01 May 2021 07:35:55
So with the season coming to an end who has been your player of the year. The obvious candidate would be Bruno, but I think his performances have dropped off since January, probably due to fatigue.

For me the most consistent performer over the entire season has to be Luke Shaw. The signing of Tellas was a revelation, but not as many of us thought and Shaw's response to the competition for places has been outstanding and for me he is the player of the season.

1.) 01 May 2021
01 May 2021 08:35:08
Agree.

2.) 01 May 2021
01 May 2021 08:42:37
Bruno by a mile for me.

Had Shaw not played all season I don't think our position would be hugely different, not to say he hasn't been good.

Had Bruno not played we'd be down fighting it out with Arsenal.

3.) 01 May 2021
01 May 2021 08:57:27
Bruno is the main X factor of the team and the catalyst to our position in the league table.

25 goals from midfield is just unreal.

Hands down player of the year for me.

4.) 01 May 2021
01 May 2021 10:28:20
Phil Jones for me, closely seconded by Eric Baily.

5.) 01 May 2021
01 May 2021 10:20:15
Bruno. No question.

6.) 01 May 2021
01 May 2021 10:45:58
Shaw for me. Bruno was amazing but has dropped off in the last few months, I think we should expect more from him in big games. He's a fabulous player but needs to take that final step to be a great.

7.) 01 May 2021
01 May 2021 11:43:41
Luke Shaw has been excellent this season, no defender in the league has created more goal scoring chances than Shaw.

He has been top class, and is finally getting some recognition. It should be pointed out that he was the players player of the year in 2019, so maybe his team mates have had some appreciation for him for a while.

However, even though by his standards he has been quite for the past 5-6 weeks, you just can't look past Bruno Fernandes.

Most goals scored, most chances created, puts his foot in when needed. Always gives 100% and is probably our only genuine world class player. I mean the guy averages more tackles a game than Shaw, remind me which one is the defender?

He is the player we simply cannot do without. For that reason it has to be Bruno Fernandes.

8.) 01 May 2021
01 May 2021 12:11:35
But Shap, do you think his influence has diminished since the turn of the year. Up till Christmas it felt like we couldn't win a game without him. Since then both Pogba and Cavani have stepped up and now have arguably as much influence, if not more on whether we win games.
TRD made the point that he has scored 26 goals from midfield, which is unreal, but since the turn of the year he has only scored 3 goals from open play, the rest have come from the penalty spot. Cavani, Rashford, McT, Greenwood have scored more, even Tony has scored managed three goals in 2021.

9.) 01 May 2021
01 May 2021 12:34:34
Grim, Bruno also has 15 assists for us this season. Meaning he has had a direct hand in 41 goals this season for us.

We won 6-2 against Roma, Bruno got 2 goals AND 2 assists. Take them out of the performance and its a 2-2 draw at home, which has a very different feel to it.

While in recent games he has generally not been as influential as he was earlier in the campaign, just ask yourself where would we be if he was banging the goals in up until Christmas.

A season should be judged over it's entirety not just the last few weeks. Over the WHOLE season there isn't a player who comes close to having even half as big an impact as Bruno has had.

Generally I prefer to go down the "hipster" route and try and find the less obvious option. But some times you just need to stand back and accept the most obvious option is probably the right one.

10.) 01 May 2021
01 May 2021 13:48:09
Bruno by a country mile, Shaw done well but still defensively awful tbh.

11.) 01 May 2021
01 May 2021 14:18:07
In the big games teams try to mark Fernandes out of the game. He is who they worry about. I also think he is a key part of the mental resilience the team has developed. He is a leader, he plays with aggression and on the edge at times- but without picking up reds. Has to be Fernandes for me. But Shaw is a clear 2nd, he has had a phenomenal season at left back.

12.) 01 May 2021
01 May 2021 16:55:09
SHAW.

13.) 01 May 2021
01 May 2021 18:40:28
Gonna go for Shaw here. We all know what Bruno can do and the side is pretty poor without him. But Shaw has stepped it up consistently, a complete transformation and a belated return to the player he was at Southampton which we have rarely seen.

14.) 01 May 2021
01 May 2021 19:36:09
I think this seems to depend on your interpretation of what is is to be the player of the year.

If you feel it is the most improved or player who has surprised you the most then I think Shaw is a fair shout.

If however, you see player of the year as best and most important/ influential player then it really is impossible to look beyond Bruno.

I mean if Shaw was out for the season how would that have impacted us? Maybe we would be a few points worse off. But if Bruno had been out for the season? Well then I think we would be 10-15 points worse off at least.

15.) 01 May 2021
01 May 2021 19:57:50
It's not even a debate. Over the past season shaw has been one of the top fullbacks in the league, Bruno has been one of the top players on the planet.