Poll: Favourite player from the 9th in the prem season

[Tongeincheek]

I have (and have seen quite a few others) reminiscing even more than usual about the one year we gave a good account of ourselves in the prem.

I wondered who everyone remembered most fondly from that year now looking back?

Please don't all rush at once to vote for Panos Retsos

 

[Gimli]

It’s not international break already is it?

 

[Ndiayewillalwaysloveyou]

Fleck or Stevens... (their best season for the club)

Gone for Flecky

 

[SwissBlade]

Moosse for me. Just seemed to have found his home that season.
Billy and Didsy a close joint second

There were others that played consistently better, but i think these three, led by Moose really just gave me great memories of that season

 

[mattbianco1]

Hard to say, it was such a great season.

Remember Stevens nutmegging many world class Right Backs.
Remember Fleck being unplayable and rumoured to be on Arsenal's radar.
JOC was on the verge of an England call up
Didzy pulling the strings but never actually scoring
Basham pirouetting through Man City's midfield

But i've gone for Mousset. He actually only really had a purple patch where he scored 4 in 6 games during a 7 match unbeaten run, but he looked the real deal in those games and they brought back some of the best memories of the season:
Arsenal 1-0 (GOAL)
West Ham 1-1 (GOAL)
Burnley 3-0
Tottenham 1-1 - probably the best i've ever seen United play
Man Utd 3-3 (GOAL) - Phil Jones couldn't handle him and his goal was Salah-esq
Wolves 1-1 (GOAL)

 

[Tongeincheek]

It’s not international break already is it?

I knew there'd be a miserable international break comment - but I didn't think it'd be the first bloody one!

 

[Ndiayewillalwaysloveyou]

Moosse for me. Just seemed to have found his home that season.
Billy and Didsy a close joint second

There were others that played consistently better, but i think these three, led by Moose really just gave me great memories of that season

Alright strikers union

 

[ShorehamRevolution]

I remember pig fans laughing at me when I had a few quid on JoC to make the England squad for the euros..

 

[Blademan89]

If i could vote all of them I would, could have gone for mousset for the times he played he was unbelievable striker, Fleck was an amazing box to box player, didsy dropping in linking play, Stevens and JOc partnership and play was phenomenal, lundstrum purple patch for half a season was right up there for any goalscoring midfielder, egan was solid, Henderson was our best keeper in modern times, Baldock was a match for any left winger in the league, matched with that aggression.

But ultimately I have voted for Norwood, as much of our good play went through him, he just ran the show for us, some of those cutting passes he did and Hollywood switches, when left alone to dictate play he was Instrumental to us. And as soon as teams started pressing him and sitting a plsyer on him (coupled with aging, and wrong recruitment) we started our decline again.

 

[JD88]

JoC for me. He was superb and was only getting better. Huge shame what happened to him he/we will never see how far he would have got, England call ups etc. His injury was the start of what followed the year, never got close to replacing him

 

[Gimli]

Hard to say, it was such a great season.

Remember Stevens nutmegging many world class Right Backs.
Remember Fleck being unplayable and rumoured to be on Arsenal's radar.
JOC was on the verge of an England call up
Didzy pulling the strings but never actually scoring
Basham pirouetting through Man City's midfield

But i've gone for Mousset. He actually only really had a purple patch where he scored 4 in 6 games during a 7 match unbeaten run, but he looked the real deal in those games and they brought back some of the best memories of the season:
Arsenal 1-0 (GOAL)
West Ham 1-1 (GOAL)
Burnley 3-0
Tottenham 1-1 - probably the best i've ever seen United play
Man Utd 3-3 (GOAL) - Phil Jones couldn't handle him and his goal was Salah-esq
Wolves 1-1 (GOAL)

I believe he provided all 3 assists in the Burnley 3-0 too…

 

[MadDad38]

I voted for Didzy. Even when he wasn’t scoring you could watch him bring a ball down or go on a run from midfield, or pick out a pass when others wouldn’t make themselves the time to do so.

A player that was always worth the price of admission.

 

[DifferentClass]

Hendo.

Second-greatest keeper I've seen play for us (first is Alan Kelly), knew he'd be a star when I first saw him at Shrewsbury in the 2018 L1 playoff final against Rovrum, was absolutely over the moon when we got him.

 

[Maidenhead]

The poll says "favourite" player so I voted for Bash.

I wouldn't claim that he was the best or the most influential player but ever since he "arrived" he was definitely my favourite player.

 

[Bradfordblade]

Could easily vote for 7 or 8 of them but Didzy for me. Such an intelligent Rolls - Royce of a player

 

[Sheffsteel]

JoC for me. He was superb and was only getting better. Huge shame what happened to him he/we will never see how far he would have got, England call ups etc. His injury was the start of what followed the year, never got close to replacing him

Might not be popular but the success from that season when we finished 9th was almost entirely about playing to players strengths.

Always said both O’Connell and especially Basham were so average as centre backs. That’s why no team showed interest buying them.
However playing the “overlapping centre back” role they were possibly 2 of the best in the world.

Regards Basham…..which centre backs are comfortable playing as right back and also in midfield
With unbelievable stamina that our central defender would often make runs into attack too…..remember Leeds away?

Regards O’Connell…another one with fantastic stamina….who was so comfortable playing as left back….overlapping Stevens.
How many centre backs in world football are so attack minded they could sprint down the left wing and whip in superb crosses?

Many say our “overlapping centre back” tactic was worked out.
That’s not accurate…..the season we finished 9th….all the top coaches including Pep studied our method of play but they couldn’t stop it.

The real reason why we struggled the following season was because we lost JOC for the full season and also lost Basham for large parts of the season and their replacements were decent central defenders but couldn’t play the specialist role of “overlapping centre back” as well.

That’s the reason why our main tactical weapon failed….it’s because JOC and Bash had practiced it for 3 years
and both had the full back background and also incredible stamina to carry it.

 

[Sheffsteel]

Could easily vote for 7 or 8 of them but Didzy for me. Such an intelligent Rolls - Royce of a player

Agree….overall my favourite player….at times even by PL standards his class stood out.
Don’t think fans of other teams in the PL realised just how good David McGoldrick was.
I’ve been watching us 50 years and in many ways he’s one of my favourite players….and it was so underwhelming when he joined us on a free transfer. Thought it was a master stroke playing him deeper in area between attack and midfield (known as the Duffy role).

My 2nd favourite player was Jack O’Connell. His interplay with Steven’s was superb.
The way they attacked as a pair and JOC whipped in some great crosses too.

3rd favourite Dean Henderson….he often didn’t have much to do but would pull out some great saves.
Also loved his personality and the way he built up a bond with the Blades, he’ll receive a great reception when he returns to the Lane.

 

[mattbianco1]

I believe he provided all 3 assists in the Burnley 3-0 too…

Great memory

 

[ThirdGenBlade]

JOC was why we got to the Prem, why we did as well as we did and why we came down.

If he had stayed fit we would still be there today.

UTB & FTP!

 

[MayorOJC]

Jack O'Connell. Would be captain of Villa or something now if he was still playing.