Its that time of year again when thoughts invariably turn to the ‘new’ and stock is taken of the twelve months that played out hence – and we are no different.
As we yet again slide effortlessly over the cusp of a footballing decade and into 2011, we thought it high time to bestow the deserving (and, conversely, shame the contemptible – the ‘Biggest Losers’ list is imminent!) who have curried our favour during the last 8,765.81277 hours.
Anyway, enough of this idle chatter. Lets get down to brass tacks shall we? Here we go peeps, the Soccerlens ‘Biggest Winners’ of 2010 (in no particular order)…
1. Gareth Bale:
Rightly or wrongly, Tottenham winger Bale has seen his global stock rise astronomically after coming of age during the latter half of this calendar year – chiefly due to his double-decimation of reigning European champions Inter Milan earlier on in this season’s Champions League proceedings.
In a direct parallel with Spurs’ oft-wavering form, the 21-year-old Welsh flyer has fluctuated from ‘nigh-on unplayable’ to ‘there to make up the numbers’ and back again at domestic level this term. However, it is an indisputable fact that, when the Lilywhites are on song, it’s usually Bale that’s providing the lion’s share of the Londoners’ dynamism.
By association, Tottenham themselves also get a special mention for their efforts in bringing Champions League football to ‘The Lane’ for the first time, then making it though to the knock-out stages without a hitch in their maiden campaign.
2. Inter Milan:
The Nerazzurri‘s trophy haul for 2010 reads thusly: One Scudetto, one Coppa Italia, one Super Coppa Italia, one Champions League and there’s still a potential fifth title on it’s way (they face Congolese upstarts in the FIFA World Club Cup final tomorrow) – which, all-in-all, makes it pretty difficult to dispute their inclusion on a list of ‘winners’ really.
To save a bit of room later in the list, I’m also going to lump the individual performances of Dutch schemer Wesley Sneijder, goal hero Diego Milito and the coach responsible for germinating Inter’s all-conquering siege mentality, Jose Mourinho, in for good measure.
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