BEST PLAYER
Jack Prescott, London Correspondent: "For all of Yaya Toure's languid brilliance and Steven Gerrard's stoic heroics, Luis Suarez's unstoppable form in front of goal saw him soar above his contemporaries during a sensational 2013-14 for the Uruguayan. And how refreshing it was to be talking about his talent without a hefty suspension lurking around the corner. Give the man a gold star."
Alex Meyers, Reporter: "While Suarez has scooped the FWA and PFA Player of the Year awards, the best player this season in my eyes has been Yaya Toure. The 30-year-old has been an inspiration for Manchester City and his goalscoring record from midfield is nothing short of sensational. Despite the amount of quality players Manuel Pellegrini has at his disposal, there is no one more important to City than Toure, whose dominating presence is sorely missed when he is not on the pitch."
Daniel Lewis, Reporter: "His tears on the field at Selhurst Park summed it all up. Suarez has knocked in the goals in record-breaking style this campaign for Liverpool, yet it still wasn't enough to bring that elusive Premier League title back to Anfield. Despite this, the Uruguayan has gone a long way to changing the public's perception of him."
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Danielle Joynson, Staff Reporter: "It's no secret that Suarez has been vital in Liverpool's Premier League title charge this season. Given that he missed the first six games due to suspension and still managed to score over 30 goals is nothing short of incredible. The Uruguayan damaged his reputation during his first two seasons at Anfield, but in this campaign, he let his football do the talking and deserves the praise he's been receiving."
Shane Callaghan, Reporter: "Suarez may not have won the Premier League this season, but he has succeeded in winning over his critics by virtue of an exceptionally prolific season for Liverpool, coupled with a marked reduction in the type of controversial incidents which saw him acquire a villainous image among the neutrals. Hit with a 10-match ban for biting Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic last season, the Uruguayan has since sunk his teeth into the task of making headlines strictly for his immense talent and, having hit 31 goals for the Reds this season, firing them agonisingly close to title glory, it's clear to see that both he and his team are greatly benefiting from the cleaned-up behaviour."
MANAGER OF THE SEASON
Giuseppe Labellarte, Reporter: "For me, it has to be Sunderland manager Gus Poyet. He inherited a team bottom of the Premier League and lacking confidence after Paolo Di Canio's shambolic spell with the club, got them to the League Cup final, and despite having by far the worst run-in of any of the struggling sides, masterminded wins away at Chelsea and Manchester United as well as a draw against Manchester City, earning survival with a game to spare to make the Black Cats only the second side after West Bromwich Albion in 2005 to survive relegation after being bottom of the table at Christmas."
Sian Cowper, Reporter: "Tony Pulis deserves to be named Manager of the Year. When he took over from Ian Holloway in November, it looked like Pulis would be preparing himself for a relegation battle, but he quickly turned their fortunes around and dragged them away from the bottom three. While the Eagles did make some signings during January, he's used much the same squad that Holloway started to season with, yet has been able to stun the likes of Chelsea, Liverpool and Everton in recent weeks. It would be interesting to know where in the table Palace would be had Pulis been in charge for the full season."
Barney Corkill, Reporter: "To have taken a Liverpool team that many thought might just scrape into fourth and make them genuine title challengers in just his second year in charge is an incredible feat, and Brendan Rodgers deserves all of the praise that has come his way. It says a lot for the job he has done that Liverpool fans were devastated following the 3-3 draw with Crystal Palace despite being top of the table six days from the end of the season. The team's performance this year has surpassed all expectations and the way they have done it has been impressive too, with Rodgers blooding youngsters and bringing the best out of established stars such as Gerrard and Suarez."
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Joe Fish, Reporter: "Rodgers and Roberto Martinez have both worked wonders on Merseyside, but for Pulis to come into a Crystal Palace side that were so low and lift them in the way that he did was remarkable. They were doomed in everybody's eyes, so for them to survive, never mind finish 11th, is a fantastic achievement."
Callum Mulvihill, Reporter: "It's difficult to look past Rodgers this season, but the job done by Mauricio Pochettino at St Mary's Stadium has been even better in my own opinion. The Southampton boss has his players producing some fantastic football, and he's even managed to bring out the best from the English members in the squad. It's vital the Saints keep hold of him this summer."
GOAL OF THE SEASON
Joe Fish, Reporter: "A rare bright moment in Fulham's relegation campaign, Pajtim Kasami's incredible volley from an unlikely angle against Crystal Palace is a goal that required supreme technique and vision. It's uniqueness is what makes it more special than brilliant goals scored by Suarez, Wayne Rooney and Jonjo Shelvey, all of which were of a similar mould."
Jack Prescott, London Correspondent: "Suarez scored four goals during a 5-1 win for Liverpool against Norwich back in December, and the strike that topped them all was an outrageous dipping half-volley from 40 yards that left the Kop shaking. The Uruguayan let the ball bounce once over his shoulder before unleashing the purest of drives past John Ruddy and into the top corner."
Joe McPhee, Production Assistant: "For me, the best goal should be determined by how incomparable it is to others. The fact that Rooney and Shelvey have scored similar goals in the same campaign makes them a little less special. That you have to go back to Marco van Basten's volley in Euro 88 for something similar to Kasami's wonder goal against Palace tells you exactly how unique it is. An incredible strike."
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Alex Meyers, Reporter: "There may have been better individual strikes than Jack Wilshere's finish against Norwich City last October, but you will struggle to see a more impressive team goal. Arsenal were top of the Premier League and their first goal in a 4-1 victory at the Emirates showed the confidence flowing through the club at the time. Arsene Wenger's attacking philosophy shone through as Wilshere and Olivier Giroud combined on the edge of the box with three brilliant flicks before Wilshere volleyed in from close range. It was Arsenal at their very best and it is a goal that gets better each time you see it."
Barney Corkhill, Reporter: "There have been some beauties this season, but just pipping Kasami to the post for me is Alexander Tettey's volley for Norwich City against Sunderland. It is the sort of strike that we all dream about hitting as he ran on to a dropping ball and smashed it past the despairing dive of the keeper. It was overshadowed somewhat by Rooney's goal from the halfway line on the same weekend, but for me this one was better."
BEST SIGNING
Darren Plant, Reporter: "Much of Swansea City's success last season came as a result of Michu's goals, but with the Spaniard virtually ineffective during this campaign due to injuries, the Welsh club needed someone else to step up, and after his arrival from Vitesse Arnhem in the summer, Wilfried Bony has made a huge impact in his first season in English football. Signed for £12m, the Ivorian has scored 16 goals in 34 appearances, contributed numerous assists, and provided a frequent outlet for a Swansea side that, at one point, looked in danger of relegation. Bony was largely unknown before his move to the Liberty Stadium, but despite Garry Monk's insistence that the 25-year-old will remain in Wales, he will attract attention from some of the Premier League's major teams, and Swansea are justified in waiting for a fee in a region of £20m for his signature."
Matt Law, La Liga Correspondent: "Without Jason Puncheon's seven league goals this season, Palace would be nine points worse off. The midfielder initially joined on loan from Southampton at the start of the campaign, but made the move permanent at the end of the January window. His three goals in January and a further three in back-to-back wins last month helped the London outfit move away from the drop zone. The 27-year-old has seemingly found a permanent home at Selhurst Park."
Kristian Johnson, Reporter: "Michu took all the plaudits last season for scoring an impressive 18 goals in his debut Premier League campaign, but the Spaniard has been injured for the majority of this term. Good job they brought Bony in, then. The Ivorian striker started the season relatively slowly, but ended the campaign in fine form, scoring five goals in the final four games of the campaign. He has led the line superbly for a struggling Swans side and his range of skills - supreme strength, lethal finishing and wonderful, deft touches - could see him leave for a Champions League team this summer."
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Callum Mulvihill, Reporter: "Where would Swansea be without their striker? In truth, probably on their way to the Championship. Bony has justified his transfer fee by scoring at an impressive rate in all competitions. His goals have been priceless, and Swansea supporters will be hoping that rival clubs stay away in the summer."
Shane Callaghan, Reporter: "Following years of being linked with a move to the Premier League, Ajax starlet Christian Eriksen finally sealed a switch to England in August by joining Tottenham Hotspur and, some nine months later, the Dane has proven that he was well worth the wait. Signed for just £10m, Eriksen was one of the cheaper players to arrive at White Hart Lane in the summer following a spending spree which exceeded the £100m mark. However, after reaching double figures in goals and assists in his first season, the midfielder embodies the key difference between a big name and a big player and I think that his transfer fee now looks a bargain."
WORST SIGNING
Giuseppe Labellarte, Reporter: "Dani Osvaldo for Southampton. The Saints' record signing at a hefty price of £14.6m from Serie A side Roma, Osvaldo scored three goals – and was shown three yellow cards – in 13 games before having a fight with teammate Jose Fonte, being suspended by the South Coast club and eventually leaving St Mary's for Juventus on a loan deal which may or may not become permanent. Not a particularly good call from Pochettino."
Daniel Lewis, Reporter: "A few players are worthy of this award, yet one man stands out due to the expectation placed on his shoulders and the money splashed out to recruit him. Erik Lamela joined Tottenham Hotspur for a fee of around £30m, yet has failed to make an appearance since December due to injury; scoring on just one occasion in all competitions before disappearing off the radar. Gareth Bale he isn't."
Darren Plant, Reporter: "Many will look at Marouane Fellaini and Roberto Soldado when considering this award, but surely the outstanding candidate is Lamela. Tottenham Hotspur splashed out a reported £30m for the winger, who has established himself as one of the star players in Serie A with Roma, but ever since his debut in the North London derby in September, it's been a year to forget for the Argentine attacker. He made just nine appearances in the Premier League, with only three coming from the start, and after failing to feature for Spurs during the second half of the season, Spurs will surely look to cut their losses with the 22-year-old in the summer."
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Joe McPhee, Production Assistant: "While Soldado, Lamela, Osvaldo or even Kostas Mitroglu could have all won this award, the £27m transfer of Fellaini takes the biscuit. Having missed his buyout clause deadline, David Moyes panicked and bought his ex-Everton midfielder for an inflated fee and the Belgian's performances ever since have done nothing to justify the cost. His place at Old Trafford next term is already in doubt."
Matt Law, La Liga Correspondent: "Simply put, United's signing of Fellaini just has not worked. The Belgian was so influential in a forward position for Everton last season, with his presence and aerial ability causing opposing sides all sorts of problems. Upon his arrival at Old Trafford, Fellaini insisted that his best position was defensive midfield. However, in truth, the 26-year-old does not have the pace, the movement or indeed the technical ability to operate in that position for a club such as United. He failed to score a single goal throughout the season and registered just one assist. He isn't a bad player – far from it – but he is not really a 'United' midfielder."
OVERACHIEVERS
Jack Prescott, London Correspondent: "Few could have predicted that Liverpool would be challenging for the title this term after finishing in seventh place last season. However, Rodgers's dynamic brand of attacking football saw them come agonisingly close to their first league crown in 24 years."
Sian Cowper, Reporter: "Stoke City have really surprised me this season. The fans weren't keen on Mark Hughes' appointment during the summer, and they didn't make too many headline-grabbing signing during the transfer window. However, the Potters will have their highest ever finish in the Premier League, despite having just nine clean sheets, three fewer than Norwich City, and having scored more than two goals in just six games. These are not the stats of a team that will be finishing in the top half of the Premier League table, but somehow they've picked up the wins when it's mattered this season."
Joe Fish, Reporter: "With only four points between them and the bottom three, the table suggests that Hull City only narrowly escaped the drop, but the truth is that the Tigers never flirted with relegation throughout the whole season. Only a poor finish to the campaign, due probably to their upcoming Wembley date, prevented them finishing higher, and a comfortable survival and a first ever FA Cup final is an excellent season for a promoted side."
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Barney Corkhill, Reporter: "While Liverpool could well lay a claim to this moniker for their surprise title challenge, I've gone for Crystal Palace due to the expectations at the club when they changed manager. Having lost nine of their first 10 games, Holloway's departure left the Eagles looking for a man to fill a void that everyone seemed keen to avoid. Enter Pulis, who put his proud record of never being relegated as a manager on the line. Not many people expected Palace to survive, even with Pulis at the helm, but some incredible end-of-season form has seen them climb up to 11th place in the table and remain in the Premier League for a second consecutive season - the first time they have managed to do so."
Danielle Joynson, Staff Reporter: "While Liverpool have some star names among their squad, I don't think even Rodgers would have thought that his team would be challenging for the title until the last game of the season. The Northern Irishman stated at the beginning of the campaign that qualifying for the Champions League was the aim, but the Reds have surpassed that target - so much so, that their failure to win league is a huge disappointment."
UNDERACHIEVERS
Matt Law, La Liga Correspondent: "Not too difficult to be honest. It has been a frustrating campaign for last season's champions and as a United fan, it was been horrifying to watch at times. It took some time for the powers-that-be to realise that Moyes was unfortunately out of his depth and out of ideas, while a number of their experienced players – Patrice Evra, Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic and Michael Carrick to name a few - simply went missing when times got tough.
"For all the problems in the squad – and there are many – a team that includes the likes of Robin van Persie, Rooney and Juan Mata should not be finishing outside of the top four, let alone in seventh position. Key players have been injured for periods of the campaign, but that is also the case for the likes of Arsenal and Manchester City. In truth, it has been a season to forget. There is light at the end of the tunnel, however, with Louis van Gaal seemingly incoming and transfer funds to spend."
Daniel Lewis, Reporter: "While there are a few teams worthy of this accolade, one side stands out: Arsenal. Having led the way for so long at the top of the table, the Gunners hit their annual run of bad form as we entered spring, leading to an underwhelming fourth-placed finish. Victory in the FA Cup, however, will go some way to rectifying this prolonged dry spell."
Giuseppe Labellarte, Reporter: "Manchester United. To go from winning the title last season to scrapping for sixth place and being out of contention for every cup competition makes this an annus horribilis for the Red Devils, who despite having previously claimed that they were willing to give ex-manager Moyes time, clearly decided enough was enough."
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Sian Cowper, Reporter: "Norwich looked so comfortable in their first two season back in the Premier League that I never really considered them relegation candidates heading into this season, particularly with some promising signings during the summer. The Canaries reportedly spent around £13m for strikers Gary Hooper and Ricky van Wolfswinkel, but finish the season with the worst attack in the league, averaging 0.76 goals per game. Norwich really haven't lived up to expectations this season and it's cost them their top flight status."
Danielle Joynson, Staff Reporter: "When Sir Alex Ferguson retired last season and was replaced with Moyes, I think everybody within football thought that Man United would struggle to keep hold of their league title. However, not many would have predicted how far they have fallen. Not only have they failed to qualify for next season's Champions League, they weren't even guaranteed a Europa League spot before the final round of league fixtures. While many believed that Moyes was rightfully sacked after nine months in charge, the hierarchy's decision to go against United's stance of tradition and longevity shows how much things have changed at Old Trafford."
MOST MEMORABLE MATCH
Kristian Johnson, Reporter: "Liverpool 5-1 Arsenal. Never before have a table-topping team been dismantled in such ruthless fashion. Within 20 minutes, Rodgers's side had blown Arsenal away to lead 4-0. A Martin Skrtel brace was followed by further goals from Raheem Sterling and Daniel Sturridge. Sterling got a second after the break, with the only blot for Liverpool being Mikel Arteta's consolation penalty. Philippe Coutinho was mesmerising in central midfield, Jordan Henderson did the work of three men, while Liverpool's forward trio of Sterling, Sturridge and Suarez were a joy to watch. It was the most complete half of football by any team in Europe this season and the perfect blueprint of the way Rodgers wants his side to play."
Alex Meyers, Reporter: "Crystal Palace 3-3 Liverpool. With Liverpool 3-0 up after 55 minutes and heading for what looked like a comfortable away victory, the only question seemed to be how many goals they could score in the closing stages. However, by the final whistle their fans and players were stunned as Pulis's team staged a remarkable comeback. Damien Delaney's deflected strike looked nothing more than a consolation, but the Reds defence collapsed as Dwight Gayle scored a quick second and he levelled the scores two minutes from the end. The result may have lifted Liverpool back to the top of the league with one game left to play, but it was clear from the final whistle that their title challenge had suffered an irreparable blow."
Jack Prescott, London Correspondent: "Crystal Palace 3-3 Liverpool. The Premier League season in a nutshell. Liverpool thought that they had kept the title race well and truly alive by romping into a three-goal lead at Selhurst Park, but Palace had other ideas. Three goals in the final 11 minutes threw a massive spanner in the hopes of the Reds and handed the initiative back to Manchester City. A pivotal encounter."
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Callum Mulvihill, Reporter: "Liverpool 3-2 Manchester City. Two teams going for the title by playing entertaining football at Anfield. It doesn't get much better than that. Liverpool's supporters were at their best, too, as Rodgers inspired his players to produce some stunning football. The game seemed to have everything, and Coutinho's winning strike simply added the icing to the cake."
Joe McPhee, Production Assistant: "Everton 3-3 Liverpool. In another season of many great games and goals, this Saturday lunchtime kick off from November sticks in my mind as the best. It was a brilliant Merseyside derby which seemed to have everything, with both teams taking the lead at different stages and Daniel Sturridge nicking a late equaliser for the visitors."
Liam Apicella
