Feature Articles 2024/25

The mafia is a form of clan, cooperation to which it’s individual members pledge lifelong loyalty…….friendship, connections, family ties and obedience…..the glue that holds them together. You could be forgiven for seeing the similarities between the ethos and officiating in the Premier League. Even the retired referees will never speak foul of anyone in the ‘family’.

Arsenal headed into this season with most pundits seeing them as the only team capable of dethroning Man City at the summit of the Premier League. The transformation of The Gunners under Mikel Arteta has won him plenty of plaudits, but despite this success the trophy room at The Emirates still seems somewhat barren. Fans were hoping this would be the season they end their long wait for another title.

When Steve Cooper was relieved of his duties at Nottingham Forest, the feeling with the fans was one of loss. The manager was well-liked at the City Ground and everyone wanted to see him succeed. Having brought in a wealth of players in the transfer window, he struggled to discover what his best team was and results suffered. Evangelos Marinakis is not known for his patience.

It seems to be a reoccurring bad dream for their fans but Man Utd have just never found the right formula since Sir Alex Ferguson ended his stint as manager. Since then, the Old Trafford outfit has had eight managers including Erik ten Hag. Despite this, the Red Devils have failed to win the Premier League title since their victorious 2012/13 campaign. They have spent in the region of £1.6bn on player transfers during that time.

It has been a rollercoaster of a last twelve months for Brighton fans. It all started off like a dream for their fanbase as the club qualified for Europe for the first time in their 122-year history. Then, after the draw was made, they discovered their fate. They would be facing AEK Athens, Marseille and Ajax in their Europa League group.

Premier League fans up and down the country are feeling the anticipation of another season on the horizon. The summer seems to drag and there is no excuse not to go shopping with the better-half. The Euros offered a stop-gap but all it really underlined is how there really is no competition quite like the English Premier League. Non-stop thrills, spills and excitement with the occasional sprinkling of anger and disappointment. That said, we wouldn’t change it for the world. Apart from VAR, we would definitely change that, or possibly scrap it. We take a look at the prospects of each side for the forthcoming season.

Southampton bowed out of the top-flight after an eleven year stay as they were relegated to the Championship. Losing James Ward-Prowse and Romeo Lavia seemed inevitable after going down but meant the club needed to rebuild without these two key players. Despite this, they were still one of the favourites to make an immediate return.

Ipswich Town have ended a 22-year absence from the Premier League as Kieran McKenna steered the Tractor Boys back to the promised land after a season no one saw coming. Finishing second in the Championship table, they ensured their return to the top-flight.

Leicester City returned to the Premier League at the first time of asking, bouncing back from relegation the season before. They appointed Man City assistant manager Enzo Maresca as the man to get The Foxes to where they wanted to be.