April Championship Manager / Player of the Month

[MagpieBee]

Manager Nominees:

Chris Hughton (Brighton, 16 from 18 points available - unbeaten)
Neil Warnock (Rotherham, 10 from 21 points available)
Dean Smith (Brentford, 19 from 24 points available)
Aitor Karanka (Middlesbrough, 18 from 24 points available - unbeaten)

Some pretty good records there for one of the hardest months, I think it'll probably go to Chris Hughton, but given we started the month just above the relegation zone and in real trouble, and have ended it up in 10th, despite playing half the month with our best player injured, and half the rest of the squad out for the whole month anyway, Dean Smith's got to be in with a shout.

Player Nominees:

Michael Keane (Burnley, 4 conceded in 6 games, 2 scored)
Anthony Knockaert (Brighton, 4 goals and 4 assists in 6 games)
Scott Hogan (Brentford, 5 goals and 2 assists in 5 games, only on the pitch for 93 minutes after 19 months out injured)
Jonny Russell (Derby, 4 goals, not sure how many assists or games)

It's surely got to be Knockaert or Keane (I'd vote for Keane given his two goals got them late equalisers vs Brighton and Boro) as both have been superb this month, but Hogan has just been fantastic for us. If we'd had him to team up with Gray last year we may well have gone up automatically. He's a great finisher, works really hard, and his movement is superb. Given he's been out for 19 months I'd love him to get it, but as I said, Keane will probably win it.

 

[mpmbee]

I'd give it to Hogan but I am biased. To come back from 2 years out and score 5 goals in 90 odd minutes pitch time is brilliant. You can see so far why he was signed to be the number one choice striker ahead of Gray.

 

[MagpieBee]

I'd give it to Hogan but I am biased. To come back from 2 years out and score 5 goals in 90 odd minutes pitch time is brilliant. You can see so far why he was signed to be the number one choice striker ahead of Gray.

We could have been scarily good last season had we had him all year. His movement and finishing are far superior to Gray, though Gray's pace was a massive asset. Could have been a great pairing...

 

[MagpieBee]

Knockaert and Hughton won

 

[mpmbee]

Another 2 goals for Hogan today, he's fucking brilliant!

 

[MagpieBee]

Another 2 goals for Hogan today, he's fucking brilliant!

7 goals in 6 games at a rate of a goal every 22 minutes or something like that.

Crazy.

For us to finish 9th given all the injuries we've had, the terrible start and free fall till about 7 games ago, is just amazing.

We've got a pretty bad squad as well at the moment. A couple of good additions and I'm very confident for next season (still don't rate Smith though)