Delph

[paul_e]

Seeing him dance through one of the best midfields in Europe over and over again was a joy to behold. I feel that Delph was forced to play extremely deep over the past two years and told to never get forward. This is detrimental to his strengths which is gliding past players and sliding in passes or going for goal. Fortunately Lambert is playing him in his much more natural position and over the past 3 months Delph has just been getting better and better game on game. It's going to take time for him to get back on the scoresheet regularly but there were signs today with his excellent effort that hit the netting.

The most improved player this year for sure. Keep playing him in this position and he'll be a revelation next year. 

I agree with everything except the last line.  Guzan is the most improved player, he's gone from an ok backup to being player of the season and one of the top 4-5 keepers in the league (for me), his rise has been spectacular so it's no shame that the likes of Delph and Weimann aren't quite in the same category.

[PeterWithesShin]

Maybe he meant 2013 rather than the whole season as it's the only last few months that he's started to really shine.

[Matt Collins]

I think the difference is predominantly that he's physically much stronger now. He's gliding past players in a way that he just want able to before, whatever his tactical instruction.

[eastie]

Maybe he meant 2013 rather than the whole season as it's the only last few months that he's started to really shine.

He's been excellent in recent months.

[nigel]

I thought Delph was stunning yesterday.
The fact that he win motm is  testament to how well Sylla played.

Westwood, Delph and Sylla is becoming a bit of a dream midfield.

[Shrek]

Seeing him dance through one of the best midfields in Europe over and over again was a joy to behold. I feel that Delph was forced to play extremely deep over the past two years and told to never get forward. This is detrimental to his strengths which is gliding past players and sliding in passes or going for goal. Fortunately Lambert is playing him in his much more natural position and over the past 3 months Delph has just been getting better and better game on game. It's going to take time for him to get back on the scoresheet regularly but there were signs today with his excellent effort that hit the netting.

The most improved player this year for sure. Keep playing him in this position and he'll be a revelation next year. 

I agree with everything except the last line.  Guzan is the most improved player, he's gone from an ok backup to being player of the season and one of the top 4-5 keepers in the league (for me), his rise has been spectacular so it's no shame that the likes of Delph and Weimann aren't quite in the same category.

I disagree, Guzan showed how good he was last year and should never have been replaced by Given. Guzan was always good, but wasn't given a chance.

I remember being shot down when I said Guzan is a better all round keeper than Given has ever been. Surely this season, I've been proved right?

Delph and Weimann are the most improved this year for me.

[olaftab]

Delph has now got to a level where I expect yesterday like performance from him every match. He now contributes every match where as in previous seasons his liability outweighed his benefit.

[Mister E]

He was outstanding - needs to score more, would be my only 'development' observation.

Now that he's not being asked to hold up MF and is limiting his diving-in antics, he really is a revelation.

[onje_villa]

Exciting that we have players who genuinely can go on an get even better. Up until this year I have probably been his biggest critic, I couldn't see anything in there worth persevering with. But what a transformation, I still haven't seen the game yesterday but his recent performances have been very encouraging indeed.

Well played Fab and we look forward to continued improvement next season.

[barrysleftfoot]

 Watching MOTD last night, and no disrespect to Westwood, but a Frank Lampard , passing, attacking midfielder alongside Sylla and Delph would be a dream.

 When we 1st bought Delph, i thought he was the kind of player we need to buy, a young, up-and -coming player, who could grow into a £20m+ kind of player.He then had a serious injury, and then a long period of time to find his confidence and his touch.He now has them both, and looks a real player.The thing i really enjoyed yday was how many times Delph and Sylla had the confidence to take on the Chelsea midfield , and get past them quite easily.Delph got the ball in about the 89th minute, deep in our half, showed Mata the ball, went past him, asdrove at their defence, it was a joy to behold.

 The futures of Benteke and Weimann are very important, but the emergence of Sylla, and resurgence of Delph, might be just as important.Better foward players than Gabby and Weimann yday, and we would have won.

[villasjf]

I thought Delph was stunning yesterday.
The fact that he win motm is  testament to how well Sylla played.

Westwood, Delph and Sylla is becoming a bit of a dream midfield.

The best midfield we have had all season ang getting better as they learn to play together as a unit

[Ad@m]

Exciting that we have players who genuinely can go on an get even better. Up until this year I have probably been his biggest critic, I couldn't see anything in there worth persevering with. But what a transformation, I still haven't seen the game yesterday but his recent performances have been very encouraging indeed.

Well played Fab and we look forward to continued improvement next season.

I had the same view of Delph. I thought we'd been sold a pup who just wasn't good enough for the Prem, but over the course of this season he's grown into a tremendous player. He still has the tendency to drop a bollock (Fulham og for example) but overall he's now easily Prem standard.

[supertom]

This midfield 3 needs to add goals from somewhere. Delph is the more likely, given he did so at Leeds.

Actually, if we could bring back Jimmy Milner to fit in with 2 of Sylla, Westy and Delph we'd have the goals element. He'd be ideal and also offer plenty of experience. Milney will become obsolete for City. He's beefed his bank account. If he were willing to take a pay cut and come back, he'd get us pushing for the top 8 again (alongside a couple of good defensive signings).

[ozzjim]

Milner has been one of their best players this season, I was amazed they left him out. I am even more amazed they still play him wide. Not a chance of him coming back!

[OCD]

Exciting that we have players who genuinely can go on an get even better. Up until this year I have probably been his biggest critic, I couldn't see anything in there worth persevering with. But what a transformation, I still haven't seen the game yesterday but his recent performances have been very encouraging indeed.

Well played Fab and we look forward to continued improvement next season.

I had the same view of Delph. I thought we'd been sold a pup who just wasn't good enough for the Prem, but over the course of this season he's grown into a tremendous player. He still has the tendency to drop a bollock (Fulham og for example) but overall he's now easily Prem standard.

I noticed yesterday that we had changed Delph's position in set-pieces. If I'm recalling it correctly, Sylla was in the area that Delph was in against Fulham and Delph was at the edge of the 18 yard box. That would help him to participate in counter attacks too.