60 2GM Tuesday May 24 2022 | the times
SportFootball
title race
This season has to be among the very
best because of the tense, close race to
the line, the quality of the players and
the attacking approach of both
managers. It’s almost up there with
1989 in terms of dramatic
denouements. There have been more
dominant individual teams, including
Liverpool from 1977 to 1984 and
Manchester United under Sir Alex
Ferguson, but Manchester City are
among the greats of the English
game, given their four titles in five
seasons. Liverpool deserve enormous
praise for running them so close,
especially on lesser resources. In
terms of special, sustained rivalry and
the supreme technical and tactical
football offered by both over a
number of years, it is hard to put any
duel ahead of this. City and Liverpool
pushed each other to the very limits,
lifting the game to a new level.
team of the season Alisson — T
Alexander-Arnold, V van Dijk, A
Rüdiger, J Cancelo — K De Bruyne,
Rodri, D Rice — M Salah, Son
Heung-min, Bernardo Silva.
manager of the year
Graham Potter had Brighton & Hove
Albion entertaining and finishing
ninth, Thomas Frank guided
promoted Brentford on modest
resources to 13th, while Eddie Howe
galvanised Newcastle United. Antonio
Conte organised Tottenham Hotspur
and steered them into the Champions
League, David Moyes has West Ham
United on the up, while Jürgen Klopp
created this wonderful organised
chaos of Liverpool. But it has to be
Pep Guardiola.
Yes, he has plentiful resources but
he uses them so well. Guardiola’s
vision, philosophy, changes in games,
man-management, skilled stirring of
supporters and obsessive drive to win
make him the best. Again.
player of the year
Mohamed Salah edges it from the
dynamic, driven Kevin De Bruyne
because of his silky work in the box,
his skill under pressure and that goal
return, sharing the Golden Boot with
Son Heung-Min on 23 goals. Salah’s
dribble against Manchester City,
eluding João Cancelo, Phil Foden,
Bernardo Silva, Aymeric Laporte and
Rúben Dias before beating Ederson,
was the goal of the season.
best home support
Everton’s fanbase has mobilised
stirringly, Steven Gerrard has got the
Holte End going, Liverpool is good
especially on night matches, while the
Holmesdale Fanatics lift the decibel
level at Crystal Palace. But for
adrenaline, atmosphere and all-round
Salah shone, Toon
Army sang and the
title race delivered
noise it has to be Leeds United, just
ahead of Newcastle. There’s an edge
to Elland Road, not always acceptable,
but that passion runs deep, loud and
proud, flows from all parts of the
ground and reminds the players,
home and visiting, where they are.referees
Michael Oliver and Anthony Taylor
apart, this has not been a vintage
season. The game is so physically
stretching that it is hard to keep up,
the simulation from players is
challenging, the scrutiny relentless
and the social media verdicts
coruscating, yet it cannot be stated
enough that the mistakes our officials
make are honest ones. And yet there
are countless tribal fans, and a few
conspiracy theorists, who feel that
certain referees deliberately have it in
for them. It’s nonsense. But PGMOL
needs to raise standards, its chief
Mike Riley needs to explain decisions
more and, at the very least,
communication between the on-field
referee and the VAR needs
broadcasting so fans can understand
the officials’ thought process.best away fans
Newcastle. Anyone going to a game
comes away with “Toon, Toon, black
and white army” reverberating in
their head. I get the last train north
out of London on match night, the
23.33 from King’s Cross, aka “the
Vomit Comet”, and Newcastle fans
are there in numbers, their mood
undimmed by any reverse in the
capital. Followers of Manchester
United, Leeds and Liverpool also
deserve a particular shout out.owners
Some owners are good. Matthew
Benham cares and runs Brentford
well. I’ve seen him have a kickabout
on the pitch and what he lacks in
touch he makes up for in
commitment to the club. Ditto Tony
Bloom at Brighton. What the
Championship-bound Delia Smith
and Michael Wynn-Jones lack in
deep pockets they make up for in
passion for Norwich City and real
values. Andrea Radrizzani engages
with Leeds fans, hopping out of his
car to wish one fan a happy 70th.
Palace will always be a force for good
ideas with Steve Parish. Aiyawatt
Srivaddhanaprabha, “Top”, leads
Leicester City in a dutiful manner
that his late father would appreciate.
Aston Villa seem to have the balance
right with Christian Purslow advising
Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens.
It is undeniable that the Premier
League as an organisation (not the
competition, that’s wonderful) hosts
the best party in town but needs a
more discerning guest policy. It needs
to be warier about the enemy within.
Those owners based in Florida, Abu
Dhabi, Riyadh, Boston and Denver
are not football fans, they did not
grow up with posters of Perry Groves
or Paul Scholes on their walls. Their
motives are financial or political. It is
not the responsibility of Newcastle
fans to hold the moral compass of thenation, especially given government
links with Saudi Arabia, but the
league has to be more mindful of the
sport’s image and integrity.biggest disappointments
Harry Maguire, Romelu Lukaku,
Marcus Rashford, Leon Bailey, Saúl
Ñíguez, Chris Wood, Christian Pulisic,
Alexandre Lacazette, Ralf Rangnick
and Ismaïla Sarr. Take your pick. Jack
Grealish will probably be back at Villa
one day (he loves his home-town
club) but until then the 26-year-old
needs to seize his moment more at
Manchester City. His celebrations
were understandable on Sunday, as
City had won the title, but three goals
and three assists in 26 top-flight
appearances is not the return
expected from a player of his special
talent. Grealish will surely kick on
next season, especially with Erling
Haaland to target at City and a World
Cup with England. He has the ability.pitch invasions
These stem from heat-of-the-moment
emotion, “unlearnt behaviour” post-
lockdown, the trend for filming
yourself and posting it on social
media, tribalism towards others and
the ease with which you can elude
outnumbered, poorly paid and
insufficiently trained stewards. Stir in
some drink and drugs, too. Many of
those swarming on to the field don’t
remember when fans were fenced in.
Nobody wants fences to return, so it
is about clubs protecting players and
managers, making fans understand
what they risk by running on the
pitch, and working with the police to
get the aggressive and abusive pitch
invaders brought to justice. The
courts have a vital role to play here,
incarcerating the violent ones who
must then be banned indefinitely by
their clubs.non-top four team of season
J Sá — M Cash, M Guéhi, M Kilman,
M Cucurella — Joelinton,
C Norgaard, C Gallagher — J Bowen,
C Ronaldo, B Saka.broadcast blues and views
Organisations such as Premier
League Productions shedding
respected presenters and reporters is
alarming. The move towards shorter
digital content and social media
influencers lets down fans who want
facts not fluff. Not everyone relishes
banter and bite-sized takes on games.
There are enough exceptional
presenters, pundits and reporters on
our screens and airwaves to believe
that this is a golden age of
broadcasting, so planned changes are
concerning. Influencers and DJs have
their place, increasingly, and a fan’s
perspective is rightly encouraged but
you wouldn’t want them anywhere
near a breaking story that requires
journalistic expertise or playing
experience. Some of the tales you
hear of the people being tried out for
next season’s shows are troubling: one
couldn’t cope with the producer’s
feedback in his ear. Please don’t dumb
down or fans may switch off.Henry Winter
Chief Football
WriterAbject United and
Manchester City
David Mooney, Blue Moon podcast
Player of season Bernardo Silva.
Tireless and contributed key goals.
Overall verdict A strange one, but a
fourth title in five years is an amazing
achievement. 9/10
Liverpool
Les Lawson, Liverpool Official
Supporters Club
Player of season Alisson. He has
consistently been there when needed.
Overall verdict One of the best
seasons in Liverpool history. 9.5/10
Chelsea
Dan Silver, Chelsea Supporters Trust
Board
Player of season Thiago Silva.
An absolute Rolls-Royce of a player.
Overall verdict Two domestic cup
losses but secured the Super Cup and
Club World Cup. Sanctions and
uncertainty made it exhausting. 7/ 1 0Tottenham Hotspur
Alan Fisher, co-author of Tottenham on
my Mind
Player of season Son Heung-min. His
pace, movement and partnership with
Harry Kane are wonderful.
Overall verdict Conte transformed a
directionless squad. Before Conte
3/10; since Conte 8/10
Arsenal
Nigel Phillips, Arsenal Supporters Trust
Player of season Bukayo Saka. He was
fantastic after Euros heartbreak.
Overall verdict Two steps forward and
one back. Recruitment is needed. 7/ 1 0
Manchester United
Dave Pennington, Manchester United
Supporters Trust
Player of season David de Gea’s saves
and Cristiano Ronaldo’s goals averted
complete embarrassment. Either.
Overall verdict A collective lack of
player commitment and unity. 2/10Work hard, play hard: City
celebrate latest triumph
City’s stars enjoyed an open-top bus parade yesterday, with Kyle
Walker, Rúben Dias and John Stones, bottom, reminding people
how many titles they have won under Pep Guardiola, middle, who
celebrated with staff. Top, Jack Grealish and Kevin De Bruyne