The Premier League 2010/2011 in review

It really is a funny old game


Paul Flynn
Red Devil

Best moment: Gary Neville’s retirement.
Worst moment: Carrick’s assist for Toure’s goal at Wembley.
Most enjoyable victory: Taking Chelsea apart.
Best goal: Hernandez’ corkscrew header against Stoke: just for the weirdness.
Worst refereeing decision: Van Persie’s red card in the Nou Camp for kicking the ball away 1.4 seconds after the whistle.
Player you’d most like to buy: Sebastian Schweinsteiger.
Player you’d most like to sell: None; everyone’s done their best.
Sum up the season in three words: Oh God, Barcelona ...

Donal Benson
Pensioner

Best moment: The first three months of the season.
Worst moment: Losing at home 3-0 to Sunderland. The start of the rot.
Most enjoyable victory: Beating Spurs to give us a chance of winning the league.
Best goal: No contest. It has to be Messi against Real Madrid. The second goal. Mind you, the first wasn’t bad either!
Worst refereeing decision: Missing the deliberate handball by Vidic which would have seen him sent off and missing the Chelsea game.
Player you’d most like to buy: Messi. (What a player.)
Player you’d most like to sell: On his form so far, Torres. He can only get better.
Sum up the season in three words: We blew it!

Damian Burke
Gunner

Best moment: If I was to pick one from a lacklustre season, it would be finally beating Chelsea. They had become our bogey team.
Worst moment: Too many to mention.
Most enjoyable victory: Probably the game against Chelsea.
Best goal: Either of Sami Nasri’s goals against Fulham.
Worst refereeing decision: The decision to send off Robin van Persie against Barca. I’m not saying we would have won, but we will never know now.
Player you’d most like to buy: Gary Cahill.
Player you’d most like to sell: I can think of seven –  Eboué, Almunia, Fabianski, Squillaci, Djourou, Bendtner and Walcott.
Sum up the season in three words: Must do better.

Walter Tuffy
Red

Best moment: Beating the Chavs at the Bridge after the Torres affair.
Worst moment: Other than the obvious record losing, it would have to be losing at home to Wolves. I mean, Wolves, for God’s sake!
Most enjoyable victory: Any victory over the Mancs has to be enjoyed, and this one-sided romp was beautiful to witness, especially as I was amongst them.
Best goal: Carroll against City – a sign of things to come, I hope.
Worst refereeing decision: Putting  Howard ‘Manc’ Webb in charge of a title decider involving Man U. They did not need him, as it happened, but how reassuring it must have been for them to know he was there if they needed him ...
Player you’d most like to buy: Without a doubt, Cristiano Ronaldo. Failing that it will have to be Charlie Adam.
Player you’d most like to sell: The players Kenny will.
Sum up the season in three words: Looks very promising.

Finbar O'Neill
Spur

Best moment: Kranjcar smashing in that shot in the last minute to beat Bolton (only because I was at the game).
Worst moment: Watching Spurs throw silly points away in the league, which happened on many occasions.
Most enjoyable victory: Beating Arsenal away, sweet.
Best goal: Bale against Stoke.
Worst refereeing decision: The decision of the Premier League referees panel to consider Mark Clattenburg capable of refereeing a Premier League game – what a joke.
Player you’d most like to buy: Yet again, Iniesta.
Player you’d most like to sell: Gomes. The lad can’t do normal, he’s either superb or totally crap.
Sum up the season in three words: Need a striker.

Chris Brown
Tangerine

Best moment: Winning 2-0 at Sunderland on December 28, which was our fifth game in a row unbeaten. With 25 points in the bag before New Year’s Day, I had real belief we were going to survive in the Premiership.
Worst moment: Charlie Adam’s dreadful tackle on Gareth Bale in the recent game at Spurs. I felt ashamed that such a reckless challenge could come from someone in a tangerine shirt. Adam should have seen a straight red card and then been horse-whipped in the changing rooms.
Most enjoyable victory: This is Anfield. The Seasiders winning at such a notable address was fantastic. Just to show it wasn’t a fluke, when Liverpool came to our place, we beat them again!
Best goal: Luke Varney’s 30-yard half volley against Wolves was technically superb, but the goal I enjoyed most was our opening goal against Man Utd at home. Craig Cathcart had been on United’s books as a youngster without ever getting a game, and the young Irishman buried a header with such force van der Sar was relieved he didn’t get in its way.
Worst refereeing decision: I’m tempted to say disallowing Marlon Harewood’s goal at West Ham when he was clearly onside, because those lost two points may well cost us our Premiership place. But the decision to send off Ian Evatt in our game away at Arsenal, judging a genuine attempt at a tackle to be a reason to send a player off because Theo Walcott, the Arsenal striker, was the furthest player forward, was diabolical.
Player you’d most like to buy: The Wigan player N’Zogbia. He’s a fantastic talent.
Player you’d most like to sell: Andy Reid. He doesn’t look fit and hasn’t put in any good performances for us; I think his Premiership days are over.
Sum up the season in three words: Up The Pool!