Only 17 games played: Aston Villa 27-year-old is 2016 player of the year
COMMENT by Amir Mir
Football Insider names the Aston Villa player of the year.
Selecting Aston Villa’s best player of 2016 is a pretty hard decision and that comes as no surprise considering the year the Midlands club has had.
Nothing much good comes out of suffering your worst season in your 142-year history, but striker Jonathan Kodjia has been their standout performer this year.
The 27-year-old, who joined the club from Bristol City in the summer, has scored eight goals in 17 Championship fixtures this season.
He joined a side that had just been relegated from the Premier League, winning only three games and accumulating a woeful 17 points from 38 matches.
Following his big summer move, Kodjia’s job was to bring a more positive and vibrant mindset to Villa Park – and the Ivory Coast international has duly delivered.
Kodjia has brought a new found belief to the club, with his arrogant and positive style of play beginning to flow through the club.
It says a lot that a player that has only played 17 games, is considered to be the best player of the year, but Kodjia does deserve it because he is the main driving force behind Villa’s promotion push this term.
He has already won Steve Bruce’s side 11 points, most recently against QPR on Sunday afternoon when his late goal secured a much-needed victory.
Christian Benteke was Villa’s star man in the Premier League and it seems the club have now found his Championship equivalent.
In other Aston Villa news, club legend Paul McGrath posts this passionate message after QPR win.