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| Manchester City after winning the Premiership title race on May 11 |
The final whistle has been blown and the boots are off. Premier League 2013-14 has been the most keenly contested season of the new millennium. t2 looks back and compiles the hits, misses and moments that made you go WTF (Wow That’s Football)!
Best footballers of 2013-14
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| Luis Suarez |
1. Luis Suarez –– Liverpool
Started the season as public enemy number 1. Finished it as the Premier League’s sweetheart. Devastating consistency and the architect of countless jaw-dropping moments. 31 goals. #Respect.
2. Yaya Toure –– Manchester City
One of the primary reasons behind Manchester City lifting the trophy. A pillar in the midfield and a prolific goal scorer who has powered his side past the post.
3. Adam Lallana –– Southampton
Adam who? The man with the unconventional name has made the Premier League sit up and take notice. The English midfielder has emerged among the most technically adept. One of the sparks to watch out for in Brazil.
Top 3 managers of the season
1. Brendan Rodgers –– Liverpool
Might have missed the title by a whisker but authored Liverpool’s best performance in two decades. Instilled title-winning confidence through a thrilling brand of fearless, attacking football.
2. Roberto Martinez –– Everton
Came within striking distance of Champions League football and did wonders with a mid-table side. A tactical and controlled performance saw the Goodison Park side reach their highest ever league points tally and enjoyed the sweet success of achieving a double over the club’s former manager when they beat Manchester United.
3. Tony Pulis –– Crystal Palace
When Crystal Palace’s former manager resigned in November, the club was scraping the barrel with 4 points from 11 games. Relegation ensured, right? Wrong. In came Tony Pulis and turned Palace into giant killers and took them to a respectable 11th.
Top 3 quotes of the season
1. “This does not f***ing slip now”
Captain Gerrard roared this message to his teammates in a huddle after his side held their nerves to beat Manchester City 3-2. Liverpool had one hand on the trophy after that win. And then it slipped when he slipped against Chelsea. #OhTheIrony
2. “He’s a specialist in failure”
No list of quotes can be complete without a quip from Jose Mourinho. This is what the Chelsea boss had to say about Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger after they played out a goalless draw in December. Mourinho went on to win precisely zero trophies this year while Wenger lifted the FA Cup.
3. “We will go back to playing like Manchester United”
Ryan Giggs, hoping to start putting things right after taking over as interim manager following Moyes’s departure.
Top 3 controversies of the season
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| Gibbs gets the red card |
1. Kieran Gibbs’s mistaken identity red card
Part hilarious, part shocking and the subject of a thousand Twitter LOLs. As Arsenal’s Alex Oxlade Chamberlain made a goal-line save with his palm against Chelsea, referee Andre Mariner ran towards the goal with his red card only to flash it to Ox’s teammate Gibbs!
2. Newcastle manager Alan Pardew headbutts rival footballer
Yes, this actually happened. A moment that made the footballing world cringe (except perhaps a certain Zinedine Zidane). Pardew was banned for a record 7 matches and fined a chest full of money for headbutting Hull City midfielder David Meyler in March.
3. Mourinho’s “parking the bus” tactics
If it’s a controversy, chances are it’s Jose. The Special One came up with a tactic so controversial that it even has its own name now –– parking the bus. The term, used to describe Chelsea’s overtly defensive style of playing away matches, frustrated opponent managers and delighted Chelsea fans.
Top young guns of the season
1. Raheem Sterling, 19, Liverpool
The England international grabbed first team action this season with both feet and displayed his versatility on the wings as well as in central midfield. His electric partnership with Suarez and Sturridge made them the most potent trio in English football.
2. Eden Hazard, 23, Chelsea
The wily Belgian has been pivotal in Chelsea’s title challenge this season with 14 goals and seven crucial assists. Even though his side fell short at the last hurdle, he was named PFA young footballer of the year. And yet, Mourinho isn’t impressed.
3. Aaron Ramsey, 23, Arsenal
The Welsh international has been a firecracker on the pitch for Arsenal this year. From blistering pace to some impossible manoeuvres, the midfielder has been a breath of fresh air, even scoring 10 goals despite injuries.
Top 3 goals of the season
1. Pajtim Kasami (Fulham) vs Crystal Palace
Ridiculous. Outlandish. Magic. Or simply What The F… Call it what you will, but Kasami’s breathtaking strike against Palace has dropped jaws and ruled YouTube. A casual run from the halfway line towards the goal went unnoticed but then he captured an aerial long ball on the chest and in one audacious kick from an impossible angle right of the goal sent the ball screaming to the back of the net. Ibra who?
2. Jack Wilshere (Arsenal) vs Norwich City
Nothing defines “tikitaka” better than this beauty, not even Xavi-Iniesta-Messi. In a brilliant display of one-touch football in the Norwich box, three Arsenal players pass to each other before Jackie taps it in. Cazorla to Wilshere, Wilshere to Cazorla, Cazorla to Giroud, Giroud to Wilshere. Wilshere to Giroud, Giroud to Wilshere, GOAL. Whew! You get the drift.
3. Wayne Rooney (Manchester United) vs West Ham United
Rooney did a Beckham when he lobbed one over the goalkeeper from the half-way line and into the back of the net. An outrageous 57-yard volley at the floodlit Upton Park watched by a smiling Becks in the crowd.
Top 3 signings of the season
1. Romelu Lukaku –– Everton
He may only have been a loanee from Chelsea but nearly guided Everton to a Champions League spot with some brilliant attacking football. With 15 goals and five assists in 31 matches, the Belgian will be a player to look out for in the World Cup.
2. Alvaro Negredo –– Manchester City
The Argentine may not have scored since January because of an injury but his attacking style and charisma in the first half of the season made him an instant fan favourite at the Etihad.
3. Mesut Ozil –– Arsenal
He may not have solved problems like war, poverty and hunger that many Arsenal supporters were expecting him to but there is no denying the impact this German had on the club’s morale and confidence. With five goals and nine assists in the league, he sure did stamp his class and also was pivotal to Arsenal’s victory at the FA Cup.
Supporter’s club speak
Liverpool
Krishnendu Biswas, President, Liverpool FC Kolkata –– Bengal KOP
A thumping victory against Everton was surely one of our most favourite moments closely followed by the decisive double over arch rivals Manchester United.
Arsenal
Pratik Bhattacharya, President, Arsenal Kolkata Supporters Club
Has to be the FA Cup triumph. Ramsey scoring the winner to help us lift the trophy was the icing on the cake. The deadline day signing of Mesut Ozil is worth a mention too. So is the win away over Borussia Dortmund. Overall a successful season in my eyes.
Chelsea
Souvik Basu, President, Chelsea India Supporters Club –– Kolkata
It was “The Moment” for the Blues fans when Jose Mourinho made his return to Stamford Bridge. “It’s my dugout, my stadium, my people” the Special One said before the Hull city home match. A double over winners Manchester City and runners-up Liverpool, a 6-0 home victory against “Beautiful” Arsenal and above all 80+ points after three long seasons. Maybe no trophy this time but surely a season to remember.
Manchester United
Saumya Dasgupta, President, Manchester United Fans Club –– Kolkata
A fairy tale one. Not often do you see your manager take off his tie and warm up to play for your team. Oh, yes. That’s Ryan Giggs for you. The 41-year-“young” Red Devil has become Mr Manchester United. His emotional farewell speech will forever be etched in our memories.
SWOT analysis of Big 4
Arsenal
Overall: Spent the longest time at the top of the table but eventually settled for a familiar fourth. FA Cup win underlined the overall progress made this year. Trophy jinx broken after 78,892 hours. Pheww!
Strength: A creative and versatile midfield
Weakness: Lack of attacking options and a genuine finisher.
Best player: Aaron Ramsey
Next season they must: Buy a proper striker
Chelsea
Overall: Could have clinched the title had they not slipped up against weaker teams
Strength: A solid defence
Weakness: A genuine in-form striker
Best player: Eden Hazard
Next season they must: Buy a world-class striker, a left back and give youngsters like Lewis Baker, John Swift and Nathan Ake a chance in the first team.
Liverpool
Overall: Exceeded expectations and displayed a vibrant attacking style of football.
Strength: Well-oiled attack machinery
Weakness: Tendency to “slip” at crucial moments
Best Player: Luis Suarez
Next season they must: Increase their squad depth with Champions League being added to their schedule
Manchester United
Overall: Disaster. The post-Sir Alex Ferguson era was never going to be an easy transition but the defending champions were reduced to a mid-table team.
Strength: A resilient Rooney and a versatile Januzaj
Weakness: Utter lack of consistency and an uninspiring midfield
Best Player: Wayne Rooney
Next season they must: Hope Louis Van Gaal can do what David Moyes miserably failed to do. Also, restructure the squad by not spending big but spending wisely.
Best-looking manager
Arsene Wenger –– Arsenal
He may not have Andre Vilas Boas’s boyish charm or Jose Mourinho’s badass sex appeal or Diego Simeone’s gelled backbrush but there’s something about that crisp white shirt, sharp red tie, the distinctive nose, the hands on the hips and disarming smile that makes the Frenchman turn heads even at 64.
Dud manager of the season
David Moyes –– Manchester United. No points for guessing.
Dud player of the season
Roberto Soldado
–– Tottenham Hotspur. £26 million transfer. 28 appearances. 6 goals. You do the math.
Best-looking players of the Premier League
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1. Olivier Giroud –– Arsenal
If hotness could be exchanged for goals, the French forward would have won the Ballon d’Or by now.
2. Jesus Navas –– Manchester City
Those eyes could surely mesmerise a defender or two. Goal!
3. Cesar Azpilicueta –– Chelsea
The pillar of the Chelsea defence this season may have blocked a lot of goals on the pitch but off it, has scored quite a few with his boyish good looks.
IN A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN
League: Spanish La Liga
Winners: Atletico Madrid
Best player: Diego Costa (Atletico Madrid)
Best manager: Diego Simeone (Atletico Madrid)
League: German Bundesliga
Winners: Bayern Munich
Best player: Robert Lewandowski (Borussia Dortmund)
Best manager: Jurgen Klopp (Borussia Dortmund)
League: Italian Serie A
Winners: Juventus
Best player: Paul Pogba (Juventus)
Best manager:
Antonio Conte
(Juventus)
League: France Ligue 1
Winners: Paris Saint-Germain
Best player: Zlatan Ibrahimovic (PSG)
Best manager: Rene Girard (Lille)
Text: Sushovan Sircar
Pick your favourite moment and favourite player from Premier League 2013-14 and tell t2@abp.in
