The Paul Parker Awards: Flops, divers and tragic fans…

I’m tucking into some humble pie. I wasn’t convinced about Harry Kane after his breakthrough season, so I said let’s judge him on his second season… now it’s finally sunk in that I got it wrong. He’s not only proved himself as a goalscorer, but also someone who can benefit the whole team.

We’ve developed a mentality where we tiptoe around praising young Englishman because we’re worried about getting egg on our face. We’ve had Gazza, the Golden Generation and the bi-annual hype before international tournaments, with the press repeatedly hyping players up and then pulling away the chair. Perhaps that’s why so many people – including myself – have been so cautious with Kane.

Every time Sadio Mane played, Liverpool excelled; when he was absent – an all too frequent occurrence due to the Africa Cup of Nations – they almost always struggled. Only Luis Suarez has made a similar impact in recent years. If Mane had finished the season, the Reds’ battle for a top-four finish wouldn’t have gone to the final game.

Arsene Wenger may have been searching for a first Premier League title in 13 years, but he can at least claim a huge assist in Chelsea’s win in 2016-17. Arsenal’s 3-0 hammering of the Blues in September prompted Antonio Conte’s switch to a 3-4-3 formation – and that was the moment that the season completely changed.

When Conte first arrived, he tried to persist with an error-strewn system and poor players. It was all going wrong for him. Then, suddenly, he changed to a back three – immediately resulting in 13 wins on the spin. Conte can take credit for the system, but if Arsenal hadn’t proved an early catalyst, Chelsea may not have won the title.

Enough said.

It’s difficult to say, given the team that wins the Premier League is usually the best in the country. Chelsea have won 30 games and you can’t take anything away from them.

But defensively, Tottenham were better than Chelsea. In midfield, they’re physically stronger and close down superbly. In attack, they have the best striker in the Premier League.

However, it’s also a fact that Tottenham will not win the Premier League next season. Why? Solely because they’re playing at Wembley – it’s the only thing that will stop them. It’s too big for them and not a place you can call home. It’s an occasion pitch.

Every other team will have an extra buzz when they travel to Wembley; Spurs will lose that after a few games. When they play Brighton, it’s a cup final. When they play Reading or Huddersfield, it’s a cup final. Most of those players will never win the FA Cup or play for England. It will take its toll on Spurs. Everything’s happened a year too soon for them.

In the Chelsea’s Players’ Player of the Year award, Victor Moses must have finished second or third. He’s been that consistent in Conte’s system. We all know he can attack, even if previously it was in small bursts during various loan spells, but it’s defensively where the Nigerian has been extra solid. He never shirked sprinting back and could sniff out danger – the sign of any good defender.

Before Conte arrived, Moses was all over the place, coming and going. He wasn’t a flop; he just wasn’t given a chance. Now he’s finally landed an opportunity… and he’s seized it superbly.

Sure, fans are allowed to protest. But when fists are being thrown, you know it’s gone too far – and that’s what we saw at Arsenal this season.

Bizarrely, it appears to have made Arsene Wenger even more resilient. Is the Frenchman ready to hang up his super-zip coat with a baying mob calling for his head? I don’t think so. Wenger’s got that little bit about him, like Sir Alex Ferguson, where he wants to bow out successfully.

Wilfried Zaha doesn’t accept being tackled, he doesn’t accept being touched. Frankly, he should become a basketball player.

There’s a few times when he’s been in the penalty area and is more concerned about winning a spotkick than finishing the job. He’s gifted with skill, pace and end product, so he should stop falling down. After all, it’s hard to beat players when you’re rolling around on the floor…

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