So, after documenting 49 Town games this season (I missed the first two Charlton and WBA cup matches), here are the key numbers, building up to the big finale:
A total of 2151 votes were cast, the highest turnout being 84 vs Oxford away, the lowest 23 for the debacle at Wimbledon.
39 players pulled on a Town shirt this year, which must be close to a record, and undoubtedly the first time the squad has given the shop more business than the fanbase.
Only one player failed to trouble the scorers, the marginal Harry Parsons from his two sub appearances, followed by the equally peripheral Haines (1 from 1 sub) and Matthews (2 from 1 start). No shame there.
More telling is the list of players with the lowest number of MoM votes from at least 10 apps. Unheralded grafters, or consistent underwhelmers? You decide. From the bottom up, I'm looking at you Messrs:
- Stevens (0.38 votes from 16 apps)
- Hunt (0.62 from 21)
- Palmer (1.04 from 25)
- J Grant (1.17 from 23)
- Baudry (1.18 from 17)
*For those left wondering, Taylor Curran polled a respectable average 3.83 votes from his 12 apps. (Only 12? It seemed like more.)So now we move onto Town's big star performers for 20-21. There are several ways of cutting this:
The highest percentage of the popular vote in any single game tells one story:
- 82% for Lee Camp in the 3-0 defeat at Peterborough
- just edging in ahead of 81% for Tom Broadbent on his day in the sun at the Kassam
- and 80% for Mark Travers in the 1-0 defeat at Hull
The most votes for an individual performance, admittedly skewed by the record attendance, also goes to:
- Broadbent at the Fence End, with 68
But in the end, it's a marathon not a sprint, so three measures reward some sort of consistency across the season:
Most MoM awards in the season:
- Matt Smith (6 from 25 appearances)
- Lee Camp (5 from 11)
- Scott Twine (4 from 25)
Most MoM votes gained throughout the season:
- Jack Payne (177 from 44 appearances)
- Matt Smith (167 from 25)
- A Grant (129 from 35)
Highest average votes per appearance (min. 10 apps):
- Lee Camp (8.82 average votes from 11 appearances)
- Matt Smith (6.68 from 25)
- Tom Broadbent (6.58 from 19)
All of which leads me to the conclusion that, as returning officer, I declare the TEF Player Of The Year 2020-21, is:
Matt Smith Reg >