Time to get back into the nitty-gritty, and go over each player in our squad; a squad that has gotten us back into the big time. We’ll start with the men between the sticks.
Carl Rushworth
46 Appearances
17 Clean Sheets
01 Assist
With Oliver Dovin out for the long-term with an unfortunate ACL injury, Brad Collins seemingly intent on self-sabotage, and Ben Wilson just not quite being up to the required standard; one of the main remits for our summer recruitment was getting a quality goalkeeper. With the benefit of hindsight, it’s safe to say we achieved that goal with the loan signing of Carl Rushworth.
Despite a start to the season that left some spectators a little unconvinced, with a mistake in pre-season and an unneccesary concession at home to QPR, any doubts about Rushworth’s ability were allayed as the campaign progessed, to the point where he is many fans’ choice for Player of the Season. Furthermore, every supporter is clamouring for his loan spell to be made permanent.
An outstanding shot-stopper, Rushworth is also a very commanding presence in his box, with immense confidence when claiming crosses. As is the norm these days for high-level goalkeepers, he is also very comfortable with the ball at his feet which is further backed up with good composure when put under pressure.
Should the club manage to get a transfer deal over the line, it would be exciting to see how Rushworth continues to improve at the next level. I mean, if Brighton were willing to let him leave, then what does that say about the quality of the goalkeepers in the Premier League? Personally, I think Rushworth is more than good enough to make the step up now.
Season Rating: A+
Premier League Squad Level: Starter
Ben Wilson
03 Appearances
01 Clean Sheet
Wilson’s personality and attitude has meant that he has been more than happy to bide his time whenever necessary, and has been able to mostly repay the faith shown in him over the years.
Ben Wilson is a player that would be happy to stay at the club, even as a third-choice goalkeeper, for next season at least. Dovin’s injury means that should the club replace Collins for the first half of the next campaign, they would probably want someone to cover the first-team berth, and rotate Wilson in for cup matches.
That was part of my assessment of Ben Wilson last summer, and it’s hard to add much more to it this time around. Only ever seeing action in our typically short cup runs this term, Wilson had very little to do across all three matches. Where Ben Wilson’s value has been this season is in the dressing room and at the training ground; places that are nigh-on impossible for me to comment on. His manager Frank Lampard however has paid tribute to Wilson’s contributions to that effect (along with fellow stalwarts Jake Bidwell & Jamie Allen) so he must be doing something right in that regard. As a career backup goalkeeper you have to have the mentality and personality to make something of yourself, so for Wilson to be such a popular member of the team amongst both the fans and the squad itself is testament to his nature.
But what next for Ben Wilson? I’m sure he’d be happy to spend at least another year in the same boat he has been in for the past twelve months; however it’s a question of wherther he would let that boat set sail or bring it back to shore. Rumours that he wouldn’t seek a move elsewhere and would rather move into a coaching capacity suggests the latter, and hopefully he would be good enough at that so as to continue his time at the club in that manner. Whatever happens to Ben Wilson over the summer, he has become a much-loved personality which in itself would take some replacing.
Season Rating: D
PL Squad Level: Last Resort
Oliver Dovin
00 Appearances
A quick turn on the ball combined with something of a naughty challenge from the Sheffield United player resulted in an ACL injury that means we sadly won’t be seeing Dovin in action until roughly around Christmas time. On the positive side, it means that he will at least be here next season. It ultimately is testament to his improvement and perceived ability that following his injury, many fans had written off our season, such is his emergence as a key player in this side.
What I had assumed would be a Christmastime return to some level of involvement for Oliver Dovin sadly never transpired, as the goalkeeper would suffer at least one setback hampering his recovery. Ultimately, as the club bolstered their outfield ranks in January, Dovin would end up being de-registered from the squad list for the league. With that said, it is unlikely that Dovin would have been able to make an appearance this season had his rehabilitation been more timely, given that we were knocked out of the FA cup immediately thus giving him no real point of re-entry.
I included Dovin in this review as I wanted to make a case for his status in the team going into the new campaign. As quoted above, Dovin had previously developed to the point where he was considered a key player whose injury was season-defining, so the appointment of Rushworth was not in spite of his ability. He has just been a victim of cruel circumstance, wherein should the club retain Rushworth’s services going forward it places Dovin almost at a career crossroads. At least, should he not emerge as our starting goalkeeper come August, he will at least have the opportunity to get fully fit. The question then becomes how trusting he is of his own body, and whether or not he still has confidence in himself – something that maybe is more pertinent of a player whom had found himself out of the team under Robins’ stewardship due to needing to develop the mental aspect of his game.
In a perfect world, Dovin will be able to partake in pre-season and at least provide competition for Rushworth or whoever else is recruited in, whilst going on to get back to the level he was at before that moment at Bramall Lane that set him back so harshly. Realistcally, depending on what stage in his re-establishment he is at, the club may seek to loan him out to a Championship side and perhaps bring in a more experienced goalkeeper to provide backup to our first-choice – this of course also depends on (or factors into) what happens with Ben Wilson. Whatever transpires, it would be nice to see Dovin get back to his best for us, as the thought of the club having both him at 100% as well as securing Rushworth is a very comforting proposition indeed.
Season Rating: N/A
PL Squad Level: Second-choice
Next time around we’ll assess the defence.
Biamou's Bike 