Liam Bridcutt
Apps 16 (1) Goals 0
Best Outing – Ipswich (H)
I think some supporters taint Bridcutt because of where he has been, not where he is. They expect with Forest, Leeds and Sunderland in his locker, that he will be completely infallible and never make a mistake. When he does misplace a pass, the first thought of the critic is ‘he shouldn’t be doing that with his class’. Poppycock.
He got some stick for his opening 15 minutes against Peterborough, and maybe rightly so, but he makes this team fire. He is the conduit through which our football is directed, he holds the defence and attack together, the pivot around which this beautifully oiled machine functions. Do you doubt me? Then think about this: the last five games we have lost, in all competitions, were Shrewsbury, Sunderland, Plymouth, Portsmouth and Doncaster. Guess which first-team regular was the only one to miss all five matches? Yup. Liam Bridcutt. So please, next time he misplaces a pass, don’t come at me doubting his ability, because whichever stats you choose to read into, results are the ones that are virtually iron-clad.
Ben Daniels says – His mistakes always seem to be magnified. If ever a missed pass leads to a goal then it seems to come from Bridcut. But…he does so much sweeping up and anticipating that we don’t always appreciate that for every slip-up, many scoring opportunities are snuffed out before they happen.
Mark: A-
Tayo Edun
Apps 24 (2) Goals 2
Best Outing – Northampton (H)
I will never forget Tayo’s debut for the club last season. Immediately I saw something in his ball control and distribution that I liked, and I felt he would be a player who could influence our midfield for years to come. That is why I feel he has been so strong this season – he’s flipped positions and adapted quickly to become one of our strongest performers of late. He took some stick on social media for ‘not being a proper left-back’, but therein lies the beauty of Tayo Edun – he might not be, but he’s adapted and developed into a truly fine attacking full-back.
He’s actually getting better and better with every game, having started the season on the fringes of the first team, he’s refocused and proven himself a vital member of the first-team squad. With most players, their best performances have come earlier in the season, but Tayo’s was the other day against Northampton where he showed great attacking intent, created a goal and defended very well too. I will accept he isn’t a left-back by trade, but he is doing a hell of a job of looking just like one who plays for a table-topping League One side.
Dan Norton says – Tayo is the most improved player to me, I still think I’d like to see him in midfield, but he’s got better and better at left-back.