09/10 Awards
Team of the Season
Chelsea
The Premier League is what I watch the most (most of my picks are Prem first) and Chelsea were the best team in the division. Players stepped up unexpectedly, and the players you expected to carried on as they do. Great season, great first year for Carlo.
Notables – Norwich, Barcelona, Inter.
Best ‘Keeper
Joe Hart.
Solid, consistent, kept his troops organised. That was good enough to be top in the league this year.
Notables – Gomes, Gordon, Lloris.
Defender of the Year
Ashley Cole
Serious improvement from him this year, with more freedom to attack and actual be consistent with his attacking play, rather than just looking like he should be good doing so. The best left back in the world.
Notables – Dawson/Pique/Ivanovic/Harte.
Midfield Man of the Year
Frank Lampard
I couldn’t really look anywhere else, he had a pretty slow (relatively) start to the season, but he really kicked up a notch in the second half of the season, becoming a real leader for Chelsea when the Terry/Bridge controversy was breaking. Incredible goal return too.
Notables – Fabregas/Adam/Xavi/Malouda/Cambiasso.
Goalscorer Extraordinaire Award
Lionel Messi
Just breathtaking at times, I tried to go PL first, but Messi was just mindblowing this year, 47 goals in 53 appearances doesn’t seem real in this day and age. Always playing in his own way, scoring beautiful goals. Just majestic.
Notables – Droggy, Rooney, Charlie Austin, Lambert, Pedro.
Surprise Package
Blackpool
There’s really no words to describe how well Holloway has done at Blackpool, to get this side promoted is a fantastic achievement, even if it does end in instant relegation. There was good seasons from Wolves and Birmingham, but I expected both to stay up anyway, Blackpool going up just captured the imagination, especially as it meant the other three playoff sides have another year striving for the Premier League.
Notables – Swindon, Dagenham & Redbridge, Birmingham, Spurs.
Woeful Underachievers
Liverpool
Wonderful, just wonderful. Ballsed up in the Premier League, out of the Champions League before Christmas and couldn’t even get to the Europa League final. Massively disappointing season for them, Benitez paid for it with his job. In a season of numerous highs, I can’t think of a more satisfying one than Lisandro Lopez scoring in the last minute to essentially put Liverpool out of the Champions League. Beautiful.
Notables – Southampton, Middlesbrough.
Goal of the Season
Arjen Robben (Bayern) vs Man Utd.
Largely due to personal satisfaction, but also, it was a wonder strike at the perfect time. High corner comes in, watched patiently by Robben who volleys beautifully into the bottom corner. Gorgeous.
Notables – Drogba vs Bolton, Pericard vs Norwich
Manager of the Season
Ian Holloway
How could it be anyone else? Obviously Mourinho doing the treble, Hill taking Rochdale up after years and ‘Arry getting Spurs in the Champions League finally are all worthy of winning accolades, but all of them were seen as possible at the start of the season, Blackpool being promoted wasn’t. I’ve never had much time for Holloway, always seemed sarcasm over substance, but I can’t downplay the job he’s done there. Brilliant.
Notables – Redknapp, Mourinho, Shteve Mclaren, Keith Hill.
Biggest Clustercunt of the Year
Michael Brown
Really frustrating as I used to enjoy watching him at Sheffield United, but since he stepped into the Premier League he’s just got dirtier and dirtier, this year being his worst. Every time I see him he’s stamping, pushing, just generally being a Mascherano without any of the talent.
Notables – Thierry Henry, Mascherano, Paul Scholes.
What Your Team Needs to do next season…
Carlisle United
Carry on as you are Greg really. Abbott came in for some serious stick in his first half season in charge, but after two third round cup exits, a Wembley appearance in the other cup and very comfortably clear of relegation he deserves another go at doing it his way. Try and play more attacking football, and deal with contracts sooner rather than later would be my main advice.
Also, try and get the fans onside with media appearances, the football alone isn’t doing it.
