The 2016-17 season has came up with a lot of controversy, twists and major talking points as the season reached its climax on the 21st May. Full of flops, rising stars and shocks, this season has proved that surgery is needed within the league in terms of quality on the pitch.
Here we take a look at how teams done this season and what they can do in order to build for next season.
Arsenal:
Well it happened again for the Gunners, very good up until November and then the usual slip ups after Christmas; unfortunately for them, Arsene Wenger has signed a new 2 year contract and in my opinion Arsenal will see no signs of improvements domestically in the foreseeable future. Yes they won the FA cup but realistically they have not competed for the league title in over 10 years and that won’t change with Wenger in charge.
Bournemouth:
Finishing in a respectable 9th, it’s been a season to build on for the cherries as a top ten finish is a great achievement for a club that’s come so far, now can they keep on building, they have a great manager in Eddie Howe and keeping him is a must if they are to go on to great success.
Burnley:
A horrific Away record has really held back Burnley this season, they have been exceptional at home winning 10 out of 19 home fixtures and picking up a very good 33 points at home. Only 7 points were picked up Away from home all season, however, Sean Dyche has worked wonders but improvement s are essential in the summer for the clarets.
Chelsea:
What a season for the Blues as they claimed their fifth premier league title and broke their own record of most wins in a single season, reaching 30 wins for the whole campaign. Antonio Conte has done a magnificent job for Chelsea and has really turned things around at the bridge, tactical genius and great signings really showed Conte’s class along with consistently good performances, but now can he take the blues far in the champions league next season and retain the title.
Crystal Palace:
It took Sam Allardyce to come and save the Eagles from relegation after a horrific start to the season under Alan Pardew. However, Allardyce has left Palace and now the hunt is on to find his replacement, whoever they appoint will have a job on his hands to keep his main players such as; Wilfried Zaha and they need to sign a lot of cheques in the summer if they are to avoid relegation next season.
Everton:
A season full of inconsistency for the toffees, Everton finished in 7th place but are still under achieving in terms of silverware and should be really pushing for a top 4 finish. Everton now must focus on the ins and outs within their squad and think carefully about who resigns contracts as for me Romelu Lukaku is a massive loss, where as Ross Barkley is not, overrated and hides against the big sides 20+ million for the English midfielder should be take without hesitation by Everton.
Hull City:
Losing to an already relegated Sunderland ensured Hull City’s relegation, despite the best efforts from manager Marco Silva it was not enough to concrete their premier league status and because of this forced his resignation. Silva worked wonders for the tigers this season with a limited squad it was not a horrific season despite relegation, but Hull’s owners need to invest next season if they are to bounce straight back up.
Leicester City:
It’s been in somewhat a relief for the Foxes this season after they were staring relegation in the face before the bitter sacking of Claudio Ranieri. The owners seemed to forget where the Italian had took them and for me his sacking was unjust; the Leicester players were cowardly and seemed to spring back to form when Craig Shakespeare was appointed as interim manager and what a great job he has done, 17th before he took over and took them to a mediocre 12th, however it’s a season to forget for the foxes as this has gone down as one of the worst title defences in football.
Liverpool:
Having finished in the top 4, it has been a good season for the reds; I tipped them to win the league under Klopp this season; however Jurgen Klopp has a lot to think about in the summer as their defence needs a lot of work. They conceded the most goals of the teams in the top four so the evidence is there for Klopp to really consider improving, also there keeper worries continue to mount s Karius and Mignolet are not good enough. My biggest fear for the reds is if they can cope with the pressure of the Champions League as well as the premier league next season.
Manchester City:
Don’t let 3rd place fool you it’s been another underachieving season for City this campaign and for me Pep Guardiola has one more chance to improve in England or he should be axed. His naivety has got the best of him this season and I believe he has truly underestimates the challenges of the premier league. No silverware for City this season is a failure and the same next season is just not acceptable for a club of their stature and backing, be sure they will spend huge money in the summer and under Pep next season, now he’s got a years experience in the Premier League, City are my favourites to win the league next season.
Manchester United:
United’s season has helped me to realise that Jose Mourinho is not special anymore, he helped orchestrate the most pointless unbeaten run in the history of the premier league having gone 25 matches without losing and more notably without moving a single place in the league. Far too many draws at home this season has held back the Red Devils and cemented a very disappointing season that originally had a lot of promise. However, competition wise they have done well, winning the Europa League, League Cup and qualifying for the Champions league, Mourinho has it all to do next season.
Middlesbrough:
A shortage of goals for Boro really did not help their season and is the main factor of their relegation, a change in manager really unsteadied the ship and Aitor Karanka may have been arrogant but was liked by fans and had a good spell with Boro. The main priorities for Boro next season is buying a striker who knows the championship to demolish the negative comments about their ability to score goals.
Southampton:
A lot of critism has come Claude Puel’s way this season for his ‘boring’ style of play. However, he has taken them to a League cup final, in which they lost 3-2 against Manchester United. Finishing 8th this season, I am unsure as to how Southampton can improve on this as Puel for me is not the man for the job and keeping hold of their main player like Redmond, Van dijk and even Gabbiadini who has just had a great season for the Saints after signing in January. The Saints need a change if they are to improve; a more ambitious leader is needed in my opinion.
Stoke City:
Stoke to me seem to be the most mediocre team in the premier league, since their promotion to the premier league in 2008 they’ve never really flirted with relegation or contended for the European places there highest finish has been 9th since their arrival in the premier league and many Potters fans want this to change and many believe Mark Hughes is not the man for the job.
Sunderland:
It has been a dreadful season for the black cats and one that will leave the memories of Sunderland fans fairly quickly. It’s fair to say as a team they let their fans down this season and have been tipped by many pundits as a disgrace; a massive clear out is needed in the summer and after manager David Moyes left the club, leaves them in a lot of bother as to who can bring them back into the Premier League.
Swansea City:
In what was a hopeless start to the season for the Swans under clueless American manager Bob Bradley, they looked certain for the drop but when the owners acted fast and appointed Paul Clement things started to change but it has not been easy. Many tipped Clement as a woeful appointment as he lacked the experience but he proved everyone wrong and kept them up and brought the best out of players such as Fernando Llorente and Gylfi Sigurosson who were crucial in Swansea’s survival.
Tottenham Hotspur:
Finishing above Arsenal for the first time in 21 years, finishing 2nd place behind Chelsea and very nearly clinching the title it’s been a season full of positives for Spurs and Mauricio Pochettino. However, for me strength in depth has really held back Spurs and they need a lot of new faces in the summer if they are serious about being champions of England in the future. They have an outstand leader in Pochettino and with the right financial backing I believe Spurs will clinch the title next season.
Watford:
With manager Walter Mazzarri leaving the club and Marco Silva filling in from Hull City, the Hornets are set for a tough time next season and finishing 17th in the 2016-17, main players like Deeney, Success and Capoue went missing in the later stages of the season, which resulted in the team plummeting down the table. Silva has his work cut out if they are to stay in the Premier League for a fourth consecutive year.
West Brom:
A little like Arsenal, Pulis in, Pulis out has seen a huge division in the fan base at the hawthorns this season and despite finishing 10th West Brom fans still have their concerns about the style Tony Pulis plays. However, they have put in some terrific performances this season and have ground out some results many believed they couldn’t. Getting rid of Saido Berahino has relieved a lot of baggies fans and a poor start next season for them may put Pulis’ job in real jeopardy.
West Ham:
It’s been a season full of misery compared to last season for the hammers with key man Dimitri Payet forcing a move away from the club and Slaven Billic’s future looking uncertain, West Ham has played to the potential many know they possess. Payet has been irreplaceable for them and were at one stage really flirting with relegation and for me sacking Billic would be ludicrous, the owners need to give him one more season to show he can push West Ham into the top half of the table.
