To me there have been 5 or 6 consistently outstanding players in the team this year. However if I had to nominate someone who had made the greatest progress it would have to be Aiden Flint. He has turned (at this standard) into a thoroughly consistent defender, who has not been booked once, never been injured and chipped in with several valuable goals. He may never aspire to a higher standard but has been a model professional on the field. Who do you think has been our best player and who is capable of becoming above average Championship players and forming the nucleus of our team next year and why.I believe that the one with most potential is K. Smith.
Luke Ayling has been fantastic all season for me, under-rated workrate and defensive capabilities, plus able to bring the ball out and distribute it well.
We will have a very, very strong core to our team next season (if promoted) Ayling, Flint, Williams, Bryan, Smith, Freeman. Build the team around these guys with the same quality as them and a top half finish is more than capable.
Aden Flint last season there was ALWAYS a mistake each game. Admirable improvement from liability to asset. Expect Joe Bryan to continue to prove those around City and academy football highlighting him as the "one" to go on further. Most well rounded footballer at the club.
No doubt Flint has improved massively this year and agree with Clifton. I see Bryan getting better in the Championship and maybe beyond. 'I expect Kieran Agard to finish the season well and kick on next season' I hope, I really do but don't expect. Sorry, but don't rate Ayling as high as most on here. I've noticed that other teams, Sheff Utd and Rochdale the latest, seem to attack his area of the pitch. A bit like a few years back when teams attacked 'Sue Ellen'. Ayling is decent going forward but poor defending crosses and slow to turn and catch 1-2s. TBF it maybe that Little plays to high up and exposes Ayling, that's one for Cotterill. Also think Williams will struggle in the Championship. Think Freeman can certainly go further especially when he improves his final ball. Korey Smith best of all.
Most improved is either Flint or Bryan. Most impressed with is Korey Smith, I was a big fan of Liam Kelly but I think Oldham must be wondering why they swapped a BMW for a Modeo
Most improved. Flint if he carried on like last season he was out. Most impressive. Korey Smith the teams lungs. Most potential. Bryan is already quality and the ability is there to go further.
1-Aden Flint most improved 2-joe Bryan second most improved. Player of the Season Arron Wilbraham Young player of the year Joe Bryan (still needs to learn to go past players)
I would not even think about disagreeing with Red Robin. Except to add a reminder that our goalkeeper has also shown a very big improvement. And will Aden Flint emerge at the end of season as the only central defender in the four leagues without a red or yellow card?
I would also put #FrankieSaves into the equation, his confidence has improved from the start of the season.
Flinty for me, literally turned into a bumbering, donkey of a centre back to a defensive colossus in a year. Swindle will be kicking themselves they only got 300k for him.
I agree with everything said, but also an unsung hero has been Marlon Pack for me. Rarely puts a foot wrong and is happy to sit on the bench it seems, when Elliott is preferred. I know he isn't flash, but he does his job which means others, like Freeman, can do theirs in the oppositions half.
fielding for me,hes starting to show why he was so highly rated a few years ago,but reading the replys to this thread, says a great deal about the work s.c., has done with the squad.
we will have a lot to do to put a worthwhile squad together next season, we have half of a good team, quarter of an average team and need to get in the final quarter! 4 players! the quality of Baldock, Pitman Skuse Bolasie Smith...oh actually we had them ..lol but you know what I mean ! We do have a half decent team to lay the foundations on though. hopefully our "mini" squad has allowed us to forge the path of a bit of spending money.. maybe 5 -6 million?
Precisely my point on another thread re academy ...we have no youngsters coming through so we will have to buy. This in an environment of the club being run on proper financial lines and has limited resources. The problem with buying is that you never know what you are truly getting Rochdale had 9 academy players in their team recently. . Much is right with the City viz First Team , at the moment but other aspects are lagging behind. We should enjoy our success now as next year we will be mid table at best