Ok, so, we're almost done and I reckon we'll need a few of these type threads to keep us going during the close season so here's one to start with.
Not going to be like the Chronic and say a player has to have been in'x' amount of games before being considered. Plus, this will be very subjective because some players have been steady all season whilst others have gone from shite to the opposite end of the scale and others, still, have been brilliant but not here for long.
So, it's not necessarily about the 'best' player in terms of technique/skill, etc.
I was undecided as I was writing this post...until I remembered Perez.
The twat.
He got a bit of stick but nothing more than loud groans when he inevitably missed or lost possession and, by the Christmas of his final season, some audible relief when he was subbed. So, what was his response when he finally found a bit of form? Celebrating with the crowd? Humility, even, at finally not being a massive disappointment? Nah, not for him. Fingers in his ears and a big scowl on his face. And don't try to tell me it was tongue-in-cheek because, at first, it absolutely wasn't.
You may say he was entitled to that response. Like I say, my opinion is that it just made him a twat.
Fast forward a couple of seasons to Joelinton. Absolute dog turd for two years (aye, there were reasons, but, it's a hard fact to dispute) and on the end of dog's abuse on social media and getting a hard time on the pitch, too (boos when his name was read out, cheers if subbed-basically a laughing stock)...and his repsonse when he finally found form? Well....I don't need to tell anyone on here but it's basically the opposite of Perez when, actually, you couldn't really have blamed him if he'd done a Perez.
His commitment to the team, his work ethic, his positivity, the impact he's had since Howe put him into midfield, all set against the background of his previous however-many-games it was?
It's Big Joe for me.