Brian Clough was once asked where he ranked himself in the best managers of all time stakes. He replied with typical Cloughie modesty: "I wouldn’t say I was the best manager in the business. But I was in the top one."
With the campaign that began on August 15th 2009 now in the books, it’s time to hand out the top one awards.
Team of the Season: Chelsea
The adage that the table never tells lies is never truer than on the final day of the season. To win the title, 38 matches must be navigated through the perilous waters of the Premiership. For the past three years, Chelsea has been on the outside looking in. But not this year.
What makes their fourth league title so memorable for me, is that it has been achieved with a manager who had no previous Premiership experience and a squad that has been hammered with injuries and off-field distractions.
Carlo Ancelotti deserves all the plaudits for guiding his talented, but aging team through a series of ups and downs without losing focus. They’ve played football the right way. It’s been entertaining, flamboyant at times, and if you like seeing the ball hit the back of the net, Stamford Bridge was the place to be as the team has scored over 130 goals in all competitions including a record breaking 103 in the top flight.
By the way, in my season preview, 1 through 20, Chelsea was the only correct prediction.
Honorable mentions: Tottenham, Birmingham City, Fulham
Flop of the Season: Liverpool
On the subject of season previews, I had Liverpool finishing second.
I suppose the writing was on the wall from the opening stanzas of the season. However, I don’t think many of us would’ve predicted the fall to be so stunning.
Injuries have certainly hurt the team but it is off the field where the real damage has been done. The debt load is crippling and at the time of writing, it’s hard to envision exactly what Liverpool FC will look like come August.
Dishonorable mentions: Sunderland, Wigan
Goalkeeper of the Season: Joe Hart
After finding himself behind Shay Given in the pecking order at Manchester City, Joe Hart made the bold decision to go on loan to unfashionable Birmingham City. What a wise and brave move that turned out to be. It’s not easy to join a team that had the potential to struggle and then go on to shine.
By helping the Blues consolidate in the Premiership, Hart achieved a number of notable goals. Firstly he was responsible for a new unbeaten club record of 12 matches in the top flight. He posted 12 clean sheets and perhaps, most impressively, caught the eye of England manager, Fabio Capello.
Now the suitors are lining up for the twenty-four-year-old and he should be able to pick and choose where he plays his football next season with Arsenal the rumored destination.
Honorable mention: Liverpool's Pepe Reina
Defender of the Season: Patrice Evra
For my money, Patrice Evra is the finest left fullback in, not only the Premiership, but world football. Here is a player that attacks as well as he defends and that is the highest compliment you can pay, as excelling in both facets of the game is incredibly difficult to achieve.
In an off-campaign for United, in as much as they didn’t win the title, Evra has been the model of consistency, appearing in a staggering 37 out of a possible 38 matches. The Frenchman has become the defensive leader of a team that has seen every possible back four combination this year.
Honorable mention: Tottenham's Michael Dawson
Midfielder of the Season: Frank Lampard
Simple numbers do not do Frank Lampard credit, but let’s look at them anyway.
Thirty-six matches played, 22 goals scored and an astonishing 17 assists make ‘Super Frank’ one of the most dominant midfield players the Premiership has ever seen. What is truly frightening though is that this season, the pressure and responsibility for carrying the team has been squarely placed on his shoulders. To say that he has responded magnificently would be the under-statement of the campaign.
This is a man who has mastered football. He’s made it look simple. He has tamed the game and made it answer to him. Perhaps that is why he doesn’t often receive the accolades he should.
Honorable mention: Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas
Forward of the Season: Didier Drogba
Scoring goals is the hardest skill in football. It always has been and always will be. Except if you go by the name of Didier Drogba.
Twenty-nine goals in 31 matches is a strike rate that harks back to the days of black & white TV defending. It isn’t only the quality and variation of the goals that makes the Ivorian the best though, it his ability to bring teammates into the game as 13 assists can attest to.
The Golden Boot was won in real style and to think it was achieved during a campaign that was interrupted by injuries, a trip to the African Cup of Nations and the usual sulking makes it even more remarkable.
Honorable mention: Sunderland's Darren Bent
Player of the Season: Wayne Rooney
You may say that an English bias is at play in this selection, however, even his fellow proffesionals recognized that Wayne Rooney put together a fantastic body of work over the course of the campaign. To say that he carried Manchester United in the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez is no exaggeration.
It was obvious that Rooney relished the extra responsibility placed on him by Sir Alex Ferguson and one wonders just how many trophies, United would have won if Rooney had had a strike partner with the same enthusiasm for the game.
Honorable mention: Cheslea's Frank Lamaprd
Manager of the Season: Roy Hodgson
Two seasons ago, Fulham were 14 minutes away from relegation to the Championship. This Wednesday, they play Atletico Madrid in the Europa League Final. Roy Hodgson is responsible for this turnaround.
The mild-mannered Hodgson has proven himself to be a tactical genius while working within a budget that would make most managers blanch.
If Fulham do lift the Europa League trophy in Hamburg, it will be the greatest achievement in the history of the club while at the same time giving all small, less fashionable clubs, belief that anything is possible.
Honorable mentions: Birmingham City's Alex McLeish and Tottenham's Harry Redknapp
See you all next season.
Until then, I’ll see you in South Africa.
