You asked… and we answered!

Last week Sportin Wales’s team of the season caused a bit of a stir among Cardiff City and Swansea City fans as only two Bluebirds and one Jack were included at the expense of players from Wrexham and Newport County.

Complaints that none of the likes of Paul Mullin, Elliott Lee, or Will Evans would ever get near a Championship level team were heard loud and clear in Sportin Wales towers, so here we present our Cardiff and Swansea combined team of the season…

Carl Rushworth (Swansea City)

A survivor from our original team, Rushworth has had an excellent season at the Swans, with many fans rueing his likely departure back to his parent club.

On loan from Premier League club Brighton and Hove Albion, Rushworth has been a mainstay in goal for the Swans this season and has impressed, having taken the step up a division from League One last season with Lincoln City.

Perfectly suited to Luke Williams’ patient possession football, Rushworth has been rewarded with an England U21 call-up to go alongside his supporters’ player of the season and players’ player of the season awards.

Perry Ng (Cardiff City)

A second consecutive players’ player of the season was a just reward for another excellent season in blue for Ng.

Tenacious in defence with added attacking threat – six goals and four assists this season – means that the right-back ends the Championship season as his side’s joint-top goal scorer, with forwards Karlan Grant and Kion Etete.

Whether Ng is still playing football at the Cardiff City Stadium next season is a different question, however, with manager Erol Bulut admitting that there is plenty of interest in the defender.

Nat Phillips (Cardiff City)

A defender that has had a significant impact in a short space of time, Phillips only joined Cardiff City in January, having spent the first half of the season on loan at Celtic.

The Liverpool loanee quickly established himself as the leader of the back four and was instrumental in Cardiff’s excellent run of form in late February and early March, that had fans dreaming of a play-off place, albeit briefly.

Harry Darling (Swansea City)

Signed from MK Dons in 2022, Darling has been Swansea’s most important defender ever since.

A massive part of his side’s turnaround in form since Luke Williams took over, Darling has popped up with important goals, turning losses into draws, as well as providing important interventions in defence.

Despite not being the biggest defender in the league, Darling’s aerial ability is better than any in the Swansea squad, something that Williams will look to build on next season.

Josh Tymon (Swansea City)

Having joined Swansea from Stoke without a preseason, many would have forgiven Tymon for a slow start to his career at the Swansea.com Stadium. Things could not be further from the truth, as Tymon has appeared in every Swansea game since his debut in the South Wales derby defeat at Cardiff.

A graceful player, Tymon has laid on six assists this season and has become a fans favourite in this Swansea squad.

Matt Grimes (Swansea City)

The first of our midfield two is Swansea captain, Matt Grimes, who has remarkably played every minute of the Championship season.

Ever the metronome of Swansea’s patient style, Grimes has popped up with goals and assists this season. A flurry in September under Michael Duff  when things looked much rosier, and vital goals against Stoke and Norwich in the Swans’ promising late season run mean that Grimes has contributed to 15% of Swansea’s goals this season.

Manolis Siopis (Cardiff City)

A free transfer from Trabzonspor, Siopis has been an excellent addition to the Cardiff midfield axis.

Often partnered alongside club captain Joe Ralls, the diminutive Greek midfielder has displayed eye-catching calm in possession and tenacity off the ball.

Siopis is Sportin Wales‘ Signing of the Season.

Liam Cullen (Swansea City)

One of only two Welshmen in our team, Cullen has taken a step forward in his development this season.

Seven goals and five assists are not standout numbers but Cullen’s influence is felt massively when he isn’t on the pitch for Swansea.

Now a regular in Rob Page’s Wales squads and having made his international debut against Gibraltar, this past season has been Cullen’s best of his blossoming career.

Rubin Colwill (Cardiff City)

Not the most eye-catching season for the Welsh youngster in terms of goals and assists, but Colwill’s contributions to Erol Bulut’s side were enough for him to take home the club’s young player of the season at their end of season awards.

Colwill has mostly appeared from the bench for the Bluebirds this season and has probably shown his best form for Wales U21s, as he aims to lead his country to the U21 EURO’s.

Jamie Paterson (Swansea City)

Consistently excellent wide attacking players have not exactly been overwhelming south Wales this season, but that is not to take anything away from Jamie Paterson, who deserves his place in this team.

After a difficult 2022/23 season where he battled injury, lack of form, and failed to convince then-manager Russell Martin that he deserved a starting birth, Paterson has been much improved this season.

Seven goals this term is his best return since his was a 21-year-old in League One with Walsall and Swansea will be looking to his to lead the attack next season.

Yakou Méïté (Cardiff City)

It is a mark of both side’s profligacy in front of goal this season that Sportin Wales have picked a forward with just two league goals to lead the line in our team.

While Méïté, has not found the net with any kind of regularity, his performances have been consistently effective for Cardiff, making the likes of Josh Bowler, Karlan Grant, Rubin Colwill et al look much better.

Méïté’s hold-up play as by far and away the best among the candidates and, having proven he can score at Championship level for Reading over the last few years, Cardiff fans will be looking for their frontman to add goals to his excellent all-round game next season.

 

Who would you pick?

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