The 2 Silvas Blog's End of Season Awards!

William Russell
Jun 20, 2023
11 min read

Manchester City's 2022/23 season will forever go down in history.

At the start of the season, winning either the Premier League or the UEFA Champions League would be seen as a successful season for City.

The Champions League, in particular, would've tasted sweet, as it's the one the fans have been craving ever since Pep Guardiola took charge of the Blues in 2016.

Add the FA Cup to one of those two trophies - with a victory against United in the final to boot - and suddenly we're talking about a whole new level of good. It'll be a season looked back on fondly, a year where City were undeniably one of the best teams in the world.

Combine the 3 trophies, and that is nothing short of history making, and that is exactly what Guardiola's incredible side went on to achieve.

Leaving world class sides such as Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal and even Real Madrid in their wake, City have achieved a feat that only one English club has ever achieved, by going on to win all 3 major trophies in a single season.

Whilst it was the 5th Premier League trophy for a core of City's team - Ederson, Aymeric Laporte, John Stones, Kyle Walker, Ilkay Gundogan Kevin de Bruyne, Phil Foden, Riyad Mahrez (with two different clubs) and Bernardo Silva - those players had only ever won the FA Cup once, with the rest of the squad, barring third choice goalkeeper Scott Carson, having never won it.

Carson is also the only player to have a ever won a Champions League, so that passion, desire and hunger in the squad to win matches and trophies remains as strong as it ever has been.

That means a few crucial players in City's side, such as Ruben Dias, Nathan Ake, Rodri, Jack Grealish and Erling Haaland, were experiencing winning the FA Cup for the very first time, with the whole rest of the squad experiencing that feeling in Istanbul.

They won't be satisfied with that alone, however.

Haaland, Grealish, Julian Alvarez, Manuel Akanji, Stefan Ortega-Moreno, Sergio Gomez and Kalvin Phillips have never won the Carabao Cup before, which is surprising, considering there was a time where winning it was a given for City.

And City will be competing in the UEFA Super Cup, where they take on Europe League winners Sevilla, and the FIFA Club World Cup in Saudi Arabia in December, both of which are competitions they have never competed in before, let alone won.

That feeling of lifting trophies with teammates in front of fans, as well as the satisfaction of adding another medal to the cabinet, will keep the players driving on into midfield.

It has been a season of very high highs for the Blues, and a season with very few lows.

City had a spell of poor form after the World Cup, as injuries, fatigue and "bad faces" led to a generally bad feeling around the club.

They dropped soft points against Everton, Nottingham Forest, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, with a disappointing 2-0 loss to Southampton in the Carabao Cup during this run being their only defeat in the cup competitions last season.

However, Guardiola's explosive post match press conference after City's 4-2 comeback victory against Tottenham seemed to be the rocket up the backside that the players needed, as they lost just 2 games in all competitions after that point.

The 115 Premier League financial charges looming like a dark cloud over the club are also not exactly a positive.

But, as 200,000 loyal City supporters - myself included - showed, we won't let rain ruin our parade.

The vast majority of players can look back on their season with pride, knowing that they performed to a high level, and every single member of the squad played their role in City's treble.

There were a few players, however, who will be naturally disappointed looking back on their contributions this season.

Whether it was through poor performance, a lack of playing time, and in some cases both, there is plenty of room for improvement for some members of the squad.

So, we present you with The 2 Silvas Blog's End of Season Awards! These aren't fact, just opinion, and everyone is entitled to think what they want, with some of the categories admittedly difficult to decide on just 1 winner.

To give a sense of variety, every player can only win a maximum of one award.

Player of the Season - Erling Haaland

Who else? There are numerous Manchester City players who could've won this award. Kevin de Bruyne, Nathan Ake, Ruben Dias, Rodri, John Stones and Ilkay Gundogan have all had magnificent seasons, but the 22 year old Norwegian simply cannot be overlooked.

Haaland scored a magnificent 52 goals in 53 appearances across the season, chipping in with 9 assists as well.

He has completely revolutionised the way City attack, providing a focal point at the top of the pitch, where he occupies defenders and looks to attack the limited space in behind.

City's number 9 has been the best player in Europe this season, let alone Manchester. In my opinion, Haaland should win the Ballon D'or this year, as his numbers this season are far better than anyone else in Europe.

He's got the silverware to show for it too, and was the top scorer in both the Premier League and the Champions League.

Haaland has proved all of his doubters - those who claimed he couldn't adapt to the Premier League - wrong this season.

He rocked up to the Premier League and did something that no-one else has ever done, and, under the development of Pep Guardiola, he's surely only going to get better.

Most underwhelming player - Kalvin Phillips

He was never expected to displace Rodri in the starting 11, but many expected to see more from Kalvin Phillips' first season for Manchester City.

City's number 4 started just 2 Premier League matches last season, and both of those came after the fate of the Premier League title had already been sealed in City's favour.

Often when he enters the pitch, City tend to lose their way, perhaps sacrificing a bit of control in order to try and bring Phillips up to speed in terms of adjusting him to the system.

With a few exceptions, most new signings take a while to adapt to City's system, with fellow Englishman Jack Grealish being the latest example of that.

But, when it comes to Kalvin Phillips, things seem a little different.

Rumours are that City are open to a sale this summer, which would never have been considered with the likes of Grealish, Riyad Mahrez or Bernardo Silva after their first season.

Whilst I believe Phillips is an excellent player, as shown by his previous performances for Leeds United and England, this lack of confidence from the City board speaks levels to me.

If he does stay at the club this summer, which all reports seem to indicate he wants to, I expect there will be an improvement in his game, so if it was my decision, I would keep Phillips at the club this summer, and see where we are this time next year.

Goal of the season - Kevin de Bruyne's first goal vs Arsenal (H)

Whilst perhaps not being as eye catching as Ilkay Gundogan's stunning volley inside the first 12 seconds of the FA Cup final, or as historic as Rodri's game winning goal against Inter Milan in the Champions League Final, but the satisfaction that came with this goal, as well as the technical ability, just edged it as goal of the season.

As Haaland controlled the long ball forward from John Stones, De Bruyne burst away from Arsenal centre back Rob Holding to receive the ball in space when running through towards goal.

With Grealish to his left providing the only option, the Belgian chose to get his head down and drive towards goal.

Brazilian defender Gabriel came across to cover the 31 year old's direct line to goal, but that doesn't phase De Bruyne, who simply skips into the space vacated by the centre back.

From at least 25 yards out, De Bruyne hit a low, skidding shot that bent around the hand of the outstretched Aaron Ramsdale, and into the back of the net, to give City the lead after just 7 minutes.

It was the way De Bruyne made the goal seem so... easy, that appealed to me. The technique involved, as well as the decisiveness in front of goal, was top notch, and I don't believe any other player in world football would've scored that goal.

That goal set the tone for the entire game, as well as De Bruyne's own individual performance. City won 4-1, with further goals coming from Stones, Haaland and another excellent strike from City's number 17.

De Bruyne also set up John Stones's goal, with an excellent free kick into the penalty area.

It sealed the Premier League title in the mind of may people, as Arsenal's performance was reminiscent of other recent performances, where they just seemed to allow the pressure to overcome them in big moments.

In terms of importance, technique, and sheer brilliance, this goal from De Bruyne can be matched by no other goal this season.

Best assist of the season - Jack Grealish vs Chelsea (A)

Let's be honest, there have been numerous assists this season that have been more deserving of this award. The thing is, they all come from Kevin de Bruyne, and his goal of the season award makes him illegitimate for future awards.

So it comes down to the best of the rest, which I believe came from City's number 10.

The £100 million man came off the bench alongside fellow winger Riyad Mahrez to try and change the game for City, as the Blues were struggling against Graham Potter's Chelsea side.

However, there was an improvement from the whole City side in the second period of the game, and the introduction of Grealish and Mahrez just took their game up to a whole new level.

The two combined for the only goal of the game, as Mahrez tapped home at the far post, but it was all about the work of the Englishman.

His low, left footed cross was right in the "corridor of uncertainty" where it would've been difficult for either goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga or defender Marc Cucurella to deal with it.

Between them, they should've done better to stop the ball travelling, but the speed and curvature of the ball meant that Mahrez had the easiest job in the world, to simply tap in at the far post.

It wasn't the best assist of the season. Kevin de Bruyne's clipped through ball/cross for Haaland's second goal against Manchester United, for example, was much better.

However, it was technically difficult and aesthetically pleasing, and it is a perfect example of the way in which Grealish improved his end product in his second season for the Blues.

Signing of the Season - Manuel Akanji

Manuel Akanji was signed for £15 million from Borussia Dortmund on Deadline Day in August, a deal that batted very few eyelids.

Many felt that the signing of Akanji was just a strategic, last minute move to avoid being left understaffed in defensive positions, in the case of an injury crisis.

The Swiss international was expected to be 5th choice at centre back when he arrived at the club, behind Aymeric Laporte, Ruben Dias, Nathan Ake and John Stones.

Nobody can have expected that Akanji would start in every Champions League knockout game, and be behind just Ederson, Rodri, Haaland and Gundogan for minutes played across the entire season.

The 27 year old has been a revelation for Pep Guardiola's side, and has proved an extremely useful option at centre back, right back and left back.

For his price tag in particular, it is extremely impressive that Akanji has been able to not just hold his own in the City side, but to force his way in and then keep his place, effectively forcing the likes of Laporte, who has been a solid and capable defender in his time at City, into finding a new club.

Haaland's 52 goal season would win him signing of the season, if one player was allowed to win more than one award. But, nevertheless, Akanji is a worth winner, marking himself as one of the best bargain signings across the whole of Europe.

Biggest surprise of the season - John Stones excelling in a defence/midfield role

Back in his Everton days, John Stones was frequently criticised for overplaying in his own penalty area, particularly when under immense pressure. Now, it is his greatest strength.

The man affectionately dubbed as "The Barnsley Beckenbauer" has all the qualities of a top class defender and midfielder rolled into one. He is press resistant, completely unflappable, and a composed, solid presence in defence.

His role in the side, where he pushes into a midfield position when City are in possession, allows City to have greater control of the game.

Players such as Rico Lewis, Manuel Akanji and Bernardo Silva have all tried the role, but none of them have done it as well as Stones.

There have been other contenders for this award, however.

18 year old Lewis's run after the World Cup, in which he started 7 of City's first 11 games after the winter tournament, is something that no-one can have expected, particularly given that the vast majority of City fans hadn't even heard of him this time last year.

And, of course, Joao Cancelo's fall from grace, seeing him shipped out on loan to Bayern Munich after a reported falling out with Guardiola, was something many won't have seen happening after the Portuguese's excellent performances in the 2021/22 season.

But the rise of John Stones, from a backup central defender last season to one of the most important players for City this season, wins him this award.

Most improved player - Ederson

ree — Image courtesy of premierleague.com

Of the current starting 11, Ederson has perhaps been the player who has suffered the most criticism from supporters, with it not being an uncommon opinion to prefer Stefan Ortega-Moreno in goal.

But, in big games this season, Ederson turned up, keeping City in the match and allowing the forward players to go on and win the game for the Blues.

Top goalkeeping performances against Leicester City, Bayern Munich home and away, Real Madrid away, and, of course, Inter Milan in the Champions League Final, come to mind.

His shot stopping has improved astronomically; there was a time where the Brazilian seemed to let every shot past him, no matter the circumstances.

Even as recently as January, his rare misplaced pass, followed by a weak attempt to save Dejan Kulusevski's shot, was the exact evidence that those fans who had Ederson agendas used to prove he wasn't good enough for City.

But his form at the back end of the season has gone under the radar, and had he not touched up on his shot stopping skills, there is no way that City would've won their first Champions League, let alone the treble.

Most underrated player - Nathan Ake

This was, for me, the most tightly contested category by a long way.

There were numerous players who could've won this award easily. Even Kevin de Bruyne has gone under appreciated this season, with his early season form in particular completely under appreciated due to the fact he plays on the same team as Erling Haaland.

Ruben Dias and Kyle Walker's solidity and reliability throughout the season has gone very much under the radar, whilst Ilkay Gundogan's increase in appreciation towards the end of the season prevented him from being the nailed on winner of this award.

But I just could not overlook Nathan Ake, who has been immense at the back this season for City.

The Dutchman struggled in his first season, like so many City players, and many City fans wanted him out of the door, deeming him barely good enough to be a backup.

I have personally been an Ake supporter since day 1, and I'm so pleased that things are finally turning out for him at City, as he has forced his way into the starting 11.

But, I still think Ake is under appreciated. He is one of the best defensive full backs, if not the best, in the world, but very few people view him in that way.

He should be recognised more in combined 11's, teams of the season and even individual awards. However, he personally won't care about that, so long as he continues to win collective trophies for the team.

And finally... Team of the Season!