Half-season awards 2023/24: Best game, funniest Roy Keane moment, MNF star and much more! | Football News

Objective of the season to this point: Let’s be sincere, this may not be crushed this season and even this decade. Man Utd teenager Alejandro Garnacho silenced Goodison Park by scoring one of many biggest targets in Premier League historical past with a merely gorgeous overhead kick. Roll the tape…

Recreation of the season to this point: Tottenham 1-4 Chelsea. 5 targets scored, 5 targets disallowed, two pink playing cards, a hat-trick, a penalty and Tottenham’s ridiculously excessive line. A bona fide Premier League basic.

Worst strategy of the season to this point: “That is incorrect that, Daz.” The toe-curling VAR audio from Luis Diaz’s disallowed purpose in opposition to Tottenham uncovered the communication points between officers which led to a change of protocol and even pilots being known as in to assist. Properly achieved boys, good course of.

Unsung hero of the season to this point: “Wait, wait, wait, wait. The on-field resolution was offside. Are you proud of this? Delay the sport, delay the sport. Cease the sport.” The VAR Replay Operator did his greatest to forestall the farcical Diaz resolution. We’ll bear in mind you.

MNF visitor of the season to this point: What’s higher than returning to the membership that sacked you and beating them on their turf? Exhibiting everybody precisely how you probably did it on Monday Night time Soccer! Gary O’Neil arrived at Sky Studios armed with video clips from Wolves coaching of how they deliberate to beat Bournemouth and in-game examples of it paying off. There was additionally time for him to interrupt down their victory over Man Metropolis. A footballing masterclass!

Roy Keane’s greatest one-liner of the season to this point: Magician Dynamo wowed Sky Sports activities pundits Jamie Carragher and Micah Richards by turning hearth into ice, however Roy Keane was more durable to impress. “It is his job, is not it?” he smirked.

Participant of the season to this point: That is at all times a troublesome one to name at this stage. Whereas Erling Haaland leads the scoring charts with 14 and 4 assists in 15 matches, Mo Salah has notched 11 and contributed seven assists in 17 for Liverpool. Ollie Watkins has 9 targets and 6 assists. Heung-Min Son has scored 10 and made 4. Take your choose.

The EFL’s most ridiculous second of the season to this point: Wycombe thought they had been heading for some extent at Barnsley deep into harm time in November. That was till goalkeeper Max Stryjek went down theatrically whereas holding the ball in an try to waste time after a nudge from Sam Cosgrove. The ball, although, slipped from Stryjek’s grasp and Cosgrove was in a position to faucet into an empty web for the winner.

Rant of the season to this point: “It is embarrassing, it is a shame, that is what it’s, a shame. It isn’t acceptable, there’s an excessive amount of at stake. We’re losing our time. It can not proceed. I really feel sick.” Mikel Arteta raged after Anthony Gordon’s profitable purpose for Newcastle was allowed to face and Arsenal then introduced they “wholeheartedly” supported his rant.

Lawyer of the season to this point: Remarkably, Arteta’s tirade went unpunished by an independent regulatory commission after he was charged by the FA. Arteta’s defence was that a part of his interview had been misplaced in translation as a result of the English which means of ‘shame’ which suggests contempt, dishonour or disrespect has a special which means to the Spanish ‘desgracia’ which has connotations of misfortune, tragedy or unhealthy luck. Saul Goodman would have been happy with that one.

Kris Boyd and Chris Sutton’s argument of the season to this point: These two had been at all times going to provide fireworks over their Rangers and Celtic allegiances and so they haven’t dissatisfied. Their first clash came after Rangers’ opening day defeat nevertheless it was earlier this month discussing Celtic’s January switch plans that introduced out their greatest. “You are speaking absolute nonsense!” stated Sutton, “You idiot!”.

Crew of the season to this point: Who noticed this coming from Aston Villa? Nearly prime of the league earlier than Christmas and into the Europa Convention League final 16. Who is aware of the place they could be or what they could be lifting in Might.

Supervisor of the season to this point: Unai Emery has transformed Aston Villa. Ollie Watkins has discovered constant goal-scoring type, John McGinn is enjoying in addition to he is ever been, they’ve nailed constructing assaults from the again and their offside entice is impeccably timed and coordinated. Emery won’t have received a Supervisor of the Month award but however he has this one.

Efficiency of the season to this point: The one challenge with this efficiency was the 1-0 scoreline. Unai Emery tactically dismantled Pep Guardiola as Aston Villa earned a press release victory over Man Metropolis. Metropolis tried simply two photographs, each within the eleventh minute, which is the fewest ever tried by a Guardiola crew whereas the 22 from Villa was the joint-most confronted by considered one of his sides.

Worst resolution in opposition to Gary O’Neil of the season to this point: You might make an introduction calendar for the unhealthy choices Gary O’Neil has confronted this season, and the actual fact it hasn’t turned him right into a footballing equal of Ebenezer Scrooge is to his immense credit score. Sasa Kalajdzic, congratulations – getting thumped within the head by Andre Onana was value it in any case. You won’t have received the blatant penalty you deserved, however you’ve got received a greater prize right here.

Signing of the season to this point: Was £105m for Declan Rice too low cost? The midfielder has made an on the spot influence to Mikel Arteta’s aspect which is extra defensively sound this season. Apart from doing his day job very, very nicely, Rice has additionally chipped in with two essential late targets in wins in opposition to Luton and Manchester United.

Celebration of the season to this point: There are just a few first rate contenders for this one so we’ll allow you to resolve. There may be Buakyo Saka stealing James Maddison’s dart-throwing celebration within the North London Derby, Jeremy Doku’s completely executed ‘Griddy’ and Jack Grealish’s Diego Maradona-esque celebration down the digicam lens in opposition to Spurs.

Jones Is aware of’ greatest tip of the season to this point: Gustavo Hamer scoring first at 22/1 vs Tottenham, maybe? Or Chelsea’s 0-0 with Bournemouth at 16/1 that broke a run of 51 video games and not using a scoreless draw was a savage shout for those who learn our weekly predictions column. However Jones Is aware of prides himself on his Finest Bets column and the 15 factors of revenue gained from Dejan Kulusevski’s purpose for Spurs at Manchester Metropolis that was suggested with double stakes at 15/2 definitely warmed his cockles and his revenue and loss margin.

Jones Is aware of’ worst tip of the season to this point: Writing forward of Aston Villa’s residence conflict with Brighton, our tipster confidently declared: “Aston Villa stay a crew being grossly overrated and are set for a interval of sticky outcomes. I am at all times eager on backing Brighton when priced as an outsider – like they’re right here at 8/5 with Sky Wager. Away win it’s.” Aston Villa 6-1 Brighton. Ouch.

Save of the season to this point: It was a save that compelled Aaron Ramsdale to place a courageous face on. David Raya went sprawling to his proper to claw away what seemed like a sure purpose from Tottenham’s Brennan Johnson and preserve Arsenal degree within the North London Derby. The Sky Sports activities cameras shortly panned to the benched Ramsdale, who had no choice however to show his admiration for the save made by the person who had taken his job.

WSL purpose of the season to this point: What higher solution to win the north London derby than with a 13-pass transfer? Tottenham’s very good crew purpose began on the ft of goalkeeper Barbora Votikova and was rounded off by Martha Thomas.

WSL return of the 12 months to this point: ACL accidents are merciless, simply ask Arsenal Girls. 4 such accidents in a single season is hard going, however whereas two stay sidelined, celebrity ahead pairing Beth Mead and Viv Miedema are again in motion. The league is definitely a greater place with them in it and the Gunners’ title cost additionally a extra life like ambition.

WSL shock exit to this point: Emma Hayes. Chelsea’s Emma Hayes. The pair go hand in hand. Will probably be unusual to see one other determine within the Chelsea dugout subsequent season, after Hayes departs to supervise the US nationwide crew. Query is, after unprecedented success – the likes of that are unlikely to ever be seen once more – can she exit with one final bang?

Wonderkid of the season to this point: What had been you doing on the age of 17? Lewis Miley turned Newcastle’s youngest-ever participant to attain for the membership aged 17 and 229 days earlier this month and has proved if you’re good enough then you’re old enough. Pesky children.

Heartwarming second of the season to this point: Luis Diaz marked his return to the Liverpool squad in November for the primary time since his father was kidnapped in Colombia by heading in an equaliser at Luton earlier than revealing a ‘Libertad Para Papa’ (Freedom for Dad) message beneath his shirt. Luis Manuel Díaz was then freed four days later after over a fortnight in captivity.

Commentary line of the season to this point: “Metropolis’s boy is Chelsea’s man!” Peter Drury completely known as Cole Palmer’s injury-time equaliser for Chelsea to earn a 4-4 draw in opposition to the membership he joined on the age of eight.

Pundit debut of the season to this point: Daniel Sturridge definitely made his mark on his first Tremendous Sunday look again in August. Away from his striker perception, the ex-Liverpool and England ahead entertained with an impression of Roy Keane after which confirmed off his dulcet tones when performing his ‘initiation tune’ – Usher’s Good & Sluggish. “The place did all of it go incorrect?” concluded Keane.