really changed for him. I can't help but feel sorry for him picking up the injury last weekend but hopefully it's not the last we see of him in a Hull City shirt. FOURTH: Sone Aluko IT'S such a shame Sone Aluko's missed half the season because for the opening three or four months of the year he was one of the best players in the Championship. If he'd continued his form right up to now, I'm sure he would have got the nod ahead of Elmohamady. Aluko had everything in those first few months; pace, trickery and goals. I'm convinced he would have been pushing towards the 20-goal mark if he'd have been fit all season. The injury problems he's suffered have been a real shame. Every team needs a match-winner and he was City's. If there was one criticism I could level at him, it would be his tendency to drop deep looking for the ball. That would leave him with two or three men to beat and the forward line without an outlet. But, like Brady, he's got time on his hands to grow and I'll be looking forward to seeing him back again fully fit. Aluko's got to be the signing of the season. To have picked him up on a free transfer from Rangers was a cracking bit of business and goes to show there are bargains to be had if you look hard enough. Well done to Steve Bruce for keeping tabs on a player he first had at Birmingham all those years ago. FIFTH: Stephen Quinn ANOTHER bargain buy completes my top five and that's Stephen Quinn. He cost washers from Sheffield United back at the tail-end of the summer but he's become a vital member of Bruce's squad. He's had the odd quiet game here and there over the course of the season but when he's playing to the best of his ability he's been great. He's not the biggest but he's got plenty of skill and a good passing range. Quinn also offers that balance with his left foot and that obviously makes him one of the first names on the manager's team-sheet. He's been an ever-present since arriving at the club and very rarely lets you down on the left of midfield when linking up with Brady. The understanding they've got means they can even play passes blind. Quinn has summed up exactly how Bruce wants to play. Where some players like to put their foot on the ball and slow the game down, he's always looking for the next pass and keeping that tempo high. That's not nice to play against for 90 minutes. His stamina, like so many of his team-mates, cannot be faulted. You can vote for your choice here... http://www.thisishullandeastriding....tory-18479820-detail/story.html#ixzz2OC01eAvC Not a bad list, though if you're going to call Aluko the 'signing of the season', then he probably shouldn't be fourth. Despite his current absence through injury, I'd still have him as our player of the season.
I would go with most of that myself apart from Mcshane, just because he's the most improved doesn't make him player of the season. Not sure how on earth you can compare him to Chester is beyond me.
I disagree personally, i think he hasn't been helped by the fact that Elmo has played on his side, for me one fact stands above else. Who has Bruce chosen when both Chester and Macca have been fit? Chester, so clearly we know who he feels has had a better season. His distribution has been brilliant to, he hasn't performed as well as last year at times, but that doesn't make him below par for me.
Chester hasn't been as good this season, as he was last season, but he's still our best defender by some distance.
Poor logic. The system seems to be, if you get injured then you wait until somebody else gets injured to play again, providing everybody's doing well. I can't remember McShane being dropped from the team without being injured. Besides, for the majority of the season they've both been fit and both been playing. So your fact isn't really a fact anyway.
Ex professionals who know a thing about football picking McShane as one of our best players, what a shock. I endorse that top 5.
Yes, Chester certainly has more overall ability than McShane, but what we must remember is that this is a Player of the Season award, and Chester this season has not been performing to the standard we all know he is capable of. In comparison, McShane, a player who was expected to have a bit-part time here (or even probably leaving), has played to a level that, this season, has been at least on par, definitely better, than Chester. That's my view/opinion, anyway. I'd agree with that Top 5 - but put Macca 1st.
Quite simple really. When he has played hes been better than Chester. By his standards set last season Chester hasn't been the same player consistently as he was last season. At times he has been pretty ordinary.
McShane has simply been decent, just because he used to be **** doesn't mean he should now be idolised for doing his job to an acceptable standard. Chester looks better in a back 4 than a back 3 but is still far and away better than McShane, as is Hobbs and probably Faye as well.
I think Faye is better than Hobbs to be fair he just isn't fit enough, i think Faye would really add to us, you can see why he played in the PL. One thing for me is, if one was to be bought by a PL club who would it be? Chester. He is just in a different world. I also think Aluko would be second or third in that list for me with Chester fourth and Quinn fifth. Was surprised to see that Elmo has one less assist than the top assiter in the league.
You're welcome to but it seems to me that the joke that McShane is the greatest player in world football has become reality in some people's minds. I don't mind him, he plays with passion and is a decent centre-back at Championship level but for some to seriously think he has been better than Elmohamady, Aluko or Quinn this season blows my mind.
