29 December 2023 , 17:00
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Wishing all of you, whoever you support, a Happy New Year – may all your dreams come true in 2024.
As we wave goodbye to 2023, and there's a New Year Honours List published elsewhere, here's my take on the last calendar year with a few gongs and awards to commemorate the last 12 months.
TEAM OF 2023 (4-3-3)
Ederson – Treble-winning keeper whose last-gasp save in Champions League final was under-rated
Kyle Walker – Pace, positional sense, power: still the best right-back in the business
William Saliba – The defensive rock behind Arsenal's near-miss in the title race last season
Ollie Watkins details differences between Steven Gerrard and Unai Emery demands
Ezri Konsa – Key influence in a calendar year when Aston Villa's results have been exceptional
Nathan Ake – Versatile and athletic with an eye for goal, but a dearth of serious rivals at left-back
Rodri – Scored the Champions League final winner to end Manchester City's quest for holy grail
Declan Rice – Captained West Ham to glory in Europe, now leading Arsenal's title challenge
Lucas Paqueta – Left foot like a wand, when he's on it West Ham are a handful for anyone
Jarrod Bowen – Last-gasp winner against Fiorentina delivered the Hammers' first trophy in 43 years
Erling Haaland – Absolute beast and no sign of being tamed, 43 goals for Manchester City in 2023
Mo Salah – Key to Liverpool's title chances, 30 goals in all competitions for the Reds this year
MANAGER OF THE SEASON
Pep Guardiola – It has to be Pep, Trebles don't come around very often
David Moyes – Won his first major trophy at 60 years old, a triumph of persistence
Arteta had awkward glimpse into Arsenal future as sliding doors risk unfolded
Unai Emery – Transformed Villa from sleeping giants to wide-awake and jumping
BEST GOAL OF 2023
Alejandro Garnacho's stunning overhead kick at Everton is certain top goal of the season votes (Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)Alejandro Garnacho (Everton v Manchester United)
In a season when Manchester United may win nothing else, his sensational bicycle kick at Goodison Park stands out among the many disappointments.
BEST MOMENT OF 2023
For me, personally, my son Charlie's Wales debut in my home town, Wrexham, against Gibraltar – with his mum, dad, brother and nan all there to see it – was unbelievably special.
Charlie Savage made his debut for Wales against Gibraltar (Football Association of Wales)PLAYER OF 2023
Rodri – Manchester City are almost unbeatable when he's playing
Erling Haaland – Goals, goals, goals: Nobody does it better
Jarrod Bowen – A rising star: A trophy in Europe and West Ham are sixth
BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT OF 2023
Mauricio Pochettino
I thought he would make a bigger impact at Chelsea. Points-wise, they are nearer the drop zone than top four.
HEROES OF 2023
To everyone involved in resuscitating Luton captain Tom Lockyer after his cardiac arrest on the pitch at Bournemouth – club medical staff, paramedics, players, match officials, our emergency services – thank you.
Thanks to the emergency staff who rushed to the aid of Luton skipper Tom Lockyer (2023 Getty Images)BEST GAME OF 2023
Tottenham 1 Chelsea 4
The maddest, most chaotic and most entertaining game, from a neutral perspective, I've seen in a long time. Five goals, five disallowed goals, two red cards, a rash of VAR decisions (I'm still trying to count them), a Nicolas Jackson hat-trick and Spurs' nine men going desperately close to an equaliser to make it 2-2 before their gung-ho defensive high line was breached twice in stoppage time. A classic of chaos and controversy.
THE 'CALM DOWN' AWARD FOR MOST EXCITABLE PLAYER OF 2023
Jordan Pickford
I understand playing with emotion, especially goalkeepers trying to keep their back four in order, but England's No.1 needs to refine his act. Pointing fingers at team-mates is never a good look, and Pickford was like a cat on a hot tin roof the other night in Everton's 3-1 defeat by Manchester City... until his error led to City's third goal. If I had been in the home dressing room afterwards, I would have had it out with him.
RULES I'D CHANGE IN 2024
VAR has continued to cause controversy throughout 2023 (Getty Images)Stick your flag up! This nonsense where assistant referees raise their flag so late was always going to result in players getting injured well after play should have been stopped. England defender John Stones was hurt at Everton this week long after the whistle ought to have gone.
Handball – the law's a farce, sort it out! How can Martin Odegaard not be penalised for handball in Arsenal's 1-1 draw at Liverpool, but Amadou Onana was punished for blocking Nathan Ake's shot at point-blank range in the Everton-Man City game? The inconsistency drives players, fans, managers and pundits up the wall.
VAR must intervene when second yellow cards are wrong: Willy Boly's sending-off in Nottingham Forest's 3-2 defeat by Bournemouth was a travesty because VAR has no power to intervene when a second booking is obviously unfair. There was nothing wrong with Boly's challenge which led to his dismissal, yet Forest were reduced to 10 men – how is that fair? Where players are going to be sent off as a result of second yellow cards, VAR officials MUST be allowed to get on the walkie-talkie and tell on-field refs to review their decisions.