Player Of The Season

BY Chris Kyriacou

With the final home game coming up at the weekend and with the Play-offs seemingly out of reach, it is time to think about who has stood out for the Cherries this season.

It has been quite an unbelievable season at Dean Court, better than anyone could have expected, so many players have stepped up to the plate and deserve to be recognised.

The player of the season will be announced before the match on Saturday against Nottingham Forest, you can vote for your favourite player here: http://tinyurl.com/mmaud2v.

Here are Essential Cherries players of the season (In no particular order).

Steve Cook

Cook has been phenomenal this season, the cultured centre back can both play football and defend with the best of them.

Cook is assured on the ball and can be relied on to build the play up from the back, he is also fantastic in the air and has provided countless last ditch tackles to save the team.

A premier league defender in the making, Cook has had a fantastic season and he topped it off with his sublime overhead goal against Ipswich on bank holiday Monday.

Steve Cook getting ready for battle

Simon Francis

Ever present Simon Francis has had the season of his life, strong in defence great in the air.  Francis has also provided a real attacking threat down the right hand side with his overlapping runs.

He has grown in confidence and stature as the season has progressed and is looking very accomplished at Championship level.

Lee Camp

Lee Camp joined the Cherries with the reputation of being an experienced seasoned campaigner in the Championship and he certainly lived up to his billing.

Camp has controlled and commanded his defence all season, he signed in October on a loan deal from West Brom, and the move was thankfully made permanent in the January transfer window.

 It is safe to say he has been a rock for the team and steadied the defence at a time we needed it most.

Lewis Grabban

Lewis Grabban has scored twenty goals this season and has run his heart out for the team.

He has been simply fantastic and scored the vital goals that the Cherries needed to stay in the division.

 Grabban has now struck up a partnership with new boy Yann Kermorgant and I am excited to see what the pair will produce together next season.

My shortlist is no way extensive and on a whole the squad has stepped up to the Championship and it was very difficult to choose.

In midfield Harry Arter, Eunan O’Kane and Matt Ritchie have all had good seasons along with Marc Pugh, Ryan Fraser and Andrew Surman.

When involved club captain Tommy Elphick along with Charlie Daniels, Ian Harte and Elliott Ward have all been very good defensively.

It will be interesting to see who gets your vote on Saturday afternoon