The season is over. After last weekends epic end of season finale, with both Town and Barnsley surviving on the final day after a 2-2 draw in which neither team took part in the final two minutes, it's all over. Here I analyse the season and hand out a few awards, have a read and let me know whether you agree or not...
Overall performance - SUCCESS
How anyone can say this season was anything but a success is beyond me. We were promoted via the League One playoffs last May with a poor team which was carried for the most part by Jordan Rhodes, and which improved defensively only when Sean Morrison was brought in on loan. Rhodes left for Blackburn with only three games of the season gone while Morrison stayed at Reading for the entire season. We therefore played pretty much all this past season without our top goalscorer and best defender from last season.
Replacements were brought in with Anthony Gerrard and Joel Lynch signing to add defensive steel, and James Vaughan and Jermaine Beckford to increase our options in attack. Lynch looked like he was the answer to our defensive problems at the beginning of the season but his form dropped off massively, while Gerrard never really impressed. Vaughan and Beckford both proved their worth to the team at the end of the season by scoring the goals that kept us up, but unfortunately they both spent large spells on the sidelines.
Then you have the other signings we made last summer. Paul Dixon, Keith Southern, Adam Clayton, Oliver Norwood and Sean Scannell arrived during Simon Grayson's first and only summer in charge. Of those, only Adam Clayton managed to maintain his place as a regular starter throughout the season. Paul Dixon looked good in spells but never really got a proper run in the team, Norwood impressively but tailed off, Southern added steel in midfield but spent a long time out injured, and Scannell failed to impress until the back end of the season.
Simon Grayson was also sacked during the season. Dean Hoyle took a little too long to act in my opinion, letting us go 12 matches without a win before finally relieving Grayson of his duties. Mark Robins was eventually appointed with the tough task of getting the best out of a depleted squad and turning our season around. The former Barnsley manager did a superb job to make us a much tougher team to beat and secure some massive wins at the back end of the season which eventually ensure survival.
Despite selling our biggest asset (albeit for £8 million), sacking our manager after less than 12 months in charge, and going on a 12 game run without a win, we still achieved our ultimate goal of survival. That's what it all comes down to - our goal at the beginning of the season was to be in The Championship again next season, and we will be. In what was probably the toughest season in English football second tier history, we outfought five teams and eventually finished on a very good 58 points, four vital points above the relegation zone.
Replacements were brought in with Anthony Gerrard and Joel Lynch signing to add defensive steel, and James Vaughan and Jermaine Beckford to increase our options in attack. Lynch looked like he was the answer to our defensive problems at the beginning of the season but his form dropped off massively, while Gerrard never really impressed. Vaughan and Beckford both proved their worth to the team at the end of the season by scoring the goals that kept us up, but unfortunately they both spent large spells on the sidelines.
Then you have the other signings we made last summer. Paul Dixon, Keith Southern, Adam Clayton, Oliver Norwood and Sean Scannell arrived during Simon Grayson's first and only summer in charge. Of those, only Adam Clayton managed to maintain his place as a regular starter throughout the season. Paul Dixon looked good in spells but never really got a proper run in the team, Norwood impressively but tailed off, Southern added steel in midfield but spent a long time out injured, and Scannell failed to impress until the back end of the season.
Simon Grayson was also sacked during the season. Dean Hoyle took a little too long to act in my opinion, letting us go 12 matches without a win before finally relieving Grayson of his duties. Mark Robins was eventually appointed with the tough task of getting the best out of a depleted squad and turning our season around. The former Barnsley manager did a superb job to make us a much tougher team to beat and secure some massive wins at the back end of the season which eventually ensure survival.
Despite selling our biggest asset (albeit for £8 million), sacking our manager after less than 12 months in charge, and going on a 12 game run without a win, we still achieved our ultimate goal of survival. That's what it all comes down to - our goal at the beginning of the season was to be in The Championship again next season, and we will be. In what was probably the toughest season in English football second tier history, we outfought five teams and eventually finished on a very good 58 points, four vital points above the relegation zone.
Player of the season - JAMES VAUGHAN
Honourable mentions - Alex Smithies, Adam Clayton
There was only ever one candidate for this award. James Vaughan correctly won the award at the end of season ceremony, becoming the first ever loanee to be names Player of the season, and gets the nod from me as well. We've had some good loanes in the past such as Peter Ndlovu, Leon Knight, Robert Page and Sean Morrison, but none even come close to the impact which Vaughan has had this season. He arrived on loan from Norwich at the end of August to a mixed reaction, but by the end of the season he'd cemented his place in Town folklore.
Vaughan finished the season as top goalscorer with 14 goals, and scored the vital goal against Barnsley which secured our Championship status. He had a terrible record before arriving in West Yorkshire so represented a but of a gamble, and he played only two thirds of our games, but that was enough game time for him to make a massive impact on our season. His commitment and workrate is unmatched and has a positive impact on those around him, as well as making him a nuisance to opposition defenders. He scored pivotal goals against Leeds and Barnsley, while netting a hat-trick against Bristol City.
The only player who ever came close to threatening Vaughan was Alex Smithies. The academy product had his best season to date in goals, making some world class saves at vital times and improving his command of the penalty area significantly. Before the season I wasn't convinced that he'd cut it at this level but he's definitely proved me wrong. Adam Clayton deserves a mention for his early season performances and for his all-round good performances whenever he played central.
Vaughan finished the season as top goalscorer with 14 goals, and scored the vital goal against Barnsley which secured our Championship status. He had a terrible record before arriving in West Yorkshire so represented a but of a gamble, and he played only two thirds of our games, but that was enough game time for him to make a massive impact on our season. His commitment and workrate is unmatched and has a positive impact on those around him, as well as making him a nuisance to opposition defenders. He scored pivotal goals against Leeds and Barnsley, while netting a hat-trick against Bristol City.
The only player who ever came close to threatening Vaughan was Alex Smithies. The academy product had his best season to date in goals, making some world class saves at vital times and improving his command of the penalty area significantly. Before the season I wasn't convinced that he'd cut it at this level but he's definitely proved me wrong. Adam Clayton deserves a mention for his early season performances and for his all-round good performances whenever he played central.
Honourable mentions - Leeds (away), Wolves (away)
This was just as easy as the Player of the season award. There have been some brilliant away days this season, and it's been a pleasure to watch better teams inside better stadiums having suffered so many years away from the second tier. Particular highlights were away wins at Elland Road and Molineux. It's always sweet to beat Leeds but to do so on their own patch with a late winner was extra special. The away win at Wolves was when many people really started to believe Town could stay up, with two second half goals from Jermaine Beckford sending a fantastic away following into raptures.
They were great matches, and Sheffield Wednesday and 'the towel' also deserve special mention, but the winner was always going to be the epic final game of the season. It had everything - the typical nervy Town start, the genuine fear of relegation, the pain of twice going behind, the joy of twice equalising, the ecstasy of final day survival, and the once in a lifetime opportunity to share all those emotions with a fellow set of supporters. Everyone in attendance witnessed something truly unique, and it was the perfect outcome with Peterborough United suffering the heartache of relegation while both Yorkshire clubs survived.
They were great matches, and Sheffield Wednesday and 'the towel' also deserve special mention, but the winner was always going to be the epic final game of the season. It had everything - the typical nervy Town start, the genuine fear of relegation, the pain of twice going behind, the joy of twice equalising, the ecstasy of final day survival, and the once in a lifetime opportunity to share all those emotions with a fellow set of supporters. Everyone in attendance witnessed something truly unique, and it was the perfect outcome with Peterborough United suffering the heartache of relegation while both Yorkshire clubs survived.
Honourable mentions - Peterborough (away), Charlton (home)
It says a lot about how awful we've been at times this season that horrific away defeats at Leicester and Watford don't even make my shortlist for this award. The winner, or loser, of this award, goes to the Tuesday night humiliation away at Nottingham Forest. From a personal perspective the journey to the game was a nightmare, having to rush from work and getting stuck in rush hour traffic on the awful ringroad. Things got even worse once inside the City Ground, as despite going in front we were truly hammered, the game ending 6-1 when it could have easily been double figures. Perhaps what makes this game worse is that it was Mark Robins first league game in charge of Town, and to many it signaled what could be to come.
Leicester and Watford were horrid performances, but decent days out, whereas the two matches I've given honourable mentions to were horrid on both accounts. Peterborough, similar to Forest, was a desperate rush after work only to see Town deliver a terrible performance and lose convincingly in what was to be an omen for future performance after a good start to the season. The Charlton game was a huge missed opportunity at a time when we really needed to start picking up home wins - an early goal for the Addicks was followed by a ridiculously dull game in which we never even threatened to cause them problems.
Leicester and Watford were horrid performances, but decent days out, whereas the two matches I've given honourable mentions to were horrid on both accounts. Peterborough, similar to Forest, was a desperate rush after work only to see Town deliver a terrible performance and lose convincingly in what was to be an omen for future performance after a good start to the season. The Charlton game was a huge missed opportunity at a time when we really needed to start picking up home wins - an early goal for the Addicks was followed by a ridiculously dull game in which we never even threatened to cause them problems.
Goal of the season - BECKFORD V WOLVES
Honourable mentions - Vaughan v Leeds, Hammill v Birmingham
This award went to Sean Scannell for his individual effort at Molineux at the end of season ceremony, but that goal doesn't even make my top three. For a while I considered giving the award for the winner against Leeds, scored by James Vaughan. A great dash down the right by Hunt followed by an inch perfect pass and a calm finish to send the Town fans crazy, brilliant. Adam Hammill also deserves a mention for his solo goal in the dying stages of the home game against Birmingham. Getting the ball out wide, he started a mazy run to the edge of the area where he placed a great finish into the far corner.
The winning goal however belongs to Jermaine Beckford, who could have also been considered for great finished against Wolves away and Millwall at home. His winning goal however came early in the campaign during what I believe was our best performance of the season. Jack Hunt with another run down the right flank before putting a great ball into the box which Beckford finished in stunning fashion. He showed brilliant confidence and technique to hammer a volley into the goal from around ten yards out, showing his clear class which was to become vital at the business end of the season.
Honourable mentions - Sean Scannell, Oliver Norwood
This award goes to Adam Clayton. He was on the shortlist for Player of the season but had he showed a bit more consistency, or just played in the centre of midfield more often, he might have pushed Vaughan a lot harder. The former Leeds midfielder is by a distance our best midfielder, but has spent a large portion of the season playing on the right instead of in a central position where he's much more effective. I genuinely feel that if we sign another wide player and Clayton gets to play in his favoured position more often than we might see one of the best midfielders at Town in many years.
Sean Scannell and Oliver Norwood were the two other contenders for this award. Norwood has undoubted ability on the ball, and can pick a pass as well as anyone in our squad on his day. However, his days became few and far between and he finished the season as a bit-part player. If the Northern Ireland international can regain his form, and importantly his confidence, we could have a real player on our hands. Sean Scannell is another player who impressed at times, especially towards the end of the season, but he needs to work on his end product. If he can deliver better balls into the box, and stop running down so many blind alleys, he might reach the potential everyone saw in him as a youngster at Palace.
Sean Scannell and Oliver Norwood were the two other contenders for this award. Norwood has undoubted ability on the ball, and can pick a pass as well as anyone in our squad on his day. However, his days became few and far between and he finished the season as a bit-part player. If the Northern Ireland international can regain his form, and importantly his confidence, we could have a real player on our hands. Sean Scannell is another player who impressed at times, especially towards the end of the season, but he needs to work on his end product. If he can deliver better balls into the box, and stop running down so many blind alleys, he might reach the potential everyone saw in him as a youngster at Palace.
Honourable mentions - Jack Hunt, Peter Clarke
Perhaps this award is a bit harsh, but things can't always be positive! I've been very vocal about my thoughts on Jack Hunt and Peter Clarke this season, but neither of them take this award. Hunt looks likely to move to pastures new this summer, and if we can secure a fee of £2 million or more it will be fantastic business - his attacking prowess in my opinion doesn't make up for the liability he is defensively. Club captain Clarke remains over-rated in my opinion as his head goes down much too quickly when things go wrong, and once again he was responsible for more individual errors leading to goals conceded than any other player.
Instead, my most over-rated player award goes to Oscar Gobern. The praise thrown his way upon his return has been nothing short of ridiculous. Our form did turn around when he recovered from injury, but that was more down to Robins getting his messages across than Gobern making any huge contributions. There is a player in there, but for me he's much too slow in possession, gives too many freekicks away, and is way too weak for a man of his size. If he can bulk up over the summer and become a bit less passive on the ball he may play a key part next season, otherwise I feel people might start to see past whatever they currently see in him.
Instead, my most over-rated player award goes to Oscar Gobern. The praise thrown his way upon his return has been nothing short of ridiculous. Our form did turn around when he recovered from injury, but that was more down to Robins getting his messages across than Gobern making any huge contributions. There is a player in there, but for me he's much too slow in possession, gives too many freekicks away, and is way too weak for a man of his size. If he can bulk up over the summer and become a bit less passive on the ball he may play a key part next season, otherwise I feel people might start to see past whatever they currently see in him.
