Like Darius Vassell's England career, the season is well and truly over, so it's time to dish out the end-of-season gongs.
Who made the difference in your club's season? Who lived up to all expectations like a sausage sandwich after a big night out? And who flopped like Pele without viagra?
Below, the setanta.com office has joined forces to pick our success stories and disappointments of a quite gripping campaign, feel free to congratulate us on our genius or destroy us for our cluelessness using the comments box below.
STOKE
Player of the season: Abdoulaye Faye
He’s been so good that Stoke fans have dubbed him ‘M’Lord’. Signed by Tony Pulis last summer to add Premier League experience at the back for The Potters, Faye has marshalled the defensive line with unerring steadiness throughout. Has been so adored by Stoke fans that he recently stated he wanted to end his career at The Britannia Stadium.
Young player of the season: Ryan Shawcross
A fee of up to £2m for this former Manchester United youngster seems like one of the best bits of business Pulis will do in his managerial career. His debut season in The Premier League has seen Stoke fans gush forth with praise, and alongside the wise old head of Faye he has flourished.
Best signing: James Beattie
Eyebrows were raised when Pulis went in for Beattie, following his indifferent two-and-a-half year spell at Everton in The Premier League a couple of seasons previously. However, six goals in his first ten games for the club soon dispelled any doubts, securing Beattie an early cult status.
Worst signing: Dave Kitson
Pulis’ first signing after gaining promotion last summer and a club-record fee was broken in bringing him to The Britannia at that. Sixteen games later – and no goals – and it was proven to be the worst £5.5m Pulis could ever spend.
Disappointment of the season: Ricardo Fuller’s sending off against West Ham
For neutrals it was a moment of pure comedy, but for Stoke fans mortification was the order of the day as they watched in horror while Fuller received a red card for slapping his own captain. The Potters had taken the lead at West Ham, but an equaliser led to the striker blaming Andy Griffin for the goal. An argument ensued, as did a slap and sending off, and The Hammers won 2-1 to leave Stoke still hovering on the brink of the relegation zone.
Moment of the campaign: Mamady Sidibe’s header against Aston Villa
Some may point to the win over Hull late in the season that secured Stoke’s top-flight status, but Sidibe’s 90th-minute winner in the 3-2 win over Villa in only the second game of the campaign gave Potters fans a taste of the highs to be experienced after the low of an opening-day defeat at Bolton. Fuller had scored a fine individual goal ten minutes from time to give Stoke the lead, before Martin Laursen equalised shortly after. Up stepped Sidibe to nod home a very late winner and send The Britannia – incidentally the Premier League’s loudest ground – into delirium.