RedNBlueArmy Player of the Year
The Player of the Year award is up for grabs a week from today and the (predictable) shortlist has been revealed by the club. I say predictable as it was exactly the same as the one that I drew up last week and thus the list for the RedNBlueArmy Player of the Year Award is the same.
Once upon a time the RedNBlueArmy POTY T-Shirt felt like a curse. Neil Danns and Anthony Gardner claimed the first two awards and promptly departed the club. When Mile Jedinak claimed the award last year if he would have left this season’s award wouldn’t even be happening… maybe I would have closed down the website!
Alas, our skipper remained and along with the help of Carl, Dan and Dave we will run you through the candidates for this year’s RedNBlueArmy POTY Award:
The Favourites
Joel Ward
Presented by Daniel Smith (@DMSmith1987)
Key Stats
Played: 34
Goals: 0
Assists: 1
Tackles: 3.2 per game
Interceptions: 2.5 per game
Clearances: 4.7 per game
Who Scored Rating: 7.29
Choosing a Player of the Year is an extremely difficult task this season because by becoming the first Palace team to survive in the Premier League, arguably the whole team would be deserving of the accolade. However, there has been one player in particular that has consistently impressed.
"Ward has adapted to each with determination and confidence."
Joel Ward’s 34 league appearances have seen him play in a number of different positions across the team, and he has adapted to each with determination and confidence. At both right and left back Ward has come up against some of the best wingers in one of the best leagues in the world and has been more than a match for them. It has seldom been the case that Ward has come out of these battles worse off.
Even when moved into a central midfield position, admittedly not his first choice, he was able to handle himself. Although it was noticeable this was not his ideal position, his work rate and passion to do a job for the team saw him apply himself selflessly to help the squad out when it was needed, before moving back into his accustomed defensive role.
On achieving promotion, it was generally felt that the defence needed an upgrade. This was more focused on a centre-back, but no-one of worth arrived and so a “Championship” defence had to face Premier League attackers. However, after Tony Pulis’ arrival this same defence stepped up a gear to help claw the side off the bottom of the league.
Damien Delaney
Presented by Carl Davies (@Carl_Babs)
Key Stats
Played: 35
Goals: 0
Assists: 1
Tackles: 1.9 per game
Interceptions: 2.3 per game
Clearances: 9.3 per game (6th in Premier League)
Who Scored Rating: 7.15
Another candidate for RedNBlueArmy Player of the Year is the defensive rock that is Damien Delaney. If the award were measured for performances versus expectation then surely the big Irishman would get it.
"Very few of us saw the big man playing all but one game in the Premier League."
It seemed inconceivable to the Eagles faithful on that sun drenched day at Wembley that the journeyman centre back in tears on the pitch would play a pivotal role in the boys from SE25 retaining their Premier League status. 12 months earlier, Ipswich Town had released the then 32 year old from Cork and with no immediate options of a club he considered retirement. The collapse of the Anthony Gardner transfer brought about a lifeline to Delaney and he joined Palace on a short-term contract. The move worked out for both parties but very few of us saw the big man playing all but one game in the Premier League.
Delaney has adapted to life in the top league, twice burned for pace at Stoke back in August, he soon learned that he couldn’t play a high line or allow defenders to run at him. The first clean sheet arrived in November, 11 more since. It’s not just Damien’s ability that puts him in the running for POTY, Delaney is a leader, a warrior and a motivator. Put simply, you’d want him on your side in a battle and this has shone through in a season that has had many backs to the wall moments.
The achievement of the whole team has been amazing this season. The togetherness of the squad, the selflessness of all of the players has delivered something the experts said we couldn’t achieve, but the players believed and nobody epitomises that spirit more than Damien Delaney.
Other Contenders
Julian Speroni
Presented by Terence Ford (@rednbluearmy1)
Key Stats
Played: 36
Clean Sheets: 12
Who Scored Strengths: Concentration, Shot Stopping (reflexes), Saving Close Range Shots, Saving Long Shots.
Who Scored Weaknesses: None
Who Scored Rating: 6.8
Calling Argentina! Get this man to the World Cup! After playing every minute of this season, including 9 games behind a team that couldn’t defend an impenetrable city against an invasion of 8 year olds, only a handful of goalkeepers have conceded fewer goals in arguably the best division in the world. Turn your attentions to 2014 alone and only Petr Cech can boast a better goals conceded record that Jules.
"Julian’s form this season has been nothing short of exceptional."
Julian’s form this season has been nothing short of exceptional but not just in the areas that we have come to expect. His shot stopping has never been questioned and his reflexes are second to none. His season has been littered with world class saves, including his point blank stops from Hazard at 1-0 and Scott Sinclair at 2-1 were both incredible and match defining. Then there was his stop from Weimann of Villa. Palace leading 1-0 and with only 3 minutes on the clock, the Villa midfielder had got the ball past Speroni, however, the Argentine denied his momentum and managed to somehow fingertip the ball away from the goal, securing yet another valuable 3 points for the Eagles.
What has impressed me the most this season, however, is his newfound ability to command his area and consistently come and claim crosses.
"Desire to play for the club that he loves."
Obviously this is something that Pulis would have had goalkeeper coach George Wood working with him on and the arrival of Wayne Hennessey probably struck the fear of God in to our number one. But to be able to adapt in such a way this late into his career is testament to his character and desire to play for the club that he loves.
Speroni already stands alone as the all-time leader in Palace POTY wins with 3, won consecutively between 2008 and 2010. Will he claim what could be an unbeatable 4th crown at the official awards or his first RedNBlueArmy t-shirt?
Mile Jedinak
Presented by Terence Ford (@rednbluearmy1)
Key Stats
Played: 36
Goals: 1
Assists: 0
Pass Success: 72.1%
Tackles: 3.6 per game (tied 2nd in Premier League)
Interceptions: 3.7 per game (leading Europe’s top 5 divisions)
Aerial Duels Won: 4.9 per game (5th in Premier League)
Clearances: 3.8 per game
Who Scored Rating: 7.57 (Team of the Season)
Last year’s winner is once again in with a shout. He has come under a little bit of criticism this season for his wastefulness on the ball. Well that is a polite way to put it, his constant passing to the opposition would probably be a more fitting way to describe. But what he lacks in passing ability he more than makes up for in his ability to smash apart any midfield he comes up against.
"Nobody in the top 5 European Leagues has intercepted the ball more times than the Australian."
Nobody in the top 5 European Leagues has intercepted the ball more times than the Australian. In fact, nobody even comes close with Mile over 20 interceptions ahead of his nearest competitor. We all knew that he could read the game in the Championship but any doubts about whether or not he could do this against the big boys have been answered in an overwhelming fashion.
Further, his 3.6 tackles per game ties second in the Premier League standings for this stat and the only player above him only played 21 games and would have been unlikely to keep this level up for the entire season.
On top of this, his Who Scored Rating of 7.57 is good enough for the team of the season, slotting him alongside Gerrard, Hazard and Stirling. Not bad company at all!
Jedinak also captained his country for the first time this season and will go to the World Cup in the summer, representing the Red ‘n’ Blue Army in Brazil.
Statistically speaking there is only one winner but will he be sent off with his second consecutive RedNBlueArmy t-shirt AND Crystal Palace POTY award under his belt?
The Outsiders
Marouane Chamakh
Presented by Dave Moore (@DaveHRFC)
Key Stats
Played: 25(5)
Goals: 5
Assists: 2
Shots: 0.6 per game
Pass Success: 71.3%
Aerial Duels Won: 4.9 per game (3rd in Premier League)
Key Passes: 1.1 per game
Who Scored Rating: 6.94
I’ll be honest, when we signed Marouane Chamakh in the summer, I was annoyed. It appeared to me to be the archetypal signing that we should avoid; big wages, approaching 30 and with a poor record in recent years – I was expecting him to prance about a bit and put in no effort whatsoever – I could not have been more wrong.
"Marouane Chamakh is one of the most technically gifted players I have ever seen in a Palace shirt."
In a nutshell, Marouane Chamakh is one of the most technically gifted players I have ever seen in a Palace shirt. His first touch and awareness is second to none, while he provides a physical presence in the hole behind the main striker which has proven invaluable. It’s often a mark of a great player that when they are in possession they seem to work in slow motion, time seems to slow down when technically able players are dictating the play, and this is no different in Chamakh’s case.
At the start of the season, in the midst of our seemingly never ending run of defeats, we went away to Southampton and I witnessed one of the most frightening games of football in my life. Had Chamkah not been on the pitch it is no exaggeration to say that we may not have gotten out of our own half for longer than five seconds with the exception of set pieces; it was like watching ten players out of their depth and low on confidence plus the Moroccan.
"Chamakh has become more of a midfielder."
Chamakh’s deployment this season has been directly reflected in the fortunes of the team. At the start of the season, he was the lone striker with no one around him; it was futile and painful to watch. Since Tony Pulis’ arrival, Chamakh has become more of a midfielder, and his ability to link the midfield and the attack has been integral in our ability to create chances and get a foothold in matches.
The most pleasing aspect about Chamakh this season has not been the wonderful through-balls, the deftness of the first touch, but the industry, work rate and physical attributes he has also brought to the side.
In December 2013, Marouane Chamakh said: “We will do everything to stay up… I think we will stay in the Premier League. I don’t know why I feel that but I do. I feel something very good this season. If you want to make some money, bet for Crystal Palace to stay in the Premier League.”
I made that bet back in July, and I would gladly by Chamakh a pint out of my winnings for his contribution, whether he wins Player of the Year or not.
Jason Puncheon
Presented by Terence Ford (@rednbluearmy1)
Key Stats
Played: 28(4)
Goals: 7
Assists: 2
Shots: 2.3 per game
Pass Success: 78.1%
Key Passes: 1.5 per game
Who Scored Rating: 7.05
It is a fact that without his goals and assists we would probably have gone down. Alone his goals and assists account for a whopping 15 (35%) of our points this season and was directly involved in 32% of all of the goals that we scored.
"Punch looks set just to miss out on Goal of the Season."
Punch looks set just to miss out on Goal of the Season with his stunning effort in the demolition of Cardiff City a few weeks back. This goal was untypical of his finishes of this season as it caught the eye. What many people have seemed to miss though is the quality of his other strikes which upon first viewing look a little scrappy.
His first goal against Cardiff was superb. To delay and delay until a space opened up and then fire through the legs of the defender was genius, much like his goal against Stoke at Selhurst Park. His finish against Hull at Selhurst Park showed good technique and reactions to get to the ball first and powerfully lash home.
If Jason Puncheon had played like he has in the last 14 games in his first 14 games, then the awards night would have been a mere formality. He would have strolled off into the South London sunset with the award firmly tucked under his arm.
Unfortunately he didn’t.
His performances early on were uncommitted and people, none more so than me, were irate with him on match days and calling for his loan to be terminated in order to get someone else in in Januray. Punch then misses THAT penalty at Spurs and everything changes.
I have him in the outsider section as I feel that these early performances will hinder his chances of taking home the illustrious RedNBlueArmy POTY t-shirt.
With only the Palace fans in attendance at the POTY event able to vote for the winner, anything can happen. I got in trouble in 2012 for suggesting that Jonny Parr won on looks alone as there were more women at the event than I had ever seen before! But even if that was the case (it probably/definitely wasn’t) this year the female vote would even be split between the ridiculously good looking Joel Ward and Damien Delaney! It could go anywhere and I can’t wait to cheer on any one of these four deserving winners.
We do not have these restrictions at RedNBlueArmy so anyone can vote at the link below. The last two years I believe that it has been the biggest amount of votes cast for the accolade of Palace POTY. More of the same this year please!
Vote NOW!
If you have Twitter and would like the chance to win the signed and worn Jonny Parr shirt that I won at auction at the 2011/12 Player of the Year event, the year he won, then click here!
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