WHO’S IN HIS ALTERNATIVE TEAM OF THE YEAR? DON’T MISS THE SAV AWARDS
WE know the champions, the top four is all but settled, and Mo Salah has been voted Player of the Season by his fellow professionals and the Football Writers’ Association.
But there has been no shortage of drama below the Premier League’s upper slopes, so my end-of-season awards are going to be the “Alternative Savs”.
Everyone who gets a gong has operated outside the top six this year. It’s only my opinion, so don’t take it personally – but if you feel I’ve got it wrong, or overlooked a deserving case, use the hashtag #AlternativeSavs and hit me up on Twitter.
PREMIER LEAGUE TEAM OF THE SEASON (3-4-3 formation)
NICK POPE (Burnley) Simply fantastic – in three years he’s gone from loan spells at York and Bury to the England squad, and he deserves to go to the World Cup. JAMES TARKOWSKI (Burnley) You would have got long odds on the Clarets qualifying for Europe last August, and this fella is a big reason why their fixture list next season will take them beyond Calais. JAMAAL LASCELLES (Newcastle) Always stands up to be counted when the pressure’s intense. I’m surprised England haven’t come calling yet. LEWIS DUNK (Brighton)
His partnership with Shane Duffy is probably the best centre-back pairing outside the top four. ABDOULAYE DOUCOURE (Watford) Player of the season at Vicarage Road, phenomenal box-to-box engine and the Hornets’ top scorer with seven goals this term. JONATHAN HOGG (Huddersfield) Every team needs a selfless grafter, and he led the Terriers’ path to survival by squeezing every last drop from the tank. WILFRIED ZAHA (Crystal Palace) Probably the most influential player at any club outside the top four – but can the Eagles hang on to him this summer?
PASCAL GROSS (Brighton)
Played a massive part in the Seagulls’ survival – both as a creative influence and all seven of his goals helped them pick up vital points. ASHLEY BARNES (Burnley)
A revelation, and his 10 goals have included some belters, like his acrobatic volley at West Brom. JAMIE VARDY (Leicester) Although Leicester blew hot and cold, he came good again with 21 goals. MARKO ARNAUTOVIC (West Ham) Shone like a beacon in another turbulent season for the Hammers.
PLAYER OF THE SEASON
WILFRIED ZAHA (Crystal Palace) Forget the controversies about going down too easily in or around the box, Palace would have been relegated without his magic. As soon as he came back from injury, after they had lost their first seven games without scoring a single goal, they were transformed.
MANAGER OF THE SEASON
DAVID WAGNER (Huddersfield)
In a crowded field, it seems unforgivable not to give the award to Sean Dyche for leading Burnley into Europe. Or to Roy Hodgson at Crystal Palace for overcoming their terrible start. Or to Chris Hughton for steering Brighton to safety. Or to Rafa Benitez for holding his nerve at Newcastle with largely the same squad who won the Championship last year. But I tipped Huddersfield to go down, so it’s only right and proper that I should accept a large serving of humble pie. With three games left, I thought the Terriers were cooked – but Wagner organised them, motivated them, and galvanised them to keep a clean sheet at Manchester City and draw 1-1 at Chelsea. What a save, what a fantastic achievement for Huddersfield.
GOAL OF THE SEASON
WAYNE ROONEY (Everton v W Ham) For speed of thought and technical execution, Rooney’s first-time hit from inside his own half was sensational. Maybe Everton’s season has not unfolded the way they hoped after bringing their favourite son home, but he’s still been their best player, with 11 goals and three assists. A few people are saying his legs have gone, but I find the rush to hammer him astonishing when he’s their top scorer with most shots on target. Without him, they haven’t won a game. Despite the talk of a move to DC United in the States, I hope this weekend is not the last we see of Rooney in the Premier League.
WORST DECISION OUTSIDE TOP SIX
STOKE SACK HUGHES
I know thousands of Stoke fans will disagree, but Mark Hughes would have kept the Potters up if he had stayed. Chairman Peter Coates said this week he should have made the change earlier – but if he had done that, Stoke would probably have finished with even fewer points. Let’s be honest, what effect did new manager Paul Lambert have on results? One win in 15 games simply doesn’t justify the decision – and that win came in Lambert’s first game. Hughes has had the last laugh by going to Southampton and taking them to the brink of safety instead, which makes Stoke’s rush for the panic button look even worse. A close runner-up in this field was West Brom’s decision to sack Tony Pulis and appoint Alan Pardew.
That didn’t work out either.
BEST DUGOUT NEWCOMER
DARREN MOORE (WBA) What are the Baggies waiting for? Give him the job – now.
BEST NEWCOMER ON THE PITCH
PASCAL GROSS (Brighton) A clever player who operates between the lines – and at £3million he has been an absolute steal. Seven goals, eight assists, Brighton safe – what more could the Seagulls have wanted for that price? Highly-commended in this category is Huddersfield’s Aaron Mooy, a class act in a team fighting for survival.
PROVED ME WRONG SPECIAL AWARD
ROY HODGSON (Palace)
To be honest, I thought Hodgson was washed up after England’s flop at Euro 2016. I didn’t think he had anywhere to go after that defeat to Iceland. But I’m thrilled he’s proved me – and many others – wrong, because he’s a decent, articulate man, and had to draw on all his experience to steer Palace away from the rocks.
MISS OF THE SEASON
SCOTT DANN (Burnley v Palace) I wonder how the story of Palace’s season might have unfolded if Dann had scored an absolute sitter, from two yards out, in the last minute at Turf Moor. But Palace lost 1-0, Frank de Boer was sacked after just four games and Roy Hodgson led them to safety. In the bloopers category, Watford winger Richarlison made a big impact in the first half of the season, but he missed two open goals when they led at Chelsea and it all unravelled for Marco Silva after the Hornets lost 4-2.
BEST GAME OF THE SEASON
EVERTON 3-2 WATFORD
The best game I’ve seen anywhere in the Premier League was the Manchester derby, where United came back from 2-0 down to win 3-2 at the Etihad. Outside the top six, it was a similar game at Goodison: all the fireworks, on Guy Fawkes night, came in a dramatic second half where Everton came from 2-0 down to nick it, and Tom Cleverley missed a 99th-minute penalty against his old club.
BEST FANS OUTSIDE TOP SIX
HUDDERSFIELD
You would have to go a long way to beat a Champions League night in the knockout stages at Anfield, but whenever I’ve seen Huddersfield, their fans have always been fantastic – home or away.