- Slimane’s resurgence reflects a bizarre but transformative season for Norwich.
- Clement unlocks Slimane’s potential as he becomes a key attacking threat.
- From exit rumours to starter, Slimane’s turnaround defines the current era.
When talking about a player of the season, is there a more symbolic candidate than Anis Ben Slimane?
Wayward
In some respects Anis Ben Slimane should be a candidate for player of the season in the sense that his playing performance has typified what this truly bizarre year this has been.
As a young player, he played for eight different clubs in twelve years. Arguably, before Philippe Clement came in, there was a sense that Slimane hadn’t really settled.
On the way out?
For some, Slimane represented what appeared to be the issue with the Norwich City squad – first under Johannes Hoff Thorup and subsequently Liam Manning.
As a player he showed flashes of promise and potential, though it was hard for him or indeed a lot of players to shine during this time.
Energised
As with a lot of players, Clement seems to have cracked how to get the most out of Slimane performance wise.
There was a sense of a burgeoning partnership with Canadian winger Ali Ahmed, while Oscar Schwartu and Paris Maghoma have meant that Norwich City are now more of a dynamic and unpredictable attacking threat.
Up front there is also excitement in the form of Mohammed Toure and Jovon Makama, a scary prospect once both are fully fit!
Winner?
If I was the one picking player of the season Slimane wouldn’t win it. However I felt it was important to give him a shoutout as this season seems to have been about players getting turned around and the maximum value extracted from them.
I admit I was one of the people who was going to write him off and take the hit on him next season. Now I feel the opposite and look forward to seeing who can be added to complement his skills and further bolster Norwich as a more flowing, stylish attacking unit.
While Jack Humphrey got flack for saying Norwich City fans should apologise for criticising Ben Knapper’s recruitment it is fair to say that the massive improvement in form under Clement shows that the potential was there.
What do you think?
Do you think Slimane deserves more credit for the turnaround in performance? Or do you think there are other higher profile candidates who deserve to take the crown?
Let us know, and you could be featured in a future article.
