I guess you`ve probably seen that Norwich City have opened the public voting for their player of the season.
Or as it`s now snappily known, ‘The Norwich City Player of the Season Sponsored by Falcon Tower Crane Services Ltd.’
The fact that the award is now being sponsored has been a source of huge upset to some on social media, where there has been much wailing and gnashing of teeth. Which is no surprise for the professionally offended on Twitter.
It seems that a few have struggled to understand that it`s not the Barry Butler Memorial Trophy that has been sponsored/re-named and that this trophy will be presented to the winner as usual. It`s no different to the FA Cup sponsored by?
Anyway, who are you going to vote for?
Well, if we`re honest it has to be James Maddison doesn`t it?
Madders has made more of a single handed contribution to our season than any other player, in my opinion. There have been plenty of other good overall performances from individuals such as Grant Hanley, Timm Klose and Christoph Zimmermann in the defence, Angus Gunn in goal and Alex Tettey in the centre but without Maddison`s 14 goals (and counting), we would probably be in a relegation scrap. It`s as simple as that for me.
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The fact that the lad has also provided 10 assists makes him even more valuable in both monetary and physical terms on the pitch.
Of the other players I mentioned, I think that Angus Gunn and Grant Hanley have made the most impact, if we are to talk about a top three.
Gunn hadn`t made a senior professional appearance before Norwich took a big gamble on him last summer and he currently has 14 clean sheets in the Championship.
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A big factor in that, outstanding saves aside, has been the arrival of Grant Hanley in front of him.
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Hanley has come from the same mould as the likes of Craig Fleming and Malky McKay. A no nonsense, giant central defender who has a surprising turn of pace. “You`ll never beat Grant Hanley” comes the cry.
So here`s my top three:
Maddison
Gunn
Hanley
What`s yours?
You can vote here at canaries.co.uk
OTBC