Tottenham Hotspur's End of 2014/15 Season Awards

After a season of brilliant highs and some frustrating lows, there is plenty to reflect on. 

The emergence of some excellent young players, the growth of others and the fantastic individual performances of Harry Kane, Hugo Lloris and Christian Eriksen highlighted a fascinating campaign. 

The first year under a new manager is always difficult to predict, and although Mauricio Pochettino came with a strong reputation after impressive spells at Southampton and Espanyol, few thought a Champions League place was a realistic goal. 

In the end that proved to be true, but Spurs came much closer than expected. 

To finish just six points short of the top four, and ahead of Liverpool, is a great achievement.

It's now time for Tottenham Hotspur's end-of-season awards. 

Signing of the Season

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Of all Spurs' summer signings, the expectations were probably lowest for Eric Dier. 

The young centre-back joined the club as the fifth-choice in his preferred position and seemed unlikely to make more than a handful of appearances. 

Instead, his pre-season form (and some well-timed injury issues) saw him start on the opening day of the season against West Ham. 

Dier remarkably scored the winner and blossomed from there. He emerged as a capable emergency right-back and one of the best crossers of a ball at the club. 

Television does not capture just how imposing Dier is as a physical specimen, but in person there can be no doubting his powerful presence. He is still learning to use his strength and will, in time, be virtually irresistible. 

In every way, Dier has proved to be an excellent signing. According to Sky Sports he cost just £4 million; Transfermarkt suggests his value has almost doubled in his first season. 

He is not yet an excellent defender. There are weaknesses to his game that will need to be worked on, but at just 21 years of age, he is on the verge of the senior England squad and one of the most exciting young defenders in Europe. 

There was little fanfare upon his arrival, but Dier has generated plenty on his own. 

Goal of the Season

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White Hart Lane has seen a great many remarkable goals in almost a century of serving as Tottenham's home ground. 

Erik Lamela's "rabona" against Asteras Tripolis may top the list. 

It was astonishing, arrogant, beautiful, unbelievable.

Few goals ever scored defied superlatives as well as Lamela's strike against the hapless Greeks. 

On a night when Harry Kane scored three and had a spell in goal, Lamela's moment shone brightest. 

Many more significant goals were scored in this latest Tottenham campaign, but none could match Lamela's 

Lamela may never live up to the transfer fee that saw him swap Italy's capital for London, but in that moment he did. 

For a moment, Lamela seemed to have done something that nobody else could do. 

White Hart Lane will be demolished in a few years to make way for Spurs' brand new stadium, but that stunning moment will live forever in the replays of that goal. 

Team Performance of the Season

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Much has been made of Arsenal's recent FA Cup win and their credentials as title contenders for next season.

Tottenham's utter dominance of their north London rivals in February's 2-1 win suggests otherwise. 

It was Spurs' best performance of the season but should prove to be their template for the coming season. 

Belligerent, aggressive pressing combined with skilful, direct attacking play forced the Gunners to concede first possession and then field position. 

They fell back deeper and deeper, hoping to stem the tide, but Spurs were not to be stopped. 

Kane scored twice and secured his place in the club's folklore.  

If, as has been suggested, the Gunners are legitimate candidates to compete for the Premier League in the coming campaign, Spurs must not be far behind. 

Most Improved Player

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Danny Rose was so poor in the 2013-14 season that the purchase of Ben Davies from Swansea was the first priority in the transfer window. 

Davies joined the club, but Rose fought him off to maintain his place as Spurs' first-choice left-back. 

Rose had struggled with fitness issues and played injured under Andre Villas-Boas and Tim Sherwood, but a full offseason restored him to full strength. 

It was not just a matter of dealing with injuries. The appointment of Mauricio Pochettino, too, was a huge factor. 

Pochettino is demanding of his full-backs but makes full use of their attacking prowess. 

Rose grew in a role of great responsibility and emerged as one of England's best full-backs. 

He is yet to achieve an England cap but would be fully deserving of one. 

Biggest Disappointment

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Roberto Soldado's first season was a huge disappointment. 

There were, however, extenuating circumstances. A new league, personal tragedy and managerial turmoil conspired against the Spaniard. 

His second season, though, devoid of those negative factors, is arguably an even greater disappointment. 

Soldado's complete lack of contribution is truly remarkable. 

Five goals in 40 appearances is disastrous. By way of comparison, Danny Rose got four in 34 games from full-back. 

Soldado was the biggest individual disappointment and contributed to the most significant team disappointment when he contrived to squander a two-on-one chance against Fiorentina.

That moment, scarcely believable for its sheer incompetence, set the tone of a match and tie that Spurs lost. They dropped out of the Europa League, an eminently winnable competition; Soldado was largely to blame.   

He remains a popular figure with fans, but the moment Spurs can convince another club to take him off their hands will be one for great celebration.