What an absolutely breath-taking season that was.
Not even the most glass half full optimistic Leicester City fan could have predicted what was to come for their club during 2015/16, let alone anyone else.
Congratulations to the Foxes on upsetting the apple cart to a level that nobody could seriously ever imagine.
Here is my review of each team’s performance this season in comparison to what could have been expected from them at the start of the season. Also included is where I predicted each team to finish from my preview article back in August.
Let’s just see how wrong I was!
1. Leicester City
There are no superlatives left to use. Claudio Ranieri should be knighted, given the freedom of Leicester and made an honorary member of the Royal family. Okay, the last one is a bit of a stretch but the other two are real possibilities. I will not tell you what I thought would happen to the Foxes and their manager this season, but let’s just say I may have got it ever so slightly wrong.
Predicted – 19th. Rating – 10/10.
2. Arsenal
There can be only one Premier League champion. It is a tough ask for any club, let alone a club that seemingly has a shed full of cash their manager refuses to spend. With a little more investment Arsenal could well have taken Leicester all the way this season. Unfortunately that was not to be the case as they hit their usual end of season rough patch. Arsenal fans will not be happy as this was a big chance for them this season, however a second place finish is hardly the end of the world when clubs such as Chelsea and Manchester United are failing to make the cut for Champions League football.
Predicted – 2nd. Rating 7/10
3. Tottenham Hotspur
I think if you had said to any Spurs fan that they would make the Champion League spots this season before a ball was kicked, they would have snapped your hand off. However, it is a shame they tailed off towards the end of the season. Pochettino has time on his hands though and the future looks bright.
Predicted – 5th. Rating 9/10
4. Manchester City
It was a shame to see Manuel Pellegrini lose his job at the of the season, he is one of the few managers in the top flight who does not blame the referee week upon week for his teams own failings. I like that but I do think his time was up. City have laboured to fourth spot and the squad needs to be refreshed going forward. It is not all bad mind, they lifted the Capital One cup and their top four finish means they will play Champions League football next term after their semi-final appearance this season.
Predicted – 3rd. Rating 6.5/10
5. Manchester United
Win the FA Cup, sack their manager the day after. Strange timing, not that most of us did not know it was going to happen. So soon after lifting the cup though is a bit unfair on Louis van Gaal. This is not the United of old. Class has gone out of the window, in fact they smashed the window, threw it out and stamped on it. Jose Mourinho, who is expected to replace Van Gaal, will look to kick on in his managerial career after a slight stutter at Chelsea last season. A decent season, a trophy, but not that coveted Champions League spot.
Predicted – 4th. Rating 6.5/10
6. Southampton
What a brilliant end to the season for the Saints who have won five of their last six games, drawing the other one. They pipped the Hammers to sixth spot and it just goes to show that sometimes it is not a bad thing to go slightly under the radar. With two games to go, the attention seeking halfwit Stan Collymore was criticising Southampton on his radio talk show. Their final position tells you exactly all you need to know.
Predicted – 11th. Rating 9/10
7. West Ham United
A very good season for the media’s favourite football club. I cannot wait to see them play in the stadium my tax money has helped them renovate. Slaven Bilic has done a very sound job in his first Premier League season. He will no doubt be proud of the way his team have played at times throughout the season. In fairness, they are a match for anyone on their day with Dmitri Payet on form. Seventh spot is no easy achievement.
Predicted – 12th. Rating 8/10
8. Liverpool
The Reds reached two cup finals and unfortunately lost two cup finals – the Europa League and Capital One Cup. There are signs of progression for the Merseyside club following the end of the Brendan Rodgers era. It was always going to be that way though after appointing the enigma that is Jurgen Klopp. There is plenty to come, and they might well be in the mix among the best of them next season. I got this prediction spot on.
Predicted – 8th. Rating 7/10
9. Stoke City
At times they looked like they were really going to be the surprise package I thought they could have been with the squad they have had at their disposal this season. A poor finish to the campaign put an end to that though, and there is talk among City fans that some are not quite as happy with Mark Hughes as they were twelve months ago.
Predicted – 6th. Rating 7/10.
10. Chelsea
All was not well at Stamford Bridge in the opening months of the campaign. Mourinho left his job as Chelsea manager after it appeared he had lost some of the dressing room. Nomadic caretaker Guus Hiddink helped steady the ship and after looking like they may be in for a rather unlikely flirt with relegation they easily pulled away and got their act together. On the whole though, outgoing champions finishing tenth has to be seen as a disaster.
Predicted – 1st. Rating 2/10
11. Everton
Not as disastrous as Chelsea a place above them, but many felt Everton would really kick on after a promising campaign in 2014/15. Martinez, now their former manager, just could not find the right balance. Everton can score for fun but their defence has more holes than a colander.
Predicted 8th. Rating 5/10
12. Swansea City
Another club whose manager did not manage to see out the season. Guidolin replaced Monk, after a period in charge for caretaker boss Curtis. Things could have ended badly for them, with some worrying form before a solid finish to the season. An off season may well have been overdue for a team who are usually well clear of safety come May. No massive complaints from their fans I imagine.
Predicted – 9th. Rating 6/10
13. Watford
Well this was a prediction I got quite badly wrong. Flores got this team playing some decent stuff, Deeney and Ighalo certainly proved their worth and the club could have a fight on their hands to keep them, especially the latter. There was never any real danger of relegation. I am not sure what the Watford board wanted from their man A very good season.
Predicted – 19th. Rating 8/10
14. West Bromwich Albion
Such was the excitement that Albion fans got from this season that I caught a gentleman asleep in his seat behind me on one occasion this season. Zzzzz. We did what we needed to, but my god it was dull.
Predicted – 13th. Rating 5/10
15. Crystal Palace
There was such a contrast between the Palace of 2015 and the Palace of 2016, aside from a terrific FA Cup run. Injuries to key players certainly did not help matters though. It was a real shame the Eagles did not manage to hold on to their lead in the final against Manchester United. I think they would have been worthy winners and despite not lifting the trophy, it goes to show what can happen when one of the teams not traditionally at the top end of table take the competition seriously.
Predicted – 10th. Rating 6.5/10
16. AFC Bournemouth
They did about as well as I thought they would. In what was their first ever season in the top flight of English football, they did not ever look out of place and the day they beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge will live long in the memory for Cherries fans.
Predicted – 15th. Rating 8/10
17. Sunderland
The Mackems won their yearly battle with relegation once again, and in doing so made sure their rivals Newcastle fell into the Championship. Dick Advocaat could not repeat his heroics of the season before and the best man for the job in Sam Allardyce replaced him. As many thought he would, he made them harder to beat. Another year in the top flight.
Predicted – 16th. Rating 6/10
18. Newcastle United
I personally get very bored with the whole ‘they are great supporters up there in Newcastle’ rubbish. I will not miss them. I bet relegation was the fault of Alan Pardew as well.
Predicted – 14th. Rating – 3/10
19. Norwich City
The Canaries were just not good enough. It was not for the want of trying. I think it can been seen as a season where their squad will learn and re-group.
Predicted – 20th. Rating 5/10
20. Aston Villa
My friends down the road are a complete laughing stock and I for one could not be happier about it. Another of those clubs like Newcastle that think they have a right to be in the top spots every season because they have a little bit of history and a large following. Let us just see how many of that following are up for Championship games next season.
Predicted – 17th. Rating 0/10
Thanks for reading this season, I may be back next term with more of the same. I hope you have enjoyed reading my ramblings as much as I have writing them.
