THE MTAG END OF SEASON AWARDS

ESSENTIALS
THE WRITER’S ROOM | 25th May 2021

It’s the end of the Premier League season and with a couple days to kill for the all-English Champions League final, the MTAG: More Than A Game writers sat down and decided to hand out their awards in what was the most crammed and unbelievable season in a long, long time.

Let’s get straight into it.

Player of the Season

Samridh Sinha- Harry Kane

Tottenham Hotspur have had a forgettable season but the primary reason behind why they are playing European football next season is the England captain’s individual prowess. Stacking up an astonishing 23 goals and 14 assists, he takes home both the Golden Boot and the playmaker awards.

As shambolic as the Spurs defence was, Kane alongside Son ensured that the opponents were always under threat of conceding. On the final day against Leicester as well, Spurs’ legendary No. 10 did the business. If this was his last season in a Lilywhites strip, boy did he raise his market value.

The best of the best.

Harshavardhan Ghadge- Bruno Fernandes

If there were any awards for investments made in the January transfer window, Bruno Fernandes to Manchester United would win all of them. With his arrival in the Premier League, the Portuguese has transformed the complexion of this United side. Bruno is the sole difference between Manchester United being 6th place strugglers and their transformation into the 2nd best side in the league.

No one has created more big chances than him and his influence over not only Manchester United but the entire Premier League is incredible. He has stacked up numbers from midfield for the club like no other player has since Robin van Persie in 2012-13 and as a United fan, it has been an absolute joy to watch.

18 goals, 12 assists, ice cold penalties, cheeky flicks to set up goals and that Cantona-esque goal against Everton makes his first full season in the English top flight a remarkable one.

Srinivas Sadhanand- Ruben Dias

Heavy is the head that wears the crown. Unless you’re Ruben Dias who’s yawned his way to bossing the best league in the world. In case you forgot, City really did concede 5 to Leicester this season. At home. A freak result admittedly but after making Adama Traore look like a hybrid of Figo and Messi last season, it wasn’t all accidental.

Dias didn’t understand what all the fuss was about, conceding 20 goals in 32 games and becoming the better half of the outstanding defensive double-act with Stones in Europe.

This season, City decided to flip the switch from their free-flowing best, embracing the power of pragmatism. And when they were doing their best Azzurri impressions this campaign when things weren’t flowing further forward, Dias was the conductor behind their orchestrated defence to reiterate football is a results business.

Harry Kane is a glorious footballer but City haven’t ever looked like a more complete outfit and that’s mainly down to one man and one man only.

Kabir Ali- Harry Kane

Thierry Henry ‘02/03, Cristiano Ronaldo ‘07/08, Luis Suarez ‘13/14 – Harry Kane’s campaign rightfully took its place among the best ever from a forward in Premier League history.

Jose Mourinho promised England’s captain that he would ‘explode’ under him and that’s exactly what he did. Maintaining his predatory instincts in front of goal whilst adding another notch to his game in the way he played as a deeper lying striker, the England captain was the epitome of the complete forward.

If this is the end of his Spurs career, Kane really did save the best for last.

Amogh Panse- Ruben Dias

Filling in the shoes of a club legend like Vincent Kompany is never easy but the young Portuguese defender has made light work of it during his first season in England. I’ll be honest, I was never really sure of what would become of the ex-Benfica player given that Pep was playing trial-and-error with an armies-worth of money on defenders who either made the injury list too soon, or who couldn’t keep up with the pace of Premier League wingers.

Can anyone be more wrong? With 15 clean sheets, 135 recoveries, 111 duels won and 109 accurate long balls, I’ve never seen a more complete defender in any team integrate so quickly.

The centre-back’s strong showings are something I’d compare to an experienced veteran in the aura of Thiago Silva, with a somewhat Italian-style art of defending. Harry Kane may have got the most goals and assists, but to win trophies, your defence wins you titles. Looking back, Otamendi should’ve been swapped sooner!

Mahadevan Sankar- Harry Kane

23 goals and 13 assists, involved in 50% of all Spurs goals involved, it’s tough to look past Harry Kane. The Three Lions skipper is also part of a very select few players in Europe who have managed to hit double figures for goals and assists in the league among Europe’s top 5 leagues.

To me, he has been head and shoulders above any other player in the Premier League.

Manager of the Season

Mahadevan Sankar- David Moyes

Leading West Ham to European football is a tremendous achievement and an indication of how good David Moyes is when backed to build a team. The loan move of Jesse Lingard is one of the steals of the season and Declan Rice has once again proven over a season why’s special.

So many heartwarming stories at the Hammers this campaign but Moyesy’s redemption tops it for me.

Samridh Sinha- Pep Guardiola

If you’ve watched Manchester City at times this campaign, you can understand why football has maintained its tag of being the beautiful game. Pep deserves all the credit. Bagging trophies for fun is undeniably why Guardiola is a no-brainer in this category and winning the LMA award, his peers agree with me too.

A striker-less City, who won the league by a comfortable 12 points is a testament to Pep’s magic behind the curtains. The Spanish tactician’s contract extension is the best bit of business done by the City front office and do not be surprised if the domination continues leading into the next season.

Srinivas Sadhanand- Marcelo Bielsa

If I told you a team from the Championship would step into the abyss of Premier League football and outthink, outrun and outplay a majority of the teams, you’d think if I was getting a cut from the club. I hate it to break it to myself that the second part of that statement isn’t true. The first part, however couldn’t ring any truer.

And that’s all down to the genius of Marcelo Bielsa. More than his opposition, a flock of armchair gaffers struggled to acclimatize to Leeds United’s breathless brand of football, instead trying to gift them the “How To Survive In The Premier League For Dummies” handbook for no rhyme or reason.

News flash, Leeds have finished in the top 10. Murderball killed teams and opinions all season.

In Bielsa We Trust.

There’s a method behind the madness

Kabir Ali- David Moyes

No one would have batted an eyelid and not many did when West Ham were backed for relegation at the start of the season. At best, the Hammers were backed to beat the drop. To go from there to finish on 65 points, just a couple behind Chelsea in 4th shows the magnitude of David Moyes’ achievements.

No one brought the best out of his ranks the way Moyes galvanized the likes of Rice, Coufal, Soucek, Lingard et al. Not only did the Scot squeeze every drop of potential out of his troops but did so with them playing some eye-catching and swashbuckling football along the way.

A fine renaissance for someone many feared had lost his way following the struggles at his past few clubs.

Harshavardhan Ghadge- Marcelo Bielsa

With a reputation that precedes him, a famous documentary on his methods of training and a controversial Championship campaign, Marcelo Bielsa had already raised the excitement levels of Premier League watchers through the roof, all of this before he even set foot in the division.

Leeds United is a true institution of English football but even in their golden era, did you see the honest graft on show like the class of 2021? But apart from the dashing sprints even in the dying embers of the game, the lads from Elland Road have been aesthetically pleasing right from day one when they smashed 3 past the defending champions in a 4-3 defeat.

Bamford, Kalvin Phillips and the astonishing Stuart Dallas have made sure to drive home the point that Bielsa’s team can hack it in the Prem and with style.

Amogh Panse- David Moyes

What an incredible season the Scot has endured. From hanging on to the reigns in his 2nd stint at the club where they almost got relegated last season to reaching 6th for a Europa league spot is nothing short of a managerial masterclass. Get at me all you want as but for the record, Moyes should’ve been given more time at Man United!

At the start of the season, it seemed as if the new signings would make me think they were settling for a mid-table finish but boy, were we in for a treat. From bringing in Vladmir Coufal, Jesse Lingard and having the in-form Rice and Cresswell to supply the balls into the path of Michael Antonio, it was glorious to witness.

Doing the double over Leicester and being the 2nd best London club after humbling the likes of Arsenal and Spurs only goes to show that teams like West Ham are what defines the rise of mid-budget teams in the world’s wealthiest league.

Signing of the Season

Harshavardhan Ghadge- Ruben Dias

City have won the league and it shouldn’t be a huge surprise that there’s more than one player from the Sky Blues in our list. When Guardiola’s men failed to defend their title last year, the major difference between them and Liverpool was a towering, domineering and commanding presence in the heart of the defence. In walked Ruben Dias this season and he has just grabbed the league by the scruff of the neck.

The Portugal international been a gamechanger for City and given them exactly what they lacked at the back last year. He also had a huge effect on the players around him. It is no coincidence that City’s fortunes took a turn for the better as soon as Dias was installed into the Manchester City backline.

Going forward, Gundogan seemed like he could score at will while Kevin De Bruyne can really do it all on his own but you can only attack like that when you have the license to do so, afforded by the presence and the aura of someone like Dias.

He does the simple stuff well and was consistent throughout the season to cap off another victorious league campaign for his boss.

Srinivas Sadhanand- Emiliano Martinez

After the two ‘keepers that are also gearing up for a Champions League final, Emiliano Martinez has kept the most cleansheets for Aston Villa in the Premier League. Just a reminder, Villa escaped the drop by a point last season. Another year in the wilderness later, the Villains have miraculously finished 11th and sure, Jack Grealish dragged his hometown club along but Martinez is undoubtedly next in line.

Patience really is a virtue and the Argentine proves that. Funnily enough, not only has he proven himself with time as the better goalkeeper than Berndt Leno; Martinez has been the standout shot-stopper in the English top-flight, bar none.

£20 million? That isn’t a bargain, that’s daylight robbery.

Simply, a 10/10 signing

Mahadevan Sankar- Raphinha

The Brazilian was an astute pickup from Rennes in the summer and has been the driving force for Bielsa’s team along with striker Patrick Bamford as Leeds have finished in the top half on their 1st season back in the Prem.

His nutmeg on Gary Cahill left our jaws on our floor but that’s just a regular day at the office for Raphinha.

What a player.

Kabir Ali- Ruben Dias

As a Liverpool fan who sorely missed Virgil van Dijk’s presence this season, looking past Ruben Dias was impossible. Individual brilliance aside, his impact on Manchester City’s mentality was just as important in carrying them to the league title.

At a time when every team was struck with the uncertainties and disruptions of the pandemic-hit season, the Portuguese central defender was the calming presence that steadied the ship for Pep’s men.

Depending on his and his teams’ fortunes in the Champions League final and Euros, Dias could get his hand on far bigger personal accolades before the year is up.

Amogh Panse- Emiliano Martinez

I’ll be honest, this was a tough bunch to choose from. Ruben Dias and Edouard Mendy were a close 2nd and 3rd for me but the importance Martinez had for the Villans proved superior. I can’t stress this enough when I say that making 142 saves against some of the world’s best attackers is a blessing for all the FPL managers that kept him in their squads.

Hindsight is a wonderful think but I’ve always reckoned it was a wild take from some of the Arsenal faithful that actually argued that Leno was a better goalkeeper when Aston Villa clearly got the better bargain for a cool £20 million last summer.

From fringe appearances at Arsenal to emergency loans in England’s lower divisions, to emotionally lifting the FA Cup last season with some brilliant saves, the 28-year-old has come a long way to what is a second-start in his footballing journey.

To equal a club-record 15 clean sheets in your first full season with a rather young defensive backline and the threat of last-season’s relegation brink, is without a doubt a massive achievement.

Samridh Sinha- Vladimir Coufal

West Ham have beaten the odds to qualify for the Europa League this season. With a majority of fans and pundits alike predicting their campaign to end with relegation on the cards, intelligent business and management have ensured a successful campaign for the Hammers.

Amongst the likes of Soucek, Lingard and Dawson stepping up ever since their arrivals, the Czech Republic right-back, Vladimir Coufal has stood out to me.

Featuring in all but one game, his consistently brilliant performances on both ends of the pitch has made him an intangible starter in this side. With 7 assists and over 3000 minutes played this season, ensuring European nights at the London Stadium, my signing of the season is Vladimir Coufal.

Young Player of the Season

Srinivas Sadhanand- Phil Foden

“If Foden doesn’t make it as a football player, we might as well all pack it in.”

On the Gary Neville Podcast on Sky Sports, the man himself revealed that Brian Kidd had this to say about the golden boy of English football over a year ago.

And Kidd wasn’t wrong about the kid. Foden was touted as a David Silva successor but the balletic baller has replaced Leroy Sane in an unfamilar role as a left-winger this season. And with time, he’s going to be taking souls in the middle of the park as well.

Make no mistake about it, Phil Foden sits at the same table as Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland. And with a Champions League final awaiting him at 20 years of age and outplaying his rivals for the throne at the biggest stage, he believes he’s the head of the table for all the right reasons.

A boy who turns men into toddlers when it’s all on the line. Andy Robertson can attest to that I guess.

You wouldn’t have to say maybe because Foden’s going to be the one that saves you.

Samridh Sinha- Wesley Fofana

A vital element of another super consistent campaign from Leicester City was its resolute defence. Amongst the likes of Soyuncu, Justin, Evans and Castagne, the pricey yet prodigious 20-year old centre-back, Wesley Fofana caught my eye.

As inexperienced as he was before joining the Leicester defence, the 19-year old seems comfortable in any system, be it a back four or a back three.

The French warrior has a feel for the game, consistently identifying danger and snuffing it out of the way. The sky is the ceiling for the kid. France and Leicester have a star in Wesley Fofana.

£36.5 million well spent.

Amogh Panse- Mason Mount

Many would say I am being biased here, but make no mistake, nothing is insurmountable (pun intended) if you’ve got the determination like one of our own. Chelsea through and through, “Money Mase” has created more chances than any other English player in the Premier League this season (87) and he’s only 22 years old.

It’s impossible to count the number of times my jaw has dropped at the way the young Englishman has pranced by the elite with his exceptional work rate and energy behind it all. The way he retains possession is kind of like how Peter Parker saves that moving train with all his strength in Spider-Man 2. I clearly adore this lad.

The Lampard comparisons are qualities I won’t deny in a future captain of this club and his goal contributions in high-pressure games only proves how valuable he is to this team.  With 73 Premier League appearances during a span of two seasons, the injury-free playmaker has proven that he’s not just any manager’s son, but Chelsea’s.

Mount’s drastic development from last season has shown that he’s a star that will shine brighter in the seasons to come.

Mason Mount deserves all the credit in the world after a supreme season for Chelsea

Harshavardhan Ghadge- Phil Foden

Manchester City are unplayable, Pep Guardiola is a genius and Kevin De Bruyne might well be the best player in the world right now, but the 20-year old Phil Foden is the one who has grabbed the headlines and for all the right reasons. He is inarguably untouchable in the under-21 circuit, but make no mistake, Foden has been a top 10 player in the league.

City handed the youngster a chance and boy has he delivered. Unbelievable on the ball, dynamic off it and with the numbers the youngster has racked up, the Leo Messi aren’t as far-fetched as they seem.

Disclaimer: He isn’t Lionel Messi, nobody is.

Moving on, it is very plausible that Phil Foden dons the England shirt in the Euros next month, weaves his magic and returns home as the best English player of the tournament, he is just that fantastic. Watch this space.

Mahadevan Sankar- Wesley Fofana

Transitioning from St Etienne to a top 6 side like Leicester especially at Wesley Fofana’s young age and becoming one of the best players in that team is a remarkable story.

The Frenchman has been at the heart of the Foxes’ campaign, eventually winning the FA Cup and spearheading that backline in that absence of his partners in crime.

A superstar in the making.

Kabir Ali- Phil Foden

Pep Guardiola had teased the Man City and England faithful with little more than glimpses of the young baller over the previous 3 seasons, but boy has Phil Foden’s breakthrough campaign made it worth the wait. His transformation from a silky midfielder to an explosive winger was one of the catalysts for the champions’ mid-season reversal of fortunes.

The Stockport Iniesta ran rings around many-a-right-back as he entered the conversation for world football’s premier young talent. If you bet your house on someone making it to the top, make sure it’s this kid.

Surprise Package of the Season

Amogh Panse- Wesley Fofana

I personally love it when managers put their trust in young centre-backs on the highest level and Wesley Fofana has been a pivotal figure in maintaining Leicester’s top five finish. Voted as Leicester City’s Young Player of the Season, the 20-year-old French defender has been a class apart.

With strong performances against Wolves and Chelsea amongst others, the ex-Saint Etienne man was putting the likes of Evans and Soyuncu on the bench to compete for a spot. With 91 aerial battles won and 181 recoveries, I wouldn’t be surprised if a big-money move is on the cards in the future to duplicate a Van Djik-like transfer.

Saint-Etienne has had a rich history of producing gems that shine for the world to see. and Fofana is no exception.

Harshavardhan Ghadge- Tomas Soucek

West Ham began the season with the relegation threat looming large. But 38 match days later, David Moyes managed to turn around the season and booked a place in the Europa League and Tomas Soucek has been an integral part of his plans throughout.

A key figure in the Hammers midfield, the tall, lanky old-school box-to-box midfielder found an extra gear in his form to keep the East London outfit in the fight for European qualification.

For the entire season, Soucek intercepted the ball, recovered possession, broke down attacks, started them and ran the length of the field to finish them. Mind-boggling as to how and where the Czech international stores his ever-replenishing energy.

He’s scored, not just any goals, but the most important ones. 10 out of 11 goals he has netted have come in situations when West Ham were losing or caught in a stalemate. All in all, it has been a Moyes masterclass feat. Tomas Soucek. You love to see it.

Srinivas Sadhanand- Patrick Bamford

You need a bankable No.9 like a Jermaine Defoe was for Sunderland, for instance if you aspire to stay up in the Premier League. I never doubted Leeds’ prospects of survival but Patrick Bamford starting up front wasn’t a solid enough pitch to me.

Much like Michael Jordan, Paddy Bamford took the doubters personally and finished the season on 17 goals. That’s one better than the total he racked up in the Championship for Leeds before they got promoted.

Excellent at linking up play, finding space in the box and putting the ball in the onion bag, Bamford has proven it really is never too late.

Reborn at 27 years of age and loving life. Thanks for proving me wrong.

Kabir Ali- Joe Willock

Joe Willock’s move from Arsenal to Newcastle was seen as just another loan move for a youngster at a so-called ‘Big 6’ club to get some minutes under his belt at a lesser team. But Willock made sure this was so much more than that.

Starting with a last-minute equalizer – against Spurs of all teams, Willock went on a run of 7 consecutive goals in as many games, emulating a certain Alan Shearer to lift the Magpies from just above the drop zone to ending the season in 12th.

Most of those goals were clutch to boot, as he exuded a confidence not seen during his time lurking in the shadows at Arsenal.

Joe Willock has been a matchwinner since his move up north

Samridh Sinha- Luke Shaw

Nothing was going right for the left-back after his horrific injury vs PSV Eindhoven. Shaw was a shadow of his Southampton self; public criticism from Jose, inability to remain fit, a poor run of performances contributed to his dwindling confidence. There were genuine concerns regarding his future as a United player.

However, the English left-back has turned a new leaf this season. Carrying the ball up and down the left flank while also being resolute in defence has kept the likes of Alex Telles and Brandon Williams on the bench for the entire season.

After three years, Luke Shaw has returned to the international setup and on form, he starts against Croatia, straight up.

The best left-back in the Premier League by a country mile.

Just goes to show what a change of scenery can do for a player.

Mahadevan Sankar- West Ham securing European football

One of the more impressive and exciting seasons in recent memory especially from a team of West Ham’s stature. Getting European football is a massive achievement and to get there playing solid, effective and at times exciting football is an added bonus.

Before a ball was kicked this season, the East Londoners were tipped for relegation by many. Cut to securing Europa League football and proving the world wrong, it’s been the stuff of dreams for the Hammers.

Moment of the Season

Kabir Ali- Alisson’s last-gasp winner against West Brom

Could it really be anything other than the ‘keeper heading in a 95th minute winner to all but secure Top 4 for his side with 3 games to go? Just as Liverpool’s Champions League qualification hopes were slipping away at West Brom, up came Alisson to head the most improbable winner.

The Brazilian’s moving post-match tribute to his father made the moment as emotional as it was brilliant.

Special mention to Trent Alexander-Arnold as well, who was on hand to deliver another iconic corner.

Mahadevan Sankar- Manuel Lanzini’s 94th minute equalizer vs Spurs

90+4′ on the clock, mounting a comeback from 3-0 down and you need a goal to save the game. What does Lanzini do? Smash it into the top corner from 25 yards with the last kick of the game to complete one of the most implausible comebacks. And that too against arch rivals, Tottenham.

Truly the Premier League at its finest.

Srinivas Sadhanand- The Sergio Agüero farewell

I may be cheating because it isn’t a moment, it’s two but as a City fan, you have to hear me out.

After a season and more of his body failing his magnificent self, Sergio Agüero had reached the very end. It was a nightmarish final season for Manchester City’s greatest ever player but the dream of a stunning farewell was still alive. One last dance.

In poetic fashion, Agüero comes off the bench, much like when he made his debut against Swansea in 2011 and bags a majestic brace. Within half an hour, King Kun left Holgate for dead and rolled back the years with a stunning first.

And the 2nd was a header you’d never associate with Sergio but he really can do it all.

Not a single dry eye was in in the stands as Agüero went on to break Rooney’s record of being the highest scorer for a single Premier League club (184 goals).

The end of an era and how.

Amogh Panse- Liverpool 0 Burnley 1

Of all the teams that would thump Liverpool at Anfield, I was stunned to see the Clarets be the ones to end the unbeaten home run of last year’s champions. The aftermath of such a result saw Liverpool lose 5 back-to-back games in their Merseyside territory which surely did the damage to their title defence in the midst of a brilliant 28-game unbeaten run by this season’s winners.

A nervy game with high tempers flaring at the stroke of half-time saw a war of words between both managers with Fabinho being booked after a late VAR call on a mere push and shove at the blow of the whistle.

Watching it back again, you understand can why Divock Origi has cemented his place as a substitute striker given, he hit the post in a one vs one missed opportunity in the 42nd minute from a clear Burnley error.

A driving run from Wijnaldum saw Salah in the 2nd half have a brilliant chance to give Liverpool the advantage but dazzling saves from Nick Pope kept Sean Dyche’s team with the hope of securing a rare away point.

Alisson’s mistimed challenge on Ashley Barnes saw Burnley awarded a penalty as the latter was trying to flick the ball over the Brazilian goalkeeper. A cool finish from Barnes was enough to see a number like 1,369 days reset back to 0.

Samridh Sinha- Edinson Cavani’s dink vs Fulham

I’m sorry, Bruno Fernandes but you have to return your Manchester United goal of the season trophy to a late arrival in Edinson Cavani. Our very own No. 7 commemorated the return of fans at Old Trafford with a sensational 40-yard chip over Areola.

The return of the fans, the importance of the jersey and the audacious goal made it a special moment for our historic club. Sensational scenes.

This picture belongs in a museum

Harshavardhan Ghadge- Aston Villa 7 Liverpool 2

As a Manchester United supporter, it is always a sight for sore eyes to see Liverpool lose. Even better when they lose at the hands of a side that was fighting for their place in the top division just a year ago. But this wasn’t just any defeat, Aston Villa took the game to Liverpool and thrashed them left, right and centre, putting half a dozen and one more past Adrian.

In a season of firsts, this was also the first time the Reds had conceded 7 in the history of the Premier League. What made the game even more entertaining was the fact that Klopp’s army are the only defending champions to ship seven in a game.

Villa were in prime form that day and if it wasn’t for a few inches here and there, they could have had more. Liverpool were bamboozled by Aston Villa’s press and pace, owing to which they afforded Jack Grealish the entire length of Villa Park, which is never a good idea.

A Watkins hattrick and Grealish and Barkley running the midfield and the sinking of Scouse hearts- simply incredible.

Goal of the Season

Kabir Ali- Erik Lamela vs Arsenal

Instinctive, ingenious, irresistible – the rabona is well-known as Erik Lamela’s party piece but this was his finest moment displaying it yet. The audacity to pull it off, first time, through a forest of legs as it slid along the ground and perfectly into the bottom corner, was mind-boggling in it itself, best summed up by the disbelief etched on Sergio Reguilon’s face.

It’s a shame the Emirates was empty, but this being one of the greatest North London derby goals ever, would have probably stunned the home crowd into silence anyway.

Harshavardhan Ghadge- Edinson Cavani vs Fulham

Edinson Cavani is in the twilight of his career and it made sense to bring an elite goalscorer like him as a mentor to what is a fairly young and inexperienced Manchester United side. With the iconic celebration of his, it was exciting to see the Uruguayan finally break the No. 7 curse.  But his powers peaked when the fans returned to Old Trafford for the first time since the pandemic struck.

David de Gea lashed in a pass to Bruno Fernandes near the centre circle who managed to get the faintest of knicks on the ball to set Cavani free, only half a length of the pitch between him and the goal. With any other striker, you would expect them to make a run for the goal and slot it past the isolated keeper, but Cavani isn’t just any other No. 9.

As the ex-PSG man was running towards the ball, he saw Areola off his line. In an instance, as if muscle memory prompted him to, he chipped the goalkeeper from just a few yards from the centre of the pitch. The audacity!

Instant Stretford End hero. United’s newest icon.

Samridh Sinha- Alisson vs West Brom

Imagine this. 95th minute, Champions League qualification on the line. Your goalkeeper darts through the field to head in a corner with the last touch of the game. Even the Brazilian’s mid-season moustache was not as clean as that header. Alisson Becker made a movie come true and if that was the plot, you’d scoff at it for being extremely unrealistic. Oh well.

With his father’s untimely demise and what was an eye-opener of a post-match interview, football doesn’t get more heartwarming. Watching him cry on his knees, clutched by his teammates just proves why football is more than a game.

See what I did there?

Mahedevan Sankar- Bruno Fernandes vs Newcastle United

There is an obvious bias in this pick but I have gone for Bruno Fernandes at Newcastle. The goal is a culmination of one of the most razor-sharp counter attacks in recent Prem history. Every touch from every player involved in the move was executed with absolute precision.

Srinivas Sadhanand- Erik Lamela vs Arsenal

Danny Rose’s outrageous strike on debut and Gazza’s freekick from 50 yards out to settle the 1991 FA Cup final are traditionally speaking, the greatest goals scored by Spurs players in a North London Derby. But Erik Lamela’s rabona, which has become a bit of signature move is possibly the most unique goal in the history of the fixture, period.

To come off the bench and pull that off just oozes confidence. And the fact that he simply could’ve just used his weaker right foot instead of going for the impossible makes it as hysterical as it is iconic.

Let’s try to forget that he eventually got sent off and marvel at one of the greatest goals you’ll ever see in one of English football’s spikiest derbies.

Amogh Panse- Manuel Lanzini’s belter vs Spurs

Screamer. Belter. Scorcher. Banger. Pearler. We can keep going.

Yes, I’m talking about that goal. An absolute belter of a strike into the top right-hand corner from outside the box in literally the dying seconds of the game!

Manuel Lanzini may not be the first West Ham player that comes to mind but as a fan from the blue side of London, nothing can top seeing Spurs’ hearts sink with that gem of a finish. Rivalries aside, I envied West Ham’s relentlessness to keep pushing even after initially conceding 3 beautiful Tottenham goals, thanks to Harry Kane being Harry Kane.

There were so many goals this season that made us get up from our seats, but this one tops it for for me.

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