COLIN Doyle’s raucous rendition of “Don’t take me home” was unlikely to give Michael Buble too many sleepless nights.
But the keeper’s enthusiastic attempts at singing on stage, backed by an equally willing chorus from the rest of the City squad, summed up the joy and the fun of the player-of-the-year awards evening two years ago.
Last season’s event was a more downbeat affair, given the plummeting fortunes of the team at the time, but was still a nice diversion from the ongoing misery on the field.
Matt Kilgallon deservedly swept the board as the most reliable performer in a campaign that nose-dived from around the sacking of Stuart McCall.
Flashback: Kilgallon dominates awards night
This time around there is no such occasion; plans for an awards evening seemingly swept under the carpet by the club.
It’s probably the right decision given the doom and gloom of what has gone on. Finding a highlights reel to accompany the arrival of the players would have been a sizeable challenge.
But it does deny one worthy winner his spot in the limelight.
Reputations have been battered by City’s descent back to League Two. Not all, though.
For Lewis O’Brien, season 2018-2019 will be one he can remember as his breakthrough into the senior game.
He’s certainly smashed it on the big stage.
Not surprisingly, O’Brien topped the pile in the Telegraph & Argus for City’s most consistent player of the season.
Based on the individual marks out of 10 for each week, O’Brien’s average tally of 6.76 was well clear of the rest.
His energy and enthusiasm refused to be dimmed by the struggles around him.
A young player with less mental strength could easily have been buried under the clouds that have hung over Valley Parade all season. Instead, O’Brien has continued to play with the freedom and enjoyment of someone having a kickabout down the park.
Huddersfield will be lucky to get back a battle-hardened midfielder ready for action. His progress will be watched eagerly – and enviously – from across the M62.
Our award winner usually averages around the seven mark or above. The fact O’Brien is below that highlights how City have under-performed.
He is clearly the best of a mediocre bunch and there will be no arguments that Paul Caddis has finished second on 6.58.
Brought in by David Hopkin in November, Caddis had not kicked a ball in anger for five months since leaving Blackburn. But he proved an instant hit as a steady defender and calming influence within the squad.
City fans quickly took to the Scot’s proper values on the pitch and he has been exempted from the criticism that has flown around.
But with Kelvin Mellor ousting him for the last couple of games, it will be interesting to see how Caddis fits into Gary Bowyer’s plans.
In third, we have Jack Payne (6.52) but that is based on his form before the January transfer window.
If the poll had been taken just after Christmas, Payne would have pipped his Huddersfield team-mate to the title.
But after City’s concerted efforts to keep him by significantly increasing their percentage of his wages, the midfielder’s star has waned.
Since being named man of the match in three of the four Christmas wins, Payne has gone missing in action.
David Ball (6.34) took a while to find his feet as Hopkin shunted him round various roles. But the Rotherham man came into his own during that mid-season purple patch.
He provided the stand-out moment with that last-gasp winner over Shrewsbury in January but then tailed off again before a knee injury has kept him stuck on the sideline.
Kelvin Mellor (6.32) has shown in recent weeks how valuable he could have been if fit. After a slow start, when he looked off the pace, Mellor grew into the season – only for injuries to continually hamper his progress.
Anthony O’Connor (6.30) started the season with several strong displays but he has made some costly errors throughout the campaign.
Likewise, Richard O’Donnell (6.18) looked okay when first stepping into Doyle’s boots in the City goal. But there have been a number of preventable goals that can be put down to the keeper.
Ryan McGowan (6.08), before heading back to Scotland, and Nathaniel Knight-Percival (6.02) have been equally culpable in a defence that has always looked shaky at set-pieces.
George Miller (6.11) had his moments but has never nailed down a regular spot with as many sub appearances as starts.
Connor Wood (5.95) seemed happier going forward – and scored a belting goal against Accrington – but has been found out with his defensive duties. Adam Chicksen (5.93) has also struggled at left back, a position that Bowyer will be sure to fill.
Much was expected of Eoin Doyle (5.81), when he was announced on the same day that Charlie Wyke joined Sunderland. But despite being leading scorer on 11, the Irishman has not made the attacking impact that was needed.
Josh Wright (5.80) similarly came with a decent reputation but has found it tough to deliver. That’s even more the case with Hope Akpan (5.71) given his Championship pedigree but he’s never put the stamp on midfield you would have hoped for.
Sean Scannell would have been right up there – without spending half a year in the treatment room. With a 6.60 average, he has shown since coming back last month what might have been.
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