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Player of the Season nominations – David Murphy
David Murphy; the greatest comeback by a left back since Franck Queudrue won player of the season a year after being called “rubbish” by David Sullivan. Murph started the season as backup to regular starter Liam Ridgewell, but as Ridge’s form dipped in proportion to how much he wanted out Murphy’s stock rose to the point where as I write this I consider him to be a key figure to get fit to keep our promotion hopes alive.
It’s true we miss Murphy at the moment because he’s the only natural left back we have at the club (although it could be argued that that was the case even when Liam Ridgewell was with us) however it’s also true we’re missing his dynamism, his crossing and yes, even his defending. As a player he’s become reborn under Hughton; he seems leaner and fitter than he did last season and with a run of games in the side he’s shown why our former manager splashed out to bring him in from Hibs.
But it’s not just his getting forwards. One of the particular highlights for me this season was the last-ditch, inch perfect tackle to prevent Nathaniel Clyne scoring for Palace back in December. It was one of those tackles that had it gone wrong would have given away a pen and maybe a red card but Murph got it absolutely bang on. Murphy used to get turned easily by a winger running at him but he seems to have cut that out of his game and it’s his good form that has helped make the Blues defensive unit so strong in this division.
Against Peterborough at home, he showed us just how well he can do getting forwards as well; the burst of pace he used to get to the ball at the byeline was great to see and he capped it by crossing for King to score. His free-kicks have been useful, offering something different for a keeper to think about as he curls them in wickedly with his left foot.
Murph has also been on the goalscoring trail this year; his first of the season Blues second in Europe for fifty years as he headed home Beausejour’s corner to make it 2-0 against Nacional; the second being the tap-in at the far post to equalise (and send 5000 Blues fans into raptures) at the Jan Breydal Stadion in Brugge. He got his only league goal this season against West Ham, scoring from Burke’s corner to get us a point back in that game and his fourth and last goal was of course another tap-in from a corner – this time against Chelsea. Four goals from left-back isn’t too shabby, really.
He might not be the favourite of many fans but I think he’s won lots of people over with his displays this year – it’s not just that he’s been good, but he’s been consistently good, which is so important throughout a league season. Murphy is out of contract in June, and with things the way they are he may be uncertain where his career is heading. I hope he stays with us; he would be hard to replace.
David Murphy stats – 32(3) appearances, 4 goals, 2 yellow cards.
Voting will open on Sunday when all the nominations are up.
Tags: David Murphy
11 Responses to “Player of the Season nominations – David Murphy”
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I know we are banned from the transfer/loan market but are we allowed to renew/extend player contracts ?
We are, we’re not allowed new player registrations.
I was.
I don’t recall using much foul language if I’m honest. My daughter knows that football is different to normal life (she’s been to enough games), and that rules are suspended there language-wise – she knows that it’s not to be repeated outside a football stadium.
I must admit, I didn’t see a tall handsome man suited and booted in some elegant number. I’ll have to look harder next time.
Believe me, she tells me off when I swear, she knows the score.
There are several candidates including David Murphy,Curtis Davies and Chris Burke. Whatever happens for the rest of the season,it has been a sucessful season and these three players have been the catalyst. They have been consistant all season. My young player of the season is a straight fight between Jordan Mutch and Nathan Redmond. Chris Hughton surely has to be up for Manager of the Year cause hes worked miracles with one arm tied behind his back. Alex McCleish did us all a huge favour by quitting and did us a even bigger favour by going to the Vile and inflict his boring tactics on them. Well done to everybody at BCFC despite all the adversity financially. Proud to be blue.
Manager of the year? Someone’s given that to Gus Poyet
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/mar/12/football-league-awards-rickie-lambert
You sure it was me?
To hell with Davies v Murphy! We need to know whether our esteemed Mayor swears in front of juveniles and sings to himself… cliche-ridden commentaries? This cannot be allowed to continue, Almajir OUT!!
While i agree with your comments on murphy i think davies and caldwell have been fairly consistent at the back and would also put chris burke in the frame as when he gets the ball he always tries to attack. k.r.o.
Almajir we are all allowed the odd swear word you probably picked it up during mcleish times !
Hmm, I am not so sure about “Player of the season” yet. After all there is still quite a way to go.
However, I am going with the notion of mentioning again what miracles Chris Hughton worked with so little to start from. After all we have a competitive squad playing an attack-minded football. I really would like to see him staying for a while to maybe build something longterm (just have a close look on how some German teams managed to be successful after years of financial restraints), Hell, it gone so far that I would happily sell any player in the squad if neccessary to keep Hughton.
Deserves every credit for the way he has stuck at things at the Blues despite not being rated by a quite a few when he was signed. Also worth remembering he had a horrific broken knee cap in 2009. Despite that he has never seems to have played his face ( cf a certain full back who moved to the Baggies ) and is the sort of professional fans can relate to.