2020 has been a pretty pants year, all things considered. It’s been one that has seen change not just in football, but all around the world. Let’s hope that 2021 sees us have some sort of return to what we all knew before the pandemic and perhaps not most importantly to everyone but I would imagine many of you reading this, a return to football stadiums.
Last season saw a disappointing end to probably the longest season to date when you take into account the enforced break as we slipped away from the top 6 and ultimately finished the season with a bit of a whimper, all things considered.
This is our attempt here at From the Finney, along with our friends at Deepdale Digest and LancsLive, to review 2020 in some form. Below are Olly (@DeepdaleDigest), George (@GHodgsonSport), and a few of our writers’ thoughts on 2020.
If you’re more of a listener, the latest episode of the From the Finney podcast is available to stream now too. Press play on the player below or find us wherever you usually stream your podcasts, we’re on the majority of the major platforms.
Olly Dawes – DeepdaleDigest.com/@DeepdaleDigest
Moment of the Year
Somewhat bizarre to say, but the signing of Emil Riis!
I had packed up work for the day, left my phone for a few minutes and came back to a plane arriving and Riis being announced! We had all been wanting Preston to look abroad for some time, and having a relative unknown sign out of the blue was pretty exciting – add in that he’s a decent player, and it looks like a masterstroke.
🛬 #pnefc pic.twitter.com/Wmys0TfZF4— Preston North End FC (@pnefc) October 1, 2020
Worst Moment of the Year
It has to be Blackburn Rovers at home.
The 45 minutes after Joe Rafferty’s red card were painful, but North End were second best even at 11 v 11. Add in that Tyrhys Dolan got himself on the scoresheet and it was just truly miserable.
Game of the Year
The comeback win at Brentford was simply ridiculous. 2-0 down against one of the top sides in the division, North End looked dead and buried. Even to draw level to 2-2 was a great comeback, but to then go and grab another two goals and leave Brentford shellshocked was frankly incredible.
Goal of the Year
There are a few contenders here, but I have to go with Scott Sinclair against Bournemouth. It’s one thing to spot the goalkeeper off his line, it’s another to execute a perfect lob from long-range. That moment of magic gave North End a 2-0 cushion and was ultimately vital in a big win.
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Player of the Year
2020 has belonged to Ryan Ledson really. He was a bit-part player before lockdown but came back a completely different animal; quicker, sharper, more incisive with his passing. It looks like North End have a real talent on their hands now, with Ledson enjoying rapid development this year.
Ryan Smart – @RSSport2
Moment of the Year
Alan Browne’s winner against Derby. It would have been a real missed opportunity had we come away with a point, so it was sheer relief when Browne put away the winner.
Worst Moment of the Year
PNE 0-3 Blackburn. The game completely changed after Rafferty’s red card and we barely had a kick in the second half. Not a great night.
Game of the Year
Reading 0-3 Preston. The perfect response to two home defeats in a row, against a side that were flying high at the top of the division at the time. Our best performance of the season in my view and we could have scored more.
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Goal of the Year
Scott Sinclair v Bournemouth. A sublime chip over the head of Asmir Begovic from 40 yards plus. Not many players can pull off that sort of finish.
Player of the Year
Ben Davies. Deliberated over this one for a while – Ryan Ledson has been excellent particularly in the current campaign, Declan Rudd has been consistently solid all year and Daniel Johnson was rightly named the club’s Player of the Year last season.
I’ve gone with Davies mainly because of the impact that he has on the side when he’s fit and playing. He was a noticeable absentee through parts of the early months of the season, and either side of that has been largely excellent at the heart of the PNE defence.
Josh McLoughlin – @Josh_McLoughlin
Moment of the Year
Not many standout moments this year but for me, it’s one when we were allowed in the stadiums. The 2-1 comeback over Hull City in February. Particularly Alan Browne’s brilliant headed winner from Jayden Stockley’s cross. Deepdale erupted.
Worst Moment of the Year
The 3-0 defeat to Rovers. An awful feeling.
Game of the Year
The 4-2 win against Brentford. Another great comeback against a very good team. Scott Sinclair in great form.
Goal of the Year
A few great individual goals. Sinclair v Bournemouth, Barkhuizen v Derby in the cup. But my favourite was a team goal. Barkhuizen away to Wigan in February. The opening goal was a lovely passing move by Sinclair, Pearson and DJ and then finished by Barky.
Player of the Year
DJ. By far our most consistent player. Massively missed him when injured. Scored some crucial goals, reliable from the penalty spot and improved his all-round game.
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Josh Knowles – @JoshKnowles2002
Moment of the Year
For me, it would be the signing of Scott Sinclair. The excitement that built up was something I haven’t felt following North End for a number of years and singing his song at Blackburn away created some great memories.
Worst Moment of the Year
From Blackburn away to Blackburn at home, that defeat at home was easily the worst. What made this even worse for me was the fact it was clear for all to see it was coming, we were completely out done tactically and they wanted it more which was tough to watch. But we’re above them now so normality has returned.
Game of the Year
Has to be the 1-3 win away at Sheffield Wednesday. The last half an hour was a real turnaround and summarised what following North End is all about, those moments of joy when everyone writes us off.
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Goal of the Year
Scott Sinclair’s lob against Bournemouth which is probably my 2nd “Game of the Year” as we completely defied the odds yet again.
Player of the Year
Someone I’ve rated for a long time now, Ryan Ledson. I think he has been a massive addition to the starting XI and is just going to get better and better. Hopefully, that’s with Ben Pearson next to him for the foreseeable.
George Hodgson – LancsLive/@GHodgsonSport
Moment of the Year
Jayden Stockley’s strike against Sheffield Wednesday. There were a few others that came close – Potts at Brentford, Browne at Derby and Riis at Reading. But Stockley’s – an 89th minute strike at a ground where North End have had very little joy, to keep the season alive – just edges it. A cracking hit, too.
Worst Moment of the Year
Tyrhys Dolan’s goal in the 0-3 defeat to Blackburn Rovers. You feared it may happen when he came on but it didn’t make it any easier to watch. A horrible, horrible night.
Goal of the Year
I have changed my pick for this several times in my head but I will go for Josh Harrop at Blackburn, just. The technique was exquisite and the match made it an extra special strike. Scott Sinclair’s was equally as good at Bournemouth and Stockley’s volley versus Birmingham was outrageous too.
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Game of the Year
Brentford away. Honourable mentions to Sheff Weds, Barnsley, Huddersfield and Bournemouth away, but the win at Brentford was just incredible to watch. Two-nil down, PNE produced a destructive 18 minute turnaround to seal a famous win in the capital.
Player of the Year
Ryan Ledson. A tough choice, because January-March feels a million years ago now and a bit of a blur to be honest. Ledson didn’t really feature then, but since getting his chance in June at Huddersfield he has been exceptional. Great to watch, has come on leaps and bounds and he’s going to be a very big player for the club. Declan Rudd second, Tom Barkhuizen third.
Oli O’Connell – @Gorn__/@roaming_eights/Roaming Eights
Moment of the Year
Preston North End paying the players and the taxman on time, and in full. That badge of moral honour is the first piece of silverware we’ve won in 5 years.
Worst Moment of the Year
Joe Rafferty’s red card against Rovers and the subsequent penalty. North End were poor up until then, but it was still 0-0 and 11v11. The red card, with Rafferty isolated in a 1v1, sums up my feelings towards him, as I feel he’s a poor defender badly lacking athleticism.
Rovers went on to win 0-3 and the reaction afterwards was very ugly.
Goal of the Year
Josh Harrop’s equaliser at Rovers. Outstanding technique on the volley, and outstanding limbs in the away end.
Game of the Year
Wigan away in February. North End’s strongest XI started that day, in my opinion, and it showed with the performance.
Some excellent free-flowing football, with the “big 4” all excelling, and arguably Pearson’s best performance in a North End shirt. The result didn’t reflect the performance and if that XI could’ve put together more games, I think we would’ve finished in the top 6.
Player of the Year
Alan Browne, he’s really come of age for me this year and has become more important than ever. Captained the team on around 30 occasions in 2020, and has started pretty much every game when available.
He’s played RB, RWB, 6, 8 and 10 in the year and Alex Neil adores him. He’s been largely consistent at a time when his future is up in the air, he scores some big goals, and he’s become a proper leader for me. Would be a travesty to lose him for nothing.
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There we have it folks! If you want to hear what Jake and Jimmy had to say for themselves, give the latest episode of the podcast a listen below. We also discussed the last-gasp win over Derby County on Boxing Day and Tuesday night’s win over Coventry City before looking ahead to Saturday’s game against Nottingham Forest.
Don’t forget to give us a follow on twitter if you aren’t already. We’re closing in on 2,000 followers and it would be great to hit that target before the end of the year. You can find us here – @fromthefinney.
