Let's Get Ready to Rumble: Part 2
- Daniel Austin-Chukwu
- Aug 27, 2022
- 4 min read
It’s great having football back, isn’t it? Every year, there’s that three month break between seasons where fans are left wondering what to do with their Saturday evenings, Sunday afternoons or even Monday nights. Well, the wait is over as the new campaign is well underway. Last time, I tried predicting where teams would end up finishing come May next year. Instead of focusing on teams, this week’s I’m going to focus on individuals, and see who will win the end of season awards.
Player of the Season: Kevin De Bruyne
Ever since Eden Hazard left the Premier League, KDB has become the league’s best player. Mohamed Salah gives him a run for his money, but in terms of all-round ability, there isn’t anything that KDB can’t do. He can pass, he can shoot, he can run, he can even put in a tackle. I’m fully aware that this award isn’t about who’s the best player in the league, but rather who’s going to have the best season. Since I’ve tipped City to 3-peat this year, I can’t see anyone being more influential than him in a City shirt. City are bound to score a ton of goals this year and De Bruyne is sure to be at the centre of a lot of those goals, whether it’s scoring them, assisting them or just being involved in the build-up play. Provided he stays fit, I’m pretty confident that I’ve got this prediction right.
Young Player of the Season: Erling Haaland
Sometimes I forgot that Haaland is only 22 and he’s already established a reputation of being one of the most feared strikers on the planet. He’s torn up in the Bundesliga and Champions League for the last 2 years and he’s about to take the Premier League by storm. I’ll admit, when I watched him against Liverpool in the Community Shield, I thought he may take some time to settle. But after then watching him against the Hammers on matchday 1, I quickly retracted that thought. In the first three games alone, he could have like 6 or 7 goals, and that isn’t even an exaggeration. City have so many exceptional midfielders and attackers that getting chances and scoring goals shouldn’t be an issue. You can’t teach his combination of pace, power & strength. You add in his composure in front of goal, he seems destined for a stellar campaign.
Manager of the Season: Thomas Frank
Since they’ve come into the league, I’ve admired the way Thomas Frank and Brentford have adapted to the step up in competition. Even as they were dismantling United on matchday 2, I couldn’t help but be impressed with how Brentford were set up to be clinical in attack, composed in midfield & assured in defence. In that match, Thomas Frank had a clear plan and executed it to perfection: be compact in defence and clinical in attack. The season is only three games old so a lot can change, but Brentford don’t look like they’ll suffer from that classic second season syndrome. They’ve recruited well this summer, retained their key players (for the most part) and they’ve started the season well enough. I think that Thomas Frank will rightfully get the recognition that he deserves.
Top Scorer: Erling Haaland
This is the second prize that I’ve tipped the big Norwegian to win and I don’t think it will be a surprise to too many. City have been the league’s top scorers for 5 consecutive seasons (including the last two while playing without a recognised no.9). They score a lot of goals, period. The difference this time round is that instead of sharing the goals around, Haaland is certain to be City’s main guy when it comes to scoring. I’ve seen people predict Haaland to score 30+ goals in the league. While I don’t think he’ll get that many (given it’s only been done by 3 players in the last time 10 years), I can see him bagging around 25 goals and winning the Golden Boot.
Best Signing: Erling Haaland
This is turning into a Haaland appreciation post, isn’t it?! I was half tempted to give the nod to Gabriel Jesus as I think he’s exactly what Arsenal were missing. But after giving it more time, I can’t look past big boy Haaland. City may have found their striker for the next 10 years, someone who could break all sorts of records and finally get them over the hump in the Champions League, for only £51m! Given he’s worth well over £100m, the fee City ended up paying will go down as a bargain. Imagine already being the best team in the country and then adding a world class striker to your ranks. That’s called making a statement. Pep has a well-earned reputation of being able to develop players, so imagine how much more Haaland can improve under Guardiola’s guidance.
Worst Signing: Anthony Gordon/Dwight McNeil
I know that he’s not moved yet but if he wear to make the switch to Chelsea, he’d be my choice. Anthony Gordon is another example of someone who has shown such small glimpses of talent that has been somewhat overhyped by the English media. He’s not a bad player, but signing a guy for £60m who has only played 50 or so Premier League games doesn’t give me good vibes at all. He would basically be another Pulisic, or Ziyech, or Hudson-Odoi at Chelsea: an inside forward who’s a decent dribbler but doesn’t have an eye for goal. Chelsea don’t need another tekky player. They need someone who’s going to put the ball in the back of the net. If I had to pick a transfer that’s happened, I’d go with Dwight McNeil to Everton. He’s very overrated, and in that Everton team I don’t think he’s going to add anything.
This Week’s Hot Take
City could be the first club (from memory) to do a clean sweep of the individual awards: Player, Young Player & Manager of the Season. KDB and Haaland must be strong favourites to win those first two awards so there’s no doubt in my mind that City will have at least 2 winners. Given what City could achieve this year, in terms of winning the league, points won, goals scored etc., Pep has a strong case for MOTS. It’s whether Guardiola will fall foul to voter fatigue in that voters will get tired of choosing him for fourth time in his career.
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