Half-season awards 2023/24: Best recreation, funniest Roy Keane second, MNF star and much extra!

Goal of the season to this point: Let’s be sincere, this would possibly not be crushed this season and even this decade. Man Utd teenager Alejandro Garnacho silenced Goodison Park by scoring one of many best objectives in Premier League historical past with a merely beautiful overhead kick. Roll the tape…

Game of the season to this point: Tottenham 1-4 Chelsea. Five objectives scored, 5 objectives disallowed, two crimson playing cards, a hat-trick, a penalty and Tottenham’s ridiculously excessive line. A bona fide Premier League basic.

Worst technique of the season to this point: “That’s wrong that, Daz.” The toe-curling VAR audio from Luis Diaz’s disallowed aim towards Tottenham uncovered the communication points between officers which led to a change of protocol and even pilots being referred to as in to assist. Well achieved boys, good course of.

Unsung hero of the season to this point: “Wait, wait, wait, wait. The on-field decision was offside. Are you happy with this? Delay the game, delay the game. Stop the game.” The VAR Replay Operator did his finest to stop the farcical Diaz resolution. We will bear in mind you.

MNF visitor of the season to this point: What’s higher than returning to the membership that sacked you and beating them on their turf? Showing everybody precisely how you probably did it on Monday Night Football! Gary O’Neil arrived at Sky Studios armed with video clips from Wolves coaching of how they deliberate to beat Bournemouth and in-game examples of it paying off. There was additionally time for him to interrupt down their victory over Man City. A footballing masterclass!

Roy Keane’s finest one-liner of the season to this point: Magician Dynamo wowed Sky Sports pundits Jamie Carragher and Micah Richards by turning hearth into ice, however Roy Keane was tougher to impress. “It’s his job, isn’t it?” he smirked.

Player of the season to this point: This is all the time a tricky one to name at this stage. While Erling Haaland leads the scoring charts with 14 and 4 assists in 15 matches, Mo Salah has notched 11 and contributed seven assists in 17 for Liverpool. Ollie Watkins has 9 objectives and six assists. Heung-Min Son has scored 10 and made 4. Take your choose.

The EFL’s most ridiculous second of the season to this point: Wycombe thought they had been heading for a degree at Barnsley deep into damage time in November. That was till goalkeeper Max Stryjek went down theatrically whereas holding the ball in an try and waste time after a nudge from Sam Cosgrove. The ball, although, slipped from Stryjek’s grasp and Cosgrove was in a position to faucet into an empty internet for the winner.

Rant of the season to this point: “It’s embarrassing, it’s a disgrace, that’s what it is, a disgrace. It’s not acceptable, there’s too much at stake. We are wasting our time. It cannot continue. I feel sick.” Mikel Arteta raged after Anthony Gordon’s successful aim for Newcastle was allowed to face and Arsenal then introduced they “wholeheartedly” supported his rant.

Lawyer of the season to this point: Remarkably, Arteta’s tirade went unpunished by an unbiased regulatory fee after he was charged by the FA. Arteta’s defence was that a part of his interview had been misplaced in translation as a result of the English which means of ‘shame’ which suggests contempt, dishonour or disrespect has a unique which means to the Spanish ‘desgracia’ which has connotations of misfortune, tragedy or unhealthy luck. Saul Goodman would have been happy with that one.

Kris Boyd and Chris Sutton’s argument of the season to this point: These two had been all the time going to supply fireworks over their Rangers and Celtic allegiances and they haven’t dissatisfied. Their first conflict got here after Rangers’ opening day defeat but it surely was earlier this month discussing Celtic’s January switch plans that introduced out their finest. “You’re talking absolute nonsense!” stated Sutton, “You fool!”.

Team of the season to this point: Who noticed this coming from Aston Villa? Almost high of the league earlier than Christmas and into the Europa Conference League final 16. Who is aware of the place they may be or what they may be lifting in May.

Manager of the season to this point: Unai Emery has remodeled Aston Villa. Ollie Watkins has discovered constant goal-scoring kind, John McGinn is enjoying in addition to he is ever been, they’ve nailed constructing assaults from the again and their offside entice is impeccably timed and coordinated. Emery won’t have received a Manager of the Month award but however he has this one.

Performance of the season to this point: The solely difficulty with this efficiency was the 1-0 scoreline. Unai Emery tactically dismantled Pep Guardiola as Aston Villa earned a press release victory over Man City. City tried simply two pictures, each within the eleventh minute, which is the fewest ever tried by a Guardiola staff whereas the 22 from Villa was the joint-most confronted by one in every of his sides.

Worst resolution towards Gary O’Neil of the season to this point: You might make an creation calendar for the unhealthy selections Gary O’Neil has confronted this season, and the very fact it hasn’t turned him right into a footballing equal of Ebenezer Scrooge is to his immense credit score. Sasa Kalajdzic, congratulations – getting thumped within the head by Andre Onana was value it in any case. You won’t have received the blatant penalty you deserved, however you’ve got bought a greater prize right here.

Signing of the season to this point: Was £105m for Declan Rice too low cost? The midfielder has made an on the spot impression to Mikel Arteta’s aspect which is extra defensively sound this season. Aside from doing his day job very, very effectively, Rice has additionally chipped in with two essential late objectives in wins towards Luton and Manchester United.

Celebration of the season to this point: There are just a few first rate contenders for this one so we’ll allow you to determine. There is Buakyo Saka stealing James Maddison’s dart-throwing celebration within the North London Derby, Jeremy Doku’s completely executed ‘Griddy’ and Jack Grealish’s Diego Maradona-esque celebration down the digital camera lens towards Spurs.

Jones Knows’ finest tip of the season to this point: Gustavo Hamer scoring first at 22/1 vs Tottenham, maybe? Or Chelsea’s 0-0 with Bournemouth at 16/1 that broke a run of 51 video games and not using a scoreless draw was a savage shout for those who learn our weekly predictions column. But Jones Knows prides himself on his Best Bets column and the 15 factors of revenue gained from Dejan Kulusevski’s aim for Spurs at Manchester City that was suggested with double stakes at 15/2 definitely warmed his cockles and his revenue and loss margin.

Jones Knows’ worst tip of the season to this point: Writing forward of Aston Villa’s dwelling conflict with Brighton, our tipster confidently declared: “Aston Villa remain a team being grossly overrated and are set for a period of sticky results. I’m always keen on backing Brighton when priced as an outsider – like they are here at 8/5 with Sky Bet. Away win it is.” Aston Villa 6-1 Brighton. Ouch.

Save of the season to this point: It was a save that pressured Aaron Ramsdale to place a courageous face on. David Raya went sprawling to his proper to claw away what seemed like a sure aim from Tottenham’s Brennan Johnson and hold Arsenal degree within the North London Derby. The Sky Sports cameras shortly panned to the benched Ramsdale, who had no choice however to show his admiration for the save made by the person who had taken his job.

WSL aim of the season to this point: What higher strategy to win the north London derby than with a 13-pass transfer? Tottenham’s very good staff aim began on the toes of goalkeeper Barbora Votikova and was rounded off by Martha Thomas.

WSL return of the 12 months to this point: ACL accidents are merciless, simply ask Arsenal Women. Four such accidents in a single season is hard going, however whereas two stay sidelined, famous person ahead pairing Beth Mead and Viv Miedema are again in motion. The league is definitely a greater place with them in it and the Gunners’ title cost additionally a extra sensible ambition.

WSL shock exit to this point: Emma Hayes. Chelsea’s Emma Hayes. The pair go hand in hand. It shall be unusual to see one other determine within the Chelsea dugout subsequent season, after Hayes departs to supervise the US nationwide staff. Question is, after unprecedented success – the likes of that are unlikely to ever be seen once more – can she exit with one final bang?

Wonderkid of the season to this point: What had been you doing on the age of 17? Lewis Miley turned Newcastle’s youngest-ever participant to attain for the membership aged 17 and 229 days earlier this month and has proved in case you’re adequate then you definately’re sufficiently old. Pesky children.

Heartwarming second of the season to this point: Luis Diaz marked his return to the Liverpool squad in November for the primary time since his father was kidnapped in Colombia by heading in an equaliser at Luton earlier than revealing a ‘Libertad Para Papa’ (Freedom for Dad) message beneath his shirt. Luis Manuel Díaz was then freed 4 days later after over a fortnight in captivity.

Commentary line of the season to this point: “City’s boy is Chelsea’s man!” Peter Drury completely referred to as Cole Palmer’s injury-time equaliser for Chelsea to earn a 4-4 draw towards the membership he joined on the age of eight.

Pundit debut of the season to this point: Daniel Sturridge definitely made his mark on his first Super Sunday look again in August. Away from his striker perception, the ex-Liverpool and England ahead entertained with an impression of Roy Keane and then confirmed off his dulcet tones when performing his ‘initiation tune’ – Usher’s Nice & Slow. “Where did it all go wrong?” concluded Keane.

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