The international break is over so it’s time to focus on *proper* football again and much is to be decided during the Football League run-in.
Arsenal and the Premier League bottom nine are set for a defining few months in the Premier League, but don’t be overlooking what’s going on in the Championship, League One and League Two.
Manager of the Season
This award tends to go to the manager who guides their team to the league title. Burnley are running away at the top of the Championship so Vincent Kompany is deservedly in contention this season. But Middlesbrough’s Michael Carrick and Luton Town’s Rob Edwards have done more than enough to warrant being in the running.
In League One, Plymouth Argyle’s Steven Schumacher is the likely favourite – even if Michael Duff and Darren Moore will disagree – as he has worked wonders to keep the south west coast outfit at the forefront of the promotion fight (more on that later).
Leyton Orient’s Richie Wellens will be vying for the accolade in League Two, but Matt Gray is a decent alternative shout for helping Sutton United battle above their means around the play-off places.
Player of the Year
The immense emergence of 24-goal striker Chuba Akpom – who has been one of this season’s surprise packages – must give him a strong chance in the second tier. But the brilliance of Burnley likely means they will be represented, with Josh Brownhill and Nathan Tella perhaps in with the best chance of pipping Middlesbrough’s top marksman.
Further down the pyramid, it is pretty unfair to Sheffield Wednesday’s rivals that 33-year-old Barry Bannan is plying his trade in League One. His magic has been vital during their promotion pursuit, but Peterborough United’s Jonson Clarke-Harris and Bristol Rovers’ Aaron Collins will push him for the award.
In the fourth tier, creative virtuosos Elliot Watt and Owen Moxon from Salford City and Carlisle United respectively will be among the leading contenders, while the league’s top scorer – Bradford City’s Andy Cook – will have his supporters as well.
League Two play-offs
After finishing seventh last season, Mansfield are looking to oust Bradford, Salford or Stockport County to repeat that feat and earn a spot in the play-offs once again. Only five points separate these four teams but Mansfield and Bradford still have a game in hand.
Sutton and Barrow are a couple of points further off the pace so it will take a superb end to the season for them to…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Football365…