Welcome one and all to the one awards column that really matters. The Sub Please awards for season 2010/11 are here, thanks to The Ainswolf for some valued suggestions, read on to find out who's taken home a Subbie.
For me, if the remit is all of Europe, the stand-out goal this year is easy. Dejan Stankovic's ludicrous volley from halfway line for Inter Milan displayed such incredible poise, technique, vision and execution that it should be shown again and again, perhaps on continuous loops in sports centres and schools. Brainwash kids with repetition of this goal and they too shall be blessed with technique like that. The fact the goal was for the losing side means it has lost a lot of it's stature, but this should take nothing away from the brilliance of it.
In the Premier League, Gareth Bale showed similar volleying expertise against Stoke early on - I also enjoyed the wizardry of Johan Elmander for Bolton against Wolves, twisting and turning his way past an entire defence in a space. The thing is though, and I'm slightly reluctant here but I feel I have to do this...the goal of the season, it just has to be doesn't it? Wayne Rooney against Manchester City. I know, he didn't catch it cleanly on his toe...I know, the defenders stood off allowing him the space to size it up...and I know that many, many players could pull that off once in a career. But I guarantee that goal will be the one most replayed and most remembered in the fullness of time. The fact that it was the winning goal in a derby of such importance these days...in bright sunshine, Reds v Blues...it is such an aesthetically pleasing goal that it resonates with anyone who knows even the slightest thing about football. The number of people here in Australia that were talking about it afterwards is credit to that - that goal is a famous goal and therefore a worthy winner.
Match of the Season:
Easy. In a season of many exciting draws, there is only one that stands out clearly above the rest. Newcastle 4-4 Arsenal. A magnificent scoreline any time...but when you factor in the fact that one team led 4-0 it becomes incredible. 4-0 inside 25 minutes, ridiculous. The 1st goal in reply did not come until the second half? Brother, you've got yourself a classic. The beginning of the end for Arsenal, only they could capitulate in such a manner, but credit to Newcastle for pushing it all the way and exploiting their opponents fragility. A game that will be remembered for a long, long time.
Moment of the Season:
Directly linked to the above: 87th minute, St James' Park is a cauldron of noise and the Magpies are pouring forward in effort to complete the most unlikely of comebacks. A cross is sent in to the traumatised Arsenal penalty box, but a defender gets a strong head on it and sends the ball high into the air. All eyes turn to the black-and-white striped shirt bearing down on the space where the ball is looping towards. Cheik Tiote hammering a left footed volley powerfully into the bottom corner of the net - and his subsequent celebration - was the moment of the entire season for me.
Player of the Season:
This season has been one defined by a lack of the outstanding. No team has run away with it, those at the top underperforming against their usual records and ultimately the best. most consistent team coming away winners. Whilst in Spain, Messi and C-Ron have been utterly superlative, on English shores that has not been the case. The two players to share golden boot have been at times superb, but for Berbatov this was mainly in a handful of games in the first half of the season - since the emergence of Little Pea he is more often than not a substitute. Carlos Tevez meanwhile has been consistently Man City's best player and scored some fantastic goals, but has also missed large periods through injury and displayed a petulance at times that leaves a sour impression. Bale and Van der Vaart - and Samir Nasri also - were excellent for the first half of the season until injuries and/or fatigue played a part; while Robin Van Persie has hit heights since January that all season long would make him a worthy winner. Other media outlets have favoured Luka Modric, a player that I rate very highly and love to watch, but my nod goes to Nemanja Vidic. A strong, powerful, presence in the heart of United's defence that has brought the best out of Chris Smalling when deputising, or formed an impenetrable wall with Rio and Edwin for company. He cheats, he fights, he snarls - and that is exactly what a line leading centre back should do. Defenders often lose out in these things since it is a less visible, less glamorous task, but for a more tangible demonstration of the will and competitiveness that Vidic brings to United, look at the winning goal against Chelsea in the title decider. The way he explodes past anyone to get to that ball first sums him up, in my opinion a key factor in United winning Number 19 and a worthy winner of this award. I bet he's thrilled.
Signing of the Season:
The signing for the entire season is between two for me. Javier Hernandez has been revelatory - surely he was one for the future and Ferguson will not have expected to end the season with Hernandez as his leading man. 20 goals in a first year is phenomenal, for a youngster it's even better (what is better than phenomenal...extraterrestrial? miraculous?) He was cheap as well which adds to the outstanding return that his first season has already given. Talking of cheap, Peter Odemwingie has led the line all season for West Brom - a newly promoted team in a brand new league for him - and he has scored 15 league goals, helping in no small part to his teams decent 11th placed finish. Fundamentally though, I don't give a sh*t about West Brom, so Chicharito gets this one - anyone who disagrees can answer this...even at 36 seconds into the match, did you think he was going to do anything other than slot that ball past Peter Cech? Exactly.
Match of the Season:
Easy. In a season of many exciting draws, there is only one that stands out clearly above the rest. Newcastle 4-4 Arsenal. A magnificent scoreline any time...but when you factor in the fact that one team led 4-0 it becomes incredible. 4-0 inside 25 minutes, ridiculous. The 1st goal in reply did not come until the second half? Brother, you've got yourself a classic. The beginning of the end for Arsenal, only they could capitulate in such a manner, but credit to Newcastle for pushing it all the way and exploiting their opponents fragility. A game that will be remembered for a long, long time.
Moment of the Season:
Directly linked to the above: 87th minute, St James' Park is a cauldron of noise and the Magpies are pouring forward in effort to complete the most unlikely of comebacks. A cross is sent in to the traumatised Arsenal penalty box, but a defender gets a strong head on it and sends the ball high into the air. All eyes turn to the black-and-white striped shirt bearing down on the space where the ball is looping towards. Cheik Tiote hammering a left footed volley powerfully into the bottom corner of the net - and his subsequent celebration - was the moment of the entire season for me.
Player of the Season:
This season has been one defined by a lack of the outstanding. No team has run away with it, those at the top underperforming against their usual records and ultimately the best. most consistent team coming away winners. Whilst in Spain, Messi and C-Ron have been utterly superlative, on English shores that has not been the case. The two players to share golden boot have been at times superb, but for Berbatov this was mainly in a handful of games in the first half of the season - since the emergence of Little Pea he is more often than not a substitute. Carlos Tevez meanwhile has been consistently Man City's best player and scored some fantastic goals, but has also missed large periods through injury and displayed a petulance at times that leaves a sour impression. Bale and Van der Vaart - and Samir Nasri also - were excellent for the first half of the season until injuries and/or fatigue played a part; while Robin Van Persie has hit heights since January that all season long would make him a worthy winner. Other media outlets have favoured Luka Modric, a player that I rate very highly and love to watch, but my nod goes to Nemanja Vidic. A strong, powerful, presence in the heart of United's defence that has brought the best out of Chris Smalling when deputising, or formed an impenetrable wall with Rio and Edwin for company. He cheats, he fights, he snarls - and that is exactly what a line leading centre back should do. Defenders often lose out in these things since it is a less visible, less glamorous task, but for a more tangible demonstration of the will and competitiveness that Vidic brings to United, look at the winning goal against Chelsea in the title decider. The way he explodes past anyone to get to that ball first sums him up, in my opinion a key factor in United winning Number 19 and a worthy winner of this award. I bet he's thrilled.
Signing of the Season:
The signing for the entire season is between two for me. Javier Hernandez has been revelatory - surely he was one for the future and Ferguson will not have expected to end the season with Hernandez as his leading man. 20 goals in a first year is phenomenal, for a youngster it's even better (what is better than phenomenal...extraterrestrial? miraculous?) He was cheap as well which adds to the outstanding return that his first season has already given. Talking of cheap, Peter Odemwingie has led the line all season for West Brom - a newly promoted team in a brand new league for him - and he has scored 15 league goals, helping in no small part to his teams decent 11th placed finish. Fundamentally though, I don't give a sh*t about West Brom, so Chicharito gets this one - anyone who disagrees can answer this...even at 36 seconds into the match, did you think he was going to do anything other than slot that ball past Peter Cech? Exactly.
As for January signings, there are strong arguments for Luis Suarez and David Luiz, both of whom I expect to shine next year. However Aston Villa finished 9th, thanks in no small part to the immediate impact of their £18m striker, Darren Bent, Great signing.
Flop of the Season:
It's tempting to point to £50m worth of Fernando Torres, there is no way on earth that 1 goal against useless West Ham is the return they were looking for with that outlay...but I believe anyone writing off Torres will end up looking foolish by around October next year when he is back in the 2007/8 groove for the Blues. For me, this one has to go to Joe Cole. You know how they say, 'he got his first goal and then never looked back'...well Cole got sent off on debut and never looked forward. An unfortunate poster boy for Liverpool's rancid early season form. Must do better.
Manager of the Season:
Alex Ferguson got a league title and a Champions League final out of a relatively limited squad. He deserves a Subbie - the one award that has eluded him this far and, many say, the one that he craves the most, but he's not getting it this time. Tony Pulis gave Stoke fans a cup final and a third consecutive season of relative comfort. Granted they fell away slightly at the death, but I remember the 2002/3 season when Southampton finished runners up in the FA Cup and 8th in the Prem. It was the best season ever, packed with satisfying result after satisfying result and was just great fun. Pulis has given this to his fans and deserves the award. For what it's worth, I expect Stoke to be relegated within 3 years but this was an enjoyable peak I'm sure.
The Fair Play Award:
Usually given to the fat kid who turns up every week but never plays, this one goes to Blackpool. Ultimately they fell short, on account of defending with the slapstick hilarity of the Chuckle Brothers in that classic episode at Rotherham FC...but they gave an exceptionally good account of themselves. The onus on attack was admirable and resulted in a record number of goals for a relegated side, but the fact is the are a relegated side. Bye, fatty.
The 'and finally' Award:
In time honoured tradition of closing the news with a light hearted snippet to warm the cockles, the Subbies close with the And Finally award.
This years recipient is the loveable scamp Sepp Blatter for his hilarious early April Fools joke. He fiendishly claimed, oh the pesky rogue, that the World Cup would be played in Russia and Qatar!!! What a cad, great sense of humour on him. Wait...what?
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