Premier League 2008-09: The Awards of the Season

And so it is all over again. Manchester United have made it three in a row and the Geordies will be welcoming Scunthorpe to St. James' Park next year. After a year of superb highs and astonishing lows, it is time to dissect the Premier League year that was '08-'09

Goal of the Year: Glen Johnson (PORTSMOUTH vs. Hull City)
A wonder strike from the England full-back and a goal that he surely won't better in his career. The 24 year-old runs onto a bouncing loose ball before he chests and volleys a sweet strike from fully 35 yards that swerves into the top corner. With his wrong foot.

Honourable Mention: Paul Konchesky (Fulham)
Fabulous hit from the Fulham left back, who hammered in an unerring shot from 40-odd yards that found the top corner with pinpoint accuracy.

Player of the Season: Nemanja Vidic (Manchester United)
The United centre-back has been the rock of United's title-winning season and a terrific professional. Extremely consistent, with only one bad day against Liverpool, and a great reader of the game, Vidic must have felt more than a twinge of disappointment at not receiving the gong from the PFA.

Honourable Mention: Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)
Despite an injury-ravaged season, Gerrard has hit his best ever goals tally and propelled The Reds to their best points total in the Premier League. Quite simply, irreplaceable.

Young Player of the Season: Stephen Ireland (Man City)
He may have been overlooked by the PFA, but the progress made by City's youngster from stroppy International-dodger to regular match-winner has been nothing short of remarkable. Ireland has out-shone his team-mates for the majority of the season and looks set to be rewarded with a bumper contract over the summer.

Honourable Mention: Ashley Young (Aston Villa)
Winner of the PFA award for 2009, Young has wowed Villa Park with great progress in the 08-09 campaign. Fans will be looking to him to build on this year and make even bigger waved next season.

Worst Hair: Florent Malouda (Chelsea)
Those ridiculous dreads-into-a-topknot certainly improved his form, but if this takes on as a fashion statement, Malouda will have a lot to answer for.

Honourable Mention: Bacary Sagna (Arsenal).
Seriously Bacary. Who thinks that looks good?

Best Fans: Stoke City
With 35 out of 45 points gained at home this season, The Britannia Stadium has been a fortress for the Potters. Stoke's fans have been superb and are testament to a great club with a bright future.

Manager Of The Year: Guus Hiddink (Chelsea)
When Scolari departed the Blues after only a few months in charge, thinks were looking bleak at the Bridge. Hiddink took the reins and steered them to a respectable third in the table, an FA Cup Final and within 60 seconds of a Chanpions' League final against Manchester United.

Outstanding contribution from the Dutch master and a figure that will be sorely missed around the blue side of West London.

Honourable Mention: Roy Hodgson
The Fulham boss has quietly guided his team to European football playing a regular 11 and maintaining a fantastic home record.

Where Craven Cottage used to be a guaranteed three points for the bigger teams, it is now a trip to be feared. Fulham have become the new Portsmouth: the team nobody wants to play on their own turf.

Worst Decision: Rafa Benitez (Liverpool)

Rafa's Rant. It has gone down in the annals of history alongside Kevin Keegan's “I Would Love It” speech. It should have been perfectly timed, with the Reds facing Stoke at home next match and United facing a tough task against Chelsea.

The Red Devils brushed the Blues aside in remarkable fashion and Liverpool registered only a scoreless draw against a plucky Stoke side. Cue howls of derision from Manchester and an extremely embarrassed boss.

Honourable Mention: Phil Brown (Hull City)
Phil Brown's decision to take his players out in front of their own fans and publicly lambast them for a poor first half display against Man City was one that could have gone either way. As it was, they won only once more for the rest of the season.

Team Of The Season: Manchester United
Much as it pains me to say it, United have been a cut above for the majority of the 2008-09 campaign in all competitions.

With a frightening strength in depth and match winners across the park, it came as no surprise when they clinched the title for the third successive year, having already reached their second consecutive European final. Worthy champions and the benchmark for the rest of the league.

Honourable Mention: Fulham
This time last year, Fulham were celebrating an unlikely escape from the drop to the Championship. This year, they are toasting a second foray into Europe in their long history. It has been a fantastic turnaround and one that should be held up as how to achieve without spending huge sums of money.

What are your awards for '08-'09? Disagree with my picks? Please comment below.