The Game Player of the Year

The Pars matchday programme gives its very own review. Please note that these are their views and not necessarily those of anyone involved at the Club!

It's that time of the year where supporters groups add up the votes, or reflect on the season past, and decide who their player of the year is going to be, so we thought we'd give you some help with our very own review.  Please note that these are our views and not necessarily those of anyone involved at the Club!

Goalkeeping
There was a fairly strong view among fans that goalkeeping was a problem for the club the previous season, particularly following the injury to Paul Gallacher. However that would not be the case this season with Gall - particularly before the troubles began - in great form. His departure has allowed a young Slovakian Michal Hrivnak to come in and he's not let anyone down with some great saves. Circumstances have meant that there are not any candidates in this category.

Michal Hrivnak

Defence
The goals against column might suggest that we should not have any candidates here either, but that would be unfair because the responsibility for defending is a whole team affair. The two Jordans, McMillan and Stephen, were given the responsibility for the full back positions at the start of the season and they got out of the traps quickly with some great performances in the early games. Jordan seemed to be thriving in his role as captain while Stephen showed how his calmness and experience could influence the defence. Unfortunately injury to Stephen disrupted the pairing, and then financial issues crept in which seemed to have an adverse effect on Jordan whose form seemed to shade a little.

 
Jordan McMillan and Stephen Jordan

Since then of course Ross Millen and Alex Whittle have come in and their youthfulness and willing to make runs from defence has been refreshing.
In contrast to the full back positions, the central defence has remained relatively static throughout, with the only change being the call up - a successful one at that - of Kerr Young to replace the now departed Andy Dowie.

  
Ross Millen, Kerr Young and Alex Whittle

Talking of Andy, he would surely have been a very strong candidate for Player of the Year had administration not intervened. At the point of his departure he was the only ever-present in the side this season and even still, with 35 first team appearances to his credit, will finish the season as the player with the highest number of starts. The hallmarks of Andy's play were his ability to play good football from defence, but also his ability to time his tackles to perfection, so for us, he is still in the frame.

Andy Dowie v Airdrie United

His long-time partner in central defence was at the start of the season a youthful 22 year old Callum Morris. Callum has somewhat bizarrely had to take on the mantle of being one of the seniors in the team, but in many ways that seems to have encouraged him to even better performances recently. Callum missed a stack of games through injury and suspension, but if you took the start of the season and the end of it, he would certainly be a candidate.

Callum Morris v Montrose

Midfield
The Pars midfield is the area of the park that has seen the biggest amount of changing throughout the season, partly because of injuries and suspensions, and partly because the manager has been striving to get the correct blend.

Joe Cardle and Ryan Thomson

There are honourable mentions for Joe Cardle, a huge favourite but who in any case didn't have his best season; Shaun Byrne and Chris Kane, up-and-coming midfielders who will surely be in line for this award in the future; and Ryan Thomson, a player who has occupied every slot from attacking to defensive and from wide left to wide right midfield (but more of Thommo later!). However, there are three midfield players who could conceivably be anyone's choice for Player of the Year.

Stephen Husband arrived at East End Park with a bit of pedigree but ran into some difficulty when his languid style was perceived by some fans as "not working hard enough". If that was the case, the problem has been rectified because a slimmer and fitter Stephen has been playing a major role, particularly in recent weeks, where his ability to find a pass is second to none and his nine goals have made a major contribution to the cause.

Andy Geggan

Fans do like workhorses and nobody exemplifies that better than Andy Geggan. Andy has had to chop and change between full back and midfield and has also more recently been injured but taking the season as a whole, Andy's ability to break up attacks, his tremendous work rate and combativeness make him a serious contender for our Player of the Year.

Josh Falkingham v Aberdeen

The third and final midfielder we wish to feature is our current captain Josh Falkingham. It was evident early on that this little midfield dynamo was going to take over Joe Cardle's badge as 'fans' favourite'. His enthusiasm and non-stop running, his courage for a wee guy, and his general willingness to get stuck have been his hallmarks. And more recently he has taken these to the rest of the team in his role as captain with great effect. Josh did unfortunately have a period of injury but he has come back stronger - and livelier!

Forwards
Jim Jefferies 'Dream Team' combination of Andy Barrowman and Ryan Wallace worked well at the start of the season with both players among the early goals. Andy led the line well and contributed goals too, but he hardly played after January due to injury. Nevertheless, with just one game to go he remains the club's top goalscorer on 14 goals this season.

Ryan Wallace, Stephen Jordan and Andy Barrowman

Ryan Wallace is one of the most skilful players at East End Park with a great first touch and good close control. He also has the ability to deliver good crosses and has been used to good effect on the right flank for that reason. Ryan has scored 12 goals this season so is currently the second highest scorer in the side. If there is a negative it's that while Ryan gets himself into great positions, he hasn't always taken advantage of them. But that said, he has been another of Jim Jefferies great finds and is a candidate for the Player of the Year.

Allan Smith

Of course with all of the changes that have taken place, younger players have now been given the opportunity and with players like Allan Smith developing at a rate of knots, the club should have a good choice next season. But the player who in many ways has made a huge impact up front is Ryan Thomson. Everyone always admired Ryan's ability to play an attacking midfield role but since he was thrust in as a makeshift striker, he has done the job superbly - five goals in five games since he took up the role is clear evidence of his success! With form like that at the end of a campaign he's bound to be in fans' minds for their choice.

Ryan Thomson celebrates a goal

Player of the Year
So what do we think?  Incredibly tight and difficult as always with so many good candidates, but our Player of the Year is going to be our current captain, midfielder Josh Falkingham.