Sport

2015 in Seven Awards

Best moment: JAMIE VARDY’S GOALSCORING HEROICS

Just incredible. His rise from non-league obscurity to Premier League scoring sensation is a storyline that would have been deemed too fanciful even for Roy of the Rovers, but that’s exactly what has happened. Vardy, not even regarded as one of Leicester’s top players last season, has this term reached levels of accuracy that would have made Chris Kyle jealous. His Premier League record of scoring in 11 consecutive games will likely stand for a long, long time, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see it surpass the 12 years Ruud van Nistelrooy’s stood for.

Best team: LEICESTER CITY

Crystal Palace and Watford were both in with a shout, but it just had to be Leicester. What a season they’ve had; tipped for relegation following the appointment of Claudio Ranieri in July, the Foxes have taken the Premier League by storm, topping the table at Christmas, beating Chelsea and Everton, while also earning draws against Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham. Very few people expect Leicester to continue their incredible form into 2016, but just getting a European place would be an incredible achievement. Take a bow, Leicester City.

Best goalkeeper: PETR CECH

Not only the best goalkeeper, but the best summer signing. Cech was a snip at £10m, and has already saved Arsenal on a fair few occasions this season. Though Gunners fans still bemoan the lack of firepower up top, it is Cech’s assured performances between the sticks – along with Ozil’s genius in the middle of the park – that could see the Premier League trophy return to north London.

 

Best defender: TOBY ALDERWEIRELD / SCOTT DANN

If this was an award for classiest defender, then it would certainly go to Alderweireld. However, were it to be for most underrated defender, then Dann would run away with it. As it is, they have both performed incredibly well over the last 12 months – particularly in the latter half of 2015 – and are both equally deserving of kudos. Alderweireld, along with Spurs stopper Hugo Lloris, has been a key reason why Tottenham have only conceded 15 goals in the league this season, while Dann has bossed the Crystal Palace defence as Alan Pardew’s men have proven themselves a force to be reckoned with.

 

Best midfielder: MESUT ÖZIL

Not only the best midfielder, but probably the best player in the entire league. Ozil, who took a while to find his feet in the Premier League, has started to shine for Arsenal on a weekly basis. He has the most Premier League assists ever in a calender year (20), and only looks like he’s going to get better. If Ozil stays fit, Arsenal could very well win the title.

 

Best striker: JAMIE VARDY

This could very easily have gone to Sergio Aguero, Harry Kane or Romelu Lukaku, but Jamie Vardy’s rise from second-rate Leicester forward to Premier League record breaker has been quite astonishing. Vardy, who only managed to bag 5 goals during the 2014/15 campaign, has already found the net 15 times this season, and has spearheaded the Foxes’ incredible rise up the table. Newspaper rumour pages have linked him with Manchester United and Real Madrid in recent weeks and, while there’s no way he’ll end up at either of those, just being associated with those footballing giants is quite an achievement.

 

Best emerging talent: DELE ALLI

It was a toss up between Alli and Odion Ighalo, but I think Alli has done just enough to claim the accolade. Since breaking into the Spurs XI at the start of the season he’s managed to make himself a key member of Mauricio Pochettino’s squad, and has even started becoming a key fixture on Roy Hodgson’s England side.