End of Season Football Review
It’s the end of the season and Manchester City have conquered it all. The treble is in their possession and they have been a step above the rest on all fronts this season. Before we delve into that I wanted to go through each of the major European domestic leagues and provide perspective to their feats throughout the year.
Premier League Season Summarised:
Man City: Been There Done That. The City team clocked into gear when it mattered most and have established an aura of invincibility. Irrespective of the competition they expect to win, and little suggests that won’t continue.
Arsenal: So close and yet so far. The title was lost for Arsenal in the month of April, where three draws and a defeat to Man City shifting the momentum away from them. That was their first real loss of form and it couldn’t have come at a worse time. They will be back next season however this seemed like one which got away.
Manchester United: The Start of a New Era. There were many bumps and bruises along the way, certainly some disgraceful performances that would make your eyes sore, but the Ten Haag era is firmly in place. For the first time since Sir Alex retired the club appears to be in safe hands, so more is to be expected next season.
Newcastle: The sleeping giant is awake. Tyneside had become familiar with the relegation battle before progressing towards mid table, however the change of ownership, astute recruitment policy, and Howe’s coaching saw the Toons finish in the top four for the first time since 2003. Stability is the order of business as they seek to build sustainably at the club. It sure is nice to have them back and my favouritism towards Joelinton has been justified.
Liverpool: Klopp should be feared next season. It seems Liverpool had hit rock bottom and I wondered whether it was time for Klopp to part ways with Liverpool, however towards the end of the season they picked up good form as their attackers came back from injury. With Alexis MacAllister already signed for next season, a significant revamp is expected which should have everyone on red alert.
Brighton & Hove Albion: Football can be made beautiful when played well. Brighton were mentality monsters as De Zerbi sought to convince them of what could be achieved if only they believed in his philosophy. Their outperformance was enormous, with more to be expected as they receive significant funds from the incoming sale of Caicedo.
Aston Villa: Moving in silence, making good progress. For much of the season Villa went under the radar as Brighton and Newcastle took the headlines for their resurgence, but Emery’s team quietly improved as they settled on a lineup which suited the squad. He is a master coach at Europa League level clubs and has proven history of upskilling players.
Tottenham: Back to the drawing board. From the team that Pochettino had moulded into a high octane unit this was a grave departure from that in an attempt from that style to bring silverware to the club. The high profile appointments of Mourinho and Conte worked in the short term however the chasm between the club’s desired style of play and their pragmatic approach as of late made their demise quite predictable. In comes Postecoglou tasked with bringing the right culture back to Spurs. Needless to say the expectations aren’t as high as for previous campaigns.
Brentford: The Euro Step. After a successful second season where they finished firmly within the top half, the next step would be a push for European football, but this may come at a cost. Toney is out for the majority of the season so finding a replacement for him will be crucial to their development. If they can do so successfully I see no reason why they will not be in contention for the European places, however that is a big IF.
Fulham: Finally they have stayed, now to solidity. It was a hugely impressive season for the Cottagers as they managed to avoid yoyoing between the Premier League and Championship as they were buoyed by a strong spine consisting of Tosin Adarabioyo, Joao Paulinha and Aleksandar Mitrovic. Marco Silva deserves much credit for making the team difficult to play against whilst maintaining their direct, attacking threat. He continues to prove himself as a shrewd operator, however with the expected departure of Paulinha that will leave a large gap in the team which needs replacing. Failure to do so could see them struggling to stay afloat as he was easily their most important player.
Crystal Palace: Rescue mission, but much needs to change. Palace were in a heap of trouble under Vieira as they struggled to find the back of the net, but Hodgson’s appointment sparked a new lease of life into the side and the goals started rolling. With Zaha’s exit to be confirmed Olise and Eze are ready to step up to the mark as they have already been doing so. Whilst this was meant to be a short term fix I wonder how this will impact Palace’s future planning regarding their next managerial appointment. It’s safe to say there is still much to be done at Selhurst Park.
Chelsea: Not all doom is gloom. It doesn’t get much worse than Chelsea’s demise over the second half of the season. A bloated squad with an interim manager tasked with a seemingly impossible job, the only way is up now for the Blues. Their scatter gun transfer policy may have been erratic however they do possess a plethora of young talent that Pochettino will be excited to work with. Expect a much different outfit to what we saw last year- this has the makings of a redemption story for both parties involved.
Wolves: Careful what you wish for. Wolves are in an interesting predicament. Given the quality of the squad this season was an underachievement and they may lose Ruben Neves during the summer. They acquired Cunha to solve their striker problems who showed glimpses of his abilities. The Diego Costa experiment did not work. They are another team who need some fresh impetus otherwise I fear they may be in the relegation battle next season.
West Ham: Moyes’s time to celebrate. Anyone who is not happy for Moyes is an enemy. He has been through a lot in his career and he is deserving of this European trophy. They will miss Declan Rice but I expect them to find a good replacement. Come on you Irons!
Bournemouth: The whole is greater than the sum of its parts. I fancied Bournemouth to be relegated, but their collective team spirit carried them to safety. They play direct and efficient football which keeps them in games even against the best. Let’s see if it works next season.
Nottingham Forest: The team we all quietly rooted for. They somehow stayed up and I’m happy they did. They are a likeable team- their manager is humble and upfront, the players get on with it. The second season is usually the hardest for newly promoted clubs so thus will be their real test.
Everton: By the skin of their teeth. Dyche did what Dyche does: he went back to basics, got them working hard, playing simple football, and trusted that they would get enough points. In a similar vein to Wolves, the squad has good players but lacking a consistent, injury striker. Whether they will improve is another question, but they live to fight another day.
Leicester: A lot can happen in seven years. From champions to relegation in seven years, the Foxes have experienced the highs and lows of football. The seasons of limited recruitment were always a cause for concern but no one would have thought they would amount to this. Few from this side will remain in the Championship as they get poached by Premier League clubs, but I expect them to come straight back up either way.
Leeds: It was fun while it lasted. Leeds will be sorely missed give their swashbuckling style of play. Another team who succumbed to the perils of an injured striker struggled to score goals and keep them out. I also think they will be promoted again next season, but with less conviction than Leicester.
Southampton: Look on the bright side. They were quite clearly the worst team in the league, but they have some great young talent. It’ll be interesting to see what their squad looks like next season and whether they will start from scratch.
UCL Final: The spine keeps everything strong. Rodri, Stones and Dias won the game for City with superb individual performances. The attackers were off the boil but on final occasions games are won by moments. Whereas Rodri finished with aplomb, Lukaku missed an absolute sitter (not to scapegoat him). Inter Milan were more than worthy of taking the game to extra time, but they lacked that clinical edge especially when they had several chances to put crosses into the box. Time and time again it was easily cleared by City’s six footers. For all the critiques of Pep and the endless funds available at his disposal, he has routinely improved players and spent money wisely. In the words of Mark Jackson: ‘give the man his flowers’.
Across the continent
In Spain, Barcelona cantered to the title with 20 goals conceded across 38 games speaking to their dominance both from an attacking and defensive perspective. Real Madrid will be buoyed by the signing of Jude Bellingham however the loss of Benzema was a surprise to many. With Mbappe’s confirmation that he will not be signing a new contract at PSG, this seems like the deal will finally go through and if so may marks the start of a decade long domination.
In Germany, Dortmund lost the title race rather than Bayern winning it, with the final day drama capping off a slightly disappointing season for both clubs. Neither will be overly joyful of their performances, with Bayern particularly keen to re-establish themselves within Europe.
In France, PSG in all too familiar fashion disappointed in the UCL and are set to have a significant rebuild with their Galatico front three all set to leave. The time is now for them to build from the ground up and recruit effectively.
Over in Italy, they had representation in all three European cup finals but lost them all. It is nice to have them back on the map after years of obscurity. How sustainable this resurgence is will be seen in due course.
Overall, it was a season filled with many storylines and dramas. It was also the year Manchester City finally broke their UCL duck. Looking ahead as the summer activity ramps up watch this space as I make pre-season predictions for the respective European and domestic competitions.
To a simpler life;