And so, with the conclusion of yesterday's surprising FA Cup win for Arsenal, the domestic season for teams in England's elite league is over. Brilliant drama as always was handed to us from week one which again made us ask if, minus maybe the ability of our top teams, is the English Premier League (EPL) the most exciting league in the world?
But how did each team do on a personal level? Did they reach their expectations? Did they fall short of their goals? This is my view of each team this season.
1. CHELSEA - W:30, D:3, L:3, Pts: 93
GRADE - A+
Star Man: N'Golo Kante
Without question, this year's stand out team. Chelsea began with a few comfortable victories, but defeats to Liverpool and Arsenal in consecutive weeks put them under pressure and surrounded them doubters once again. Was this team really over last year's disappointing season?
Conte was questioned about his ability. It was apparent that he hadn't really changed anything about Chelsea. But those defeats to their title rivals brought with it a new formation. A new formation that saw them go on a 13 match winning streak and, by the time it ended in defeat to Spurs, Chelsea had built a considerable lead at the top of the table.
Chelsea never really looked like losing the title from that point onward, even if a loss at home to Crystal Palace brought Tottenham slightly back into the title race. They were simply outstanding and made it very difficult for any team to break them down. Even if they lost the cup final to Arsenal, this season will be remembered as a very successful season.
2. TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR - W:26, D:8, L:4, Pts: 86
GRADE - A
Star Man: Harry Kane
Any other season, we would be sat here discussing how Tottenham managed to win their first Premier League trophy. But, another season brings another narrow miss.
Tottenham were outstanding for basically the entirety of this season. Unbeaten at home. Another Golden Boot for Harry Kane, who missed two months of the season through injury and scored seven goals in the last two games of the season. A young, and exciting team. Everything is looking good for the future of Tottenham Hotspur.
The only thing being questioned about next season is if Spurs can continue the same home form next season away from White Hart Lane, as they begin the process of their move to a new stadium.
Whatever happens next season, Tottenham can be proud of their achievements this season.
3. MANCHESTER CITY - W:23, D:9, L:6, Pts: 78
GRADE: C+
Star Man: David Silva
It seems weird to give anyone in the top four anything less than a B, but City have seriously under performed this season.
Pep Guardiola was brought in to bring back the glory days (of three years ago), and everything looked good early on as he won his first 10 games in all competitions. But they were never to find that form again.
They dropped points against teams around them, as well as against those that wins seemed secured. Pep removed Hart from the team, and appeared to replace him with a goalkeeper who was scared of the ball.
A season that should have finished in league glory, finished in a scrap for the top four. Man. City's previous managers had been sacked for much less than this.
City finished strong in the last month of the season, but there is lots of work left this summer if they are to mount a title challenge in 2017/18.
4. LIVERPOOL - W:22, D:10, L:6, Pts: 76
GRADE - B+
Star Man: Sadio Mane
If Liverpool had managed to continue their form up until December for the whole campaign, would we probably be talking about how Liverpool just fell short of Chelsea, but a poor a month or so in January and early February saw them fall well off the pace and push them into a tight top four battle with Man. City, Man. United and Arsenal. They were unbeaten against the top 7, but struggled against teams in the bottom half of the table, which was the downfall of their season.
There are clear improvements to Klopp's team compared to Rodgers' side, and he finished the season with the highest first season points total of any Liverpool manager, and were the second most improve team from last season. Lots of promise at Anfield.
5. ARSENAL - W:23, D:6, L:9, Pts: 75.
GRADE - C-
Star Man: Alexis Sanchez
What to say about Arsenal's season? Simply, not finishing in the top four for the first time in 20 years is simply not good enough for a team of this caliber. Once again, they looked good early in the season, but fluffed their lines early in the new calendar year and never recovered.
They had a little burst towards the end of the season, which meant their top four hopes went down to the final game of the season, but it was too little too late.
The 'Wenger Out' campaign dominated the season, but they also finished with an FA Cup win, a double record as it was their 13th win and Wenger's seventh since joining Arsenal.
Ultimately, it's going to take a monumental effort for Arsenal to climb back into the top four.
6. MANCHESTER UNITED - W:18, D:15, L:5, Pts: 69
GRADE - A-
Star Man: Zlatan Ibrahimovic
If I was grading the team's based purely on their league season, Untied would be lingering in the high D's, but their Europa League win last Wednesday, in light of Monday night's tragic events in Manchester, brings their season right up.
A double winning season of sorts, I'm not going to humor anyone saying that it was really a treble winning season (IT'S THE COMMUNITY SHIELD FOR GOODNESS SAKE), Champions League football confirmed for next season. You can't say it wasn't a successful season. The argument is in place that their season may have been a more desirable one for some of those teams in the top four.
7. EVERTON - W:17, D:10, L:11, Pts: 61
GRADE - B
Star Man: Romelu Lukaku
Everton were the best of the rest. Comfortably finishing in seventh with not much of a challenge from the teams below them.
They had some fantastic moments throughout the season, wins at home to Arsenal and a drubbing of Manchester City really showed the potential this squad has.
Lukaku was their stand out player, only falling short of the Golden Boot due to Harry Kane's crazy last two matches. Everton will need to keep their star man if they are to push again next season.
8. SOUTHAMPTON - W:12, D:10, L:16, Pts: 46
GRADE - C+
Star Man: Romeu
Only six points separated Southampton from 17th, which would be considered a disappointment of a season, but their finish in the table is a solid one and is a sign of consistency at St. Marys'.
They were unlucky to lose the EFL Cup Final to Manchester United in February, and their league form was inconsistent at best. Their manager, Claude Puel, has been under pressure for long spells of the season and many fans want another manager in following a lot of poor, far too defensive minded performances. Personally, I think he's had an averagely good season. They lost some star players in the summer, and will need to look for replacements this summer, otherwise they could find themselves dragged into a relegation battle next year.
9. BOURNEMOUTH - W:12, D:10, L:16, Pts: 46
GRADE - A-
Star Man: Joshua King
AFC Bournemouth. A team that plays in a 12,000 seater-stadium have just finished in the top half of the Premier League, and only goal difference saw them not finish higher.
What Eddie Howe has done at Bournemouth is outstanding. The team don't look like getting relegated and picked up some brilliant results this season, most notably a 4-3 comeback victory against Liverpool. They play slick football, but also look like a force at the back. You still see them play teams on the TV and think, this must be an FA Cup game, but their skill level shows otherwise.
Jermain Defoe will be a fantastic signing for them next season and, if they manage to hold onto Norwegian Joshua King, they could form a dream partnership.
10. WEST BROMWICH ALBION - W:12, D:9, L:17, Pts: 45
GRADE - B
Star Man: Ben Foster
They could have so easily have finished higher if it wasn't for a poor end of season run, but West Brom can still be proud of their top half finish.
Tony Pulis always sets out his teams to be hard to break down, and West Brom were no different this season. Only 51 goals conceded this campaign, down hugely to the ever impressive Ben Foster, helped them climb above many bigger clubs below them. They were fighting for a possible top eight or seven finish, but their tough end of season run saw those hopes fall away.
They lacked goals upfront, that is simply what they need to improve on if they are to finish even higher next year. They have great foundations to build their squad on though, and this Tony Pulis side could well be is best set.
HALF WAY THROUGH! So, here is a little break with some of the goals of the season, courtesy of LIUBCHENKO on YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9ufisM6kcs
11. WEST HAM UNITED - W: 12, D:9, L:17, Pts: 45
GRADE - D+
Star Man: Michail Antonio
Thoroughly disappointing season for the Hammers following their seventh place in the 2015/16 campaign. They weren't helped by the Dimitri Payet saga and moving from the Boleyn Ground to the Olympic Stadium didn't appear to do any favours.
You would have thought that with the investment they had would have allowed them to purchase players to challenge for a top seven finish once again, but their signings have been nothing short of disappointing. Andy Carroll out for most of the season, once again, has not helped them either. Nothing seemed to go the way of West Ham this season.
Bilic probably did as well as he could this season with the resources he had, but they are going to need a big summer if they are to truly forget about this season.
12. LEICESTER CITY - W:12, D:8, L:18, Pts: 44
GRADE - C
Star Man: Kasper Schmeichel
Last season it was all celebrations and joy, this season it was a bring back down to earth for the Foxes. A big Champions League run was by far the highlight of their season, and had everyone in Europe interested in the Leicester City story, but ultimately, their league campaign was very, very poor.
Claudio Ranieri was sacked in early 2017, rightly or wrongly, and that appeared to turn things around for a Championship destined team at that point. Craig Shakespeare came in and overnight Leicester found their form again. Whether this was due to the players wanting Ranieri gone is a discussion for another time.
In the end they were fairly comfortable in avoiding relegation, and any other season this may have been considered a success. But it was always going to be hard to follow last year's heroics.
13. STOKE CITY - W:11, D:11, L:16, Pts: 44
GRADE - C-
Star Man: Xherdan Shaqiri
Stoke City managed to recover after a horrendous start to the season, but their league table finish was not good enough compared to expectations.
Stoke fans have been calling for Hughes to be sacked, or at least if they don't see a significant improvement in their side soon, and I agree with these fans. They shouldn't just settle for comfortably staying in the division every season, they should have that ambition to push for a place in Europe or go on a cup run. Why should they be just happy with making up the numbers in mid-table.
They have the resources and players to push for a top half finish, last season proved that, so this season has to have gone down as unsuccessful. If Stoke continue their mediocrity into the start of next season, questions will surely have to be asked about Mark Hughes.
14. CRYSTAL PALACE - W:12, D:5, L:21, Pts: 41
GRADE - D
Star Man: Wilfried Zaha
Crystal Palace's final league position probably flatters them. They should not have been in a relegation fight with the managers they've had this season and the players they've got.
Their season just highlighted to me everything that is poor about Sam Allardyce as a manager. The bare minimum. They stayed up. Yes. Tick. Well done. But that should have been secured far, far earlier than with two games of the season to go. They have everything there to push on for a top half finish, so how did they finish so low?
Sam Allardyce has left his position at the Eagles, which I think is a huge bonus for next season. They can find a manager, like Rowett or Garry Monk, who has a bit of ambition to take the club further, rather than rattle round just above the drop-zone.
15. SWANSEA CITY - W:12, D:5, L:21, Pts: 41
GRADE - C
Star Man: Fernando Llorente
Well, Swansea got away with that one. Early in the 2017, two managers already sacked, the Championship seemed the only place the Swans would be playing their football next season. But bring in Paul Clement. A talented coach at some big clubs, came in and turned their fortunes around.
Their goal early on was clearly to just stay up, And they've done that. But they're a club that have the potential to finish higher. And now with Clement in charge, I believe they have the man in place to take them to the next level and challenge for a top half finish.
The signing of Llorente was a massive plus for Swansea. Without his goals and leadership up top, Swansea would have surely gone down.
16. BURNLEY - W:11, D:7, L:20, Pts: 40
GRADE - B
Star Man: Michael Keane
This has been a very good season for Burnley and Sean Dyche should reap the rewards. Their home form has been fantastic and only their away form saw them finish as low as they did.
Their home form was enough to make people not consider them for relegation, and their early season 2-0 win at Turf Moor against Liverpool proved to not be a fluke. But they need to improve their away form, as if they begin to struggle at home, they will find themselves in a tough position.
The big job will be to keep Sean Dyche. They kept with him following their relegation a few years ago, and they have been rewarded for that loyalty. He sets his team out perfectly depending on their opposition and bought very smartly in the transfer window. Could the Palace job prove too tempting, or will his loyalty to Burnley prove too strong?
17. WATFORD - W:11, D:7, L:20, Pts: 40
GRADE - C
Star Man: Sebastian Prödl
Watford have definitely performed better in previous seasons, but at several points this season looked very good.
I like the ambition shown by this club. They have removed another manager in Walter Mazzari, a man who appeared to do an okay job, if not better than Quique Sánchez Flores the year before, but this is because they believe they can finish higher. It may appear harsh, but they are looking to not just make up the numbers.
There's a lot of good in this squad, an away win at Arsenal proved that, being the highlight of their season. But there have been several occasions where they look disinterested and have performed well below their ability.
They're appointment of Marco Silva, to the loss of the team to be discussed next, is an inspired choice, and will make a lot of clubs very jealous.
18. HULL CITY - W:9, D:7, L:22, Pts: 34
GRADE - D
Star Man: Harry Maguire
This had been coming since last summer when Hull City were in an absolute state after winning promotion to the EPL. Only difference is, that it happened a lot later than anyone probably predicted.
Steve Bruce left and Mike Phelan took over a squad who's squad picture during pre-season looked more like a lads holiday picture. A surprisingly good start to the season saw Phelan win manager of the month for August, but his sacking in January shows that was all he managed to achieve in his short lived time as Hull boss.
Marco Silva came in and changed Hull's ambitions. Suddenly, staying up was a possibility and they put together a good string of results. However, they finished very poorly and their loss to Sunderland all but sealed their return to the Championship at the first time of asking. If they had kept a hold of Silva, I would have expected them to come straight back up, but they will need to appoint smartly if they are to have a good year next year.
19. Middlesbrough - W:5, D:13, L:20, Pts: 28
GRADE - E
Star Man: Alvaro Negredo
Very, very poor. Only 27 goals all season makes it a surprise that they weren't relegated sooner.
They were boring to watch and seemed to show no quality in the majority of their matches. We waited eight years to see them back in the EPL, and we hardly noticed that they were there.
Aitor Karanka was a great manager in the Championship, but whether he couldn't handle it, or he didn't have the right players, it just didn't work in England's top division. They have some good players there, but they need someone to give them a kick to get them into gear to possibly challenge for promotion once again. Burnley were similar the season they went down, so maybe someone like Nigel Pearson can get Middlesbrough in the same mind frame.
20. SUNDERLAND - W:6, D:6, L:26, Pts: 24
GRADE - F
Star Man: Jermain Defoe
Sunderland were relegated since week two when David Moyes came out after a defeat to Middlesbrough and said "we're in a relegation battle."
This relegation has been on the cards for a few years now, and Sunderland's lack of ambition is why they have now (finally!) been relegated. Every season they seemed to be happy to be staying up. Get the bare minimum points and finish 17th. As long as it's someone else going down, we're fine. A team that has spent 10 years in the EPL would expect to be finishing in the top half and looking to be moving their way up the league. Not Sunderland. The definition of mediocrity.
With Jermain Defoe leaving for Bournemouth, I can't see Sunderland coming up for a few years now, and could easily find themselves going the same way as teams like Bolton Wanderers, Blackburn Rovers and Charlton Athletic.
So, another season over. Just the 75 days to wait now...
[this blog was originally posted May 28 2017.]
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You can read posts from my other blogs at I Can't Write Words and ScriptEye.
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