High Press Episode 31: Premier League End of Season Awards

High Press Episode 31:

Episode 31 of the High Press Podcast reflects on the 2023-24 season, with a look at the most memorable moments and some award picks.
Host Alison Bender is joined by journalists Roshane Thomas, Paul McCarthy and Matt Dickinson to review a spectacular Premier League weekend ahead of the final round of fixtures.

highlights of the season

With a quick look back at the highlights of the season, McCarthy picks out Everton and Nottingham Forest’s points deduction, and how both teams still managed to avoid the drop with time to spare.

He also mentions the ‘growing chasm’ between the top eight teams in the rest, as illustrated by Burnley, Luton, and Sheffield United suffering relegation despite Everton and Forest suffering penalties.

Dickinson turns to on-pitch action. “What’s defined this season has been longer matches and more goals as a result. We’ve had 150 more goals than last season, which was the record in the Premier League. We’re gonna have the most goals per game in 60 years.”

VAR

On another controversial season for VAR, Dickinson says everyone has to grow up, while McCarthy emphasises the need for better communication on all fronts.
While McCarthy and Dickinson are in agreement that Cole Palmer has been the signing of the season, Thomas makes the case for Declan Rice.
“He’s the midfielder Arsenal have missed for a number of years. He’s brought that winning mentality, and for me watching from afar, I’ve been so impressed with how he’s been offensively.”

McCarthy responds, “I think the greatest tribute you can make to Declan Rice is he’s the only member of this current Arsenal team that would get in the great Wenger teams.”
Kalvin Phillips, Andre Onana, Mason Mount, and Moises Caicedo all get mentioned for flop of the season.

Best goals of the campaign

Looking at the best goals of the campaign, Dickinson says, “I’m struggling to see past Garnacho really. A proper, proper bicycle kick.”
The panel agrees on Aston Villa as the overachievers of the season.

McCarthy says, “They are the huge success story of the season, and overachieving given where expectation was before a ball had been kicked. You’ve got a coach in Unai Emery who has been at Villa roughly the same time Ten Hag has been at Manchester United… Villa have got an identity, they’ve got a purpose, they’ve got a game plan, they’ve got a recruitment strategy that gets players in that fit in to the gameplan. I think they’ve been fantastic.”

Best player to watch

Bender asks the panel who has been the best player to watch. Thomas picks out Rodri. McCarthy goes for Phil Foden, and says he’s made sensational progress this season. Dickinson reels off a list of candidates, including William Saliba, Gabriel, and Palmer.

Manager of the year

Andoni Iraola and Rob Edwards get shouts for manager of the year. McCarthy adds, “At least Edwards and Luton have been relegated with a lot more dignity than Chris Wilder and Sheffield United.”

McCarthy opts for Oliver Glasner as his manager of the season, which is testament to his impact in just a few months.

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