ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE: THE SEASON THAT WAS.

ANOTHER SEASON GOES BY!

Gutted is the feeling all football fans will be going through for the next 11 weeks or so. No Premier League football to enjoy on the weekends as I sip a cold glass of my favorite beer cheering my team on. All we have before us is the Copa America which should be interesting and the Champions League final coming up this Saturday.......oh! and not to forget, transfer window kicks in, probably the only exciting bit of a football-less period.

Besides all that, this season would have been amazing if only Mourinho and his boys would have tagged along with the rest of the bunch but instead they ran away with it. Congratulations to the 'boring' champions.

So what moments caught my eye this season? I'm going to break it down and forgive me if Arsenal frequent, I probably watched all their matches this season.


Match of the Season

Tottenham 5 - 3 Chelsea

Chelsea were on a roll at this stage of the season, no one so this coming at all. Spurs were fantastic and tore apart Chelsea's defense. Terry, Cahill and Ivanovic always getting the plaudits for their stern and no nonsense style of defending were torn to mere shreds by Kane and his boys. For once this past campaign Mourinho elected to attack and not sit back and hold on for a draw or 1-0 scoreline. Fantastic match it was.


Team of the Season

Southampton

I'm sure most neutrals would pick The Saints as their team of the season. They started off brilliantly and at one point looked like they would finish in the top 4. All the big boys feared facing them.  As the season progressed they kinda tired, fatigued and they dropped miserably to 7th spot where they eventually finished. Kudos to Ronald Koeman for pushing Spurs and Liverpool all the way.

If Koeman can keep hold of this squad and add more quality around the pitch, they'll definitely be making a whole lot of noise next season.


Signing of the Season

Alexis Sanchez

Please, we all have to bow down to this lad and have a moment of silence for all the magic he pulled this season. To me the best player in the Premier League currently and the only reason he didn't win the PFA player of the year is because Arsenal weren't top but all in all he beat Aguero and Hazard to the PFA fans player of the year. He had to sign out this season with a screamer in the FA cup final. Absolutely amazing! Hope he carries this form into next season.


Flop of the Season

Angel Di Maria

Before Manchester United fans start bashing me, hear me out. The only reason his my flop of the season is because I expected wonders from him but he just didn't show up. I remember watching him play for Real in the Champions League final against Atletico and he was brilliant, then watched him play a friendly for Argentina against Germany and he tore the Germans apart.

He started off the season quite okay, his goal against Leicester City had me drooling for a moment but after that it all went haywire for the Argentine from then on. His miss against Arsenal at the Emirates just sums his whole season into one. He flopped and flopped BAD!


Manager of the Season

Ronald Koeman

It had to be him surely. With so little resources he's done a very good job at Southampton and maybe deserved more than a 7th spot finish. He lost good talent in the summer transfer window but replaced well. Graziano Pelle chipped in with the goals that Lambert offered the season before, Shane Long and Mane filled the void left by Lallana and Fonte and Alderweireld made the Saints fans forget about Dejan Lovren. If he can do this with Southampton, what would he do if he got a club with more resources?!


Most Improved Player

Francis Coquelin

Francis Coquelin, where would Arsenal be without you. Brought back from his loan spell in Charlton due to an injury crisis, Coquelin took that chance with aplomb. Arsenal lacked a player with a bit of bite and aggression, a player that can intercept and break up play, but when he arrived, all that changed. Coquelin bossed the likes of Silva, Fellaini and even Coutinho, not only that, he stats are way better than that of Nemanja Matic the 'so-called' best midfielder in the Premier League. No chance Matic!


Breakthrough Player of the Season

Harry Kane

Is anyone questioning this decision? You better not. Harry Kane has thrived in a position Emmanuel Adebayor and Roberto Soldado have miserably failed in and has grabbed that center forward role by the throat. He scored important goals for Spurs and he is the reason spurs claimed 5th spot. Without his goals, Spurs would probably be meandering in mid-table with the likes of Stoke and Swansea.
Keep it up lad!


Goal of the Season

Graziano Pelle vs QPR

Does anyone remember this beauty from Pelle earlier in the season when Southampton beat QPR 2-1? You probably do because this is as good an overhead kick goal you'll see for sometime. the technique, timing and direction were spot on. Beauty from Graziano Pelle.