The 2014-15 culminated on Sunday with the final round of matches. There was to be no final day drama this year as the champions, top four and two of three relegation spots were already confirmed in the weeks leading up to the final day.
In truth, there was only one relegation spot and the order of the Europa League places to play for. Hull drew 0-0 versus Manchester United, while Newcastle beat West Ham 2-0 to ensure Hull City returned to the Championship after two years in the top flight. Stoke’s 6-1 thrashing of Liverpool meant Spurs overtook the Merseyside club on the last day to finish fifth.
It has been a flat season in terms of excitement as Chelsea strolled along to the title, but there were some some players who had some outstanding seasons.
Here’s our Premier League 2014-15 team of the season.
GK – David de Gea
It has been a fantastic season for David de Gea. He has continued to improve year after year and the shaky young goalkeeper that Sir Alex Ferguson signed in 2011 is now a man. At times, he has single-handedly kept Manchester United in matches, notably early in the season when their 3-5-2 system seemed to hinder their defence rather than help it. Such good performances has led to him being seriously linked with Real Madrid to replace the legendary Iker Casillas, and, with only one year left on his contract, this might have been de Gea’s last season in the Premier League. What a season it was.
RB – Branislav Ivanovic
A player who splits opinion, Branislav Ivanovic has played an important role in Chelsea’s title win. The Serb was expected to lose his place at the start of the season when Chelsea signed Fellipe Luis in a move that was meant to enable Cesar Azpilicueta to move back to his more comfortable right-back role. However, Ivanovic remained in the XI and has been Mr. Reliable. He has been solid defensively and contributes vital goals, including his winner against Aston Villa and the winner in the Capital One Cup semi-final.
CB – John Terry
Remember when he could not play twice a week? Remember when he was ‘finished’? Terry, with the help of Jose Mourinho, has made a fool of previous Chelsea managers who thought the 34-year old was past it. He has been the best center-back in the Premier League this season and has been a key reason why Chelsea has conceded the least goals in the league this season (33). A new contract means that Terry will be at the Club next season as Chelsea aims to retain its title. It will have a very good chance if Terry replicates his form from this season.
CB – Jose Fonte
Much has been made of Southampton’s season following its fire-sale last summer. Although it did tail off towards the end and of the season and comfortably missed out on top four, the Saints increased their points total and moved up a position from last season. Central to that has been central defender, Jose Fonte. Given the captaincy after Adam Lallana moved to Liverpool, Fonte stood out. He led the team on the pitch as well as maintaining a high level of performance. Fonte was influential to Southampton’s solid defensive record as it conceded the second least goals this season behind Chelsea.
LB – Aaron Cresswell
Signed from Championship club Ipswich last summer, Cresswell took to the Premier League like a duck to water. His performances have been consistent throughout the season as he’s played in all 38 of West Ham’s league games. He has unfairly been overlooked for an England call-up.
CM – Nemanja Matic
When Chelsea re-signed Matic from Benfica in January 2014, you could tell that he would be pivotal to Mourinho’s plans. A season later and he was the fulcrum of Chelsea’s title-winning side. He marshaled the midfield as well as protecting the center-backs all season. It was no surprise that Chelsea’s first loss of the season came when Matic missed his first match of the season through suspension.
CM – Morgan Schneiderlin
A transfer saga in the summer, which included that now-infamous tweet about Southampton, concluded with the Frenchman staying at the club, and that has not affected his performances this season. He has been at the heart of Southampton’s best two seasons in the Premier League under the different systems of Mauricio Pochettino and Ronald Koeman. While Cesc Fabregas is the Premier League’s assist leader, Schneiderlin offers balance to any midfield.
RW – Alexis Sanchez
Signed from Barcelona for big money last summer as a part of Arsene Wenger’s new ‘spend big’ transfer policy, Sanchez made an immediate impact. Sixteen goals and eight assists in your first Premier League season is an outstanding achievement and Sanchez has scored some splendid goals. If Arsenal do strengthen and mount a title challenge next season, you would suspect the Chilean would be central to that.
LW – Eden Hazard
The PFA Player of the Year, the FWA Player of the Year, the Premier League Player of the Year and Chelsea’s Player of the Year. Eden Hazard has swept up every domestic individual award this season, and he has deserved it. His decisive goals, his game changing movements and his unbelievable dribbling ability, he has been Chelsea’s standout player – in a team that consists of a 20-goal striker and a 18-assist midfielder, no less. The best player in the Premier League this season.
ST – Harry Kane
Thirty-one goals in a season is outstanding for any player. It is even better for a 21-year-old in his first full Premier League season. Harry Kane’s rise has been meteoric and his story is heart warming. A Spurs fan, performing well for his boyhood club, leading them to Wembley and captaining them on occasions. It has been an outstanding season for the new Spurs star.
ST – Sergio Aguero
It was a straight shoot-out between Aguero and Diego Costa for the final striker spot. It has gone to Aguero because he has been a shining light in a dull Man City team and has hardly been recognised. It is unusual for the league’s top scorer to not even make the shortlist for the PFA Player of the Year. Twenty-six goals is phenomenal and his season has included four goals against Tottenham, a hat-trick versus Bayern Munich and a brace against Man Utd.
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