The Premier League has come to yet another close. Here at Footsy, we have done our season review for you to mull over and reminisce on the great season that just passed.
Manchester City
For the first time since their rivals Manchester United in 2009, the Premier League has a team winning the title back-to-back. This adds to the theory that the Premier League is the toughest league in the world and Manchester City have proven themselves a world class side by doing something not seen in a decade.
This being their fourth title in the past eight years, City are the team to beat. Guardiola has done an immense job since arriving in Manchester 3 seasons ago and with the historic domestic treble in hand, this season could very well be the one of the best in Manchester City’s history and even Guardiola’s career. A run of 14 straight wins starting the end of January propelled the team to overcome the 7 point deficit they once had chasing then-leaders Liverpool.
Knowing that such a run only ended with Manchester City winning the title by 1 point is proof that this was one of the best title run-ins in history.
Liverpool
Liverpool will be applauded for all their efforts this season. Having 2 recipients of the Golden Boot, winner of the Golden Glove, 4 players in the PFA Team of The Year and only 1 loss all season, one could argue that Liverpool deserved to win the league but their record of 7 drawn games proved too costly as they lost out to Manchester City by the tiniest of margins.
The team could potentially still finish on a high with them being favourites in the Champions League Final against Tottenham but being so close to the title they have not won in close to 30 years would still annoy the most ardent of fans who have been waiting so long and had genuine hope of clinching it this time. This Liverpool side does have the potential to do very well in the years to come and we will all be looking forward to the next season.
Chelsea
Chelsea started the season well with their new manager but painful defeats to Manchester City, Everton, Fulham and Leicester mid-season hampered a what-could-have-been story.
One could forgive the team for needing a season to adjust to their new playing style “Sarriball” (as it has been coined) but the fact that they lost the Carabao Cup on penalties and made it through to the Europa League final goes to show that Chelsea may very well be a force to be reckoned with come next season.
Will they be the same team if Eden Hazard leaves though? Time will tell.
Tottenham Hotspur
Everybody was writing Tottenham off when they did not sign a single player in the off-season. How is it even imaginable that in this day and age and with the money in the Premier League, a team is able to fight for honours without spending any millions? Spurs have shown that it can be done.
Clinching the last Champions League spot from their London rivals and making it to the Champions League final with a fairy tale comeback against Ajax, Spurs have done the unimaginable in today’s football climate (so did their semi-final opponents for that matter). Spurs have proven themselves a true top-4 side under Mauricio Pochettino, having clinched 4th or better in the past 4 seasons.
There is plenty to look forward to for Spurs fans with the season results and with the opening of their new stadium Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as it has been creatively named after having said goodbye to White Hart Lane and their temporary home Wembley. They now have their sights on Liverpool and Champions League glory.
Arsenal
Arsenal fans can be forgiven for thinking that their season would have gone better. They had gotten a proven new manager in Unai Emery from PSG after Arsene Wenger bade goodbye to the club but fans would arguably still be happy with the way their team has adapted to the new style of their new manager. All things considered, having lost out on the last Champions League spot by the finest of margins and making it to the final of the Europa League was not a bad result for the season.
Arsenal fans will be wanting more though, and the final on the 29th of May will be considered the defining moment of their season. They will be counting the lethal partnership of Golden Boot winner Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandrel Lacazette to carry them forward to glory and not many will stack the odds against them to not deliver.
Manchester United
What else is there to say about Manchester United that has not already been said? This team has been beaten to a pulp since Solskjaer penned a permanent contract at the end of March. Prior to that, United were doing well, having bridged the gap to 4th and had a very real shot at clinching one those coveted Champions League spots. It all went downhill from there though as they only managed to win 1 of their last 6 games in the league.
Whatever the reason for the slump, it is no secret that Manchester United are a team badly in need of a change. This is not the first time that they have been labeled a team in transition and are in need of an overhaul and we can all say that we do not think it will be the last. With Herrera and Valencia already confirmed to be leaving the club and others yet to confirm their commitment, the future does look uncertain.
Wolves
The definition of a team punching above their weight!
Wolves had an amazing season to finish 7th. For a team that had only just gained promotion, gaining entry into the Europa League’s qualifiers is truly spectacular. With their highly praised brand of football, they managed to claim the scalps of Arsenal, Manchester United, Spurs and Chelsea and had also beaten the likes of Liverpool and United to reach the FA cup semi-final only to lose out narrowly to Watford. Pundits and fans of the game will be raring to see what Nuno Espirito Santo’s men will do next season.
Mid-table Teams
Both Everton and Leicester had inconsistent runs this term. There were long periods of struggle for both teams but fans would have loved the sprinkle of some truly amazing results against some of the top sides which managed to ensure a stable mid-table finish.
Relegation Battle
It was a close battle to avoid relegation between Cardiff and Brighton but unfortunately for Cardiff, their hopes of survival were extinguished the week before the final day of the season when they lost at home to Crystal Palace. Huddersfield was relegated very early on as they had a very forgettable season, having lost 28 games out of 38 and mustered only 16 points throughout the season. Fulham was also relegated very early on at the beginning of April when they lost away to Watford to condemn them to 19th in the table. Overall, this was not one of the more nerve-wrecking ending to relegation battles in the Premier League.
Promoted Teams
Norwich and Sheffield United have secured automatic promotion to the Premier League courtesy of first and second places respectively in the Championship. Norwich was last in the Premier League in the 2015/2016 season where they finished 19th. They had only just been promoted back then and were relegated within the same season. This time, however, they are determined to do better and differently, with player acquisitions not their main target but rather maintaining their philosophy that got them back with the big boys.
Sheffield United have it slightly different though. They have made a major comeback after having spent the better part of the last decade in League One but have managed to secure promotion to the Premier League within 2 seasons of being back in the Championship. They were last in the Premier League for a single season as well back in the 2006/2007 season where they finished 18th in the league.
The final promotion spot will be decided on the 27th of May at Wembley where Aston Villa will take on Derby County. There is an added dynamic to this match as Derby manager Frank Lampard will be taking on his former Chelsea teammate and captain John Terry, who is assistant to manager Dean Smith at Villa Park.
