[Albion] Most improved player so far this season?

[Couldn't Be Hyypia]

Lots of debate yesterday about this at the game. What do you think?

Criteria for this debate, most improved since the start of this season.

I went with Bonanotte. Tracks back, tackles harder, stronger on the ball, more impact on the game.

 

[The Optimist]

Buonanotte seems like the obvious choice. Who else was mentioned in the debate yesterday?

Edit: For some reason I forgot about Gilmour. So between Gilmour and Buonanotte or am I still forgetting someone?

 

[Rookie]

It’s Gilmour. From last season to this is like a different player. Facundo has grown into the league but Billy has become the player Scotland were praying for

 

[One Teddy Maybank]

Van Hecke.

Massive strides since last season.

Literally terrible at Leicester and Newcastle, his outstanding performance against Haaland gave him massive confidence, and since then has been excellent.

His performances at Forest when we were down to 10 sticks in my mind, as one of the standout performances of any player this season.

 

[raymondo]

All good shouts above...and don't forget Pedro! His value has doubled.

 

[Couldn't Be Hyypia]

Buonanotte seems like the obvious choice. Who else was mentioned in the debate yesterday?

Edit: For some reason I forgot about Gilmour. So between Gilmour and Buonanotte or am I still forgetting someone?

I didn't want to limit the debate, but Gilmour, Buonanotte, van Hecke, Adingra and Joao Pedro.

 

[portslade seagull]

Van Hecke.

Massive strides since last season.

Literally terrible at Leicester and Newcastle, his outstanding performance against Haaland gave him massive confidence, and since then has been excellent.

His performances at Forest when we were down to 10 sticks in my mind, as one of the standout performances of any player this season.

Agree with this

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

RDZ improves our players.

The biggest improvement has been Buonanotte. He's made astonishing progress from a callow looking youth player to someone looking like he'll keep senior players out of the starting line up when all are fit

But Hinsh has to be in the conversations as well. Again, an incredible breakout season

 

[Couldn't Be Hyypia]

Not easy, is it!!

 

[DJ NOBO]

Buonanotte is the biggest improver. He was out of his depth in the early days , now he has genuine first team value and can do things he couldn’t before.

Closely followed by Adingra, who is improving fast.

WBG has become a solid first team starter. His game was always there though, he just needed a run in the team.

Van Hecke was already dominant, for the most part, last season. Indeed he was a quality player in his Blackburn days.
Teddy Maybank correctly mentions his mistakes last season - he still makes them. He probably always will with the high risk way we play. As would any central defender.

As for Hinsh - no improvement at all. He was born world class.

 

[One Teddy Maybank]

Buonanotte is the biggest improver. He was out of his depth in the early days , now he has genuine first team value and can do things he couldn’t before.

Closely followed by Adingra, who is improving fast.

WBG has become a solid first team starter. His game was always there though, he just needed a run in the team.

Van Hecke was already dominant, for the most part, last season. Indeed he was a quality player in his Blackburn days.
Teddy Maybank correctly mentions his mistakes last season - he still makes them. He probably always will with the high risk way we play. As would any central defender.

As for Hinsh - no improvement at all. He was born world class.

He only started 3 games and came on in 5.

2 of those starts he was dreadful.

Edit - actually didn’t he start the last game at Villa as well?

 

[raymondo]

RDZ improves our players.

The biggest improvement has been Buonanotte. He's made astonishing progress from a callow looking youth player to someone looking like he'll keep senior players out of the starting line up when all are fit

But Hinsh has to be in the conversations as well. Again, an incredible breakout season

Of course Hinshelwood has improved so much! It's a good list - well done to RDZ.

 

[WATFORD zero]

He only started 3 games and came on in 5.

2 of those starts he was dreadful.

Edit - actually didn’t he start the last game at Villa as well?

I was about to post the same. But Dunk said in an interview a couple of weeks back that JPVH was most improved player and who are we to argue

He also said that he felt sorry for JPVH because RDZ was on his case every minute of every day when he first arrived

 

[DJ NOBO]

He only started 3 games and came on in 5.

2 of those starts he was dreadful.

Edit - actually didn’t he start the last game at Villa as well?

I think that’s harsh. He wasn’t terrible over the course of the whole games. The whole team was a shambles.
I saw a few of his Blackburn games. Lower level, but even so he was already a man mountain .
His weakness was the odd brainless moment. Still the case now.

 

[raymondo]

It's a good thread, and highlights one of RDZs major strengths (improving young players).

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

Facu.

 

[BevBHA]

Danny Welbeck. From very much a rotation player last season to our best striker.

 

[Peppermint Tea]

Great question and thread…

If in terms of improvement to “known” players, I would go for Facu, with JPVH in second place and WBG in third.
If in terms of (largely) unknown to now, I would peg Hinsh and Joao Pedders equally, with big, bad Bart picking up the bronze because he looks better by the game.

 

[Weststander]

Hinshelwood.

 

[Weststander]

Facu.

Same to you