Our 2025/26 Team of the Season

Hello, welcome to the #1 Championship Podcast. The second tier I'm Ryan Dilk and ripped the season now over is the beginning. Of a world season for us starting with the second tier team of the season. We go through every position and select who has been the best in that role. Seven different teams are represented across 11 players. Some walked in others had a lot more competition but who's better place to say who's been the best and two championship versions. So let's get underway and recognise in the best of the best. This is the second tier. And as always I'm joined by the Eiffel Awards to my second tier awards. It's just in pitch. Good day to you Ryan. Let's make sure everyone knows what are the actual awards when it comes to the championship ladies and gents and you can tell it's award season Justin. You've got the paparazzi outside. We're walking down the red carpet. Everyone's dressed like a character from the Hunger Games. It's time for us to honour the best of the best and that's what we're doing here today. And I love doing this every single year. I think these two episodes are two of my favourites because it's a chance for us to highlight who has been the best and we possibly watch more championship football than any normal human being should. So a pretty well place to give our takes here aren't we? Yeah, absolutely. Like I'll echo what you said. I do love doing them. It's a lot of fun and it's one of them I think we we tend to I wouldn't take go left field with our choices because that's not really the right way to describe it. But we we like to look at things a little bit differently than maybe the official awards. Well, yesterday is our team of the season. Tomorrow we'll have the remaining second tier awards. So play of the season, manager of the season, various other bits and pieces as well. But today we're looking at who has been the best of the best in each of their respective positions. Just a knife. You've had tough negotiations to nail down our best 11. We weren't actually too dissimilar with our thinking in fairness. We agreed on almost all of it. We'll be giving some honorable mentions along the way as we go through each position. Just a warning as well. This episode may get a bit stat heavy at times because it ultimately does help us justify each selection. Quite a boring episode if we just said, I'll show you my left back recording is good. And the final thing to mention is we've gone for a 433 formation just to get the admin out the way. But let's kick things off just in with our goalkeeper. Herve we got between the sticks. There's probably may not be a surprise for most. It is Carl Rush, what's the of Coventry City? The man who's probably had more mentions on this show over the past season than any other player in the division. Yeah, bang on. And yeah, firstly, let's get out the way that he's kept the most clean sheets in the league. But for me, I don't think generally speaking, clean sheets are the best measure of a goalkeeper in a weird way. But if we're going to be honest, each one who's proven fairly decisive on several occasions for Coventry into the them winning points. And that's not a slight on Coventry. They're not a perfect team. They've been open. They're a swashbooking side going forwards. That creates defensive vulnerabilities. And when those vulnerabilities are breached, a goalkeeper is in position to stop opposition and Rushworth has more than stood up to let's ask that many, many games he's been called into. Many games he's made key saves. And you can argue he's made a save for the season contender on at least three or four occasions. Yeah, statistically, he's prevented the most goals in the division season as well. And I think most importantly, he's kicking his kicking right and his unbloody reel. Everyone bangs on about goalkeepers playing out from the back bothers me because that's dying a little bit. So kicking it long is coming back in. And that's become a dying art. I watched Adam Davis last weekend at the weekend for Chefs United. Catapult several long balls into the crowd. With can find anyone, anyone with a long bottle, got to see his game's burrow as an example. And he does that time time again. So for me, Cole Rushworth is a complete package as a goalkeeper and thoroughly deserving of his place in this team. Yeah, 100% is distributions a bit of an undirected thing because his shot stop is just unbelievable. I'll make a quite a big claim here to start things off. I don't think commentary go up if they don't have Cole Rushworth. I know big statement to make and I know they ended up winning promotion by a healthy margin of 12 points in the end. I genuinely think he's one of them 12 points at least over the season because they have had so many games where he has made result saving stops. You mentioned some of the save of the season contenders he's made. I watched a video of his best saves the other day just to refresh my memory and it's genuinely unbelievable that he made all those saves in one season. And it's strange because you don't usually have a goalkeeper be so busy for a promotion winning side. Let alone title winning side but here's been called upon a lot. We've spoken about that all season haven't we? And the best comparison you can make is this leads obviously one the title last season just in. Elon Musk, the A-Words there, number on goalkeeper, felt the campaign. Less said about him the better. In the entirety of last season though, he didn't have a single game where he had to make five or more saves. Rushworth has had to do it eight times. That includes two games where he kept a clean sheet after making nine saves. And you say he's kept the most clean sheets in the division with 17. You're right often that can be a pretty meaningless stat when it comes to goalkeepers. It's usually down to a rock solid defense. But Carl Rushworth has earned every single one of those clean sheets. The fact he's been so busy. In my view does point to some lingering concerns about Franklin, partatically but now is not the place for that conversation because what a goalkeeper he has proven that on so many occasions this season. Future England goalkeeper Justin? I'd like to think so because I think the way he's developing is very, it's progressive. But it's just hard to say. You need to season the Premier League. That being said, if you've shown up this season and done what he's doing in the championship, making save, after save, after save, if there needs more than ready for the step up to the top flight. And then whatever comes next could well be a call up to the national side definitely. He's been bloody busy this season. He's going to be here for busy in the flipping Premier League next season, whoever that's going to be with. But yeah, the reports are that he and Coventry are keen to make a permanent move happen. So be interested to see where he is. Obviously he's online from Brighton. They rate him very highly. I guess a lot would depend on what happens with Bart from Brogdon, who's a very good goalkeeper in his own right and whether he stays. But yeah, whatever the case, he'll be guaranteed to be playing Premier League football next season and only 24 still. So yeah, if he is playing regularly in Premier League, you'd imagine an England call up. Won't be too far around the corner. Let's do some honorable mentions just him for goalkeeper. I've got Radick Vitech at Bristol City, Jacob Vittel's Zeta Stromb at Derby. Daniel Peretz in fairness to him. If he was there throughout the entire season, I think he would have a big old say in a best goalkeeper of the season, but they're probably being there. So it generates hard to justify him. Anyone else for you, Justin? Lauren's figure at Swansea has been ridiculously good. I get ease. He's a goalkeeper who's made several key saves that could be contenders for save the season if such a ward existed. There is quite a funny picture actually, Radick Vitech holding I think every single award at Bristol City. This season, which tells you how important he's been to them. Yeah, absolutely. Another one I'll give him, I'm sure, is Piers Charles, which is for Wednesday because that boy has been busy when he's actually been fit to put it. Yeah, he's very, very good. Let's go to right back. The best right back in the championship this season in our view is Miland van Airvike of Coventry City. I promise this isn't all Coventry players. As I say, there's seven different teams represented across this 11. It's just coincidental that the first two are both Coventry players, but it's been a season of redemption for Miland van Airvike, hasn't it just been he made a costly mistake in the playoffs semifinals last season. And has been one of Coventry's best players this season, defensively and going forward. He is top class. I've said before, probably the best athlete in the division because he is lightning quick, bombs up and down the right hand side all day long. I would love to see the distance he's covered because he must be up there with the most, but yeah, he's been pivotal for Coventry all season, especially his long throws, which have been a real weapon for Frank Lampos boys. And he's only missed two games for them, all campaign. It did see a drop off in form around the new year in Coventry had their infamous wobble, although he wasn't alone in that regard. But over the course of the season, he has been the best right back. And I think it's fair to say we'll not look out of place with them in the Premier League. He's one of those players who I think will be very comfortable in his Premier League ready. I think firstly, it surprises me that he's still just 25 right. I don't know why it's surprising. It just feels like he'd the way he carries himself. That he's much older. But generally speaking, I think he's had a little wobble, but for my point of view, I don't feel like he's had a bad game this season or a really bad thinking in a form. But I think really the headline for Van Elwick is his attacking numbers eight assists 46 transfers created that puts him in the highest in his position. Obviously being a right wingback, you're limited against creativity, but He's been such an outlet for commentary. in a team of several different outlets. And he's been very important. And again, as well defensive V's, been exceptional in his jules as well. He ranks high syntax rules, interceptions and recoveries on the right hand side. And he contributes to the press, nasty demonstrated by how often he wins the ball in opposition defensive thirds. So for me, there's a player there who's got sort of a comfortable blend of attacking quality and defensive contribution and consistency as well. He's just a player like I said, he's primarily ready. He's top fight ready and quite frankly, if commentary weren't in the Premier League this season, he'd be getting a big money move. Yeah, 100%. I think he was getting linked with moves, last summer anyway, but his pace has been so important to commentary play in the high line as well, isn't it? And I imagine those long throws are going to be a very prominent part of commentary's game plans in the Premier League. As far as honorable mentions go, it was very close between Van Eyveig and Kalim Britten of Middlesbrough for that right back slots. I'm still somewhat in between them on whether this was the right call for the right back slot. But I'm still very happy with Van Eyveig there because he's top class. Ryan Alibe-Ossu of Blackburn is another one who I'd give a mention to as well as Joe Ward of Derby County. I promise I'm not just going to keep mentioning Derby players when it comes to the honorable mentions. Who would you like to give a shout for just James Brody-Bree Ryan? James Bree. Mr. Steadie, Mr. Steadie for Southampton and Charlton this season. You've been so good for Southampton in second of the season. It's hard to remember how good he was in the first half of the season for Charlton as well, which just makes this season to loan him out. It's start the season to Charlton. So so bizarre. So yeah, James Bree has been again a fantastic asset to Southampton and again really important to Tondereck and how he sets his team up. Yeah, he's been arguably Southampton's best signing, which isn't technically a signing because as we say, he was on loan from there in the first place. But yeah, a brilliant, brilliant right back. Let's go to center half then, Justin. Who is the first one we've got listed there? We've got me've Tristan Kramer of Millwall. I do think Kramer is a contender for both right back or center back to be honest. And that speaks distinctively about his quality and consistency all season long. Alex Neal has that to shift him in between because of availability problems at right back. But he's looked very, very comfortable in either position, which again, as I say, just highlights how good him consistently has been all year long. I think as well, we maybe can worry at the start of the season when Jaffa Tanganga gets sold because you're probably thinking, can Kramer come in and be as dominant and quality as Tanganga was? And to be honest with you, they're not misty at all. Of course they haven't. They finished third and they were within a goal or a point of finishing second. And something that Alex Neal spoke of this season is how high Millwall likes to push their full backs. I think this is quite an interesting thing. They sent the backs of back to do a little bit more. They had to cover a lot more space. And ironically, it's something I don't think the commentary defenders have been as good at this season when you maintain that control in your defensive third. But Tristan Kramer and Jake Cooper have been experts at it all season. I think only to exemplify and really highlight how good Kramer has been. This is his first full season at this level. His first full season is level and he's replaced a quality player in doing so and it's been so consistent and he's done it in two positions. Yeah, about a shadowed out using this team. He just seemed a bit of an obscure signing. When Millwall got him, he was on loaner extra last season. He was on loaner Bristol Rovers before that. But he wasn't playing every single week for them. So for him to be at this stage now where he's been, in my view, the best defender in the division is really, really good going. And I bloody love him because he is such a classy defender. I know you hate the phrase just in, but when you think of Rolls Royce defenders, he is the dictionary definition of that because every single aspect of being a defender, he excels. Reading of the game, tackling, heading, pace, you name it. He's got it, but the thing that makes him stand out amongst the rest is how good he is on the ball, whether it's carrying it forward, he's passing. He's got six assists this season. He's actually the defender with the second highest expect to the assists from Open Play, which he's played half his games at centre-half and half his games at right back. So for him to have that to his name is ridiculous, but that ability on the ball is memories and why he's been so versatile for the ball. He's even filled in a midfield a couple of times. So without a doubt, if Mill will do get to the Premier League, he will fit in seamlessly. No problem at all with that interest and karma, Justin. Yeah, I agree with that. I agree with that completely. He's got the skillset to do it. I think the only thing is he's the experience enough, but like I said, he's taken to the championship this season so, so well. So going into next season, he's only going to step up further because I think there's such a high ceiling for the Kroma that that development's going to continue. And I think as well, this is quite an interesting point to bring up most hands and player in his team, Ryan. He is a very good looking champ, isn't he? Yeah, absolutely. Let's go to the other centre-back in our team for the season. It's Matt Clark of Derby County. I imagine there's going to be a few groans from people listening to this or sticking a Derby player in here. But later, Chensemon, I promise you, Matt Clark deserves his place. I'm 32 years old now. I've been watching Derby for a long time. He is the best centre-half I've seen in Derby's shirt. Richard Kio will be gutted to hear that, but Matt Clark is different gravy. When it comes to reading the game, he is on another level, but he's also an absolute warrior. If you throw a brick in the air, he will head it. And just in case Throar and he skeptics out there still annoyed about this inclusion, the stats back it up as well. Because he is the only centre-half in the division to be in the top 10 for most interceptions, the most shot-splot, and most clearances. So if you've got a problem with it, so that backs it up. I've said it before and I'll say it again, Justin. Matt Clark is a Premier League quality defender. Perhaps he is, I think, injures a podium back, haven't they? There's no perhaps about this Justin. He's a Premier League quality defender. I say perhaps because you can paint hard for Matt Clark. Really, really hard. I love this bold bugger. Well, they don't call him bolding, if nothing do they? He does make sense. I know, like I said, you can paint harder for him than I did. And maybe my skepticism's down to probably seeing him more often than I do over defenders. But I think what I'll point to is, is when Darby switched to a back four in January, he comes back in after a suspension, I've said it before, bone-headed yellow card, second yellow card in his Charlton, comes back in for the Favner win over Bristol City. And he puts him one of the best displays from a defender I've seen in the season, alongside Deon Sanderson. And he was just absolutely unreal. The Daffred card against Charlton, by the way, robbed him of being one of the three outfield players in the championship from completing every minute to season. But since that game, he's easily been a top two defender in the league. For some reason as well, he's become a fucking unreal winger on occasions. He's a racist against Coventry. For Ben Brett and Deers was expert winger stuff. And it generally used to set himself that he winces every time Matt Clark gets forward. But honestly, it's probably because he's just just getting back because he's slow generally, not to dig him out. But the way you overlap, actually, the way you can get a decent ball in, it should be used as an asset from Derby more often. But I would say second half of the season, he's been a top two, second half definitely. Yeah. And you mentioned he's not the quickest, but you don't really notice that because his reading of the game is so good. And yeah, the reason John used us, probably wins as every time he goes forward, is because on the ball that is definitely his weakness. But he's still very capable, as you mentioned there, with his ridiculous cross that he pulled off against Coventry at that time. But yeah, he's not bad on the ball by any means. But when it comes to pure defending, I'm not sure there's a better center half in the division, because as I say, premier league defender, honorable mentions for center half. There were a fair few who you could go for here, but the three who really came close for me in usurping Matt Clark. But Taylor Harwood-Ballis at Southampton who's been unbelievable under tonn direct. Lloyd Jones at Charlton, somebody who, I think, had only played one game at championship level prior to the season. He's now 30. He's been unbelievable this season. And if that's a crazy, and Calum Doyle at Rexham's another one I'd give a shout for, who would you like to give a mention for? Well, I think Cedric Kiprey's been Mr. consistent through it, which Dorosh Aes probably worth the mention in the same vein as well. One of those players who have completed every minute of this season, and Jake Cooper, alongside Tristan Krommer, I think, has been fantastic. Cooper, for me, again, I think, just goes under the radar. It's one of the most underrated players, probably in championship history at this point, because nobody gives in to credit users. Yeah, and he's including us for a long time, as Neil will do. Oh, Jake Cooper, the big, lanky bugger. Let's go to left back, just into round off our defense who have we got here. We've got Ryan Manning at Southampton. You can probably make a strong case for Ryan Manning being Southampton player of the season, to be honest with you. He's been Mr. consistent. He's been Mr. consistent. And you've got to take into account the entire season that even when Southampton was struggling under Will Still, Ryan Manning was still very prominent in his performances and consistency. And I think he's everything you want in a modern day wing back. And what he provides is great quality from dead boss scenarios. He's creative. He scores for really kicks. He scores from open play. He's very very safe. with the ball, I suspect that's because by trade he was a central midfielder. But going forward having a wingback that has scored eight goals this season is astonishing. Six assists as well. That's ridiculous. Into a left back, scoring eight goals in a season. Yeah. I think it's finished as Adam Armstrong in Ryan Manning as it is a top scorer is for South Hampton this season, which is absolutely crazy. But as far as the all round package as a wingback goes, Ryan Manning provides it all for you and he's got that experience. You absolutely crave at this level as well. He's just a player who at this level at wingback. He just provides. He just provides. He just provides. He just provides. And it's inevitable that if he's in the championship, he's going to be a first choice wingback. Yeah. Does he just provide? Does he always just never doubts just always provides? There you go. Yeah. He's an old favourite of ours. It's Ryan Manning, isn't he? He's been doing it for years. And his form has gone up and down in that time, but this might be his best season yet. He mentioned the goals a lot of them are free kicks. And when it comes to them, he is probably the best in the division. He has scored some absolute stunners. But the number of chances he creates as well. Only Josh Timon has created more chances than him from fullback. Only leaf Davis has a higher expected assists from fullback than him. So Manning is essentially the best in the division at creating loads of chances and making them high quality chances. Bit strange in that way that he's only got six assists. You know, see those numbers? It seems like he should have more, but that perhaps goes back to early in the season when Southampton couldn't put the ball in the back of net for love normally. The bottom line is that left foot makes magic happen. And he has been pivotal to Southampton's big surge up the table. As you say, just in probably their most consistent player off the season, maybe even their best player. Anything else to say on Manning or have you got any other mentions for leftback? Yeah, I think switching over to one of all mentions. I think firstly, actually, I think this is the first season, it seems to be recovering the championship, where we've had a nice balance between right backs and left backs. Normally, it's there's too many right backs to choose from or there's too many left backs. There's never a good consistent blend, but actually we've got a nice choice. But you've already mentioned Josh Taiman, the Chief Creative Wing back the season with nine assists. He's sort of really got the season with a boot for volley as well. Matt Target has been fantastic for Bura. Just a very dependable player and a wonderful left peg on him as well. Yeah, just Taiman seems to have been included in a lot of people's team of the seasons. I would say he's been doing this for years. I don't think he's had like a standout season. I think he's just been quality for a long time. It only seems to be this season that people have noticed how good he is. So I'm not sure why Josh Taiman's been included in so many team of the seasons, but I'm not going to dispute it too much. At Ryan Jarsett Hole, is the other one I would give a mention for the left back slot. Let's go into a midfield then, just in where we find firstly, Matt Grimes of Coventry City. And it feels very overdue. This man finally getting his flowers. He has been a brilliant player at this level for many years now. That's why Frank Lampod was so keen to get him in January last year. And he has been absolutely pivotal to Coventry's success and has been ever present. He is the metronome of this team. He is the heartbeat. Other similes are available, but the work he does often goes under the radar, but Coventry would simply not be the same team without Matt Grimes. He is completed by far the most passes in the division, nearly 300 more than any other player. There's what we'll call him Greta Tumberg just in because this man is the best there is at recycling possession. And he's also constantly carrying the ball up the pitch. He's second in the division for having one possession the most. And he's also got the second highest expected assists in the division, which is insane for someone who's a deep lying midfielder, albeit most of those chances are created from set pieces. I don't know how he's only got to assist this season, but that doesn't matter. Matt Grimes' best work is the work you more often than not, don't notice. He is such an intelligent footballer and has to be included in any team of the season as far as I'm concerned. Yeah, completely agree. I'm probably just going to echo a lot of what he said. I might go a little bit different. Okay, hit me out. This is not Frank Lamppard's lander. Lamppard has been a significant factor in Coventry being a promotion contender, but I think Matt Grimes has been as imperative in Coventry becoming a promotion contender in terms of what happens on the pitch because you mentioned how we're involved. Well, Frank Lamppard's a manager, isn't he? But in terms of what happens on the pitch, you need players. You can trust you need players who know are going to do their job and perform it to at the next but level when Matt Grimes is that you've already mentioned. He's the metronome, etc. He is a controlling keeps saying for the entire team. He's at defensive third in the attacking third and he does it effortlessly quietly and he was summingly. And as he said, he goes into the radar. He allows Coventry to regain the control in the games. He creates stability in how they play and creates that balance that they need to to edge their opponents. His contribution on the pitch is invaluable because without it Coventry in my opinion on not our top 16. You've already spoken about a million ban Auerwik. The reason why he's so good at going forward is because Matt Grimes can cover that space in behind. He's so good at what he does and this, again, this isn't a dig as one, but they're lack of ambition. Cos Matt Grimes more years in the Premier League. And if they invested like Doug King did, Matt Grimes wouldn't have to be playing in a championship or he wouldn't be playing in a championship as much as he has been because he's the player who's deserved time in the top flight a long time ago and he's got it finally and the only cost three money could. And he's got Coventry promotion. That's a lot of stuff. Yeah, but you're absolutely right. He's been a Premier League player for many years really. Always both bringing up the ridiculous stats as well about the number of games he's missed or lack thereof because since 2018 when Swansea were relegated his previous club, Matt Grimes has only missed five championship games in eight years. Out of the 37,260 minutes he could have played in that time, he's missed a total of 590. That's Matt that's just in. That is absolutely mad. I don't think there can't be anyone else who comes even close to that outfield anyway. He just never gets injured, does he? And it means he is central to Coventry's success this season. Let's go on to who will be partnering Matt Grimes in this tasty three-man-mode field just in who have we got here? We've got Hayden Hackney, Eminem's Bro which is of no surprise to absolutely anybody. Just the all-round package isn't he? Hayden Hackney? He just does everything. He does it really really well. He's a deep-lying playmaker who possesses great box-to-box qualities as well. I think what strikes me actually is how well he glides across a pitch with a football. He's consistently grown this season. Even last season going into this season he's got better season on his season. He's got 12 goal contributions from Central Edgefield which I think is a very good return but he's influenced generally. It is massive. The chance to create the link up play. It all goes through and he's contributed by Hayden Hackney and I think Kim Helberg has got more out of Hackney in terms of dominating midfield. He's just a player who as I say he can do it all when you can do it all at 8 out of 10 at the very least and I think if we go back to the summer at no point was he unsettled by any speculation as well which I think speaks volumes to his maturity and his leadership within that squad and I think Middlesbrough have got an absolute gem here which is very obvious to say but I just don't think you get players like he's not coming through where they are the perfect number 8. He is the perfect number 8. Yeah I'm still I mean he's 12 months on now and nearly and I'm still surprised Middlesbrough managed to keep hold of him because it's just so obvious that he is a Premier League player and I'll always say Hayden Hackney is a Premier League player surrounded by mostly top end championship players and that's not a slight at Middlesbrough that's just how it is and then when that is the case you've got to make the most of that player and that's what they've done they've just give the ball to his feet and then work his magic and he has done that on so many occasions and they've missed him so sorely over the past couple of months because of injury but similar to Matt Grimes albeit in very different ways he is the heartbeat of this Middlesbrough team. Second most chances created in the division third highest expect to the assists most players tripled past out of every centermid in the division scored some stunning goals as well it's just a joy to watch isn't he as you say glide around the pitch like other players aren't even there and almost certainly surely next season won't be a championship player whether that's Middlesbrough going up or not he cannot simply continue playing at this level because it's not fair I never know else and I tell you what one thing that's got to be pointed out Justin Middlesbrough will be praying he's fit for the playoffs won't they at the moment it's touching go but their chances of them winning the playoffs are significantly decreased when he's not there. Well it's amazing to happen again it's a very easy thing to say but I think I go back to the West Brong game in the Hall of Thrones where the game turned so quickly in a middle perspective because so many times he collects the ball, he runs with the ball and he just creates that little bit of space that opens things up for minutes. But now it's going to happen every game of course. And the playoffs are tightly contested structured games with a lot of discipline. But you need players like Haney Hackney who had the vision, who have the maturity, who have the flair to create something that is, well, it's nothing, it's cliche and football, but that's what he does. He makes tight games a little bit more open and you need players like that in your field. So if Haney is available for the playoffs, he can be a big difference maker. I think as well, easy to forget. He's had one of the most bizarre moments this season where he was booked and not sent off for volleying Taylor Godden in Hitman into next week. If you remember that on-ride. I don't think I do. He just boots him off the ball. We just just kicks him needlessly off the ball, infrastructure and the referee books him and he should have been. Okay. Now that you've said that, he does ring the bell with me. I'm going to have to watch it again afterwards because I do recall thinking that was absolutely outrageous. But yeah, when he's not booting players into orbit, he is just a fantastic player, isn't he? Let's go to the final sentiment in this three-month-old field. We've gone with a bizarre Matt Acywa at Ipswich Town. Now he cost a lot of money. Last summer after joining from Ren for 8 million. And he did look a bit shaky to begin with. But as time has gone on, he has evolved into Ipswich Town's main man, hasn't he? Similar to the other two midfielders, he is the heartbeat of the Ipswich midfield. It will be again in a very different way to the other two because he is the destroyer in that midfield. The most interceptions of any midfielder in the division. He's one possession, the third most out of any players in the division. He's just a beast. But also very good on the ball as well. He's another one who very much does the work that often goes unnoticed. But Ipswich fans have definitely noticed. I believe, despite the winning promotion, he won their Player of the Season award with over 50% of the votes, which just goes to show how much of an impression he's had there. And the one time he did grab the headlines, he scored an absolute screamer against Tulip, which turned out to be a winner in a crucial game. But look, he's also been ever present all season. He's only missed one game. That being Ipswich is only home loss of the season by the way, where they lost three nil to Charlton, which might be telling about how crucial he is to Ipswich's fortunes this season. But yeah, exceptional player and someone who I've got very little doubt about playing for them week and week out in the Premier League next season. Yep, as all the destroyer, perhaps a glaring emission from our mid-season team of the season, but you were right to point out he looked relatively hopeless in the first quarter of the season. We looked out of his death, but he finally feet very quickly thereafter. And I think Ipswich from their point of view, defensively, I think that was their main strength this season. I think going forward to the credit of our chances, but hopelessly poor at putting them away. They needed that balanced night for field and Mathesee were provided it. Maybe a few surrounding their Premier League season, putting out the same output. They may have lost less games, but I actually think the biggest indicator for how important Mathesee were as being is he started 45 games this season. Second only to Dario Shay, he starts Ripswich, Kirin McKenna is overrottely starting 11, but the constant has been Dario Shay and as all Mathesee were, he's been so so important to each switch having that balanced needed to make the push for the top two. It's just a shame that efforts in the final, so it didn't reflect the efforts in the defensive, so if they did, then there might be more Ripswich plays in his team, right? Yeah, absolutely. He's the only Ipswich player in this team, spoiler alert, which I don't know. Does that say a lot about Ipswich and how underwhelming their promotion has been this season? I don't know. That's a conversation for another day, I suppose. I don't know if it's just that because he's probably a conversation for now, but we're not going to do that now. And we had a lot of contenders for honorable mentions in midfield Justin. Who would you like to give a shout for? I'd really like Kaspeh under Asafampton. I think he's a player who covers everybody in the grass and he's particularly important for Tondereca in making sure plays, taking over and the presses are expated and everything in between. Pelle Matzen at Norwich, I've really rated since Philip Plemon, his come in, he's looked pretty damn superb to do. Inman Lauser was fantastic in the first half of the season, but to feel like his form telled off in the second half because he was the standout centre midfielder before January. And then it just dropped off. So there'll be the three that I throw into the ring right now. Yeah, Luzas, he's not the only whatford player who's seen a drop off with the flipping number of managers. They've had their season. Jordan James at Laster is going to be giving a shout because he's the only one who's been trying and a laster shirt on the many occasions. And Aida Mora's at Middlesbrough, brilliant player, Alfie Devine at Preston's a bit of a rogue one out of throwing those, been really, really good for Pne. And then I guess he's not really a centre mid. We'd have to move the team around slightly if we were to include him, but Joshua Windas at Raxom is someone I throw in there because he's probably quite unlucky actually to miss out on this team when you look at his numbers which are pretty damn impressive. Let's go to the right wing position. Just in way into our front three. Who have we got here? We've got me femi as he's at Millwall. Nothing short of saying this star player, star player for division, star player for Millwall. Now we've blunt here. This guy's worth at least 20 men in quid. Yeah, absolutely is 11 goals, seven assists a season. And this is in a team who are probably favouring a defensive side of the game more than they're attacking side of the game. If you like, they're not a swashbooking side. So, let's say if he was in a Frank Lampard Coventry side, how many bloody goals would he have scored? But it feels like every goal he scored this season has been a banger and it's been important. I might be wrong, I'm probably not. Honestly though, it's iron robbing stuff with Femi as well. I implore anyone to go on football and look at his shot map. He's just spamming cutting inside almost every time and taking a dig or linking up with playing and getting a shot off. But I think a player who can do that as consistently as a Zee's does, it's not a flute. There's so much poison balance with his movement and then there's lethal execution in there. I think something we're bearing in mind as well is the lack of consistency of a fit and informed striker at Millwall. I mean, it's meant there's been less link up play available to to his Zee's. Let's targeting with crossing opportunities. They're really, he's out to be burdened to fair bit in making things happen in that final third. And he's to be honest, he's strived in the role as well. So he is been by far the most outstanding right winger in the championship season. Yep, I'm definitely not going to disagree with that statement at all because he has been phenomenal. It's incredible really how much he has come along because last season, yeah, these moments, but perhaps wasn't doing it consistently enough. He wasn't helped either by playing a lot of games on the left hand side. This season, he has been an absolute menace. Eleven goals and seven assists is a brilliant tally. As you say, many of those goals have been absolute stunners, but you look at the underlying data. Those goal contributions aren't really doing him just this. He's top of the division by a considerable distance in terms of expected assists from open play. When this man is on the right hand side and he shifts the ball onto that left foot, you're in trouble because he is such a wicked crosser of the ball. And when he's not doing that, he's very often smashing it to the top hand corner. Alex Neal is really fine tunes this lad into such a frightening player. And that's why Mel will be desperate to keep hold of him in January when it's switch worse, sniffing around him. Although you've got to say, they don't go up in the playoffs there. Almost certainly going to have a fight on their hands again to keep hold of him every summer, wouldn't you say, Justin? Yeah, it's a nice problem to have. I think for a club like Millwall and actually, what you've got to remember with Millwall is they are a selling club. Remain us, Jacket and Ganga have already mentioned, you know, they're all going to sell, but they're reassuring. It's is they invest very, very well. They invest smartly. And then he uses an example of that. He costs a million quid. Ryan. So there you go. That is a perfect example of Millwall spending their money so brilliantly. And that's why they are in the position that they're in now. He's a key example of that. And the final thing I'd say on a Z's is when it comes to wingers at this level, every, every finger at this level will every so often do something which makes you go, wow, it's the ones who do it on a consistent basis, who don't stay around at the division for long and Femir Z's has been doing it on a consistent basis pretty much all season. Let's have some honorable mentions just to mean Morgan Whitaker will feel very hard done by not getting into this team considering how many goals Anderson sees produce this season. Joe Gellard Hall is another one who started the season brilliantly has been as good in the second half of the season, but by large has been one of the best attackers in the division still. Anyone else? That's here a Sakamoto. I think he's such a vital player for Coventry because there are times where I've watched Coventry and I've gone, nothing's really happening, games are a bit tight. And then Sakamoto does something that sparks the game in his life from a Coventry point of view. He's their Clutch player to use a term that Gen Z as we use. And he's work rate for me. He doesn't go on notice either. He's player whose numbers I don't think properly would reflective contribution. So he deserves a mention here. He's always good fun to watch, isn't he? I do also give a shout. And I'm stopping myself from saying it even before I've said it. Abdel Fatara at Leicester, one of the most bizarre seasons any player has ever had because when he's on it, he's unbelievable. But when he's not, he is completely a lot of the uselessness. Yeah. Yeah. Just it, you're, you're pulling a face. He's dribbled past twice as many players as any other player in the division. They're seeing that. That's insane. But yeah, it's just, I don't know. It's very confusing with Fatara because he's clearly got the ability, but whether he's got the endeavour every single week is another thing. But there you go. Well, leave that there. Let's go to striker. There's a reason we go. Mistriker over Lafwinger first. So some people may get the backstop about that, but I don't want to end on a sour note. And that's because our striker is Jan Vapotnik of Swansea City. I've had my say on Jan Vapotnik many times this season. For those who aren't keeping track, I basically firmly believe this is a flash in the pan season. We don't need to go over all that again. But as far as flash in the pan seasons go, this is a bloody good flash because 23 goals in a bang average Swansea side is undeniably impressive. However, the numbers around those goals are superhuman. He has got a conversion rate of 26%. To have over a quarter of your shots go in over an entire season is ridiculous. And the XG is even more mind blowing. I know XG is in everyone's cup of tea, but 23 goals from an XG of 13 and a half is stupid. That doesn't make sense. No one else even comes close in being that clinical. So as far as seasons go in front of goal, it's one of the most remarkable I've ever seen so much so that it seems unsustainable and long term in my eyes. But as far as this season's concerns, an incredible campaign for Jan Vapotnik, just yeah, I sit outside of fence right. I really do appreciate Jan Vapotnik a little bit more, maybe 25 goals in 48 appearances in all come to season. When a striker has this total business downing achievement, not to be sniffed out. Yeah, he's had a fair few spot kicks, but bull off if you start throwing me in the middle of the actually or not five. And it's not that many out of 23. It's a normal return for a team, not a switch. But he's a Vapotnik is a man who possesses so much firepower in his right foot. He nearly took off Murphy Cooper's head in the shuffle when they go with a free kick. Literally went straight through him. So for all the quizzes, that can be thrown at Vapotnik. What for me, that's quite important to point out is showing time and time again, that he's got an incredible habit. This season of being in the right spaces inside the opposition box, that's movement. That's brains. And you can't take that away from a striker, but he shot me the career of it. And still to this day is criminally underrated. And I'm not saying, except for Papnik is at a level where he's going to continue scoring 25 goals a season at championship level, but he's done this before he's in his prime years. And he's done it in a team who for half a season could not create a fucking thing. He was showing a so much burden in having to be clinical. And I don't like for me, that's not a fluke that you've got the quality. You've got the power. You've got the brains. It's just about harnessing and going and going again. That's a difficult thing to do. And we'll see if he's got it, but he's done this before he's hit his mid 20s, which I think is an important thing. And also it's just the fourth ones he played to score 25 goals into 21 years. Just throw a stout there. Can you name any of the other three Ryan, just a bit of a quiz for you? Me, too. No. Okay. Well, for Boney, well, for Boney is one of them. How many 20? There's 25 in 20 in 21 years. Andre, are you? Didn't know I'll give you the others. Scott Sinclair. Oh, yeah. And Jason Scottland. Oh, two names you love to hear. That's great to hear. But yeah, you absolutely spot on to mention if a partner has been living off scraps for most of the season because that's an absolutely fair case to make with him. He just seems nailed on to move to West Ham next season for 20 million and score two goals. That's just at what I'm envisaging with him. But we'll see. But they let's go to honorable mentions for striker Justin Olimet, Bernie at Hall. Very close to making it into this team. Of course, you've got to give a shout out to Haji Wright at Coventry, considering his second top goal scorer in the division. I'd make a case for Patrick Bamford at Sheffield, you know, I did as well. Because I don't think he could have done much more after only signing in November. If he was ever the entire season would be probably looking at 20 goals for him. Anyone else for you? Kotlin Morris. Kotlin Morris. I was probably not putting him in to the honorable mentions. I'll give a shout for him and Patrick Haji Mang, actually, both for Darby. Because Morris hasn't been as good since coming back from injury, but for three or four months at the start of the season, he was on pliable. Yeah. I think we've been short supply of strikers this season, which has been irritating. So it has been easy to pick the partner, but on it with Bernie, if he had started more games, if he was available, of course, he was injured for a couple of, you know, a few fixtures. He probably would have scored more than the opponents, because Mick Bernie's got that in his locker. Yeah, absolutely. I give it another player I give a shout for. Another bit of a rogue one. Let me stop in it, Preston. Yes. Numbers this season have been fantastic and has been considering he's had a few like spells at this level, never really pulled up any treats. He's been fantastic for Preston this season. So yeah, that's another one I give a shout for. We'll finish off our team of the season, Justin with the left, Winger, our final player in this team of the season. We've gone with Leo Cienza at Southampton. Proper champagne player, isn't he? Proper champagne player is the end of the type of player we're back in today. You pay money to see. He looks a big game as well. Yeah, absolutely. It does big goal against Derby. Big goal against Port Smith for Grant Park, Shepherd United West Brom. These are points winning goals, but in addition to that, it's just the effortlessness he plays with. He glides across a football pitch with the board. He's so brilliant to watch. He's done this all while, all the while, of moving to a different country and a new league and having to adapt to it. And he's done so really, really quickly. I think from the minute one, one of his first games was actually against Derby at Park. I saw him live and I was like, okay, this place got something about him. Derving all over the shop part by the way. But he's got that edge about him. He's a shit house as well. He's so good to watch. He just looks like a player who absolutely loves playing football. And he wants the ball at his feet and he just wants to play. And that's why he say like he's probably champagne player because you don't get players like that in the modern game anymore. And what Tondor Acquit has done is allowed him to thrive in a system where it's like you you you express yourself. You do you and that's got so much more out of him than playing in a vertical system under will still shut up. It's really, really important to point out because actually, Tondor Acquit has done so much more for the answer than anything will still would have done. And that's that's why it's just really, really excelled in the final two thirds of the season. But it's often. Yeah. Seven goals and ten assists is a very good tally. But I don't feel like it does justice for how outrageously good Leo Cianza is. He's the definition of silky. Is there anyone who has watched him this season will know exactly what we're talking about because he is a joy to watch and the stats back up how brilliant he is. Second in the division for the highest expected assists for 90 second in the division for most chances created. P90 by a winger. Only three players have dribble past more players, P90. He was also drawn more fouls than any other player in the division, even if he is every so often going down a bit easily. But yeah, he's an absolute menace and cost eight million pounds, not cheap, but it's not like a cracking bit of business because it's no surprise now to see Premier League clubs reportedly lining up to get him. And he is another one has been a common thing throughout this episode. I would expect to see him in the Premier next season whether his team gets promoted in the playoffs or not just. Yeah, it is true. It's true. I think the only thing is probably the most disrespectful thing to Southampton, but maybe the most respectful thing to Cianza is. I think it would be full. If they cut semi final, the only stories I saw really on Southampton were people highlighting Cianza and then linking in with Premier League clubs without any proper reports. It was so annoying, but also in a way, it was quite fitting to see answer because no one has a clue about Southampton this season because I don't want to jump into it. Absolute mugs. But they've picked a player who is clearly the most outstanding one and can create something out of nothing in that Southampton team in these games. I'm actually a big game player and I'm so looking forward to seeing how he embraces the playoffs because I know I really do mean this. There aren't enough players like Cianza in the modern game anymore. There's two tactical. It's they're almost a little bit too rogue. And I think if this was 10, 15 years ago, Leo Cianza would be in number 10. It would be a playmaker in a team and the team would be built around him. But because of how football shifted, it's just not the case anymore. You need players like that because they just play with so much joy and you make feel something watching him and it sounds really cringey and cliché. But Cianza has that type of quality and I think his backstory as well lends that, you know, the ways developed with football, the ways he's had to wait for his chance as well. He deserves every minute of this famed accolade he's getting, if you like. - Yeah, well, you talk about his backstory. His career up until this point has been bizarre because he's 27, but has probably been round the block. He was playing in the 50 of Sweden when he was 20 and was only playing in the 30 of Germany a couple of years ago. So, yeah, it's been a long road for him to get to this point but is 100% heading straight to the Premier League as far as I'm concerned. And everything you say there, Justin, he's got sort of the makings of a potential streets won't forget Premier League player because he is that kind of player who's just such a joy to watch. Honorable mentions, I would make the claim that left-winger is the most competitive position in the championship this season because there were several players who you could make a claim for here. So, Tomas being the most obvious one at Stoke. Stoke fans will say he's been playing in a poorer team so he should get the nods. Well, I just lovely ocean's so much that I had to go within. Obviously Jack Clark and Ipswich, Jaden Philagy and Ipswich, F and Mason Clark, a Coventry as well, another one, any one I'm forgetting there, Justin. - I think you've ticked them all off. I think the biggest case you can make is Stoke Atomas. He's been a one-man team for Stoke, especially in the final third. And in addition to that, if Jack Clark has started more games, he probably would pitbly oceanza because of his goal contributions. But unfortunately, he's only started 24 games this season so you can blame Kieran McKenna for that one. We're not fancy him. And likewise, Jaden Philagy, who at times is at to do a lot on his own for the track to boys in the final third. So I think to have them both in the, I think his testament to how good they've been. And every Mason Clark, I would also make a strong case for. Really strong case for because, again, it likes Sacramento, a club to play for commentary. - Yeah, Jack Clark's a bit of a weird one. And he's finished his fourth top goal score despite only starting 23 games this season. I know he's come off the bench in basically every other game, but still ridiculous how he's still managed to produce. - One father one I'll give a shout for is Gus Harmer because even though it feels like it's been a disappointing year for him, he's entered the season with the most assist in the division. - Yeah. - So that just goes to shout out, bloody good he is, doesn't it, that even in a disappointing year in quotation marks, he's still one of the best in the division. But there we go, ladies and gents, the second tier team of the season for the 2025-26 campaign has been revealed. And it looks like this. In goal, we have Carl Rushworth of Coventry City at right back. We have Milan Van Eyvike of Coventry City as well. Tristan Krammer of Milwell and Matt Clark at Derby or at Centra-Hard, Ryan Manning of Southampton is at left back. In midfield, we have Matt Grimes of Coventry, Azor Matassiwa at Ipswich and Hayden Hackney of Milwell's Burr. Right wing, we have Femier Z's of Milwell, Upfront is Jan Vapontnik of Swansea and left wing. Leo Cienza of Southampton. What do you think of our team of the season? Drop a comment and let us know what you think and who you think has been sorely left out. But otherwise we'll be back again tomorrow. With our second tier awards, Player of the season, Manager of the season, Gold of the season, Young Player of the season. There's a few other of the seasons to dish out as well. So we look forward to seeing you then for that tomorrow. But this has been the second tier podcast. I'll be right, Delks. I'll be just in the pitch. And a big thank you for listening. (upbeat music) Second tier is a stack production and part of the ACAST Creator Network.