Way Too Early Awards - Top 5 Leagues
Despite only being in October, Ara is here to give us his Way Too Early Awards for Europe’s top 5 leagues. View this story on the web version of 90plus12.com for the best experience.
Premier League
Player of the Season
Despite Manchester City’s lackluster start to the season, Erling Haaland has been the same, dominant player he has been for years, with 8 goals and 1 assist in 6 matches.
Some other players in consideration are: Antoine Semenyo, Moises Caicedo, Hugo Ekitike.
Young player of the season:
There haven’t been as many young standouts quite yet, but the person I’m going for is Estevao. He has 2 goals/assists in 6 games, but one of those came as a last minute winner against first place Liverpool. Estevao has been the creative catalyst on the wing that Chelsea needed, as players like Madueke last season were perceived as robotic.
Honorable mentions: Yankuba Minteh, Malick Diouf
Manager of the season:
Although Liverpool have looked quite good, Arsenal are on top, so I will give it to Mikel Arteta. Arsenal have the best goal difference in the league, with a +11, and have conceded 3 goals in 7 games. If Liverpool continue their dry spell, this may be the year for the Gunners.
Honorable mentions: Slot, Glasner, Frank, Iraola.
Goal of the season:
The best goal this season is undoubtedly Szobozlai’s freekick against Arsenal. Not only did this propel Liverpool ahead of Arsenal in the title race, it was a top corner 33 yard free kick in the last 10 minutes of the game.
Honorable mention: Richarlison vs Burnley
La Liga
Player of the Season
The La Liga player of the season so far is easily Kylian Mbappe. He has 9 goals and 2 assists in only 8 games, while Real Madrid are top of the league with 21 points. I believe that if he continues, he can have a Ronaldo type season this year for Madrid.
Honorable mentions: Yamal, Vinicius, Pedri, Alvarez
Young player of the season:
Despite a lackluster start by Levante, Etta Eyong has been a bright spot in the squad. With 5 goals and 3 assists in 8 matches, the 21 year old is lighting it up for Levante. In 642 minutes, he has 1.12 G/A per 90, which is incredibly high for someone who played a total of 7 games as a CDM for Villareal, before the 3 million pound transfer to Levante, where he was transformed into a do-it-all center forward.
Honorable mentions: Pablo Barrios, Arda Guler, Alvaro Carreras
Manager of the season:
The best manager so far has to be Xabi Alonso. Real Madrid have been dominant, picking up 21 points in 8 games with only 1 loss. He has been a great replacement for Ancelotti, and will retire as one of the great coaches.
Honorable mentions: Flick, Marcelino, Simeone
Goal of the season:
Despite many impressive goals this season, the best goal this season was from Eder Militao against Espanyol. A 45 yard rocket from a center back isn’t something you see everyday, and this ball was placed beautifully by Militao.
Serie A
Player of the season:
Although many players in the Serie A have been having similar, great seasons, I would say the best is Christian Pulisic. He has 4 goals and 2 assists in 4 games, contributing to Milan’s 67% of goals. Milan are currently in third, and without Pulisic, their attack wouldn’t be as prominent as it is.
Honorable mentions: Nico Paz, Kenan Yildiz, Lautaro Martinez
Young player of the season:
Matias Soule has been polarizing for the tied league leaders, Roma. In 6 games, he has 3 goals and 2 assists playing as an attacking midfielder, pushing Roma to be tied for first in the league, with a most notable game with 1 goal and 1 assist vs Fiorentina.
Honorable mention: Kenan Yildiz
Manager of the season:
Although the Serie A’s title race is incredibly close right now, I would pick Gasperini as manager of the season. Roma didn’t have the additions that Napoli had, and Gasperini has done a good job getting the most out of players like Soule and Svilar.
Honorable mentions: Allegri, Conte.
Goal of the season:
In a shock win, Bonazzoli scored an incredible goal vs AC Milan. A cross was put into the middle, and the bicycle kick from the penalty spot was placed directly into the bottom corner, giving Maignan no chance.
Ligue 1
Player of the season:
Another tough decision, as many players have been outstanding in a Ligue 1 with more parity this year. Even though Ansu Fati has 5 goals in 1 game started (3 games total) and 2.78 goals per 90, his sample size is too small, which is why I will pick Vitinha. He has done very well dictating the midfield, with 4 G/A in 7 matches as a CDM, propelling PSG to the top of the table.
Honorable mentions: Kebbal, Joao Neves, Ansu Fati
Young player of the season:
An easier choice, as the only reason he didn’t win last season was because of the brilliance from Doué. Joao Neves is an obvious choice, with 3 goals in 3 games, which was one of the greatest hat tricks ever scored. He is also one of the best CDMs in the world at 21, which makes him a no-doubter.
Manager of the season:
A boring pick, but I will go with Luis Enrique. PSG are top of the league, despite going through an injury plague with Ruiz, Dembele, Neves, Barcola, Marquinhos and Maylulu all injured. Despite all these injuries, PSG has only one loss this year, and were able to get crucial results, including a win against Barcelona.
Honorable mentions: De Zerbi, Rosenior
Goal of the season:
The first person to win two awards, this has to be given to Joao Neves for his second(!) bicycle kick vs Toulouse. A beautiful touch with the chest, and a bicycle kick struck right into the corner to give him his second bicycle kick of the game, which later led to a hat trick.
Bundesliga
Player of the Season
Possibly the most obvious pick, the best player so far without a doubt has been Harry Kane. He has 14 G/A in 6 games, including 11 goals. Bayern München are first with 6 wins straight and a +22 GD, and Harry Kane is the main reason they are so impossible to beat.
Honorable mentions: Luis Diaz, Can Uzun, Michael Olise
Young player of the season:
There has been one main standout in the Bundesliga, which is Can Uzun. Despite many promising young players, the Turkish 19 year old rises above the rest with 5 goals and 3 assists in 6 matches, as he is firing the Frankfurt attack to the second most goals scored in the Bundesliga this season.
Honorable mentions: Jean Bahoya, Luka Vuskovic
Coach of the season:
Vincent Kompany has done an amazing job turning Bayern back around in his last two seasons, and this season his side is unstoppable. Scoring 25 goals and conceding 3 in 6 games and 6 wins is a historic start, and credit has to be given to the young manager Vincent Kompany.
Goal of the season:
Although there haven't been many spectacular goals in the Bundesliga so far, I would say the best goal so far was from Ilyas Ansah. An outswinging goal from around 30 yards out, placed right where the goalkeeper couldn’t get it.