End of season awards

Gallery: The Premiership story

The Player of the Season awards have been, the football writers' awards have gone, so now it's time for the Big Ones, the best and worst of the year as judged by AOL - the Oscars of the football world.

Player of the seasonCristiano Ronaldo - After the wailing and hand-wringing of England fans when he tried to get his Manchester United team-mate Wayne Rooney sent off at the World Cup, Ronaldo redeemed himself with some sparkling performances and great goals.

Didier Drogba - OK, so most fans may enjoy it more when Drogba is up-ended by some over-enthusiastic defender rather than when he's knocking the goals in but there's no denying the striker is a bit good. Chelsea were sometimes made to look a little lost without him up front.

Dimitar Berbatov - What's a Spurs player doing on this list? Well, we like Tottenham at the moment; they've got a manager who reminds us of Harry Enfield's Dutch policemen characters and they've got a striker in Berbatov who knocked in 23 goals this season and (if he stays) may help the club challenge for a Champions League spot. No, really, listen, we mean it....

Manager of the seasonSir Alex Ferguson - Remarkably quiet for many fans these days, especially those who get their football fix through Match of the Day and are forced to listen to Carlos Queiroz instead. A job well done.

Jose Mourinho - As ever, Mourinho was a mixed bag. Sometimes cryptic, sometimes funny but sometimes went too far as his spiteful attack on Cristiano Ronaldo demonstrated. Won a couple of Cups, mind.

Rafael Benitez - Well, the Champions League final was a game too far but Benitez still managed to eke out outstanding results in Europe from a solid, dependable squad. However, its the domestic season that needs attention. Was Mourinho right about Liverpool, are they incapable of mounting a serious Premiership challenge?

Steve Coppell - Even when the guy smiles (which isn't often) it's as though he's making a superhuman effort. After what Coppell achieved with Reading, surely he could allow his top lip to curl ever so slightly?

And the rest.....

Best buy - Carlos Tevez. He scored the winner on the last day at Old Trafford to keep West Ham United in the Premiership and millions of pounds richer. Makes the £5.5 million fine from the Premier League over the Argentinian striker's registration seem worth it.

Worst buy(s) - Andriy Shevchenko. £30 million for 14 goals in all competitions must make even his old chum Abramovich a touch disappointed.

Sicknote - Michael Owen. He spent nearly all season warming the physio's couch then after a couple of games the 'Comeback Kid' was being linked with a move out of Newcastle. Not a great return on the Magpies' £8 million investment.

Best resurrection act - Although West Ham United provided the Premiership's great escape, their success is still under a cloud. So, Sunderland have the honour of being the club brought back from the dead by their new messiah, Roy Keane. What miracles await in the Premeirship?

Goal of the season - Not from the Premeirship but this is an absolute cracker by Andres Vasquez Goal of the season.

Don't try this if you're of English extraction or else you might end up looking like this David Dunn tries something fancy

Worst blunder - Watford's goalkeeper Ben Foster for letting a 95-yard free-kick from his Tottenham opposite number Paul Robinson bounce over his head and into the net. Nick Hancock will have it in on a DVD before he knows it. Ben Foster

Best fracas - Alan Pardew and Arsene Wenger swinging their handbags at each other on the touchline as both bosses go out of their technical areas and out of their minds.

Best Bad boy J- oey Barton has been described as a combative player. The little midfielder is fully prepared to combat anyone, including his own players. Barton, who once mistook a member of the youth team for an ashtray, was suspended for knocking out team-mate Ousmane Dabo late last season. Despite his faults Barton is fully committed on the pitch and may soon be committed off it - if the DPP decide to prosecute.

Worst Manager - How could we possibly do worse than Sven Goran Eriksson? Step forward Steve McClaren. England's former number two has put us firmly in the number two

Most unfair sacking - Chris Coleman can consider himself unlucky after steering Fulham to 15th place with shallow funds and a policy of having to sell his best players. The board obviously wanted a Uefa cup place. Lawrie Sanchez be warned.

Most warranted sacking - Les Reed at Charlton. Why was he given the job in the first place? His short time in charge just about made the Addicks' relegation a certainty.

End_of_the_season_awards


Courtesy from AOL