The 2019/20 NUFC awards - if the season was called off tomorrow..
From a footballing perspective, this all feels like one unbearably long international break, only there's absolutely zero games and a growing feeling the 2019/20 Premier League may be deemed null and void as this coronavirus crisis continues.
As a result, it feels like a good time to look back on the season, from player of the year to unsung hero and goal of the season to performance to biggest disappointment.
If it was announced that the season was officially ending tomorrow, here's my picks..
Player of the season:
- Martin Dubravka
- Allan Saint-Maximin
- Federico Fernandez.
The Slovakian has been absolutely outstanding, keeping us in several games, making more saves than any other Premier League and being a constant calming influence at the back. I think it's safe to say we'd be in the bottom three without him.
Honourable mentions must also go to Allan Saint-Maximin - a player we've barely ever won without and an explosive attacker who's regularly been our biggest threat - and Federico Fernandez (closely followed by Ciaran Clark), who's been immense in the centre of defence and chipped in with a few big goals too.
Young player of the season:
- Allan Saint-Maximin
- Matty Longstaff
- Tom Allan
It has to be ASM. His numbers in terms of goals and assists are far from spectacular, but his influence on the team has been huge, with us winning more, losing less, scoring more and conceding less when he starts.
Matty Longstaff comes in a close second after a brilliant breakthrough year, while Tom Allan also deserves a mention, having bagged an assist on his senior debut vs Rochdale after getting into double figures at U-23 level.
Unsung hero:
- Ciaran Clark
- Jonjo Shelvey
- Javier Manquillo
Clark started the season our SIXTH choice centre-back, yet he's quickly become arguably Steve Bruce's most reliable option this season, putting in several heroic displays; putting his body on the line at one end and scoring a few key goals at the other end.
Manquillo also deserves a mention for several assured displays, as does Jonjo Shelvey - the club's second top scorer on five.
Most improved player:
- Miguel Almiron
- Matty Longstaff
- Javier Manquillo
Matty may be the obvious player given he's gone from U-23 prospect to securing a place in Bruce's Premier League squad, but I feel it has to go to Miguel Almiron, with the Paraguayan our current top scorer after adding goals to his game following a difficult start to the season.
As for Javier Manquillo, the Spaniard is arguably our best right-back as things stand and deserves a new deal after several assured displays.
Disappointment of the season:
- Joelinton
- Sean Longstaff
- Andy Carroll
It has to be Joelinton. He was never prolific in Germany and signed as a young prospect, not a proven scorer, but we all expected much more from our £40m man.
Sean Longstaff comes in at second after struggling to fully recover from last year's serious knee injury and Andy Carroll third given he's managed to make just 4 starts and hasn't scored yet.
Moment of the season:
- Matty Longstaff's debut goal vs Man Utd
- Miguel Almiron breaking his duck at the Gallowgate
- Saint-Maximin's winner at Oxford / Andy Carroll's second debut
Goal of the season:
- Saint-Maximin's FA Cup winner at Oxford
- Jetro Willems' thunderbolt at Anfield
- Matty Longstaff's debut goal vs Man Utd
Best team performances of the season:
- Tottenham 0-1 Newcastle
- Newcastle 2-2 Man City
- West Ham 2-3 Newcastle / West Brom 2-3 Newcastle
My winner may surprise a few, but I thought we were outstanding in every area of the pitch that day, executing Bruce's clear game plan to perfection.
The 2-2 draw against Man City was another superb display, while 3-2 wins at West Ham and West Brom (FA Cup) were the only two occasions we've played with swagger and genuinely outplayed the opposition (the scoreline flatters the hosts massively in both!).
Worst team performances of the season:
- Norwich 3-1 Newcastle
- Leicester 5-0 Newcastle
- Newcastle 0-0 Oxford
Our first away game of the season against newly promoted Norwich was a low point. We got absolutely battered without putting up a fight, looking all at sea defensively, anonymous in midfield and like a team of strangers in attack, with Almiron and Joelinton worryingly isolated.
The collapse at Leicester was worrying, while the 0-0 draw at home to Oxford was tough to watch considering the level of opposition and occasion.
Best signings of the season:
- Allan Saint-Maximin
- Jetro Willems
- N/A..
ASM is a clear winner here, but a big shoutout must go to Jetro Willems, who's been impressive at both ends of the pitch, scoring some stunning goals and defending better than most expected too. As for number 3, I think we might be saying Valentino Lazaro if he gets a run in the side out wide.
Worst signing of the season:
- Joelinton
- Emil Krafth
- Nabil Bentaleb
At £40m, Joelinton's return of 3 goals and 4 assists in all competitions hasn't been nearly enough, while Krafth has been an utterly bizarre and almost pointless signing, with us now having THREE right wing-backs ahead of him in the pecking order.
Bentaleb's inclusion may seem harsh, but he's shown next to nothing since arriving - despite many having high hopes for the former Spurs talent.
Feel free to give us your answers to all the above in the comments section below!
