Should Ipswich Town have received more awards at the EFL ceremony? Szmodics has truly stood out, and without his contributions, the team might not have fared as well. Alex Jones believes Szmodics deserved recognition.
Ipswich Town : Alex Jones award winners for the 2023/2024
At this year’s EFL Awards, Ipswich Town celebrated three victories: Kieran McKenna as Championship Manager of the Season, Wes Burns for Goal of the Season, and Leif Davis in the Championship Team of the Season. Do you think they deserved more recognition, or was the EFL’s assessment accurate? Alex Jones shares his selections.
EFL Team of the Season: 4-2-3-1 Formation: Hermansen; Walker-Peters, Ampadu, Greaves, Davis; Dewsbury-Hall, Sara; Whittaker, Szmodics, Summerville; Rutter
Alex’s Team of the Season: 4-2-3-1: Hladky; Pereira, Ng, Ampadu, Davis; Sara, Dewsbury-Hall; Whittaker, Szmodics, Summerville; Armstrong
I’ve made four changes to the official team, so let’s run through them.
Here’s Alex Jones’ perspective on the EFL Team of the Season:
Instead of Leicester City’s Mads Hermansen, I’ve chosen Ipswich Town’s Vaclav Hladky for the goalkeeper position. Hladky’s standout performances, despite initially being a backup, and his crucial saves for an attacking team transitioning from League One, make him a deserving pick.
For the right-back position, I’ve replaced Southampton’s Kyle Walker-Peters with Leicester’s Ricardo Pereira. Pereira’s adeptness in a challenging role as an inverting right-back in Enzo Maresca’s system showcases his class, proving he’s a cut above Championship standards.
Next up, I’ve gone with a rogue pick by choosing Cardiff City’s Perry Ng over Hull City’s Jacob Greaves. Although he’s played at right-back this season, I’ve put Ng in at centre-back as he’s played there pretty often in the past. He’s stood out in a pretty average team this season, scoring six goals and providing four assists.
The EFL’s Player of the Season: Crysencio Summerville (Leeds United)
Alex’s Player of the Season: Sammie Szmodics (Blackburn Rovers)
Summerville’s exceptional quality has led some Leeds fans to proclaim him as potentially the best player in the Championship’s history. His victory over players like Leicester’s Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Blackburn Rovers’ Sammie Szmodics speaks volumes about his impact.
Speaking of Szmodics, his standout performances this season are even more noteworthy considering his team’s current 17th position in the table. He has been crucial to Blackburn Rovers, contributing significantly with 24 goals and four assists, almost half of the team’s total for the season.
This season marks a breakout for him at this level after facing challenges since departing Peterborough United in 2023.
Like Hladky in my Team of the Year, the context has to play a part sometimes.
The EFL’s Young Player of the Year: Archie Gray (Leeds United)
Alex’s Young Player of the Year: Archie Gray (Leeds United)
I’m not sure what the rules are on giving this award to loanees, but I certainly would’ve had Omari Hutchinson in the conversation. Other than that, you just have to be under the age of 21 or turning 21 during the 2023/24 campaign.
Leeds midfielder Archie Gray was the winner, beating Norwich City winger Jonny Rowe and Birmingham City’s Jordan James. It’s hard to argue this one.
At just 18, he’s started 41 games, chipping in with two goals and an assist. Most of his appearances have come out of position at right-back, where manager Daniel Farke has often preferred to start him him over more experienced options.
With Real Madrid reportedly eyeing up a move (just like they did with Gareth Bale and Jude Bellingham, who both won this award in the past), we’re going to see Gray’s stock continue to rise in the coming months and years, particularly if he’s in the Premier League next season.
With Real Madrid reportedly eyeing up a move (just like they did with Gareth Bale and Jude Bellingham, who both won this award in the past), we’re going to see Gray’s stock continue to rise in the coming months and years, particularly if he’s in the Premier League next season.
The EFL’s Goal of the Season: Wes Burns (Ipswich Town) vs Coventry City
My Goal of the Season: Wes Burns (Ipswich Town) vs Coventry City
No questions asked here. There were some excellent goals, although Jaden Philogene’s rabona against Rotherham United should’ve been ruled as an own-goal. This really had to be the winner.
It was an astonishing strike, but the build-up is what makes it an award-winning finish. The way Town build from the back, pulling Coventry City from side to side before Wes Burns pulls out the trivela to fire the ball into the top corner.
This one could be up for a Puskas nomination later this year.