--- Biggest Opposition Whinger(s) ---
There are a few contenders here. If we're anything to go by, you should be wary of judging a club by those who post on it's forum. However, even given that, both Brighton and Stoke fans excelled themselves in their sanctimonious twaddle.
Brighton fans complaining about a wealthy owner funding another club up through the leagues and Stoke fans complaining about what they consider to be dubious tactics from the opposition were breathtaking in their lack of self-awareness.
They still pale into insignificance in comparison with the winner though. A man who can't get through an interview without somehow shoehorning into it how he doesn't get to spend the kind of money you see spent at 'the likes of AFCB'. Except when he does of course, but then he conveniently forgets that.
The fact that VAR cheated us out of two results against them this season rankles even further. You don't hear him talking about that a lot though, do you?
Sean Dyche. He makes me want to puke.
--- Best AFCB PL Signing ---
There are a few contenders here. I know many would go Ake, a few may even point at Brooks (too early for me) or Lerma but I think it has to be Joshua King.
Let's not kid ourselves, his career was going nowhere when EH plucked him from Blackburn. He was the third choice striker at a mid-table Championship team, another player who had started at a big club but would likely never fulfill that potential. We can all reel off a list of those.
Nobody was clamouring to sign him. We didn't have to beat off a host of suitors and even Blackburn didn't seem all that bothered about him going, more concerned about losing Rudy Gestede to Villa.
The Wilson injury thrust him into leading the line and, although some on here were dubious, once he got going he was a machine for us that season. He's continued to be so ever since. We simply wouldn't still be PL without him and if he gets properly fit for the restart, he could be the catalyst that saves us.
All that for a reported £1 million. An outstanding piece of scouting and recruiting.
It feels like AFCBTV should have a tribute video showcasing some of his best bits but I couldn't find one. There is this if you skip to 58 seconds to get past the intro:
--- Worst AFCB PL Signing ---
There were some punts that didn't work out, Iturbe for example or Brad Smith. However, you take that as given that some will be misses at that price point. When you splurge a significant chunk of our budget then that's where we really have to get a return. Therefore, for me it comes down to between Ibe and Solanke.
In his defence, Ibe's second season for us was decent and, if he'd stepped up further from there, he'd have been a good signing. However the way he fell apart when Brooks arrived and then this season's off-field shenanigans when we were desperate for numbers feels like it's wiped that good work from his record.
As much as I'm desperate for Solanke to blossom like King it's hard to see it at the moment. Sometimes it looks like he doesn't believe in himself and if he doesn't how can anyone else? It's a shame as I get the feeling there is a certain amount of affection for him out there and if he could turn it around he could become a cult hero.
In the end I have to go with Ibe. There's still hope for DS whereas, however the season finishes for us, the Championship awaits JI when his contract expires.
--- Most Improved Player In The PL ---
Fraser? Big backward step this season. S Cook? Possibly. Adam Smith? Absolutely.
For a player that couldn't get in the starting XI in the Championship, once he had made his mark in the PL he seemed to get better and better. I'd highlight the Everton sub appearance as the moment that it all came together. You could argue he's actually turned himself into the best right back and left back currently at the club. That's some feat. His forward running makes us look a different side when he's fully fit and firing.
I'll be honest, I was rather dubious about him as a player in our promotion season. Shows what I know.
--- Best AFCB PL Player ---
Sheer consistency of performance when faced with a bombardment week after week means this has to go to Ake. He really should be plying his trade at a top six club and Chelsea were foolish not to re-sign him using their buyback clause.
I really hope it has now expired although with only two seasons left on his deal, should we stay up then no signing we could bring in would be more important than extending Ake's stay here.
--- The AFCB 5 Season PL XI ---
Picked based on what they've actually done for us in the PL, not what they might yet do.
Ramsdale
A Smith S Cook Ake Daniels
Fraser Lerma Arter Brooks
King Wilson
Subs: Boruc, Francis, Gosling, Surman, Stanislas, Afobe
Player I most wished had made a bigger PL impact: Marc Pugh. Forever an AFCB legend.
Note: Afobe wasn't brilliant but we needed a striker on the bench and he did score a few at the start. However, we really have done this journey on the back of two strikers so there wasn't a lot of choice for a sub.
There should also be an award for best tackle but apart from a S Cook coming up with a wonder tackle recently or Ake doing it pretty much every week I can't think of one individually right now. Feel free to add your own.