Here we take a look at who the supporters might be casting their votes for as Saints player of the year in our first year back in the top flight.
I have to say that in past years there has usually been one stand out candidate for the title, this year there are perhaps as many as 5 or 6 who are in the running and that has to say a lot for the team spirit and work ethic that has got us through a tough and difficult season and that includes the work done by Nigel Adkins who should not be forgotten in all of this.
Anyway here are those that I consider might be in the running for the player of the year accolade, in no particular order of merit, but Im going to start at the back and work up field.
Artur Boruc - There are those who would perhaps say that Boruc hasnt played enough games to be considered for the title, at time of writing he has played 17 league games, so could possibly hit 21 by season's end, Andrew Davies won it in 2007/08 season having played 22(1) league games for the club, so that shows that sometimes its not just about quantity but quality.
In Boruc's case that is perhaps more so, with him its not just been about his own personal performances which have been excellent since his return to the team in January, but the fact that he took over in a problem position, put bluntly if we had continued with either Gazzaniga or Davis in goal, for various reasons we would have been relegated, Boruc has not only brought a few good saves to the table, but in the way he commands his area he has brought in the main stability into a creaking back four, this being the case his impact has perhaps affected the team more positevly than any other player.
Nathaniel Clyne - Will feature strongly in the voting and has added something to the right hand side of defence, however for me he is still a little bit short of being the complete player and before anyone starts shouting I do mean a "little" bit short rather than a long way.
We have to remember that it is his first season in the top flight and he like many others is still coming to terms with what is needed and developing, but he is learning fast and if he doesnt win it this year Im sure he will be a strong contender next.
Luke Shaw - Undoubtably come in and played well for a kid of his age, but as good as many of his performances have been they have to be put in perspective, Shaw will undoubtably go on to play for England and will hopefully be a mainstay of the side for many years, but the temptation for many is to put him on a pedestal and that wont help him as a player, Luke haw is the best left back we have but needs to be nurtured and taken out of the firing line sometimes and thats perhaps why he isnt ready for the player of the year title, naivety due to inexperience mean errors and thats no reflection on Luke, show me a 17 year old in football that would be any different, but it does mean as good as he has been and at times he has been very good, its just a little short of being player of the year standard.
Morgan Schneiderlin - Perhaps the fans favourite for the title and if he did get it then he would be a worthy winner in every aspect, not to mention here is a player that is about to complete his fifth season with us and who we have seen mature into a very good player, but as i will explain in the next consideration, Morgan has been the heart of our midfield, he has been excellent, but if he is 99.9% then Jack Cork is 100%, for me its that close.
Jack Cork - In the early stages of the season Cork looked like being the forgotten man, he missed the pre season build up due to being with the Olympic squad and that meant that it was November before he made a league appearance, however it was perhaps no coincidence that his introduction saw a four match unbeaten run and he bought a balance to the centre of midfield that had been lacking, for me I would pick Cork ahead of Morgan Schneiderlin for Player of the year, ok he doesnt have the goals that the Frenchman has scored this season, but he does bring a mobility in the midfield and personally I think the wafer thin difference as to why Cork should get the nod ahead of Schneiderlin is that I think Cork would be just as effective without Morgan, but Morgan's play has really been helped by the work Cork does.
Jay Rodriguez - The outside bet for the title, for much of the season J Rod has had a thankless task, berated by some fans who saw him as replacing Rickie Lambert and that for them was a crime, he quietly got on with just playing in the team wherever asked to and in whatever role, but after Christmas he seemed to have a bounce about him that wasnt there before and the experience of the past few months has stood him in good stead, we still have to remember that he is a square peg in a round hole in our formation, but he has adapted well and now is a vital cog, his surging runs have not only created goals for himself but others too, I think that ultimately he wont figure that strongly in the voting, but he has played a vital part and is the future of this club.
Rickie Lambert - Super Rickie Lambert has featured in every league game, 31 starts and 3 as sub and it cant be denied he is the talisman of the team, 14 league goals is no mean feat either and it should be remembered that two years ago many questioned his ability to play in the Championship let alone the Premier League, but he has adapted well to both.
But this year I think as good as he has been he is not quite up to the consistent play that either Cork or Schneiderlin have produced, as always he has made vital contributions that have won us matches, but this season i feel our success (hopefully) in staying up has been about team spirit rather than the endeavors of one man, Rickie cannot be knocked, but in the Premier league sometimes by nature of the game ie Man Utd away etc you are going to find yourselves on the back foot and a lone striker is going to be isolated for long periods and out of the game, therefore he wont have the consistency due to this tactic that a central midfielder will have as they are involved in the action more.
So there we have it, seven contenders, I dont think there has ever been so many options in a season that I can remember, Ok the odd season when to be blunt everyone was as poor as one another, but not as good, but as I said, for several of these players its not been about doing it all season but in patches rather than consistently week in week out, that being the case there could be only two contenders and they are Cork and Schneiderlin and I cant see the vote being much other than them, however I would still throw in Boruc as an option as perhaps he is the player in the entire team who has had the most impact and there will be those that will say that player of the year should also reflect that.
So the first choice for many will be consistency or impact ? if its the former than it has to be either Jack or Morgan, if its the latter then its Artur. I dont know where my vote will go yet, but I do know it will be one of those three.