OWTB Player of the Season 2015/16

[Stevie_J]

The OWTB Player of the Season 2015/16

Let's face it, for the most part, 2015/16 wasnt a great year to be a Latics fan. That is, until John Sheridan performed heroics in lifting the club clear of the relegation zone, to make up for the disastrous spells of Darren Kelly's and David Dunn's management, and securing survival for yet another year in our long-time home, League One.

Similarly, it probably wasn't a great one for the players. Players who had previously shown a lot of promise have underperformed, some slipping completely out of the picture. Most have been inconsistent. But one or two pulled out the stops to aid Sheridan's rescue mission. This is the rundown to the 2015/16 OWTB Player of the Season.

This award is based upon the Man of the Match polls on OWTB throughout the season, covering all competitions. Using the same system as in the past three years, points are awarded for each game as follows:

• MotM: 4pts;
• 2nd: 2pts; and
• 3rd: 1pt.

For players tied at the end of the season, the number of MotM awards would dictate who finishes first, but this did not come into play.

Last season's award was won by Mike Jones. Many would have expected him to be an influential player this term but he was in fact way outside of contention and has now been released by the club. Carl Winchester, Liam Kelly, Joseph Mills and Danny Philliskirk made up the remainder of the top five last time around but, whilst they all remained at the club (Philliskirk leaving for Blackpool in January), only one was in the running for this season's prize.

So, let's start with a run through of the Player of the Month winners, not least because I failed post the PotM threads throughout the season. The monthly awards went like this:
August - Timothée Dieng
September - Timothée Dieng/Dominic Poleon
October - Brian Wilson
November - Mark Yeates
December - Timothée Dieng/Danny Philliskirk/Rhys Murphy
January - Mike Jones
February - Matty Palmer
March - Aaron Amadi-Holloway
April - Joel Coleman

As in previous seasons, the PotM was spread across a number of players, but Timothée Dieng picked up the award on three occasions (two of those tied).

Which brings us to the season's top five for Player of the Year. This year's award was won with by far the lowest points total of the four years weve been using the above scoring system. The points were spread across an astounding thirty-three players. Here's the top five countdown:

4. (tied) Joel Coleman 22pts (4 MotM awards) (0.65pts/appearance)
The young goalkeeper had a torrid start to the season, making costly errors and seemingly struggling for confidence before being dropped to the bench. He was reinstated between the sticks following Sheridan's appointment and played a major part in the clean sheets and wins which lifted Latics clear of the relegation zone.

4. (tied) Matty Palmer 22pts (4 MotM awards) (1.57pts/appearance)
Latics's standout performer this season. Palmer was brought in on loan by Sheridan and was often head and shoulders above his teammates and opposition. The young midfielder recorded the highest pts/appearance score in the top five and Latics lost only three of the fourteen games he appeared in, winning seven. He was recalled early from his loan spell and returned to the Pirelli Stadium to help the Brewers earn a second consecutive promotion.

3. Brian Wilson 24pts (5 MotM awards) (0.8pts/appearance)
It's not too long ago that Latics were openly looking to ship out Brian Wilson. But the experienced defender has answered many of his critics, playing his part in the defence that didn't concede too many goals, even when Latics were finding points hard to come by, and kept a good number of clean sheets in the second half of the season during Latics's recovery.

2. Liam Kelly 27pts (3 MotM awards) (0.61pts/appearance)
Third place last time, one better this. However, Liam Kelly records lower pts, MotM and pts/appearance scores compared to last year and the lowest pts/appearance score in this year's top five. Arguably a slightly disappointing season for the club captain who struggled to impose himself at times but who remains a key player on his day with the ability to chip in with important goals.


And the winner is...

1. TIMOTHÉE DIENG 41pts (6 MotM awards) (0.98pts/appearance)
The dependable midfielder-cum-defender picks up this season's award. The Frenchman's versatility, discipline and consistency over 42 appearances put him well ahead of the chasing pack. He is currently in discussions with the club over an extension to his contract which expires next month.

Congratulations to Timothée Dieng, OWTB's Player of the Season for 2015/16.


Finally, a few special mentions (no, not Connor Brown) for loanees Aaron Amadi-Holloway, Curtis Main and Cameron Dummigan.

Holloway recorded a 1.7pts/appearance score for his ten loan appearances (W4 D4 L2) in a Latics shirt, the highest of any player this season, with three MotM awards. Main (0.94 pts/appearance) and Dummigan (0.63 pts/appearances) also turned in influential loan spells, with Main declining Doncaster's request to recall him and scoring three particularly important goals.

[oafc-latics]

I feel like Eoghan O'Connell has been seriously overlooked here.