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Premier League 2016 -1 7 season inspect: our writers’ most effective and worst

Our columnists take stock after the Premier League season, appointing their best musician, finest destination, most entertaining parallel, biggest gripe and much more

Best musician

Daniel Taylor : NGolo Kant. If he was able to remain Cesc Fbregas out of the Chelsea team, he must be some player.

Barney Ronay: Friendly midfield interceptors are the pattern, but Harry Kane has been the superb single musician: top scorer, team man and with just enough comic-book star quality.

Dominic Fifield : Eden Hazard, liberated by Antonio Contes switch in system, plied the cut and thrust which inspired Chelsea to their title success. Given his toils last season as he struggled with a hip disorder, his revival was eye-catching. Paul Wilson : It maybe doesnt question which Chelsea candidate gets the vote, so in the interests of sharing stuffs around I am going to go for Csar Azpilicueta. He seems to be able to play in any rank across the back wrinkle and his consistency and perversity are unaffected. Amy Lawrence : If you are able bottle the minds of the Kant and sell it to football clubs it would be a bestseller. He has an ability to induce others around him better, to make a game plan quicker. The way he carried his Leicester tone so easily to Chelsea, to be transformative instantaneously, deserves all the plaudits. Barry Glendenning : Jordan Pickford. Simply in Sunderlands first team because David Moyes was unable to lure Joe Hart on lend to Wearside, the 23 -year-old pulled off the impressive stunt of doing himself one of “the worlds largest” sought-after young goalkeepers in Europe despite invited to participate in the Premier Leagues worst squad. Even though he prone to the increasingly uncommon gaffe, its difficult to select faults in the various aspects of Pickfords overall play and its no exaggeration to say that without him, Sunderland might well have been relegated before the sighting of the following spring first swallow. David Hytner : Eden Hazard. Back to his very best. Its capability to become the difference when it matters the most symbols him out. Scott Murray : Diego Costa retained Chelsea going throughout the autumnal odyssey that effectively decided the league, all the while remain in attribute as pantomime provocateur. Homeric. Well miss his entertaining spirit where reference is led.

Jamie Jackson: Dele Alli. Seventeen Premier League objectives at 175 instants per impres for a No10 is top class. At 21, a actor with that rim all nobility musicians own has to get better.

Andy Hunter: Eden Hazard. The champions were not simply a extremely defensive squad, as a former director endure sour grapes shown. They were also the most devastating and smart unit in the final third thanks largely to the Belgium internationals return to form.

Chelseas Eden Hazard has been back to his best this season. Image: Darren Walsh/ Chelsea FC via Getty Images

Louise Taylor: Sam Clucas, Hull City; runner up, David Luiz, Chelsea. There are other, far more obvious, candidates but placed in the context of Clucass achievement in ascending five resounds of the tournament ladder in succeeding seasons it has to be the left-footed midfielder. Impressive since being changed from a wide character to central midfield this expression, the intelligence of Clucass transferring abides the hallmarks of Glenn Hoddle, who persuasion him not to give up the game before sharpening his knowledge at his football establishment in Spain. David Luiz, meanwhile, is lovely to watch and his re-invention in Antonio Contes back three has thoroughly baffled the doubters.

Stuart James: Gylfi Sigurdsson. Directly involved in 22 of Swansea Citys 43 goals. For a participate to constantly create and rating so many points in a squad that invested virtually the entire season crusading relegation is quite something.

Jacob Steinberg : After last-place seasons sabbatical, Eden Hazard rediscovered his mojo in stimulating style and procured the compatibility to go with his outrageous expertise. NGolo Kant was a worthy recipient of the PFA and FWA honors, but Hazard was Chelseas match-winner on so many occasions.

Paul Doyle: Kasper Schmeichel. While the rest of last-place seasons champions lost their method, the goalkeeper was the only Leicester player to improve. Yes, there was that 6-1 win by Spurs but, taking a broader judgment, Schmeichel was an example to us all in these disturbed times.

Simon Burnton : The brilliant, hard-working, humble and likeable NGolo Kant deserves all the player-of-the-season apportions currently cluttering his mantelpiece. Ed Aarons : NGolo Kant deserves his awards for winning a second subsequent Premier League title, but Christian Eriksens return to word coincided with Tottenhams emergence as Chelseas simply genuine challengers. Even 13 abets and eight Premier League objectives do not explain the importance of the Denmark international to Mauricio Pochettino. Csar Azpilicueta also deserves a mention.

Sachin Nakrani : Gylfi Sigurdsson. The Iceland international directly contributed to almost half of Swanseas Premier League aims and, quite simply, without him they would have been relegated, sustaining all the fallout that comes with that, which, it should be remembered, includes beings losing their jobs.

Best manager

Daniel Taylor : Antonio Conte. Even Jos Mourinho has stopped temporarily, at the least trying to erode him. How, maybe, can anyone question what he has done to get Chelsea back on top?

Barney Ronay: Antonio Conte. Hurled together on the hoof a wonderfully well-grooved endorse crew, eased John Terry out of the picture without the slightest friction and on competitor eras remains the most ridiculously evoked soul about anything ever.

Dominic Fifield : Antonio Conte. In a conference crammed with nobility administrators, he changed best to the peculiarities of the Premier League and discontinued up putting all the other big names to shame.

Paul Wilson : It was going to be Marco Silva until a few cases weeks ago, but now Hull are back in the real world after a brief visit to dreamland there seems no degree in looking past the obvious. Antonio Conte is more difficult to have hoped for a better first season in England. In expressions of impact, it does it all that he can now parallel Carlo Ancelottis double as well as Jos Mourinhos Premier League preserve of wins in a season.

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Antonio Conte: Chelsea’s new Special One? video

Amy Lawrence : Conte. From the very first competition of the Premier League campaign where reference is celebrated a late win over West Ham with that zealous touchline infatuation, he has managed almost every situation with permission, class and style. In tactical adaptations and soldier management, returning the best out of characters as different as David Luiz, Diego Costa, Victor Moses and Pedro, he barely missed a beat. Barry Glendenning : Antonio Conte. Charming and handsome, with the touchline behavior of a humanity which has recently had a large handful of red ants descended down the trousers of his expensive designer clothing, the issue is little to dislike about Chelseas manager. His was changed to a back three in the wake of defeat at Arsenal has been acclaimed in some quarters as the greatest managerial masterstroke in the history of football and while that may be be over-egging the dessert moderately, the way in which he has steered his team to the designation with a minimum of fuss in a season when one or more of Messrs Klopp, Mourinho and Guardiola were expected to have his measuring was no mean feat. David Hytner : Antonio Conte. It has been another staggeringly impressive season for Mauricio Pochettino but Contes has to get better. Took over a Chelsea squad with both problems and, in what has been his first season outside of Italy, moulded them into champions. Scott Murray : Heres a respectful gesture to Arsne Wenger, who in addition to yet another high tournament place and yet another cup final, somehow insisted super-human high levels of dignity despite intense provocation from an entitled minority. An amazing achievement. His is likely to be much the very best review when this history is told 20 times from now.

Jamie Jackson: Antonio Conte. He coached the volatile Costa to 20 conference objectives and may win the classic English double in his entry season.

Andy Hunter: Conte is the stand-out pick , is not simply for triumphing the Premier League title in his first season in English football but for how he responded to potential crises notably the 3-0 defeat at Arsenal and Januarys stand-off with Costa.

Louise Taylor: Sean Dyche, Burnley. Antonio Conte clearly has a strong case while, despite narrowly failing to keep Hull up, Marco Silva turned liquid into wine in eastern Yorkshire. Then theres Mauricio Pochettino, whose Tottenham team play fabulous football on around half the collective compensation statute of other top six sides, but preserving Burnley in the Premier League is a significant achievement. Rendered the same relatively limited resources as Dyche, would Jos Mourinho or Pep Guardiola have done anything like as well?

Sean Dyches Burnley have never actually been threatened with relegation this season so good has their home kind been. Photograph: Lee Smith/ Reuters

Stuart James: Antonio Conte. Staggeringly impressive to prevail the title in his first season in English football tactically astute, full of rage for the game and get the impression that every participate, even those not regularly in his starting XI, buys into his work.

Jacob Steinberg : A gesture to Sean Dyche for saving Burnley away from the relegation scrap, but it has to be Conte, who outshone his adversaries by resuscitating a misfiring, uneven force with the superpower of his motivational tones, tactical acumen and infectious will to win.

Paul Doyle: Sean Dyche. Burnley never looked like going down, which is remarkable.

Simon Burnton : Great as Tottenham have once again been under Mauricio Pochettino, Antonio Contes influence at Chelsea has been greater. Ed Aarons : Antonio Conte. The Italian only arrived at Stamford Bridge a month before Chelseas first tournament of the season but has emerged as a entitle win in his first season in English football. The was changed to 3-4-3 has defined Contes success but the former Juventus midfielder has also demonstrated his man-management abilities in dealing with Diego Costas regular tantrums. Sachin Nakrani : Antonio Conte. Acquiring the deed in your first season in England is a superb achievement, particularly when it concerns reinvigorating a squad that had been in turmoil during the previous campaign.

Best point

Daniel Taylor : Olivier Girouds scorpion kick for Arsenal against Crystal Palace. Barney Ronay : Girouds flowing scorpion volley, a lovely move and a ludicrous finish, made all the more implausible by the fact he seems to stop mid-scorpion to winch his leg up a little higher, like a extremely stiff humankind trying to slunk his lane over a garden fence. Dominic Fifield : Eden Hazard against Arsenal, sprinting away from Laurent Koscielny and holding off Francis Coquelins attempts to creating him down, then finishing before Shkodran Mustafi could block. Paul Wilson : Sam Allardyce will have been more worried about some unconvincing Crystal Palace defending, but Andy Carrolls overhead kick against Crystal Palace takes some flogging for wow influence. Not a unit destination, perhaps, but Carroll placed a lot of himself into it.

Amy Lawrence : The Emre Can/ Giroud/ Henrikh Mkhitaryan showpieces lead the way for individualism, but there was something that impressed a chord about Willians goal for Chelsea at Everton in a game that felt so influential for the deed. What a fine crew point. The caliber of Cesc Fbregass lead and pass for Willian summarized up the brio Chelsea rediscovered this season. That was the moment they felt undeniably like champions again.

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How the 2016 -1 7 Premier League title was triumphed by Chelsea video

Barry Glendenning : Gastn Ramrez. Possibly not the best, but almost certainly the only situation of interest any Middlesbrough footballer did all season Ramrezs fine solo attempt moved goal-shy Boro on their acces to their first home acquire. Picking up the ball inside his own half and encouraged by the strange distaste of anyone in a Bournemouth shirt to shut him down, the Uruguayan started on a 70 -yard run down the inside left that climaxed with him unexpectedly cutting inside and slotting home. Buoyed by this rare time of quality and muse, Middlesbrough went on to win three more Premier League pairs, while their increasingly unpopular summertime signal would go on to tallied merely one more purpose as his slope sank below the depths. David Hytner : Andy Carroll v Crystal Palace. Nothing are competent to produce jaw to the flooring more quickly than the thud scissor kick. Especially whilst it is executed by a big man. Scott Murray : Olivier Giroud against Palace. A finish so laughable its easy to forget the six-player pitch-long romp that preceded it, exaggerated by a centre-circle back-flick from Giroud himself. English footballs most eye-catching sweep forward since Terry McDermott tallied against Spurs in 1978.

Jamie Jackson: Henrikh Mkhitaryans scorpion kick versus Sunderland on Boxing Day. Zlatan Ibrahimovic pings a cross over from the right and the Armenian makes move a winging back-heeled volley. Delicious.

Andy Hunter: Dimitri Payet, West Ham United v Middlesbrough. Other aims carried more weight in the context of the season Emre Can against Watford and Eden Hazards v Arsenal being the most notable illustrations but based purely on its merits this fleeting reminder of a better quality the France international could bring to the Premier League had no peers.

Louise Taylor: Robert Snodgrass v Leicester City. The winner in a 2-1 startle opening-day victory against the defending endorses for Mike Phelans side. When Wes Morgan could only half-clear Ahmed Elmohamadys fierce cross, the dance descended to Snodgrass whose first-time, left footed, half-volley arrowed into the bottom corner.

Stuart James: Emre Cans bicycle knock against Watford must take some thrash. In fairness, Olivier Girouds scorpion kick against Palace is also worthy of a mention.

Emre Can gives hover with a sumptuous overhead kicking against Watford. Photo: John Walton/ PA

Jacob Steinberg : Gaston Ramrezs slaloming 70 -yard run against Bournemouth ended with a clever stunt and a cool finish. Sure, Andy Carroll, Olivier Giroud and Henrikh Mkhitaryan all took the breath away to those used scorpion kicks and bicycle smashes. But in an differently grim season for Middlesbrough, the fact Ramrezs solo effort was a uncommon instant of feeling prepares it all the more precious. Simon Burnton : Olivier Girouds New Years Day scorpion knock wasnt even Januarys goal of the month, and there are a few rival barrages that compare with it, but to my intellect it is the best of the bunch. It has grown on the scorer as much as it has grown on me: after the game he said he was a bit lucky. It was the only thing I could do. I tried to affected it with a backheel and after it was all about luck, but by March he was saying: I dont wishes to big myself up but aims like mine leave a mark on history. Andy Carrolls[ overhead kick] is splendid, but perhaps parties wont recalls that it in two years time. Mine, yes.

Paul Doyle: Wayne Rooney against Stoke. It was a blaze of a route to grasp a late equaliser, defined a wonderful account and persuade Jos Mourinho he had been able to finally jilt an over-the-hill hero.

Ed Aarons : In a season of breathtaking volleys, Emre Can saved the best for last. His brilliant overhead knock against Watford left good-for-nothing to chance, unlike Olivier Giroud or Henrikh Mkhitaryans scorpion kicks. Sachin Nakrani : Olivier Giroud v Crystal Palace. In a season of conspicuous scorpion/ overhead kickings, this one lines it because of the slick counter-attack that preceded it and which Giroud was involved in as well as the elevation at which boot fulfilled ball prior to it looping into the net.

Best match

Daniel Taylor : At the risk of announcing like a despair, its not easy to think of a stand-out match this season. Nothing left me as roused as, respond, hearing Monaco in the Champions League. Barney Ronay : Swansea 5-4 Crystal Palace. Messy, wild and frantic at times, but this is basically what the Premier League is for. Dominic Fifield : Bournemouths madcap 4-3 win over Liverpool was entertaining, but Crystal Palaces win at Chelsea in April encapsulated everything about the baffling sort of the Premier League at times. Chelsea were exquisite going forward, playing wonderfully incisive and inventive football. Palace represented ruggedly and, somehow, saved them out. Paul Wilson : The one that sticks in the mind is Manchester City 1-3 Chelsea. An eventful and witty tournament, with some dead-eyed finishing by Chelsea to leave Pep Guardiola grumbling about Kevin de Bruynes miss for the rest of the season. A significant entitlement pointer at the Etihad too, for the second succeeding season following Leicesters statement win in February. Amy Lawrence : Swansea 5-4 Crystal Palace. Lovely, incredible, beautiful, panic-struck madness. The better of the Bob Bradley experience. Alan Pardew trying to put on a intrepid face. First on Match of the Day for an unanticipated game. Whats not to like?

Barry Glendenning: Bournemouth 4-3 Liverpool. They dont get much more entertainingthan this white-knuckle rideat the Vitality Stadium.

Leroy Fer tallies during Swanseas rollercoaster 5-4 victory over Crystal Palace. Photo: Christopher Lee/ Getty Images

David Hytner : Swansea v Crystal Palace. Never mind the defending at both ends, this was a classic, loaded with drama, and the situations after Fernando Llorentes stoppage-time winner seemed to shake the Liberty Stadium. Both of the managers, Bob Bradley and Alan Pardew, were sacked within a few months or so. Scott Murray : Manchester City 1-1 Liverpool. It truly wouldnt have taken much for the purposes of our tournament to have ended 5-0, 0-5 or 5-5. One of those.

Jamie Jackson: Burnleys emphatic win over Liverpool at Turf Moor on the seasons second weekend pierced a loophole in the claim assertions of Jrgen Klopps team and hinted Sean Dyches boys would exist. Those auguries were proved correct.

Andy Hunter: Everton 4-0 Manchester City. Selecting from Premier League parallels attended, this raucous afternoon at Goodison Park stands out for many concludes. In Ronald Koemans attentions it was really perfect and a total unit concert from Everton. It justified the rise of Tom Davies, who tallied his first destination for the society with an exquisite chip over Claudio Bravo at the Gwladys Street end, and raised a introduction point for Ademola Lookman with one of the girls first contacts in the Premier League. For Pep Guardiola, however, it marked the defensive and mental fragilities at Manchester City, represented the heaviest tournament defeat of his managerial vocation and left him confessing the claim was beyond his crew for this season.

Louise Taylor: If this means watched live, its a difficult one to react. As north-east correspondent Ive surely viewed a few cases candidates for worst recreation at Sunderland and Middlesbrough and the better ones I covered invariably involved Newcastle United in the Championship. One top-tier tournament does stick in the recollection though; Hull 3-3 Crystal Palace in December. A six-goal thriller featuring a brilliant, mesmerising accomplishment from Palaces Wilfried Zaha.

Stuart James: Swansea City 5-4 Crystal Palace. A nine-goal thriller that was 1-1 with 25 minutes continuing then all blaze let loose. Bob Bradley and Alan Pardew, the respective directors, went through every excitement extending and, in truth, it wasnt really remarkable that neither guy lasted much longer in the number of jobs. For what its worth, the reporters at the game were also in a cruel state come the end.

Jacob Steinberg : Crystal Palace 0-4 Sunderland. Sunderland were so surprised about tallying four goals in a single half that they didnt win another recreation until they were already demoted. In their excuse, Ive only just recovered from the sicken as well. Simon Burnton : Liverpools 4-3 prevail at the Emirates on the seasons opening weekend was everything you could ask it to be and more. Superb attacking, wonderful objectives from open romp, a magnificent free kick, brilliant man science, flustering manager-hugging galas, sunshine, it had the heap. The only possible reaction was yes delight, Ill have nine months more of that. Which, unhappily, neither squad could deliver.

Paul Doyle: Leicester 4-2 Manchester City. Thrilling and at times bright, but too ludicrous, outrageous and laughter. A snapshot of this seasons Premier League.

Ed Aarons : Swansea 5-4 Palace. Producing 4-3 with video games past the 90 -minute mark, Alan Pardew must have appeared pretty good. His unit had just duelled back from 3-1 down with merely 15 hours remaining to lead, only to surrender the points to Fernando Llorentes double in trauma time. Sachin Nakrani : Manchester City 1-1 Liverpool. A high-octane, end-to-end, relentlessly-thrilling encounter exclusively let down by poverty-stricken cease. A mention, too, for Swanseas 5-4 win over Crystal Palace. A madcap encounter that find two purposes in halt duration and Alan Pardew dreading the worst.

Best adjudicator

Daniel Taylor : Keith Hackett. I experience his analysis of the present cultivate and marvel that he must never have made a mistake in his life. Barney Ronay : Clatts. Will be missed, in part for his unintentional humor, when he needles for Sauds. Dominic Fifield : Probably Martin Atkinson or Michael Oliver. Paul Wilson : No idea. They all search the same to me. Lets reply Martin Atkinson. Amy Lawrence : Michael Oliver doesnt seem to want to be the idol as much as some. He is a perception of requiring the best game possible.

Barry Glendenning : Mike Dean. His no-lookyellow card to Ross Barkley in the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park was a thing of beauty.

Referee Mike Deans no-look yellowed poster paid attention to Ross Barkley was a thought of knockout. Photo: Jason Cairnduff/ Reuters

David Hytner : I dont have strong believes on the two categories this season. Id still read Mark Clattenburg is the best. Scott Murray : Adjudicators are lightning rods for impotent resentment, raging paranoia and shortsighted storm. Objective adoration doesnt come into it, its not what theyre there for.

Jamie Jackson: The video agent what a fearless invention. What? They still were not available despite everyone else having access to ad nauseam replays?

Andy Hunter: Any nomination will incur the displeasure of at least one club though Anthony Taylor continues to improve so in the interests of unison tells just say its not Jon Moss.

Louise Taylor: Probably Mark Clattenburg( despite missing the latter part of the season following move to Saudi Arabia .)

Stuart James: Not much to get excited about here. Martin Atkinson, Mark Clattenburg( yes, I realise hes now extended) and Michael Oliver would be in the top three. Oliver, on a good day, gets the nod.

Jacob Steinberg : Michael Oliver gets my referendum, capped by penalise Manchester Uniteds contemptuous rotational fouling on Hazard in the FA Cup. Simon Burnton : Mark Clattenburg. He sometimes consider this to be he thinks hes the best reviewer in the district, which is unappealing, but that doesnt construct him wrong.

Paul Doyle: Mike Dean. The only one to enforce the shirt-tugging directive with something close to consistency. And technology will never have peculiarities as entertaining as his.

Ed Aarons : Mark Clattenburg and Martin Atkinson often get the biggest gigs from Uefa and Fifa, but Michael Oliver remains the outstanding referee in the country. Still simply 32, the Ashington official has been in charge of more accords( 31) than anyone else and problem simply two crimson posters. Sachin Nakrani : Unlike 99% of people who watch football in this country, I dont have a strong scene on reviewers. They all seem approximately the same and their misunderstandings, while rarely stupefying, never tempt me into reaching for a pitchfork.

Best signing

Daniel Taylor : Mamadou Sakho. People chortled when a January loan signing was nominated for Crystal Palaces player of the season awarding. But without him Palace would be down. Barney Ronay : Leroy San. What a exquisite mover, what a calm brain, what a nice young man. Seems to have no real limit to how good he could be. Dominic Fifield : NGolo Kant was key to Leicester Citys startling success in 2016, and just as influential to that of Chelsea in 2017. A blur of energy and interceptions, and at the heart of everything Chelsea have achieved. Paul Wilson : Where would Manchester United be without Zlatan Ibrahimovics contribution? Scarcely best available significance contract, and not exactly one for the future either, but until injury struck he did what he had been brought in to do. Amy Lawrence : Hard to argue with Kant for overall blow. Honourable mentions to Mamadou Sakho who made a big difference to Crystal Palaces quandary, and Gabriel Jesus for being a great subscribe who appears bound to gleam more for Manchester City in future. Barry Glendenning : NGolo Kant. David Hytner : David Luiz. Has shown that underneath the mad hair lies an intelligent reader of video games. Has exceeded in the midst of a back three. Long extend persists beautiful to watch. Scott Murray : Gabriel Jesus, a score-any-sort genius destined to sounds in an ludicrous number of goals. Had he not picked up that injury in February, Manchester City would have given Chelsea a race.

Jamie Jackson: Eric Bailly. Manchester United appear to have replenished the Nemanja Vidic-sized gap created by his 2014 retirement. Expensing 30 m from Villarreal, the Ivorian is a tough, prevailing 23 -year-old who can be a fixture for a decade.

Andy Hunter: Paul Clement. Swansea City were bottom and searching particular for relegation when they appointed their third manager of awareness-raising campaigns in January. Astute signals such as Tom Carroll and persuasion a crew to buy into yet another managerial articulation allowed the former Bayern Munich assistant to have an impact that they are able shape a clubs short-term future.

Louise Taylor: Eric Bailly for Manchester United. At 30 m he wasnt cheap but goodness knows how far United and Mourinho might have sunk without Baillys center defensive excellence.

Mamadou Sakho stops Alxis Snchez in his lines. The defender changed Crystal Palace after his lend move from Liverpool. Photograph: Matthew Childs/ Reuters

Stuart James: NGolo Kant would have to be up there, though it was a rather obvious piece of business on Chelseas part, having regard to the Frenchmans influence at Leicester the season before. With that in attention, and taking it account the size of the fee, Ill go for Victor Wanyama, Tottenhams 11 m draft from Southampton.

Jacob Steinberg : On the basis that signing Kant was a no-brainer after last-place seasons manipulates, one has to admire Chelsea for making the render of David Luiz a success. Its easy to forget that there were slew of doubts concerning the Brazilian when he signed on deadline daytime. Simon Burnton : Crystal Palace prevailed six of the 30 games they played without Mamadou Sakho in their line-up this season, but five of the eight in which the Liverpool loanee seemed, hindering five clean membranes in the process( weighing their 1-0 defeat at Spurs, in which he was forced off after 57 goalless times and they conceded in the 78 th ). No other signing was so transformational. Paul Doyle : Mamadou Sakho. Liverpool outcast, Crystal Palace saviour. Ed Aarons : Hard to argue with NGolo Kant for 30 m, who gave from one off-color title-winning shirt to another with minimum of fuss. Victor Wanyama, 11 m from Southampton, has had almost the same effects for Tottenham, albeit for a third of the price. Sachin Nakrani : Zlatan Ibrahimovic. I was among the people who felt the 35 -year-old, while undeniably talented, would fight in England. Instead he has gone on to become one of best available free transmits in Premier League history.

Worst bust

Daniel Taylor : Pep Guardiola. Perhaps our possibilities were too high but, after all that waiting, it has been a real chagrin. Claudio Bravo comes a close second, which are likely exemplifies the point. Barney Ronay : Claudio Bravo of course, the first goalkeeper Ive ever seen receive an sarcastic round of clapping from his own followers for making a save.

Dominic Fifield : Moussa Sissoko has hardly pulled up any trees since becoming Tottenham Hotspurs record signing, which has not come as much of a surprise to those who watched him regularly at Newcastle United.

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Guardiola: Barcelona and Bayern Munich would have sacked me video

Paul Wilson : The boy who was tired of London. Dimitri Payet was a big letdown at West Ham United. The clubs 2015 -1 6 player of its first year and brainchild for a stadium mural at the least ought to have been able to manage a full season before leaving. Amy Lawrence : Jointly awarded to Manchester United and Arsenal, neither of whom were able to organize a serious challenge for the Premier League title despite banking heavily last summertime to apparently boost their push.

Barry Glendenning: Pep Guardiola. Assignment with his most difficult job in managing thus far, even by his own admittance the Manchester City manager have put forward woefully short.

David Hytner : Simone Zaza. His ludicrous retribution at the Euros for Italy was simply the prelude. Saw his lend charm at West Ham United cut short after 11 pairs and no goals because, had he played a bit more, the golf-club would have had to buy him outright. Moved to Valencia in January. Scott Murray : Pep Guardiola arrived in England with a big reputation … for being super-surly in news conference. His splendid arrogance for daft doubts has at times glow through this was simply majestic but has still not been with Fergie or Louis van Gaal levels of consistency. Hes got the press corps rattled, though, if the repeated heighten of the subject on the Sunday Supplement is anything to go by. He now needs to go in for the kill.

Jamie Jackson: Claudio Bravo. Pep Guardiola possibly blew Manchester Citys hopes of winning anything in his first season when bombarding out Joe Hart and 14.5 m for the Chilean on 25 August. Bravo in a word? Hapless.

Andy Hunter: Claudio Bravo. There were more expensive missteps than the Manchester City goalkeeper Tottenhams 30 m outlay on Moussa Sissoko for example but his recruitment was fundamental to how Pep Guardiola envisaged his first season in the Premier League and served only to undercut it. That is not to say it was a mistake to change Joe Hart, who has toiled at Torino, simply that Bravo was the incorrect selection.

Louise Taylor: Moussa Sissoko, Tottenham Hotspur. Rafael Bentez is rightly proud of influencing Spurs to part with 30 m for a midfielder who played a big part in Newcastle Uniteds relegation last year and whose Euro 2016 cameos for France flattered to fool. Certainly when HMRC recently attacked St James Park, club faculty joked about whether they were investigating the steal of 30m from Spurs.

Stuart James: A few in the concoction here Borja Bastn at Swansea, Jordon Ibe at Bournemouth and Ahmed Musa at Leicester all spring to mind. But Claudio Bravo, Manchester Citys 17 m goalkeeper, is surely the standout campaigner. What were you thinking of, Pep?

Read more: www.theguardian.com

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Since April 2015, the Foxes have been holding us in thrall with their tales of the unexpected. From the great escape from relegation under Nigel Pearson, to the lunacy of their title victory to this European odyssey — which included ditching their miraculous manager Claudio Ranieri midway through the previous tie. It’s defied logic and reason, it’s been fantastical and bewildering. 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Manchester United eye £50million move for Borussia Dortmund wonderkid Ousmane DembeleBYE BYE CAPTAIN? Ashley Young hints at Manchester United exit despite captaining side to 2-0 victory over Chelsea Now, finally, reality has dawned. And lifelong fans of a fair-to-middling club in a medium-sized city in the middle of England must feel as though they are on a comedown from some footballing LSD trip as they wake up to a mid-table league berth and an end to European escapism. Two years ago to the day, Leicester beat Swansea 2-0 here to climb off the foot of the Premier League table, offering daylight to Pearson’s great jailbreak. Ever since then, it’s been glorious mayhem. Reuters Gutted Leicester fans also lingered after the final whistle[/caption] Even the second half last night was the same, as Leicester carpet-bombed their illustrious visitors. Atletico’s manager Diego Simeone was hugely complimentary, saying: “It was almost a pleasure to compete against them. We were living in fear all night.” Wes Morgan, City’s indefatigable captain, had clambered off the treatment table to skipper his side. He’s been at the centre of it all the way. He was already 30 when the Foxes were promoted to the top flight in 2014 but epitomised the supreme spirit of this rag-tag bunch of misfits and rejects. A few years ago, the big man would have doubted that his fitness might have been seen as crucial in a European Cup quarter-final. Saul produced a stunning header to give Atletico Madrid a firm grip on the tieReutersBut Leicester were desperate for him to shrug off a back injury, especially with his partner Robert Huth suspended. They held a pre-match fitness test. They needn’t have bothered. Lumbago versus potential immortality? There was only ever going to be one outcome. Morgan lasted 83 minutes, before his hamstring finally went. His courage never did. He produced a mighty tackle on Yannick Carrasco early on and a cute interception to deny Antoine Griezmann a shooting opportunity. Then suddenly, on 26 minutes, it seemed like the game was up when Filipe Luis crossed and Saul Niguez guided his header beyond Kasper Schmeichel’s dive. Atletico seemed just too good. They possessed superior technique, they moved the ball better, they were patient, they were savvy. Jamie Vardy celebrates but his goal was not enough for LeicesterGetty ImagesBut the thousands of true believers still believed, especially the 11 blokes in blue out in the middle. They had shredded so many formbooks and written so many far-fetched plot lines that even a 2-0 aggregate deficit against European royalty did not dishearten them. Craig Shakespeare brought on Leo Ulloa and Ben Chilwell at half-time, switched to a back three and demanded an air of furious urgency from ball-boys through to his players who worked with manic haste refusing to allow any time-wasting. Refusing to allow Atletico even the time to breathe. It worked. Atletico were pinned back, defending Christian Fuchs’ intercontinental missiles from the touchlines and crosses from Marc Albrighton and Chilwell. Vardy rammed one home, Riyad Mahrez curled a free-kick narrowly over. EPA Leicester players applaud the crowd after full time[/caption] All the while there was bedlam in the stands. Before kick-off they were warned of ‘special effects’ and after the fluttering of 30,000 tinfoil flags, each Leicester player’s name was read out to the accompaniment of dry ice seemingly farted out of the roof of the stands. But the only special effects they have needed here these past two years have been the heroics of their footballers. And whatever happens next — whether Shakespeare stays or goes, whether star players head for the hills — their deeds will live on. There’s no need for blue plaques, either. They’ve shone so brightly they will never truly fade from the mind’s eye, this little lot. Tweet @davekidd_ https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/3360367/leicester-heroics-champions-league-atletico-madrid/ #ChampionsLeague #AtleticoMadrid #RealMadrid #ManchesterUnited #CristianoRonaldo

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