It’s that time of the year as the season draws to its inevitable conclusion. Promotion spots and relegation positions all ready to be resolved. For some it will be success, the sense of elation when your side achieves something. However, for others it will be doom and despair where tears flow from sometimes grown men and women’s eyes as well as the support of tomorrow. As supporters of the Lads, we know what these are like especially in the last few seasons. The down side of back to back relegations, then promotion last season and who knows maybe the same thing.
Another thing that happens, is the EFL awards bash where players and teams are rewarded for achievements. Naturally the Lads were in but to much disappointment, only one category featured the Lads. The rest was quite simply a snub for what we have experienced from our red and white heroes this season. Let’s look at them all.
MANAGER OF THE SEASON: The three nominations for this were Vincent Kompany (Burnley), Mark Robins (Coventry) and Carrick of the Smoggies. Predictably Kompany won it, and if he hadn’t then there would have been an outcry in East Lancashire for sure. Carrick’s done remarkable for the Smoggies to be fair considering it’s his maiden managerial gig, whilst Robins deserves credit for his efforts in the West Midlands whilst his club has had testing times off pitch.
Mogga could have been included in the mix if they had named more than the three above, after he’s had to juggle his squad so many times this season then he might have been employed as an act in Billy Smart’s Circus. The squad has had an unsettled look about it with hardly anyone being an ever present. But Mogga has shown us what a wily fox he is as he encourages and cajoles his team to produce performances that have had us beaming with pride. The least the EFL could have done was to give him an honourable mention.
PLAYER OF THE SEASON: No mentions in this either, and the same three clubs that had their managers nominated also had players mentioned in this category. Josh Brownhill (Burnley), Viktor Gyökeres (Coventry) and the Smoggies' Chuba Akpom were the choices as the nominations, and whilst I can understand why each got their individual name check: there have been a few others that could have got a shout too.
From the Lads perspective, we have had a few good performances in the red and white. From the ever burgeoning talent of “Pogo” Patterson (older ALS readers will know this reference) who is fast becoming the latest talented goalkeeper to come through the Academy of Light system, to my choice for Player of the Year: Danny Batth. When you need that experienced and calming influence on the back end, step forward the former Wolves man. He’s as good as any centre half in the division despite being in his 30s, a defensive colossus.
YOUNG PLAYER OF THE SEASON: This was the only category that one of the Lads got nominated in as Amad’s performances were acknowledged. And rightly so too. He has been quite a breath of fresh air and has us on the edge of our seats with his beautiful close control and tantalising wing play. Considering his last loan spell away from Old Trafford was less than impressive, he has shown us many times over why he’s so highly regarded back in Manchester. Right winger or false nine, Amad can do it all.
The competition for the award was Hayden Hackney of the Smoggies and Alex Scott, a talented kid from Bristol City. Well obviously they had to throw in a curve ball didn’t they, and awarded it to that very same kid. Staggering. Now if he goes onto to be a world beater then I’ll literally eat my proverbial hat. Just hold my beer whilst I wait patiently....might be waiting a while though! Former Lads youngster Bali Mumba, now at Plymouth (on loan from Norwich), did pick up the League One equivalent mind...
GOAL OF THE SEASON: We’ve been blessed with many a brilliant goal this season, especially on the road. So surely you would think that one of them would get a mention, right? Wrong, not even a squeak of one. They awarded it to Watford’s Ismaila Sarr for his long range effort but when you have a free flowing team goal like what we saw at Reading earlier in the campaign, and recently at West Brom, surely that deserves some credit? You could run a highlight reel with some of the goals we’ve scored this season. Someone quickly put a DVD together and send it to the EFL. Might just give them a scratch of the head....
TEAM OF THE SEASON: Predictably the team of the season was dominated by Burnley with four players of theirs in place. Runners-up Sheffield United had a couple whilst the surprise is that Coventry have two as well including the keeper. Some of our Lads can definitely feel a bit hard done by indeed. I can think of a couple of our Lads that should be knocking on the door to be included, and I’d love to know how this was put together. If the team was decided by the fourth estate as opposed to fellow professionals as it used to be in the past, then I’m surprised. But then again nothing really surprises me in football these days...
IN CONCLUSION...
Whilst none of the Lads won any of the official awards, we know in our collective red and white hearts that they are all winners: on and off the pitch. The EFL, in my eyes, have overlooked something special that is brewing here in Wearside. Of course, they won’t change anything just because of these words but at least it might give them food for proverbial thought. The Lads over this, and the last couple as well, season have put the pride back in the badge and made the City proud of them. Just kick on to the next level.
