Three Players of the Season

With voting for the club’s annual Barry Butler Player of the Season award set to open in the coming weeks, it is time to start discussing who is a worthy winner. I take a look at the top three:

Robbie Brady

City’s £7million summer signing Robbie Brady is, for me, an absolute shoe-in to win. While many Norwich fans, including myself, felt that Alex Neil had somewhat overpaid for the ex-Hull man’s services, he has been in a class of his own at times. Whether playing left-midfield or in his less natural left-back position, Brady has consistently put in performances of a high-quality and the aforementioned £7million figure is now looking to be one of the bargains of the season - especially when you consider that we sold Lewis Grabban for the same price! With his blistering pace, deadly cross and direct dribbling ability, the Republic of Ireland international has proved to be one of our most dangerous attacking threats, while his goals against West Ham (twice) and the decisive one in last weekend’s huge victory at West Brom have demonstrated his evident striking expertise. There are not enough superlatives to do Brady justice - he just simply exudes class.

Jonny Howson

There is only really one word to describe Jonny Howson: under-rated. Since joining City back in January 2012, the ex-Leeds man has consistently been one of our best players, yet very rarely seems to attract any sort of media-attention outside of the club. While, upon our last relegation, we failed to hold onto the likes of Robert Snodgrass and Leroy Fer there was no such struggle in retaining the services of Howson - despite having two more years of Premier League experience and, in my opinion, being better than the other two, there was no publicised interest in the player. Anyway, Howson has continued to be City’s secret little gem and is undoubtedly up there with Robbie Brady as the club’s most prized asset. His passing ability is the best at the club, while his ability to drive the team forward with lung-busting dribbles from midfield is a priceless quality. Despite largely being played as a deep-lying midfielder, Howson, with his incredible shooting ability, also represents one of our most potent goal-threats. This was all to well demonstrated at Stoke in January as he drove an exquisite 20-yard volley into the top corner of Jack Butland’s net - without doubt City’s goal of the season.

Gary O’Neil

Having been nothing more than a bit-part player in last season’s Championship campaign, not many Norwich fans would have imagined that Gary O’Neil would play much more of a role this season. Naturally, it was assumed that the 32-year-old would continue in his established role of squad player - at best. This couldn’t have been more from the case, however, as O’Neil has been an absolute revelation and, in particularly in recent weeks, is now one of the first names on the City team-sheet. While never a world-beater, O’Neil provides the side with energy and tenacity in abundance. He is an all-round nuisance to the opposition, covering every blade of grass, breaking up-play, keeping the ball ticking over in the middle of the park and allowing the likes of Jonny Howson and Wes Hoolahan greater attacking freedom. Sometimes his eagerness to throw himself full throttle into challenges leaves City fans (and opposition players) with our hearts in our mouths, but he wouldn’t be the same player without that added bite to his game. With O’Neil’s contract up in the summer, it is surely only a matter of time before we hear the news that he has been offered an extension, for it is the very least that his performances have warranted.