I was firmly in the "everyone shut up Lallana is brilliant" camp. My most improved would also be Jay Rod. He has added so much to his game this season, I am gutted he is injured. I think he would have been in the squad for sure.
For me the backbone of our team for the last five years - Fonte, Schneiderlin, Lallana and Lambert! Who in September would have expected these four to be in our team in the Premiership five years ago. With a great coaching team, better players to play with they had stepped up to the plate!! Also, special to everyone else on our rise. Long may it continue!!
It's hard because the whole team has improved on last team, with maybe the exception of Steven "Reliable" Davis. But it does seem strange not to mention our top goal scorer. I don't think he really performed badly last season, but he was often stuck out on the wing under Adkins. With MP the front four are more interchangeable and J Rod has got the goals because of this.
I'd like to give honourable mentions to both Steven Davis and Jack Cork, both of whom have come on leaps and bounds from last year. Their improvement now sees some really fierce competition for spaces in the middle. It has also spelled the end of the "Schneiderlin's out so we're doomed today" sentiments that many of us probably shared in the past.
