Best player of Wilder's reign?

[Charlieblade]

McGoldrick. Value for money, skill and the ability to adapt his game to his strengths. His contribution in goals scored and assists makes him my number one.

 

[guancheblade]

Everyone will have their own criteria for this, but for me it has to be one of the lads who took us from League One to the Prem. JOC, Bash, Duffy, Fleck or Sharp.

Thought the same. Was gonna go with Duffy just because he was a joy to watch but I went with Billy in the end. Just the amount of goals he scored at both L1 and Championship level, plus that goal at Bournemouth still ranking as my favourite moment of the PL so far this season.

 

[cahill]

JOC solid as a rock

 

[Speedracer]

Many of those players have a valid claim to that title, so I have voted for the one I have enjoyed watching the most, Mark Duffy. But it was very close.

 

[Sheffsteel]

For me ”best player” is someone special that stands out amongst the 40+ years I’ve been watching United.
The player I’ve loved watching the most who has class is

Mark Duffy
Then David McGoldrick

They both do things or see things 95% of other players can’t do. They are my kind of players.

I voted Mark Duffy, my favourite player in the Wilder era.
Although thinking about he probably isn’t the best player, but I’ve enjoyed MD so much I’m biased.

Loads of our current players deserve special mentions though. The improvement in Basham seems impossible, seeing is believing ha.
Almost all the current players are up there amongst my favourite ever players.

 

[The Hobott]

No Norwood - no promotion last year.

 

[Keef Chedwyn]

Did some reyt thumb hovering over the options. Between Jack, Enda, Fleck and Billy for me. Went for Fleck cos he's just class.

 

[Groucho Blade]

Difficult decision...but you guys have seen Didzy play, haven’t you?

 

[true99blade]

It’s hard to argue with Fleck or O’Connell, two of the main ever presents that look so totally at home in the Premier League. Like others though the one player I’ve enjoyed watching more than any other is Duffy. Still a tiny part of me is a bit gutted we aren’t gonna see him this season.

 

[shorehamview]

Billy.
He’s a Blade, captaining and scoring for his team
He is, basically, us. Each and every one of us is represented on the pitch by William Louis Sharp.
As others have said, you could make a case for all of the names listed. But my vote goes to Billy. After all, he’s a legend at the Lane.

 

[sitwell]

Hes not the one for me but in the 'other' box I presume it is for Henderson ,he has been hugely important.

 

[coaxingstar71]

I voted for JOC, although they are all worthy contenders. The reason being that he instantly became my favourite player after the first time I saw him play. Probably because I knew he was going to be a proper CB, the real deal, which we hadn't had since Maguire left and we'd been crying out for a proper CB for the previous two seasons.

 

[Cassius Kray]

Fleck.

Player of the season, promoted from L1
Player of the season
Promoted from Championship
Shining in PL

And great to watch.

I like Fleck, and he's a great player, but player of the season? Billy was voted the best player in the entire League 2017, and in the team of the season last year (as was Norwood, but not Fleck).

If Fleck had made twice as many assists last year he still wouldn't have made enough to match all of Billy's goals. Fleck is a star - Billy is a legend.

 

[wavy-blade]

I really couldn't choose one they have all been outstanding were all riding on the crest of a wave , and to my amazement we just keep on going , Unbelievable really, I love em all !

 

[Scooter_mcgavin]

Voted JOC. That first game at Stocksbridge when he walked out I said to my old man that he would be a player. He looked a proper unit. Glad I was proved right for a change. £30m defender now.

If we sold him for 30m, we would all be kicking off.

 

[mattbianco1]

Should be interesting to see who comes out on top here.

Impossible question

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

Impossible question

Convincing win for JOC.

 

[blade67]

JOC - like Egan he had an average start that lasted 3 games but he's been magic ever since on the whole journey from bottom of league1 to 5th in the premier league barely missing a game along the way.

 

[Deadly_D'Jaffo]

It's like asking which is your favourite vital organ?

Duffy and Sharp spring to mind. But then seeing Basham blossom into my favourite player might edge it. But this season I purr whenever I see Enda with the ball.

Sorry OP. Can't answer it.

 

[Ainsley Harriott]

If we sold him for 30m, we would all be kicking off.

Indeed we would, and rightly so. It's not just about what another club will pay for him, we have to think of a replacement. For me, that's where the previous regime went wrong. Too quick to sell despite a piss poor replacement coming in. James Beattie for Craig Beattie being one example of complete fuckwittery

 

[10-0 win]

Stevens. fairytail stuff, free transfer, integral part of our leftsided attacks, engine great, no little skill, established international. Anyone of Fleck.JOC,Hendo,Baldock,Bash,Billy,Duffy,Egan,Didzy,Ollie worth a big shout - it's a teamthing more than individuals. Never thought Bash could do it in the PL, incredible how he's just doing his usual hard work. Must be a lot of confidence in the dressingroom which is no little factor in a team.

 

[crucialkneeligaman]

As a few have pointed out, good case for any of those lads, of those marked others, special mention for Cranie & Jake Wright, but for me the trialist shaded it, probably in the form of his life.

 

[BushBlade]

Indeed we would, and rightly so. It's not just about what another club will pay for him, we have to think of a replacement. For me, that's where the previous regime went wrong. Too quick to sell despite a piss poor replacement coming in. James Beattie for Craig Beattie being one example of complete fuckwittery

Blackwell. Don’t forget he also spent £2m on Henderson and a similar amount on Evans. Then tended to play one up front. I always thought that if you’re setting a team up to play off a big target man, you need another target man as cover, or when the main man is out your tactics don’t work. We could have signed Ricky Lambert at that time, I’m pretty sure he’d have chosen a championship club over L1 Southampton and his performances in the cup against bigger sides showed he was capable of stepping up.

I can’t imagine Wilder making fundamental mistakes. He’ll know which players could move on and will already have a list of potential replacements.

 

[Bladeinleeds]

Hes not the one for me but in the 'other' box I presume it is for Henderson ,he has been hugely important.

Another shout for ‘other’ is Chris hussey. Imo if he had been fairly competent instead of irredeemably trash we may never have had to switch formations to one that’s helped us through the leagues . The rest is history

 

[Carlton Blade]

Best overall - Fleck
Most consistent - JOC
Best in a one off game - Didzy

 

[I should coco]

Most consistent - JOC
Best in a one off game - Didzy

Most goals - Billy
Biggest Blade - Billy
Captain and driving force - Billy
Prevented relegation under Adkins - Billy

I think Billy has a good shout.....

 

[Carlton Blade]

Most goals - Billy
Biggest Blade - Billy
Captain and driving force - Billy
Prevented relegation under Adkins - Billy

I think Billy has a good shout.....

McCabe is the biggest Blade surely

 

[Jimmy Fleck]

Fleck or O’Connell. Can’t divide them, been regulars in the team since league one and have stepped up after each promotion, two top players

 

[PokerBlade]

Interesting that 10% chose Fleck and 90% chose to be wrong*.






*half a mark if you chose JOC

Edit: as a sensible follow up, the best thing about it is that there's a fairly even distribution of votes amongst the options. Speaks to how well the team has done as a whole rather than rely on big stars to carry us through games

 

[JohnDenver]

Biggest character: Sharp
Cleverest footballer: Duffy
Most naturally gifted: Brooks
Most consistent contribution: JOC
Best attitude: Basham
Biggest boss: Coutts

And I’ve not even mentioned Fleck, McG, Norwood or Enda yet, which is just ridiculous.

However, if you take all the major criteria: overall input across the Wilder era, most able in their position, attitude, versatility, scope to improve... The answer is JOC. He really is a special footballer.