2008/09 Player of the season countdown

#3. Parin Patel

Apps: 17; Goals: 1; Assists: 2; Clean sheets: 0

Mr Fantastic might for once have lived up to his name. Well one of them at least, that being Sally Gunnel, probably. Great calf muscles. Make no mistake; Boma was a good, steady defender in Banter’s first season. But he did get the wooden spoon award. Yes, he was one of the cup final’s best players and yes, he was a sure-thing in Banter’s back four when fit, but he’d throw himself at a challenge the way he throws himself at Chinese takeaways. But this time around with more experience to put to his already excellent reading of the game, he’s been outstanding. Not only excelling in a back three, he’s put in performances where he could come away knowing that despite a team loss, he was still excellent – Purley Phoenix, Sanderstead and Phoenix Athletic spring to mind immediately. It’s these types of performances that are important to remember, since I don’t think he had it in him to be a stand-alone performer last season.

The man with many names finally broke his Banter duck at the right end against Santos this season, and what a way to do it. Somehow it is better that the goal was not caught on camera due to adverse weather conditions. The goal I am sure will go down in Banter legend, until Village or Pasty score of course. It was also his finest display of the season and that would've been true had he scored or not. Before I mention the champagne moment in more detail - the cherry on the icing on top of the cake - Boma’s performance throughout was fantastic. He cut out every header and not just those thrown directly at him from long, but one’s which forced him wide to go and deal with too. His distribution had been excellent and to my mind he was heading, quite literally, in the direction of the man of the match award already. But it was the break-away which got Banter’s 3rd that day which most will remember. Cling pulled wide and raced for goal, with Wommy, as expected up ahead, on came the steam train that was Bom de Bass, who received his pass, played a one-two with Wommy, before finally controlling and placing his shot into the bottom corner. Having run the full length of the pitch, it was the pick of the goals that day, everyone celebrating and getting in on the action. It proved so popular in fact, that it got him the goal of the season award, much to Jim's annoyance.

At the other end, Parin failed to add to his OG column, but added to his defensive authority with many commanding displays. Mr Patel was outstanding when Banter were stuttering, and last ditch challenges have become his specialty. He has arguably saved Banter 5/6 goals from his own challenges. These aren’t blocks on the line, these are challenges where he is in such close attendance that the ball never looked destined for the net, such was his authority, marking and timing into his tackles. Something he has made a major improvement on since 07/08.

You might notice in the brief stats below his name that Boma kept no clean sheets. He had the unenviable task of going in goal when Wuker was sent off in January, his first act to pick the ball out of the back of the net from a penalty, his second to probably do the same after being chipped from 25 yards. That good positional sense and reading of the game going out of the window in one move. He'd bravely stepped up to the task though without a moments notice though and thus he can stake claim to being the only player to have played in every back 5 position.

One of the defining games that proved how much he'd come on though was actually one in which he only played about 20 minutes. That's sounding weird already, but it just sums his reliability and steady season up well. Clearly, his games before had seen him perform more impressively, but having missed the Oakfield win the week previous to injury, the final league game against Madras saw him come into defence during the second half and just calmly do his job in a very assured manner. Those in front did their job and went and got the goals, but it's potentially the type of game that in 07/08 he'd have got too excited about and been skinned for thrashing into tackles too early. But as such, you'd barely have noticed or remembered him playing - which like referees, is often a compliment. The following week he was very solid in what was to be the final game of the season, a 4-0 drubbing at the hands of eventual cup finalists Phoenix Athletic.

Always a regular at training and at games this past season, he has been much improved and most consistent. He was rewarded as such by his teammates when he picked up 2008/09's Most Improved Player Award. Maybe even Playa as well. But we won't go into that. A massive improvement in the air and with the ball at his feet has seen him turn into a more complete defender and overall it has been a superb second season for our token. An area for improvement is probably the same as last season, if he opened his mouth and spoke on the pitch as much as he talks about how much he hates Hore off it, he would never shut up. I think season 3 could prove to be even better if he doesn't allow his ego to get the better of him and he stays fit and committed. Those kick off times could be a deal breaker then.