The 2012-13 Premier League season concludes on Sunday at around quarter to 6. While it hasn't quite lived up to the tremendous season before where the league title came right down to the last minute of injury time, it has still been an exciting season to follow.
Manchester United roared back from the disappointment at the Stadium of Light last season to romp home with what turned out to be Sir Alex Ferguson's last ever honour, while last season's champions ended up sacking their manager, Roberto Mancini, a year to the date they sealed their first ever league title in years. Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham were in the running for Champions League football while David Moyes continued to impress at Everton on a shoestring budget, pushing them close to European football eventually earning the honour of replacing Fergie at Manchester United. They finished ahead of their big rivals across the city who showed some improvement under Brendan Rodgers in his first season.
Elsewhere, the race to survive in the Premier League was fiercer than ever. While Swansea, West Brom, West Ham and Fulham all maintained their Premier League status comfortably, the likes of Norwich, Newcastle, Sunderland, Stoke, Aston Villa, Southampton, Wigan, Reading and QPR all got tangled in a scrap to stay up. Ultimately, newly-promoted Reading and last season's survivors, QPR failed the litmus test early on, while brave, little Wigan finally ran out of luck after 8 years, with their relegation confirmed only 3 days after their most glorious day - a shock FA Cup victory over giants Manchester City.
And with the managerial roulette in full motion, things will probably get worse for Wigan with their manager, Roberto Martinez set for pastures anew at Everton, Manchester City or Malaga, depending on who you believe.
So here's my review of the season that has just gone by!
TEAM OF THE YEAR -
GK - David de Gea, Manchester United - after a tough debut season, de Gea took the criticism and competition with Andreas Lindegaard in his stride and emerged as the best goalkeeper in the Premier League this season. The gap left by the retirement of Edwin van der Saar appears to have been finally filled.
LB - Leighton Baines, Everton - Everton's skilful left back has finally made the position sharing his initials his own, contributing crosses and goals in Everton's credible push for European football this season. One wonders if David Moyes will drag his lieutenant, in the form of his life, down the canal in the summer. Much as the Scouser is a life-long Everton fan, the lure of winning trophies with Manchester United might just be a bit too much to resist.
CB - Ashley Williams, Swansea City - There is a good reason why Arsenal are quite interested in the Welsh international who shares his name with a Hollywood actress (think Victoria the baker in How I Met Your Mother). But Ashley deserves all the credits he can get as he has been a rock in Swansea's backline as they've kept clean sheet after clean sheet en route to a likely top ten finish and first ever trophy. Arsenal will be forking out the big bucks if they want to get their man for sure. Shame his season will be remembered for this -
CB - Jan Vertonghen, Tottenham Hotspur - the best centre back in the Premier League right now. Period. Vertonghen has been a revelation at the back and up the field, being more prolific in the goal scoring than expected. One of the Premier League debutants of the season.
RB - Pablo Zabaleta, Manchester City - It has been a season to forget for the champions of last season but they still did finish 2nd even if most of the heroes from last season didn't quite live up to the standards of last. Zabaleta was one of the few players to maintain that standard and led his dysfunctional team at right back with aplomb. His red card in the FA Cup epitomised the effort and sacrifice he had put for the team while his team-mates just stood and watched.
WG - Gareth Bale, Tottenham Hotspur - Undisputedly the player of the season in the Premier League. It has been a while since one player has been so integral in deciding victory or defeat for a club. Without Bale's hot streak in 2013, Tottenham would have given up on Champions League football quite a while ago. The big question is - Champions League football or not, will Gareth Bale still be at White Hart Lane next season?
AM - Juan Mata, Chelsea - Frank Lampard may have scored more goals, and Eden Hazard may have garnered more attention but Juan Mata has been the key reason why Chelsea have kept rolling despite yet another managerial change. One of the reasons why the Premier League is the most exciting league in the world and one wonders if we've yet to see the best from the Spanish international who scored the 4th goal in Spain's EURO 2012 Final win over Italy in the summer.
CM - Michael Carrick, Manchester United - Underrated and often maligned but now the most important player in Manchester United's midfield. Carrick is one of the best passers of the Premier League and probably would be a player who would do well at a team that loves to pass the ball, i.e. Barcelona or Bayern Munich under Pep Guardiola. Can even play centre-back when needed. The former West Ham and Tottenham midfielder will continue to be key for United next season.
WG - Santi Cazorla, Arsenal - Picked up on a bargain from cash-strapped Malaga, Cazorla has been a revelation for Arsene Wenger and one of their most consistent players in another inconsistent eason for the Gunners.
FW - Luis Suarez, Liverpool - Mercurial, controversial and ill-disciplined. Three words to sum up Liverpool's best player. His moment of madness, biting Branislav Ivanovic, definitely cost him the Golden Boot in his most prolific goal scoring season for the Reds yet. Don't believe the rumours - Suarez will be at Anfield next season and Liverpool will have to continue to figure out how to keep their star on a leash.
FW - Robin van Persie, Manchester United - One of the signings of the season, and quite possibly one of Fergie's greatest signings ever - and his last great signing. RVP brought his goalscoring form at Arsenal to Manchester and formed a wonderful attack with Wayne Rooney - or just went solo towards the end of the season.
Bench -
GK - Tim Howard, Everton - has been key in keeping the clean sheets coming at Goodison Park
CB - Rio Ferdinand, Man United - earned a contract extension and a place in Old Trafford folklore as the man who scored the winner in Fergie's last ever home game
CM - Frank Lampard, Chelsea - fighting for a contract, Super Frank had a record-breaking goal scoring season at Stamford Bridge
AM - Eden Hazard, Chelsea - a remarkable debut season marred by poor temperament, but will be a joy to watch for years to come.
FW - Michu, Swansea - bargain of the season - possibly decade. How long will he stay at Swansea?
GAME OF THE YEAR -
Manchester City 2-3 Manchester United - the most highly anticipated game of the season at the time with both Manchester sides racing clear at the top of the league. United went 2-0 up early on but City stormed back into contention only to be denied by a very late Robin van Persie free kick.
GOAL OF THE YEAR -
Matthew Lowton, Aston Villa - an outstanding strike which helped to inspire Aston Villa's strong charge and ultimately successful bid to stay in the Premier League.
DISAPPOINTMENT OF THE YEAR -
QPR - Moral of story - money can't buy you success and one wonders what QPR will now do with the millions of pounds worth of talent that they have at the club following their relegation to the Championship where they will have far less TV money and revenue - surely the likes of Loic Remy, Yann M'Vila, Junior Hoilett, Jose Bosingwa, will move on to other clubs in the top flight so that might help QPR cut their losses and prepare for life in the Championship.
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