Looking at our Goal Difference makes interesting reading. Of course Odion is by far our top striker and on a good day is top drawer. But look at how many goals we have actually scored 29 is it which makes us in the bottom 5/6 Meanwhile on goals conceded 28 we are in the top 5/6 It is our ability to defend and stop other teams from scoring which has put us where we are... .and virtually safe. For me there are currently three players in the frame for Player of the Season: Odion Oghalo - for his ruthless goal scoring Troy Deeney - for his work rate, assists and being a great Captain H Gomes - for his great goalkeeping and team spirit I know a few games to go.... but wondered on people's views..
Capoue would have been up there too but performances have slipped in recent games. Could argue Gomes has been the most consistent. What about Ake/Cathcart - part of an excellent defensive record.
I think Gomes is the obvious favourite for keeping us in quite a few games. But Deeney would be in contention for what he puts in and as a leader. But I would add Cathcart as well - he has been immense. Personally, I would have to go for Gomes.
1, Gomes 2, Deeney 3, Watson 4, = Britos, Cathcart 5, Ighalo Gomes has this season carried on from last season and has been imense for us. Anyone who wants to look at the number of points he has saved for us would probably find it is similar in number to what Ighalo's goals have earned us. Gomes has also on more than one occasion saved us from a drubbing ( Southampton & Spurs away and Chelsea home )
I would go for Gomes as he has won quite a few points for us but Watson has been very impressive too.
Easily Gomes ...an excellent, brave keeper and great entertainer / personality . With a lesser man between the posts , we would have been flirting with relegation .
It's all in the book 'The Numbers Game'. Defences keep you up, NOT ATTACKS (Shearer et al - please take note). In fact, if you could guarantee to score 1 goal per game (just 1) you stay up ! As to the 'Player of the Season', Gomez has had more to do than a top defence should have allowed. He has probably been our most important player over the season if it stopped now. That said, if Ig gets to 20, his contribution will have been immense. For me, its Cathcart. Unsung hero and unflustered, even when (perhaps especially when) he has made a mistake. Perhaps he's players player of the season. Ake is 'young player ' no competition.
Back in early season when Ighalo was on fire and looking a world beater it was Gomez kept us in games and i was saying that i hoped he got player of the year . The reason we are mid table is there are a number of players that been playing outstanding for this level. Troy,Watson Cathcart Britos having 5 or 6 players up for Player of the Season said it all
I remember GT was very influenced by Reep: "At around 3.53pm on 18 March 1950 – sometime during the half-time interval of the Third Division (South) match between Swindon Town and Bristol Rovers – the accountant and former RAF wing commander Charles Reep whipped out a notepad and pencil from his overcoat, and prepared to begin taking notes. Many, many, many, many notes. Reep was embarking on the first great statistical analysis of football, and he quickly came to the conclusion that "85% of goals tend to be scored from passing sequences that involved a small number of passes, usually three or less" and that "two-thirds of goals come from balls recovered in the last third of the pitch". Teams should, he argued, adjust their tactics accordingly. There was no point playing possession football; better instead to hoof it upfield and deal with what unfolds there. (A simplification of his theories, but not by much; for "hoof", read "reacher", which is what Reep called "a single pass from the defensive third to the attacking third of the pitch".)" (Observer) I remember it was all about numbers..... GSF has analysed how to play the game to our strengths in the modern era. Under GT we scrored more but we shipped a lot too..
i watched the highlights of all football on the tv for a month. i took notes of were was the last kick of the ball. In over 200 games over 90% of goals come from inside the box . I did to show kids that you can score from outside the box but not that often.
