Losing the crown but winning hearts at football

Team of the season

Well, it’s gone down to the wire, but – barring another set of unexpected events – Manchester City seem certain to clinch the title, writes Malcolm Boughen.

Being the best team money can buy, though, does not necessarily qualify you for this award. No, the people’s choice as team of the season must be Liverpool.

Seventh last season, they were no-one’s tip as champions back in August. But harnessing the sublime skills of Suarez and Coutinho to the emerging talents of young Englishmen like Sturridge, Sterling and Henderson – and driven onwards by the raw passion of Steven Gerrard – they played with a refreshing abandon that ultimately may have cost them the crown but must have won them many hearts.

And on the 25th anniversary of Hillsborough they certainly did all that could have been expected of them – and more.

Surprise package

Liverpool apart, there are three teams vying for this award.

It seems surprising even to suggest it, but beleaguered Newcastle can stake a claim, finishing in the top half of the table – currently seven places higher than last time round. But their slump in the second half of the season – after the loss of Yohan Cabaye to Paris St Germain – has made it a case of what might have been for them.

In contrast, Crystal Palace – promoted through the play-offs and usually the definition of a yo-yo club – have powered through to the end of the season, finishing comfortably above the relegation zone in an impressive eleventh place.

But this award must surely go to Southampton. They’ve not kept up their early season pace, but – like Liverpool – they’ve given the lie to the claim that there’s no young English talent coming through the Premier League, showcasing players like Adam Lallana, Jay Rodriguez and Luke Shaw and finishing in eighth.

Under-performers

Relegated Norwich and Fulham – who’ve both tumbled from mid-table respectability last year – have both let down their fans. And, although West Brom have – just – escaped the drop, they too fit into this category.

But there can only be one winner of this award. When Sir Alex Ferguson handed over the reins of champions Manchester United to his “chosen one”, David Moyes, there were grounds for cautious optimism.

Of course there would be a settling in period – perhaps Reds fans would have to be satisfied with Champions League qualification and maybe a cup win. But their decline has been the mirror image of Liverpool’s rise and they’ll be looking to Louis Van Gaal to oversee a rapid rebuilding programme next season.

Most inspired managerial change

If United’s was the least successful change in a season which has seen 12 of the 20 clubs switch managers, which has been the best?

Stoke have been revitalised by Mark Hughes, but the man he replace at the Britannia Stadium – Tony Pulis – has been an even greater success at Crystal Palace, turning round their disastrous early season form under Ian Holloway.

But this award has to go to Sunderland, who soon realised that their experiment with Paolo di Canio was doomed to failure and brought in “miracle-worker” Gus Poyet. Few would have put money on the Wearsiders to survive this season, but the Uruguayan has pulled it off.

Surviving the owner award

This era of sovereign wealth and billionaire whim has thrown up more than its share of eccentric owners of traditional British clubs. Cardiff City survived a couple of seasons of random change under Malaysian businessman Vincent Tan – even winning the Championship in their new red strip.

But – despite funding £50million of transfer spending in the summer – Tan’s tinkerings have surely not helped as his side slid to the bottom of the table.

A similar story looked to be playing out at fellow promotion club, Hull City, but despite the antics of owner Assem Allam – and his threats to sell the club if the FA didn’t sanction his proposed name change to Hull Tigers – manager Steve Bruce has kept his players focussed and the club out of the relegation mire – winning them an FA Cup final and a place in Europe next season into the bargain.

London achievement award

In a season when London promised so much but delivered so little, spare a thought for Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham. Jose Mourinho’s side came close in both the League and in Europe, but in truth are still a team in transition.

Despite a wealth of expensively-acquired talent, Spurs have failed to recover from the loss of Gareth Bale and require yet another new start next season.

So this award – by default – goes to Arsenal. Untimely injuries and the lack of a really top goal scorer ruled them out of the title hunt this season but they should finally end their trophy-less run under Arsene Wenger, provided they achieve victory over Hull at Wembley next weekend.

Ho-hum award

With apologies to Everton (who, despite a promising season, did not quite fit into any category), we come last – and probably least – to what could also be called the “lack of achievement award”.

Swansea were big summer spenders but have actually gone backwards from last season’s top half finish. West Ham have stayed clear of relegation, but Big Sam’s style of play hasn’t excited the fans at Upton Park. Can they manage a big finish against Manchester City to ensure a final twist to the title race? Probably not.

But this final award has to go to those perennial under-achievers, Aston Villa. They’ve plugged along at a steady point a game average, staying just clear of the threat of relegation, but never looking likely to pull themselves out of the bottom half of the table. Maybe it’s some kind of success Jim, but not as we know it.