Captain Vincent Kompany with manager Manuel Pellegrini
Manchester City’s 2-0 win at the Etihad stadium closed the book on the 2013-2014 BPL season. Without question, this has been one of the most exciting and mesmerizing league campaigns in recent memory. A title chase that came down to the final day between City and Liverpool, United’s fall from grace in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era, Chelsea’s slipping up due to European commitments – and who could forget the run that both Crystal Palace and Sunderland made late on in the year to guarantee they will be in the BPL next season. All in all, this season from start to finish was simply fantastic.
Rather than give our run down of the season in full, as if anyone would somehow magically forget what has transpired in front of them for the last nine months, we at WeAreHooligans will give our votes with our own set of awards for the season as our way of bringing to you our own take on a season that we have all fully enjoyed form the very first kick-off back in August.
Player of the Year:
Drew: Yaya Toure – despite Luis Suarez being simply fantastic throughout, I have to go with the big Ivorian. 20 goals and 9 assists in the BPL, and the midfield fulcrum of a title winning side.
Sihan: Luis Suarez – probably the best forward in the BPL right now, not much more needs to be said on the matter – 31 goals, 12 assists in the BPL.
Young player of the Year:
Drew: Raheem Sterling – 9 BPL goals in his breakout year and the third in the “S Triumvirate”, he is now in the conversation of the best young player in Europe.
Sihan: Eden Hazard – explosive winger who has lots of potential – can possibly become the best winger in the world.
Flop of the Year:
Drew: Marouane Fellaini – after being so crucial under Moyes at Everton, his big money move to United was an absolute disaster and showed that he does not make the grade at a big club.
Sihan: David Moyes – taking the reigning BPL Champions under Ferguson and only finishing seventh.
Manager of the Year:
Drew: Manuel Pellegrini – despite having a fantastic side under him, he never won a major trophy in ten years prior – did brilliantly to marshal such a broad talented squad where others often fail.
Sihan: Brendan Rodgers – nobody thought Liverpool would challenge for the title up till the very last day.
Best Transfer:
Drew: Wilfried Bony – many questioned the price paid, but 16 BPL goals and 26 in all competitions for a lackluster Swansea side now see’s him coveted by much larger clubs.
Sihan: Fernandinho – sure, he may have cost 40million, but if you look at his utility he was very important for City’s title winning run.
Worst Transfer:
Drew: Marouane Fellaini – United paid way over the odds for a player that ended up being arguably their worst player of the entire season.
Sihan: Marouane Fellaini – 27.5million for an average/below average midfielder who had it all to prove still.
Goal of the Season:
Drew: Ross Barkley v Manchester City – another example of just how brilliantly he had broken out under Roberto Martinez – the future is bright and England will expect much of him.
Sihan: Demba Ba v Liverpool – Gerrard’s slip just before Ba broke to go on and score would end up changing everything.
Favorite Moment:
Drew: Sunderland’s great escape – from being bottom at Christmas to securing their BPL survival in the final weeks of the campaign, it is a fantastic feat for the manager, the players and the club.
Sihan: Crystal Palace’s 3-goal comeback against Liverpool – I do not actively hate Liverpool, but a three goal comeback of that nature was amazing, and just when I was about to turn the TV off.
Best XI of the Season:
Drew: De Gea; Coleman, Cahill, Kompany, Shaw; Gerrard, Yaya Toure; Lallana, Hazard, Sturridge; Suarez
Sihan: De Gea; Coleman, Cahill, Kompany, Baines; Lallana, Gerrard, Yaya Toure, Hazard; Sturridge, Suarez
With the World Cup just a shade over a month away and as a result the Transfer Rumor mill on the verge of heating up feverishly, we will be bringing you daily coverage of both and much more. The season may be over, but Football never sleeps.
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