If it ain't broke, don't fix it
6 June 2024
End of Season Review
After a Premier League season that ended in a climactic finish, it underpins why this is the most-watched league in the world. As ever, we had sackings, thrills, spills and surprises. Now that the dust has settled on the 2023/24 campaign, we take a look at each team and how things panned out for them.
Man City
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Much of the talk will be about the 115 charges hanging over the head of Pep Guardiola’s side but it seems there is more of a chance of world peace than this coming to an end anytime soon. The one thing you cannot deny is that their Spanish manager gets his sides hitting top gear at the right time of the season.
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Once again, they hit form at the business end of the campaign which saw them win their fourth consecutive Premier League title, the first team to do so. Phil Foden was a real stand out performer as he truly showed his potential, stepping up to the plate while Kevin De Bruyne continued his comeback from injury. Erling Haaland showed he is no one season wonder as he once again scooped the golden boot. If Premier League sanctions cannot stop them, nobody can.
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Season rating: 9/10
Credit: @ManCity
Arsenal
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After huge investment in their squad during the summer, Gunners’ fans were hoping to go one step further than their second-placed finish the season before. Despite spending a large amount of the campaign top of the table, it proved to be a goal out of their reach once again. Defeat at home to Unai Emery’s Aston Villa being the catalyst that allowed City to take control of the title race.
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Declan Rice was a huge positive as he added solidity to the midfield but the elephant in the room for Mikel Arteta’s side was their lack of an out and out striker. This is something they will need to address before the next campaign. Whether the owners will show the same level of investment as the previous summer remains to be seen.
Season rating: 8/10
Liverpool
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The Reds went into the season knowing that they were a side in transition after Jurgen Klopp rebuilt their midfield during the summer. No-one expected them to end the season with the German announcing he would be leaving the club at the end of the campaign. That aside, they were in pole position at the start of 2024 but things ended up going south rapidly.
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Considering they were without the influential Alisson for a large part of the season, Kelleher proved a more than capable stand in. The youth coming through from the academy is a major positive, as was the form of Alexis Mac Allister and Harvey Elliott. With Arne Slot taking the helm at Anfield, it should be an interesting summer for Reds’ fans. Despite dropping out of the title race late on, sealing Champions League football would have been the main aim heading into the campaign.
Season rating: 7/10
Aston Villa
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Rarely do we see such an overhaul of the sides who secure Champions League qualification in the Premier League. However, Unai Emery’s team were to have a season to remember, turning Villa Park into a fortress for the majority of the campaign. They did a league double over Mikel Arteta’s side and inflicted defeat on Man City at home to show they were ready to go toe-to-toe with the big boys. Add to that a late comeback in a 3-3 thriller with Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool.
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There were many positives in the Midlands this season but one of the stand-out performers was striker Ollie Watkins. His 19 goals and 13 assists played a huge part in Emery’s side ending a 42-year absence from Europe’s elite competition. The Spaniard will be hoping he can keep hold of his key players while having money to invest for their European adventures next season. John McGinn proved a pivotal cog in their midfield as ever.
Season rating: 9/10
Credit: @AVFCOfficial
Tottenham
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In Ange Postecoglou’s first season at the club, Spurs finished in a respectable fifth place. After losing Harry Kane to Bayern Munich, many fans were concerned with the direction the club were heading. They spent a period at the top of the table which gave supporters false hope of a push for a Premier League title to end a 63-year wait but it was not to be. Eventually, they struggled to keep pace with Aston Villa for that coveted fourth place in the table.
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The additions of Micky van de Ven and Guglielmo Vicario really added to the team but all too often Postecoglou’s side found consistency a problem. The manager was clearly frustrated at points of the season and questions posed to him by the media. That said, it may well be the mentality the club need in a manager and they certainly have picked one who is used to winning trophies from his time at Celtic. It will be interesting to see how that always awkward second season pans out.
Season rating: 6/10
Chelsea
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West London has seen more drama than the set of EastEnders in recent years and this one was no different. Languishing in the bottom half of the table for the majority of the season, many questioned Todd Boehly’s spend of over £1bn on players since taking over the club. Fans had hoped the Pochettino era would herald the good times at Stamford Bridge once again but that failed to deliver and the Argentine decided to part company with the club as soon as the campaign ended.
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Lots of their big transfers have struggled to settle in, Moises Caicedo looks a shadow of the player he was at Brighton. Enzo Fernandez just does not do enough to warrant a £105m transfer fee. The one shining light for Chelsea was the signing of Cole Palmer. His 22 goals and 11 assists left him second only to Erling Haaland, with many stating the fact Man City sold him for a measly £40m should be their 116th Premier League charge.
Season rating: 5/10
Newcastle
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On the back of a season to remember for The Magpies, it all turned sour very quickly this campaign. They exited Europe at the earliest point possible and struggled to juggle domestic and European adventures. While Eddie Howe pointed at their injury list often, it was no different to any other club in the league. It does underpin the lack of quality in the depth of their squad and how they had over-performed in the previous season.
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Towards the end of the season they managed to improve their league position and seemingly secure European football for the next term. That was ended by Man Utd’s FA Cup win which robbed them of a Europa Conference League spot. Newcastle struggled to compete with the big sides and will need some serious investment to do so next campaign. Getting Sandro Tonali back from his ban will seem like a new signing compared to this season but will not be the answer to everything. The form of Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon were huge positives for The Magpies.
Season rating: 6/10
Credit: @NUFC
Man Utd
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It was another torrid season at the ‘Theatre of Streams’. The only thing with more holes than their defence seems to be the Old Trafford roof. They finished in their lowest position since the Premier League began and faced a record number of shots only bettered by two of the teams relegated. No longer do teams fear playing them away from home with a number of sides taking all three points in Manchester.
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The future of manager Erik ten Hag hangs in the balance, as it has all season, and the arrival of Sir Jim Ratcliffe has not proven him to be the Messiah all claimed. The club needs an overhaul from top to bottom and you wonder how long this will take. Bruno Fernandes carried the team with his creativity and goals, it is a heavy burden that weighs on his shoulders. While a clear-out is planned for the summer, something miraculous needs to happen to turn them into top four contenders.
Season rating: 4/10
West Ham
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It was a season of ups and downs for David Moyes. At times, they seemed capable of causing any side in the league problems but much of this rested on the form of Jarrod Bowen. When they weren’t firing on all cylinders they were on the receiving end of some real hidings. The fans voiced their anger and the owners decided not to renew the manager’s contract and announced that they would be parting ways at the end of the season.
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Mohammed Kudus proved to be a real addition to the squad and Lucas Paqueta showed his class, albeit inconsistently. When he is on his game, the Brazilian is good enough to grace any team in this league and The Hammers may struggle to keep their key player. Julen Lopetegui has been announced as the club’s new manager and you would think the board will make money available for him to spend to put his own stamp on the squad.
Season rating: 6/10
Crystal Palace
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It was an emotional rollercoaster of a year at Selhurst Park. They flirted with relegation and saw iconic manager Roy Hodgson removed from his role. Oliver Glasner came in to take the helm but not a lot changed in the early stages. One thing is for sure, this side is a completely different proposition when both Eze and Olise feature. The pair had their injury problems this season which cost The Eagles dearly.
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Towards the end of the campaign, Jean-Phillipe Mateta found his scoring boots. He started to form a dangerous front three with Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise. This saw Glasner’s side win six of their last nine league matches to finish in tenth place. This was to be their best finish in the Premier League and give the fans real hope for the future under their new manager. However, the integral part will be keeping hold of their prized assets if they hope to build on this season.
Season rating: 7/10
Credit: @CPFC
Brighton
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It proved a tough season for Roberto De Zerbi’s side as they looked to juggle both domestic football and their European exploits. During the summer The Seagulls lost two key players in Alexis Mac Allister and Moises Caicedo so this campaign was always going to be a rebuilding process. While Brighton struggled to replicate their form of seasons past, the big surprise was their manager announcing he would be leaving his role prior to their last game.
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The club are no closer to announcing a new manager and speculation continues as to who is likely to fill the hotseat. There is no doubt that Brighton have a lot of young talent in their ranks and the right appointment should see them continue to cement themselves as a top ten Premier League side. Holding onto some of their key players will play an important factor in any rebuild.
Season rating: 6/10
Bournemouth
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Andoni Iraola was favourite with the bookmakers to be the first Premier League manager to be sacked in the early part of the season as The Cherries struggled to find any form. However, the club gave the Spaniard time and they were to secure their highest ever finish in the top-flight. Dominic Solanke starred in the campaign and bagged an impressive 19 goals in the league. The emergence of Ryan Christie in the heart of midfield was another huge positive for Iraola’s side.
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Bournemouth had many impressive results in the season, none more so than their first-ever victory at Old Trafford. The manager seems to have instilled confidence in his players and they no longer fear sides and continue to play their passing game. Iraola even bagged the manager of the month award for March, the first time anyone had done so at the club since Eddie Howe in 2018. Holding onto their talismanic striker will be important for them to build on this campaign next season.
Season rating: 7/10
Fulham
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Being a fan of The Cottagers can be a frustrating hobby. They continue to have a real Jekyll and Hyde personality and you never know which side is going to turn up for any given game. Marco Silva’s side flirted with relegation at one point but managed to string results together to ensure they were not embroiled in the battle to stay up. Towards the end of the campaign, Rodrigo Muniz started to find the back of the net helping their cause.
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With limited resources at the club, Marco Silva continues to do a sterling job in West London. Such is the nature of their business model, it is always key that they find cheap signings and develop them into much better players. As with most clubs, they were hampered by injuries and fans will feel with a few good additions and a little more luck in keeping players out of the treatment room the future is bright for next season.
Season rating 6/10
Credit: @FulhamFC
Wolves
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Gary O’Neil took the helm at Molineux just before the start of the season. It is always a tough ask to do this but the manager quickly imprinted his style of play of the squad. Quite rightly, the club felt they suffered most from dubious VAR decisions which definitely cost them a lot of points this season. Key players spent long spells out on the sidelines and Wolves struggled to fill those gaps with a lack of quality in the squad depth.
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Many questioned the appointment of O’Neil but he proved in his first season that he could be an ideal fit for the club. Given a full summer to negotiate transfers and work with the players there is no reason Wolves could not become a side who finish in the top half of the table. They will need to strengthen and hold on to some of their star players. On their day, the Midlands club can cause problems for any side in the Premier League.
Season rating: 6/10
Everton
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It was an emotional campaign on Merseyside with fans feeling they were playing the powers that be along with the rest of the teams in the league. Two points deductions cost them dearly and only a fine run of form towards the back end of the season secured their safety. While Toffees’ fans vented their anger towards the Premier League, they should be more focussed on how poorly the club is being run as they admitted to overspending in both breaches.
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Jordan Pickford was a standout performer for Everton and was close to winning the golden gloves award which is impressive considering the season they had. Scoring goals continued to be a problem for Sean Dyche’s side and they will need to address this. That could be tricky with the club admitting that they will need to sell some of their stars to balance the books at Goodison Park. Should the likes of Pickford and Branthwaite move on, it could be another painful season for their long-suffering fans.
Season rating: 5/10
Brentford
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Many people overlook the magic of what Thomas Frank has done at Brentford. Turning this club into a mainstay of the Premier League is about as impressive as it comes. With limited resources and the need to find future stars from obscure locations, The Bees did particularly well to ensure that they will be playing in the top-flight next season. Holding onto striker Ivan Toney may prove difficult and he was definitely missed during his ban for betting breaches.
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The acquisition of Neal Maupay on loan from Everton proved to be a shrewd bit of business. When the club had Mbuemo and Toney back, linking up with Wissa, they looked like their old selves once again. Defensively, they need to strengthen as they conceded a lot of goals during the campaign. With their manager being linked to more high-profile jobs, the first aim of the summer will be to ensure they can persuade him to continue his Brentford adventure.
Season rating: 5/10
Credit: @BrentfordFC
Nott’m Forest
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It was a bizarre season in Nottingham. Their owner shows no patience for anyone whether it be a manager, officials or the Premier League. They suffered a points deduction for breaching ‘profit and sustainability’ rules and their place in the top-flight was under question right up until the last day of the season. Nuno Espirito Santo came in as manager and was able to secure Premier League football for another season. Nobody was surprised by the breach considering they had brought more bodies into the country than most prolific people-traffickers.
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Morgan Gibbs-White carried the torch for the club as ever and was integral to everything they did. Adding Matz Sels in the January transfer window proved to be a good bit of business. Scoring goals proved a constant burden, something the club will need to rectify for next season. Victory on the last day of the season made their survival look far more comfortable but the fans will be hoping for a less stressful campaign next time out.
Season rating: 5/10
Luton Town
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From the moment they won the play-off final, it seemed somewhat of a fever-induced dream to see Luton Town gracing the Premier League. They didn’t change their style and looked to go toe-to-toe with the big boys from the off. All too often their defending looked like the sort of disorganised kickabout you would expect to see on school playgrounds up and down the country. That said, you could not fault the passion of their manager and players.
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Suffering the loss of captain Tom Lockyer due to a cardiac episode during a game really tested the mental strength of all involved at the club. The Hatters never gave up and looked at Premier League survival as a scene from ‘Escape to Victory’. As hard as they tried, it was just beyond them and the fairytale ended all too soon for the fans. It will be interesting to see how the club regroups and if they are able to get promoted again for a long-awaited sequel.
Season rating: 6/10
Burnley
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The club looked underprepared for the task at hand from the first whistle of the season to the last. A lack of firepower up top and proving too easy to open up at the back was a formula that was never going to end well. Towards the end of the season, The Clarets seemed to have found their feet in the Premier League more but the damage was already done. The owners resisted overspending and jeopardising the long-term future of the club.
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Losing Vincent Kompany to Bayern Munich was a cruel blow to receive at the end of a disappointing season. While Craig Bellamy has been appointed as interim manager, it is anyone’s guess whether they will have what it takes to come straight back up. You would expect a period of transition as they look to change focus from what the previous manager intended. The fans will be hoping they have learned from this adventure and would attack another season in top-flight far better.
Season rating: 4/10
Credit: @BurnleyOfficial
Sheff Utd
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It was nothing short of a horror film for Sheff Utd from start to finish. They received some real batterings throughout the course of the season and looked so far out of their depth, the only real surprise was nobody stepping in to intervene. Conceding 104 goals during their campaign broke an unwanted Premier League record for The Blades. It just looked so easy for sides to score goals against them for large parts of the campaign.
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Amassing a mere 16 points all season just showed how out of place Chris Wilder’s side were in the top-flight. A lot will need to change if they plan on a return anytime soon. The gulf between the Championship and Premier League was there for all to see. The one shining light was Man City loanee James McAtee but he could not do it all on his own. It was an experience for the players and fans but had it been a boxing match, the towel would have been thrown in by November.
Season rating: 2/10
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