Best Player: VIDIC. A truly solid defender, perhaps the most consistent in the Premier League. His power and determination acted as a key factor in United's success this season. Could they have done it without him? Everyone knows a solid defence is essential in winning the league, Vidic led the team throughout.
Best Rising Star: WILSHERE. Wilshere came to the fore this season in solidifying Arsenal's midfield, a weak point in their team last season. Still a young player, Arsenal would have been significantly weaker without him as he secured his first XI place this year. Wilshere's precise passing, tough tackling and relentless energy makes him a possible future England captain already. His performances against Barcelona's Xavi and Iniesta exemplified his talents.
Best Match: Newcastle 4 - 4 Arsenal. Already 4-0 down at half time who would have thought Newcastle could have returned from such a deficit? Undoubtedly the most thrilling game to watch this season as Arsenal crumbled after Diaby's dismissal. Tiote's equaliser was one of the moments of the season as he lifted the roof off of St. James' Park.
Best Manager: Sir Alex Ferguson. For best manager, Sir Alex Ferguson receives the award after taking what many believed as a weak squad to their 19th title. United showed great determination throughout the season to grind out results with a squad less powerful and admired than those before them. Unbeaten for most of the season, Ferguson grinded a winning mentality into a team that usually wouldn't have been so successful - reaching the Champions League Final was another respectable feat. A mention should also be given to Ian Holloway for keeping Blackpool in with a chance of survival against the odds, regardless of their relegation.
Best Signing: Javier Hernandez. At just £6 million Hernandez is the obvious choice for best signing. Hernandez took the Premier League by storm in only his first year in English football, keeping top scorer Dimitar Berbatov out of the starting XI. It was not just the number of goals Hernandez scored however, but the games he scored them in. According to Martin Tyler's blog, without Chicarito's goals United would finish in 4th place - a true match winner.
Biggest Flop: Fernando Torres. Whilst noone truly expected Torres to shine in his first six months on the back of some very poor form for Spain in the WC and Liverpool, his lack of goals for Chelsea in the second half of the season was also unexpected. Fans throughout the Premier League gleefully looked on as the £50m pound man scored just 1 goal in 14 Premier league games.
Best Goal: Wayne Rooney/ Gareth Bale. For me neither of these goals can be ignored when choosing best goal. Wayne Rooney's overhead kick was undoubtedly the most spectacular goal of the season, and the occasion made it all the more important. As Martin Tyler bellowed on Sky Sports, it 'defies description.' The goal catapulted United and Rooney onwards for the rest of the year. However, Gareth Bale's volley early in the year against Stoke City was unforgettable. The technique in the volley was unbelievable and set the tone for the first half of the season for the Spurs winger as he tore apart Inter Milan and other teams alike.
Best Celebration: Sergio Ramos dropping the Copa Del Ray off the roof of the bus, only to find it under the wheels. What was he thinking?
Best Moment: Every one of Ian Holloway's interviews throughout the year, although his dealing with speculation over Charlie Adam's future in January was a favourite. 'If he's only worth £4m then I'm a Scotsman called McTavish.' Holloway was entertainment throughout the season and will be sorely missed next year - His reaction to the Rooney transfer chaos was also very funny, if not frightening - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_RdLGZ89uU
Biggest Bugbear: The sacking of Andy Gray. Whether or not you agree with the reasons for his sacking, no one can deny they missed the 'take a bows' and 'what a hit son' in the second half of this season. His commentary was sorely missed as Rooney bicycled into the Man City net.
Jesse Rivers
Best Player: ADAM. Who would have thought that a Blackpool player would make such a great impression on the Premier League this season. Definitely not me. Adam is class, with a left foot Rio Ferdinand would be happy to call a 'paintbrush, OOOFFFF'... or something along those lines. His distribution and control in games have been excellent, add to that his set pieces and it's no wonder the likes of Man United are after him. Transfer talk did cause a slight iffy patch in his season following January, yet as he showed on the last day, his abilities were vital in Blackpool's attacking approach to life in the top division. I hear people talking about 10 more Scotty Parkers, well with 10 more Adams, Blackpool could have been far better off.
Best Rising Star: WILSHERE. How boring. Me and Will have chosen the same player. Wilshere is only a couple of months older than myself and look where he is. Winner of the PFA Young Player of the Year award and battling it out with the best midfield in the world. Carroll deserves a mention for doing the business for my dearly beloved pre-January, but his injuries and form past that date have meant his £35 million price tag is looking good in our bank now.
Best Match: NEWCASTLE 4 - 4 ARSENAL / NEWCASTLE 5 - 1 SUNDERLAND.
Well this one was fairly obvious for me, not only do I get to include the best comeback in Premier League history, but also get to point out that we annihilated our derby rivals. The comeback is my actual choice, probably being the most exciting game all season for Newcastle fans and the neutrals out there. 8 goals, 2 penalties, a red card and only the second goal of Cheik Tiote's professional career, and oh my was it a gooden. Surprised it wasn't up for goal of the season to be honest.
Best Manager: SIR ALEX FERGUSON. Has to be really doesn't it? As Will has mentioned, this was one of the weaker (starless?) Man United teams, yet he still managed to get them their 19th title and a place in the final of the Champions League alongside Barcelona. Managing over half the season unbeaten, Fergie brought the best out of players like Giggs, deploying him in a variation of positions new to us standers-by. Similarly he kept Rooney, which turned out to be vital as MUFC turned on the heat with Rooney in fine form towards the end of the season. Lots must also be said for Harry Redknapp, taking Spurs into the heights of Europe, but also battling it out with most of the 'top four' this season.
Best Signing: CHICHARITO / SUAREZ. Another instance where I agree with Will. At only 22 years old and acquired for only £6 million he was a steal, providing pivotal goals both in quantity and nature. On the other hand the signing of Suarez for those greedy scousers saved their season. It could be argued that the mere return of King Kenny had this effect, but Suarez was instrumental in providing goals and flair for a team that had been looking all wrong under Hodgson. I know this annoys most, but I would like to mention Tiote again. Worth £3.5 million from Twente he has been pivotal to NUFC this season. His display against MUFC, completely closing Rooney out of the game, was a great example of his CDM capabilities and at only 24 is one for the future. Without him we would have had Alan Smith filling that role...
Biggest Flop: FERNANDO TORRES. Obvious no? His price was ridiculous. He hadn't been performing anywhere near the level of previous Liverpool seasons and his World Cup was quiet in a winning team. We spent the season waiting for the moment Torres would return, score a fantastic goal and just not stop. But it never came. He scored (singular) in standard fashion and had to watch David Luis net twice before he could get anywhere near the goal. What a waste of time and space.
Best Goal: WAYNE ROONEY / CHEIK TIOTE. Both goals were sublime. Rooney's was out of this world. His form had been poor building up to that game, and something special was the turning point for his season. I wanted city to win that game, but couldn't help jump up and down screaming when Roonaldo did that. Too much. The sad fact with Tiote's is that I didn't see it in real time. Newcastle vs. Arsenal wasn't on TV, meaning the only places to watch it were laggy lag lag internet, or St. James' Park. Watching it back on MOTD later that night was still special though. What a goal, not only in skill but also in its timing and meaning. Brilliant.
Best Celebration: WAYNE ROONEY. Bit of a joke really, but as Rooney scored his comeback penalty against Rangers he appeared to get a bit excited... couldn't find a picture though... In fact a few of Rooney's celebrations this season have been fairly amusing...
Best Moment: Have to agree with Will. Practically anything that Holloway said was gold. I also got a little bit of warmth from NUFC fans chanting "Steven Taylor shagged your lass" as Andy Carroll took to the Anfield pitch. Similarly, as Sammy Ameobi (Shola's little brother) took to the field at the same time as Shola, leading NUFC fans to chant "There's only two Ameobi's" rather than the usual "Only one Ameobi".
Biggest Bugbear: SALE OF ANDY CARROLL. Worst moment of my season. Caused so much sadness, anger and grief. Agents should all be shot. This also applies to Rooney and Tevez, as player power is becoming ridiculous. Mike Ashley's general presence in the world is also up there, Hughton's sacking was probably the most unfair thing to happen in the league since... oh wait... the sacking or forced resignation of Kevin Keegan nearly two seasons before that.
