- Cordoba transformed from a questionable signing into vital defensive stalwart.
- Following a difficult start, Cordoba became a revelation under manager Clement.
- While Cordoba is a top contender, one teammate might still pip him.
When it comes to picking player of the season, one name typifies this season, and that is Jose Cordoba.
Arrival
Jose Cordoba has had quite the journey to Norwich City. As a youth player, he started at Independiente de La Chorrera before transferring to Celta Vigo in 2020.
He went on to play for Bulgarian team Etar Veliko Tarnovo, even staying with them when they were relegated from the Bulgarian first division.
He arrived at Norwich City after two years playing for Levski Sofia.
Struggle
For some people, there was hesitancy about Jose Cordoba. Like a number of players brought in to the Norwich City squad, he was not a big name and something of an unknown quantity.
While it is admirable for boards to look for players with potential, defence is often an area where people crave a bit more solidity and certainty.
There were question marks over his decision making and some felt he was not a consistent enough performer for the team, not helped by the terrible results that came during the first half of the season.
Revelation
As with a lot of players this season the arrival of Phillipe Clement has transformed Córdoba’s performance and fortunes.
Players who people have previously been written off have proven to have hidden depths and levels that arguably even those who brought them in would have realised.
Cordoba now seems a lot more assured and confident when he plays, to the point where he has gone from a perceived liability to a stalwart member of the squad.
Whereas previously people would bemoan his appearance on the team-sheet there are now concerns when he doesn’t start.
Winner?
The up and down nature of this season has meant that ranking and comparing players has proven difficult.
Who you choose as a player of the season therefore can come with a number of questions and debates.
What can’t be questioned is the effort that Cordoba has put in to get where he is now. What is exciting is that we have yet to have a pre-season with Clement, so there is the possibility of further improvement.
While Córdoba deserves massive credit for what he has achieved this season, there is one candidate ahead of him in terms of who I personally think should win the prize.
Let’s be honest, it won’t be too difficult to guess who that is!
