Surprise Packages

[SF_]

In your team this season...

We've had a few, Maxwell forcing his way into being our number one, Robinson has come on leaps and bounds and Ben Pearson is looking to be a key player...

But by far and away it has to be Jordan Hugill for us.

I imagine most fans of Championship clubs have never even heard of him and he was playing non-league and working behind a bar around 4 years ago. We picked him up for a small compensation fee from Port Vale and since then he's suffered a bad injury and had loan spells in League Two with Tranmere and Hartlepool.

He was limited to a few cup games and the odd 10 minutes here and there for most of last season but scored big goals against Bolton, Blackburn and Leeds. This year though, he's taken over from Joe Garner as our main man up top and he's been immense lately.

Strong as fuck, deceptively quick, good in the air and calm in front of goal. Scored 4 league goals in 7 starts so far, plus 1 in the cup. He just doesn't stop running and hassling.

Got to admit I had him down as a bit of donkey who is useful as a subsitute but he's proved he's more than good enough to play week in, week out at this level. Our number 1 striker this season, even if Beckford is fit (which is never).

 

[toshj]

Josh Clarke for us. On loan at Barnet last season - and we've not had an academy player make a dent in the first team for years - but he's holding his own and performing well. A lot of players hid in our defeat to Newcastle but Clarke put in a shift. Not many opposing players or management (or indeed fans) know much about him, so his pace and directness is causing a few surprises.

Other than that, Hogan is an obvious choice having only played 8 Championship games prior to this season, whilst Lewis McLeod is one of the leading assist providers in the league having not played at this level before... and missing the last 18 months through injury.

 

[MagpieBee]

Josh Clarke for us. On loan at Barnet last season - and we've not had an academy player make a dent in the first team for years - but he's holding his own and performing well. A lot of players hid in our defeat to Newcastle but Clarke put in a shift. Not many opposing players or management (or indeed fans) know much about him, so his pace and directness is causing a few surprises.

Other than that, Hogan is an obvious choice having only played 8 Championship games prior to this season, whilst Lewis McLeod is one of the leading assist providers in the league having not played at this level before... and missing the last 18 months through injury.

I'm not quite on the Clarke bandwagon yet. He's had a couple of decent games, but I'm forever feeling that he is out of position. Seems to invite a lot of pressure onto Colin, and for me his decision making in the final third is very poor.

Still, he's no doubt our best academy player in a while (Mawson aside) and he is doing ok, so I'll give him that.

Egan has been the biggest surprise for me. Hogan was so brilliant last year I think a lot of people were expecting him to continue it on to this season. Macleod has also been great. But Egan has just been phenomenal so far, a little less good in the past couple of games, but he is an absolute beast in the air, if we hadn't had his corner goals in the first few games I think the season could have started a very different way and we could be under a lot of pressure again. For a big lad he is deceptively good with his feet, and has put in a number of last ditch slide tackles to save a goal or chance.

He's been the real surprise for me, thought we were getting a good player, but he's been magnificent.

 

[Haillay7]

Hardly an unknown entity within English football but I'd say Shelvey for us. As soon as Rafa came in last season Shelvey was dropped and appeared to be everything that was wrong with our squad. After the shaky start at Fulham and Huddersfield he has since become ours and one of the leagues best midfielders.

In a team that is rotated left right and centre, he's become of the only players to have seemingly guaranteed his place (Even Gayle is rested to keep him fresh). Really surprised with how he's got his head down and is one of the main reasons our form has excelled recently.

 

[Walkley_Owl]

He still looks like fucking Gollum mind.

 

[Haillay7]

He still looks like fucking Gollum mind.

Goaldemort

 

[joethegill]

I'm not quite on the Clarke bandwagon yet. He's had a couple of decent games, but I'm forever feeling that he is out of position. Seems to invite a lot of pressure onto Colin, and for me his decision making in the final third is very poor.

Still, he's no doubt our best academy player in a while (Mawson aside) and he is doing ok, so I'll give him that.

Egan has been the biggest surprise for me. Hogan was so brilliant last year I think a lot of people were expecting him to continue it on to this season. Macleod has also been great. But Egan has just been phenomenal so far, a little less good in the past couple of games, but he is an absolute beast in the air, if we hadn't had his corner goals in the first few games I think the season could have started a very different way and we could be under a lot of pressure again. For a big lad he is deceptively good with his feet, and has put in a number of last ditch slide tackles to save a goal or chance.

He's been the real surprise for me, thought we were getting a good player, but he's been magnificent.

John could easily have been signed by a Premiership team in the summer and not look out of place.

What a man.

 

[Reaper]

Danny Ward been a real surprise so far for us 6 goals and in the top 5 in the league for goals charts despite us being bottom of the table and playing in front of a shite midfield. Cant see us hanging on to him longer than January if we keep our form and he keeps up his.

 

[JJH]

Tammy Abraham for us obviously.

Best finisher we've had in my lifetime by a country mile.

 

[MJA]

Tammy Abraham for us obviously.

Best finisher we've had in my lifetime by a country mile.

Did see him miss a sitter the other night though

 

[JJH]

Did see him miss a sitter the other night though

Aye, been off colour the last two games mate.

 

[MJA]

Aye, been off colour the last two games mate.

Form is temporary.........

 

[Walkley_Owl]

Aye, been off colour the last two games mate.

Fucking racist

 

[Magic]

Most of our team has changed so it has to be a couple of the signings. Wasn't sold on the idea of Kyle Bartley originally but he's been excellent so far...probably our best player so far. Similarly Jansson who I didn't have a clue about - rather than being negative - but these two are the best centre-halves we've had in a long time.

Again I wasn't too excited by Eunan O'Kane joining but he looks a proper player too, so our signings have actually turned out pretty good so far...obviously the most expensive one in Kemar Roofe isn't looking like good business though!

 

[Walkley_Owl]

ICYMI - Kyle Bartley is a fucking bastard pig c***

 

[Luke_1884]

Alex Pearce for us. Signed last year on a free from Reading, didn't make a league appearance all year and ended up out on loan at Bristol City towards the back end of the year.
From an outsider looking in he's been incredibly patient in waiting for his moment and he's took it with both hands. Since Shackell's been out "injured" Pearce has hardly put a foot wrong and one of our most consistent performers, so he's in small company.
Sounds like a complete professional and seems to be stepping in to the Jake Buxton unsung hero vacancy pretty well.

 

[City169]

Abraham is the obvious one, so after him I'd say Magnusson.
Yes he was signed from the Italian champions, but I wasn't expecting him to adapt to the Championship so quickly (45 very poor minutes against Wigan on opening day and then a dominating second half). Still has a few lapses but fully expect he will play at a higher level.

 

[El Guapo]

Lukas Jutkiewicz

I think he has been great, far surpassed my expectations. Very good in the air, brings others into play, knows how to finish (contrary to his stats elsewhere). 4 goals in his last 6 after not scoring in two years. We’ve some decent options now in Jutkiewicz and Che Adams after solely relying on Clayton Donaldson for goals. Absolute certainty that we’ll at the very least extend the loan in January.

 

[Madejski]

Despite the fact we've started well, I don't think we've really had too many surprise packages. John Swift has been about as good as we could have expected, but with him being a England U21 international and a very good goal scoring record last season at this level was not much of a surprise.

Just think in general our players have not really been underachieving this season. Someone like Garath McCleary was our best attacking player a few years ago, and after a poor season last year is back in form again.

I'd guess the main surprise is that our back-up right back Watson has looked as good as Gunter in his appearances so far this season.

 

[SMH]

Shaun MacDonald has been fantastic for me since he's joined us. I first saw him against Fulham in September and people were slagging him off. Well he was MOTM in that game and he's not had a bad game since from what I've seen. He's a huge upgrade on Max Power who has been by far our biggest disappointment.

Also an honourable mention for Craig Davies. His role has been mainly to come on with 10 minutes to go when we're losing and try to get a goal. He did just that against Birmingham and has actually looked good when given what little game time he's had.

 

[Walkley_Owl]

Steven Fletcher

Did expect much from him but he's led the line well and notched a few vital goals.

Other than that, well nowt

 

[JJH]

Steven Fletcher

Did expect much from him but he's led the line well and notched a few vital goals.

Other than that, well nowt

Biggest surprise for your lot has to be how wank Abdi has been doesn't it?

 

[Walkley_Owl]

Biggest surprise for your lot has to be how wank Abdi has been doesn't it?

He's not been "wank" he's just been bang average and played out of position but Kieran Lee makes up for it.

 

[PaulWolves]

None whatsoever so far. With all the changes at the club we're pretty much on a par with last season. Suppose Conor Coady has been better than last season as I didn't think he would get a look in at all. He will eventually be frozen out though and be a permanent bench player.

 

[Costello]

Based on the last month or so, Baldock and Sidwell.

Baldock's never really been able to find much scoring form during his two years at the club, for a host of reasons, and many fans (including myself) had hoped we'd find an upgrade on his type of striker in the summer, but he's finally starting to deliver of late, adding a poacher's instinct to the selfless running/stretching of defences we'd been used to seeing. Forming a fruitful partnership with Murray upfront.

Sidwell, because he's approaching 34 but you really wouldn't know it. Non-stop hassling of opponents and breaking up play, and just generally dependable all round. Has stepped up (alongside Norwood) in the past few games to ensure we haven't missed Kayal & Stephens.. which I never thought I'd hear myself say.

Bong's probably worth a mention too, who rarely gets any recognition outside of Brighton (except for his name). Getting back to the sort of form he showed at the start of last season, and already has 4 assists to his name, which I'm guessing is the highest in the league for a full back?

 

[markwwfc1992]

Paul Gladon is the best player in this tinpot league.

 

[The Mustard Tiger]

Sam Gallagher. He didn't have the best season for MK Dons last year (obviously personal circumstances would have taken their toll) and I didn't think he'd do much for us. But he's done well for Rovers so far this year. Fingers crossed it continues.

 

[Rammy]

Nobody. They're all fucking shit.

 

[Another Walkley Owl]

Kieran Lee, stepped up from last years impressive form, very underrated player, as the song says he can do anything. Perpetual motion, adding goals and composure to his game. Sam Hutchinson been fantastic again this season, Lees is a good Central defender but Hutch is better. If it wasn't fir his injury problems early in his career would surely be plying his trade at a top PL club. Neither are really surprise packages to Owls fans, but may be ti fans of other teams in the league.

 

[Bartonyellow]

Jackson Irvine. Even though he looks like a poor mans Andy Carroll.