I remember discussing this at the close of last season and it was quite interesting. It's a loose topic, so each to his/her own opinion. I think Fonte has improved massively from last season, and I put this down to his pairing with Lovren. I also think Clyne has performed much more consistently. My vote however goes to Lallana, his form has been so impressive this season that it hardly needs quantifying.
Rodriguez for me. We all knew Lallana had the ability last season he was affected by injury. Rodriguez has improved massively. And you haven't even mentioned him!
Jay Rodriguez for me as well. There were a lot of players who improved, so maybe it's unfair that Rodriguez gets the nod only because there was more room for him to improve to begin with. But he went from a one-dimensional speed guy to someone who now knows when to pick his spots, adds a ton on defense, and and has even become a not-terrible passer.
Phew, a tough question as there are a number of players who should be considered I buy into both JRod and Fonte, both have developed dramatically as the season went on. The other I would throw into the mix is Callum Chambers from debutant against WBA at the beginning of the season and think his performance against Arsenal was absolutely spot on. He is still very young and learning...keep your hands off Arsenal!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Agree about Fonte. There was some doubt about him being up to Premiership standard, but now he's got the right players around him he's become part of a very solid back line, and has proved the doubters wrong. There was never any doubt about Lallana, but he's taken one hell of a step forward nonetheless. Same with Jay Rod.
Chambers for me. Came from nowhere to instantly be first choice right back (when fit and on form) Fonte and Rodriguez have had awesome improvements on what we saw last year and Adam even more of an improvement although the latter we knew he was capable of more than we saw last season. Not sure many expected his improvement to be as much as it was though.
Interesting. Yes Jayrod had a great season, but I never doubted him last season. In fact I recall often sticking up for him when he was getting stick on here. He was in a new team, new league and out of his ususal position. He has however improved (but as I expected him to). Fonte has done well this season, but not sure how much of a big improvement it has been. I didn't think he bad last season. Adam has shown me the biggest improvement as I wasn't one that "always knew he could do it." Yes he had an injury, but I felt last season he looked weak on the ball, easily being dispossessed and not really having enough end result. Dare I admit, that quietly, at times I wondered if he was just too pretty for the PL. For me he has shown the biggest improvement. We did all know he had bags of skill, but I certainly wasn't one "knowing he'd be able to do it" at this level.
Hard for me to choose Chambers as he wasn't there to compare to last season. Certainly best new comer though (in terms of new to first team pro footballer)
I have just posted that there was a doubt for me. Not in his skill, but in his ability to deliver at this level down to other areas like strength. Boy I was wrong. If you are reading this Brendan, I am right; this year was a flash in the pan. He is crap and not worth signing. I am available for a scouting report.
I think Adam and JRod are the obvious candidates, but its Callum Chambers for me, to play in this league and consistently impress is a big ask for an 18 year old?
Could argue Lovren because, by the sounds of it, he wasn't that great last season. I do think that Fonte has played better than Lovren since Lovren's return from injury.
What I think is impressive is that you could probably make a case for nearly everybody who played a significant part in last season improving. A good combination of confidence from a completed premier league season and a full pre-season with Pochettino and his tactics
I'd definitely say Lallana, purely in terms of whose performances have picked up the most. Last season he was really just average, and had quite a few people quietly wondering that we'd need to do something about it if his form didn't pick up. Thankfully it did, emphatically. Lovren's probably made bigger improvements considering how terrible he was last year, but I'm only counting our players.
I'd say Rodriguez in an instant but he was actually very good at the back end of last season, I believe he scored 6/7 goals last year and 5 of them were in the last 10 games. Fonte too I thought was our best CB last year but just not consistently, I think with Lovren beside him he's shown the same form he did in patches last year when he and Maya had a solid stretch of games in the winter. So I'd say either Lallana or JWP, we all knew Lallana 'had it in him' but he really took that step up this season towards being a top player, and JWP I thought last season was a neat and tidy player but just didn't have enough about him to really affect the game this season, but this year he's shown he can be a valuable squad member with potential for much more.
