It’s been an incredible season which has seen Germany become World Champions, Barcelona win the treble and Harry Redknapp finally being questioned for his job performance. Over the next couple of weeks, Scottish Comedy FC’s writers are going to be recounting their top moments from the 2014 World Cup and the 2014/15 season.
Who’s been your favourite player this season?
Greg Stewart (Dundee) – Teddy Craig
Obviously, I’d love to be naming a Rangers player for this award. Unfortunately, the fact Dean Shiels only got a look in towards the end, David Templeton made as many appearances as Nessie and Barrie McKay was out on-loan at Raith cementing his talented maverick reputation means I’ve had to look elsewhere.
I’ll go for Greg Stewart. I haven’t actually seen that much of him this season but I remember watching him in the Pars v Cowdenbeath play-off the previous season and being hugely impressed. To make the step up this season in terms of skills and fitness while acquitting himself so well has been truly impressive.
James Rodriguez (Real Madrid/Colombia) – Michael Park
![APTOPIX Brazil Soccer WCup Colombia Uruguay [Fair Use]](http://scottishcomedyfc.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/james-rodriguez-colombia-celebration.jpg)
Without a doubt; it’s got to be James Rodriguez. Since moving to Real Madrid he’s contributed 18 goals in 52 appearances as well as laying on another 15 from assists. Perhaps the statistic which stands out most is his 81% pass completion, making him one of the most deadly attackers in an already star-studded lineup.
In a season where most of the focus has been on the astounding Cristiano Ronaldo and the supposedly selfish Gareth Bale, Rodriguez has been allowed to play his game free of much of the pressure which would have come with his £63million price tag (making him the 4th most expensive player in the world).
Before that, of course, came the World Cup where he was by far and away the best player, scooping the Golden Boot and winning FIFA’s Puskas Award for this.
Ooft.
Nir Biton (Celtic) – Eddie Cassidy
Going to pick from my own team here and go for young Israeli central midfielder Nir Biton, narrowly getting my vote ahead of midfield team mate Stefan Johansen.
This has been Biton’s breakthrough season and he has been something of an unsung hero but a vital cog in the machine Deila is trying to build, always available for a pass, doing the simple things effectively and even chipping in with the odd screamer.
Early in the season the two holding midfielders were Brown and Johansen and while both have had great seasons, we really started to kick on when Biton run of games freed Johansen from his defensive duties when we were in possession. Biton’s more methodical style dovetails well with the more combative Brown. So not only has he personally had a great season but his emergence has been vital for the team, composed, good in the tackle, sprays the ball about and reads the game well, Biton has had a superb if somewhat understated season.
Alex Neil (Hamilton Academical/Norwich City) – Andy Todd
He’s played for Airdrie, Barnsley and Mansfield. The most anyone ever paid for him was £25,000. Yet he’s the only man to top the SPFL and win promotion to the Premiership in the same season. It’s Hamilton’s Alex Neil.
Alex Neil signed from Mansfield on a free transfer in 2005. He was promoted to player manager in 2013 and moved to Norwich as manager in January 2015. But just one week before moving he was still playing for Hamilton, beating local rivals Motherwell 5 – 0.
While there are many better claims for player of the year – Alex Neil’s the only player who can claim to be manager of the year too.
Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal/Chile) – Daniel Downie
Alexis Sanchez is a Swiss Army Knife type of attacker ready-made for any role across the front four, operating with with brutal efficiency. He is the football purist’s anti-Christ and a demigod for those- like myself- who hate ‘tiki-taka forget to defend forget to attacka’, football.
Sanchez’s electric performances at last year’s World Cup, his spectacular goals this season at Manchester City, Sunderland, and of course his raker in the FA cup final, have reignited a Chilean football love affair in me.
Wenger appears to have embraced his star man’s style and is building a team around him. It could make for one hell of an exciting Arsenal side in the up-coming season especially if Sanchez starts this campaign the way he started the last with 12 goals and 7 assists in his first 20 appearances.
I love watching this guy play football, he reminds me of being an 11 year old watching Marcelo Salas banging in goals at World Cup ’98, and what better substitute is there for that – other than maybe Pedro?
Steven Gerrard – Iain Todd
This year the Premier League lost one of its greatest players. One club/one haircut man – Stephen Gerrard.
After how well he and Liverpool played last season, great things were expected for this one. The season didn’t go entirely to plan… Stevie was left out of the club’s big Champions League Games.
In his Manchester United derby match he was sent off 38 seconds, after coming on as a half-time substitute, for stamping on Ander Herrera. His 500th league appearance for Liverpool was in a goalless draw against West Brom and a celebratory final appearance for Liverpool at Anfield was a 3-1 loss to Crystal Palace.
The only highlight of his season was scoring in his final Liverpool appearance. Unfortunately it was during a 6–1 defeat at Stoke.
Stevie Gerrard – you will be missed but maybe you should have left the previous year!
Who was your favourite player last season? Let us know in the comments!
He is the editor of this fine site and a regular on the Scottish Comedy FC Podcast despite refusing to go anywhere near Owen's house.
He supports Kilmarnock and is a comedian to no-one but himself.
