WHAT a season Andy Williams is having. His 12 goals have made him Town’s joint-top scorer, his team five-time winners, and his boss manager of last month.

Yet this week, Williams chose to share that credit. He publicly praised how Town train, both individually and together, to improve the forwards’ finishing. Similarly, after Williams headed the winning goal against Preston, goalkeeping coach Steve Hale tweeted to highlight the sessions run by fellow coach Luke Williams to develop precisely that skill – finishing deflected crosses.

In a month in which Town’s individuals have shone, it is even more important to acknowledge the work of the whole squad and staff. So while Andy Williams and Ben Gladwin have rightly taken the limelight, they’ve also acknowledged that their success has been built on collective strength.

For example, four of the five wins have been built on clean sheets – a major step-up from the mere three earned prior to November.

Obviously, this is testament to Town’s defenders but also demands credit is given to the manager and Louis Thompson, in harnessing the talented midfielder as a second holding player.

The obvious truth that football is a collective game is too often forgotten. It gets lost in the procession of awards and baubles gifted to individuals, especially at this time of year. The growth of Vine highlights this; full of soloists’ flicks and tricks but shorn of context. The truth is, post-Pep’s Barcelona, football is more collective than ever and Town are a great example with our possession-based game.

The great AC Milan coach Arrigo Sacchi argues that a team shouldn’t just get the best out of its individuals - it should multiply their collective skills. For example, look at this generation’s greats - Messi and Ronaldo – even they are dimmed without their Galacticos.

Put with their countrymen, they are shown to be just men. Now look at where so many of Swindon’s players once were...

So give credit to Andy Williams but remember Luke Williams, Wes Foderingham, Hale and the rest. It is a point those thinking about renewing, or not renewing, their contracts might also wish to think about.