Since people regularly do threads after individual matches, rating the players out of 10, I thought I'd do one for the entire season. So here goes: Davis: 9 - Overall a very solid season, those three points at Leeds proved vital and he's made some game saving saves this season. He was sensational yesterday and rounded off what has been a pretty consistently good season for him. Will definitely cut it in the prem, in my opinion, though we should buy another back-up keeper. Richardson: 8 - Probably the most improved player this year, his delivery was excellent, especially at the start of the season and he got some pretty decent assists. Defended well and it's unfortunate he didn't play in the last few games. Butterfield: 6 - hasn't really had long enough in the team this season to be rated particularly highly but he has played pretty well. His delivery is actually very good but he gets lost in defence sometimes. New RB is possibly needed next season. Fonte: 7.5 - given away some stupid free kicks, picked up some stupid yellow cards, been beaten too easily a few times this season BUT on his day, he is our best defender. He has made some Champions League worthy tackles this season and has hugely contributed to the success of our defence this season. Got forward brilliantly at points this season too, as demonstrated yesterday, maybe we should play him in CM? he looked pretty silky. Hooiveld: 8 - Jos rated slightly higher than Fonte because of his excellent goal tally. I for one was very much questioning this signing, I'd never heard of him, and I was very apprehensive having him jump straight into the starting 11. But I was quickly proved wrong, he has been absolutely solid at the back, winning everything in the air, and his finishing has been superb for a CB. We may need an extra CB for cover next season, but I think we've got a decent pairing already. That said, they both lack pace and may be vulnerable against faster forwards. Fox: 7 - didn't think we needed another LB when he signed but has provided some very very good assists this season and his delivery is second to none. Will have to liven up defensively next year but I think he can cut it in the PL. Has a tendency to hoof sometimes, but when it pays off it's magnificent. Harding: 6 - haven't seen much of him this season. Attacks well but was dire against Leicester. I am not a Harding basher for the record. Guly: 8 - Yes, I am not Guly's biggest fan, but he played excellently at the start of the season, with some very good goals. Unfortunately he was a bit of a wimp on the line at Fratton Park, and he hasn't scored since January but he's played a vital part in some of our later games and if anyone says he was lazy yesterday then they need help. Definitely plays better in the hole, he IS NOT a RM. We do need a natural RM signing this summer, please. Chaplow: 6.5 - very much a season of two halves. Played brilliantly at the start of the season, fantastic energy and work rate and looked like a real danger to all the Championship defences. However since that long injury spell he hasn't really come back into his own. His final product has been questionable and although his work rate has still be brilliant, he hasn't really troubled defences as well as he did before. Maybe Adkins should have given his some games in CM? Hammond: 7 - definitely made the step up this season right from game one. Incredible goal against Leeds and showed real passion throughout. Unfortunate to see him go off injured yesterday. Battled well in midfield and provides that extra bit of strength than Cork. I am certainly a fan of his and would like to see him lead us out in the Premier League. Cork: 8 - what a signing. Plays very much a different game to Schneiderlin or Hammond. He's not exactly a prolific goalscorer, but then nobody in our midfield has been. His tactical awareness is something special and he looks very comfortable on the ball. He fits into our midfield well with the way he plays football, maybe needs to toughen up a bit next season but has provided some very important tackles and challenges. Schneiderlin: 8.5 - he's going to be a real star in the PL. He can pick a pass fantastically and he doesn't have a bad shot when he tries. Has played a much more attacking role this season. And apart from giving away a few pointless fouls i'd say he's had a very consistently good season. I don't think we need to strengthen CM next year, I think what we've got can do the job. Lallana: 8.5 - he's been inconsistent at times but can still tear up a defence in seconds. Saints fans obviously don't need me to tell you this, but he's clever, he's agile and he has very good feet. At his best he's an absolute joy to watch. He can definitely cut it next year and his loyalty to the club has been very much rewarded with PL football. De Ridder: 6 - not seen that much of De Ridder, especially recently. Scored a good goal at the Madjeski. Has good pace and quick feet. Can't beat a defender like Lallana but does look dangerous at times. Unfortunately end product and shooting are.. dissapointing. An impact sub but will never be anything more for us. Lambert: 10 - perfect season. Sharp: 8 - has found impressive form and I'm glad. He's popped up with some vital goals and although most of them have been tap ins, he's got himself in those goal scoring positions in the first place. A natural striker and I'm sad the season is over, because the Lambert-Sharp pairing was beginning to look very dangerous. Hopefully they can continue it next season. Lee: 7 - very unfortunate injury ruined what was beginning to look like a very promising first season for him. Hopefully he will get his chance next year. His goal against Derby was something else and he was an absolute steal coming in on a free. Adkins: 10 - the man's a genius. Two promotions in two seasons says it all. 100% promotion success, shame he can't keep that up next season. The lads have been fantastic and I can honestly say I'm incredibly proud to be a saints fan. I love every single one of 'em. Your thoughts?
Very, very difficult, but here goes: Davis - 9 Richardson - 9 Fonte - 8 Hooiveld - 9 Fox - 8 Buttefield - 6 Harding - 6 Guly - 7 Hammond - 6 Morgan - 8 Chaplow - 7 Cork - 8 Lallana - 9 Puncheon - 6 De Ridder - 6 Lee - 7 Sharp - 8 Lambert - 10 Connolly - 8 Was tempted to bump Guly an 8 (he really was top notch before Xmas) and was tempted to bump Sharp and Lee down to 7 and 6 respectively (as they only got on the bus in January). But them aside, I'm pretty comfortable with those scores. I wonder how much higher Chaplow would have been rated if he hadn't got injured, or Punchen would have been if he'd sorted things out with Cortese before the season started. My top three: 1st: Lambert 2nd: Hooiveld 3rd: Richardson
My ratings will be very similar to st brendy's, but that's just because he's mostly right Davis - 9 - Brilliant keeper, brilliant servant, brilliant man Richardson - 9 - Very good at the back and going forward as evidenced by his assist count Fonte - 8 - Got some criticism this season that he didn't deserve but is still very good. Hooiveld - 9 - What a signing. Best defensive player and chipped in with hoards of goals too. Fox - 8 - A few too many long balls, but a very good season anyway. Buttefield - 6 - Only thing stopping me from dropping him to a 5 is a few good crosses. Harding - 5 - Been the weak link whenever he's played. It's a shame, I really liked him last year. Guly - 9 - I'm a Guly fan, no doubt. Brilliant player, some will think the 9 is too high but I really do love the guy. Hammond - 7 - Not a technically amazing player but certainly earns his wage. Morgan - 9 - Class player, amazing with everything he does. Chaplow - Before injury 9, after injury 4. Amazing how one player can go from being so good to so useless. Cork - 8 - Love the guy, just couldn't rate him the same as Morgan. Lallana - 9 - Same old Lallana, missed a few chances but that doesn't matter with the grace and ability he brings to the team. De Ridder - 5 - I just really don't rate him. Too many useless runs, too many bad crosses, too many wasted possessions. I'd rate him lower but I fear being run out of town. Lee - 7 - Didn't get long enough to make an impact but looked dangerous when he played. Connolly - 7 - Started off well, got slower and then disappeared. Sharp - 8 - Great run of form after a slow start, became lethal in front of goal. Lambert - 10 - Does this really need an explanation?
Form is temporary, class is permanent. The question is was Chaplow's good start in the Championship due to class or temporary upswing in form. Or did the way we play change during his time out and not suit him so well? Adkins will be able to judge during training and preseason, but I suspect he already knows the truth about all the players.
St.Brendy, a 6 for Hammond? Seriously? Not being rude, but do you go to all the games? Hammond has been very good for most of the season. An easy 7.5 for me.
Not a big away go-er, but I've only missed Brighton at home this season. He does a job Hammond, and he's decent at that job. But I just think that he's slightly too one-dimensional. Yesterday was a prime example of just how much better we were once Cork came on (who, as I've said elswhere, was my MOTM yesterday). I do think accept that 6 is slightly too low, but for whatever reason I've always disliked giving .5's. I prefer to be decisive one way or the other, and he's more of a 6 than a 7 for me.
Davis 9 Richardson 8.5 Butterfield 6 Fonte 7 Hooiveld 8.5 Martin 6 Fox 8 Harding 4 Guly 8 De Ridder 6 Hammond 7 Cork 8 Schneiderlin 9 Chaplow 6.5 Lallana 9 Puncheon 5 Lambert 10 Connolly 5 Sharp 8 Lee 6 Only a 6 for Lee as he hasn't had a big impact due to his injury. Fonte only gets a 7 where Hooiveld gets an 8.5 as there were several games where he looked shaky. Hooiveld has been immense all season. Schneiderlin has been the outstanding CM this season. Fox has been excellent this season, although there was a rather alarming moment yesterday where he was caught completely out of position. Harding on the other hand, has been awful most of the time he has played. He should be sold in the summer imo. Guly has had a great season, 10 goals and has been very effective when he was in the hole. Nothing really to say about Kelv, Lallana and Lambert, it's been said before.
Davis - 8 Richardson - 7 Harding - 6 Schneiderlin - 7 Fonte - 7 Lambert - 9 Cork - 7 Barnard - 5 Guly - 7 Sharp - 7 Butterfield - 6 Fox - 8 Hammond - 7 Martin - 7 Forte - 5 Chaplow - 6 Lee - 6 Lallana - 8 Bialkowski - 4 Connolly - 6 Holmes - 5 Seaborne - 5 Hooiveld - 8 Falque - 4 Reeves - 6 De Ridder - 6 Puncheon - 6
Have to say I think the player we will struggle to hold on to next season is Morgan Schneiderlin! This guy is going to be one of the best centre midfielders In the Prem next year! We missed him so badly in the games he was injured this year! The complete midfielder and the only tiny criticism is he could do with bagging a few more goals. My favorite player, just hope he stays a Saint!
TC you could say that about most of our midfield bar Lallana. Normally you would expect at least a couple of your midfielders too bag a few goals.
The thing with Deano is you only realise a lot of what he does,when he isnt there. Especially in away games when we are under pressure,he is the best midfielder at breaking up the other teams attacks. I rate Morgan and Cork above Deano,but feel when both of them play together we can be a bit vulnerable..
SKD - 9 probably his best season for us what a legend. Butterfield - 6 great crosses struggles with pace didn't play enough to get anything higher Frazer - 8 amazing start to the season great attacking play with alot of assists seems to have lost favour recently for whatever reason still very good season. Jose- 7 some dodgy displays perhaps sometimes looses concentration but on the main very solid should be ok next year Hooiveld - 8 rock good haul of goals and a great guy who's alwya last off the pitch to applaud the fans quickly becoming an all time favourite of mine the fact that we share a nationality helps! Fox -7.5 assume delivery classy player who u sense can hack premier league Harding - 5 like him and he's not had much of a chance but looked very dodgy when played prove me wrong next year dan! Lallana 9 legend. Brilliant. At times worth the ticket all on his own. Passing doesn't get enough credit Morgan 8 class class class. Will shred up the prem next year Deano 7 good captain not overly talented but does a job some important displays Cork 7.5 done well Punch 5.5 big fan but barely played Guly 8 look at goals scored. Great player very important and will do well next year Chaplow 7 great start starting to regain form after the injury Lee 6 promising hope he gets fit soon Connolly 7 great start catalyst to our season legs failed him again Sharp 8 scores goals works hard what more do u want Lambert 10 nothing need be said. Oh forgot Steve 6 should be alot better with his pace and skill needs to get an end product
Can't please everyone. I'd have thought when a team expected to finish bottom half gets automatic promotion, more than one player would deserve a 9 but hey ho.
fair enough St_Brendy, the game is all about opinions, yours just happened to be wrong this time What I would add though, is that if a player does his job well, that is good enough for a 7 at least for me. Imagine Billy Sharp JUST did his job and scored every game.....
my only problem with Deano is he gets caught in posession far too much and in the prem we will get punished far more for this. Cork and Morgan are much better at getting out of a tight spot under pressure.
