Portsmouth and Burnley duo picked out by EFL experts as ‘worthier winners’ for Championship awards

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Burnley’s Scott Parker, CJ Egan-Riley, Maxime Esteve, and James Trafford were all winners at the end-of-season EFL awards on Sunday night.

Fresh off the back of a 5-0 win at QPR over the weekend, Scott Parker was handed the Manager of the Season award after a stellar campaign in which he took Burnley back to the Premier League at the first attempt. He was joined by the trio in the Team of the Season.

Leeds United and Burnley have a title to win and huge points tallies in sight, with the Clarets perhaps having a surprise advantage this weekend. However, both have had outstanding seasons up to this point and have been rewarded with plenty of exposure at the EFL awards.

Fans weren’t happy that Gus Hamer took home the Player of the Season award for Sheffield United, winning ahead of Trafford of Burnley and Dan James of Leeds, with others outraged at Jobe Bellingham winning the Young Player award.

• READ MORE: ‘How and why’, ‘rigged’, Championship fans in agreement after Scott Parker named manager of the season

EFL expert Ali Maxwell makes James Trafford claim ahead of Gus Hamer for EFL award

EFL experts Ali Maxwell and George Elek of the Not The Top 20 podcast have had their say on the situation following the awards evening. They have different picks for the prestigious Player of the Season award over Hamer.

Maxwell said: “George and I think there were worthier winners of all three awards. In fact, we both have different award winners ourselves. So, that is worth a discussion. Let’s present them to you.

“The one I feel most strongly about is that I believe James Trafford is the Championship’s Player of the Season and should have won that award. To me, he is so clearly the standout individual in the division this season.

“The one that has had the most impact, the one who’s performances have been the highest, and most consistently.

“There’s a problem with ‘keepers and there’s a problem when your team has an excellent defensive record where it can be quite difficult to measure the individual impact of some of the people involved. Esteve and Egan-Riley got a lot of love and got awards themselves.

“But I believe, pretty strongly, that Trafford still dwarves their impact as individuals. As a team, Burnley, per FotMob, have conceded 36.9 expected goals. Now, that measures the quality of the shots they have allowed Trafford to face and it’s the second-best number in the league.

“It’s not an incredible number, 37xG — it’s good but it’s not incredible. The main reason why Burnley have conceded 15 goals and not 35 goals, for example, is not because of Esteve and Egan-Riley, it’s because of Trafford.

“Trafford’s save percentage is 85%. That is the highest I’ve ever seen for any goalkeeper that’s played a full season of football. This is the best shot-stopping season, relative to the level, that I have ever seen at any level. His save percentage is 8.1% better than Michael Cooper, the next best ‘keeper in the league.”

He added: “That means, if both ‘keepers faced 100 shots on target, Cooper would let in eight goals more than Trafford. That’s the next best ‘keeper in this league. He’s top of the goals prevented chart as well — 12.6 above expected, he’s kept out.

“What makes this even better for me, George, is that this is a Championship season without outstanding outfield players, without superstar performers which it often has, and in the same season we’ve had the best ever season by a goalkeeper in the Championship and he’s not won the award.”

Trafford will play for England and he has J.J. Watt sweating after a ridiculous promise was made. He is, undoubtedly, one of the best players in the league after his outrageous numbers defensively, keeping over 30 clean sheets.

• READ MORE: Burnley player says he’s ‘done all he can’ when discussing summer transfer speculation

NTT20’s George Elek picks Josh Murphy ahead of James Trafford for Championship Player of the Season

Our pick at EFL Analysis is Ao Tanaka of Leeds United for the Player of the Season award, but not all fans of Championship clubs agree with that statement despite his remarkable end of season run-in. Elek also had a different suggestion to Maxwell for his decision.

Maxwell asked: “I think Trafford is the Player of the Season, who do you think is the Championship Player of the Season?”

Elek responded: “Yeah, fair play Trafford. But I’ve gone for Josh Murphy.  The way I look at this more — I understand why players play for clubs at the top of the table and end up winning these awards, but I kind of look for individual players whose quality has completely outshone other happenings at their club.

“And have been the singular most important reason for a club exceeding expectations. I think that Portsmouth getting themselves to safety, after such a horrendous start, is one of the most impressive performances of the season.

“And without Murphy, and his 14 assists, and his seven goals, and his generally ridiculous delivery from the left-hand side, and consistent threat I don’t think it happens.

“Not only has he pulled off 14 assists and seven goals but it’s also the timing of those. He is absolutely the man for the big occasion. If you look at Pompey’s biggest results at crucial moments this season, it’s been Murphy who’s been at the forefront of that.

“It feels, to me, like he is the one player that has set himself apart — obviously others as well — but he’s the one player who’s been, in my mind, one of the best players all season for a side fending off relegation and have done so successfully.

“If you take Josh Murphy away from Portsmouth, then their season is ultimately very different.”

Securing Murphy on a free transfer from Oxford United has proven to be a masterstroke and he is a fantastic option for the award as an outside shout for the reasons Elek has stated. His individual performances have kept their heads above water and Murphy is definitely the bargain of the season.