2014/15 Analysis & Opinion

Reading FC Player Of The Season: The Contenders

Voting is now open for the official Reading FC Player of the Season award. To help you make your decision we look at the players with the highest ratings from our match reporters.

By WilliamOwain Apr 12, 2015, 11:00am BST

Yes it's that time of the year again - it's football awards season! It's probably safe to say that no Reading player will be awarded a place in the PFA XI for the Championship so instead the players will have to do with the club's own player of the season award.

To put it nicely, this has been a difficult season for the Royals and that is reflected when deciding on who to vote for. It is hard to think of a player who really deserves the accolade of star player for 2014/2015.

The Tilehurst End will have its own award at the end of the season but using our player ratings we've looked at the contenders with five league games to go. Looking at our average ratings spreadsheet below it is noticeable that the top four players have made just nine appearances collectively. Not a promising stat!

To narrow the contenders and make it reflect the season as a whole we have only listed below the players who have played in 70% of Reading's league and cup games this season.

Amazingly only nine players have played that many games (34); a real testament to the amount of injuries that Reading have suffered this season. Jamie Mackie, a strong candidate for the award, just sneaks in after his start against Blackburn yesterday.

The contenders

Adam Federici - 6.4 / 10 (Appearances in all competitions: 44)

The one first team regular who has been consistent this season and the only player whose average ratings are the same under both Nigel Adkins and Steve Clarke. He has twice won our player of the month award this season.

Jamie Mackie - 6.2 (Apps: 34; Goals: 6)

Has our March player of the month timed his run at the right time? His passion and determination have made him a firm fans' favourite and it would be a major surprise if he is not in the top three.

Michael Hector - 6.1 (Apps: 43; Goals: 2)

On his day he can look a Premier League player in waiting. Hector has been our highest rated player on nine occasions this season, which is the most in the squad. Like Jordan Obita last season, Hector will surely be a contender given that this is his breakthrough season at Reading.

Oliver Norwood - 6.1 (Apps: 39; Goals: 1)

If there had been a vote for player of the first half of the season then Norwood would have been a favourite. You voted him our player of the month three times in 2014, which remains the most wins this season for a player. His second half of the season has been difficult though and he is now struggling for game time.

The Rest

Chris Gunter - 6.0 (Apps: 39)

Jordan Obita - 6.0 (Apps: 45)

Alex Pearce - 6.0 (Apps: 45)

Simon Cox - 5.8 (Apps: 40; Goals: 8)

Nick Blackman - 5.7 (Apps: 41; Goals: 5)

How to vote

If you missed the chance to vote yesterday then worry not because you can still vote online until 5pm on April 20th. The club have not confirmed yet whether voting cards will be available at the Bournemouth game.