Premier League Season Review (Part I)

The 2019/2020 Premier League season has finally ended, almost a year when the season started. The season will be known as the season where football was stopped for three months due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, to the credit of the league, the season was finally finished on the field rather than any technicality. Liverpool were crowned champions for the first time in thirty years while Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea will play in the Champions League next season. Leicester City and Tottenham will play Europa League football next season while Norwich City, Bournemouth and Watford were relegated from the Premier League and will play in the EFL Championship next season. It has been a long season with a long review to follow. Here's the first part of the Premier League season review.


Norwich City. Potential Finish: 17th. Final Position: 20th



Norwich City was expected to battle for relegation survival this season despite exciting many in the Championship last season, eventually winning the Championship title. With a number of young talent in Max Aarons, Jamal Lewis, Emiliano Buendía and Todd Cantwell plus the goalscoring exploits of Teemu Pukki, they had a chance to beat the drop. However, that wasn't the case. They were relegated finishing bottom of the table with 21 points, 17 points behind next placed Watford. They were unable to replicate their attacking style of football in the Premier League, scoring only 26 goals all season and conceded the most goals with 75. It's a disappointing season for the Canaries as they were unable to fight till the last few games of the season for their Premier League status. With relegation, the vultures will be coming after their young players and it would be important for them to keep the team they have as they will be vying for a swift return. For Daniel Farke, the aim is to get Norwich back and having spent very little last summer, the transition could be quite smooth. However, things can happen in the Championship. A poor season for the Canaries. 


Watford. Potential Finish: 14th. Final Position: 19th

 

This season has a turbulent one for Watford. The Pozzo's trigger happy approach with their managers has been successful in keeping them as a Premier League club. This season, they struggled to find any sort of consistency or stability which has ultimately led the Hornets to relegation. They have gone through four managers this season from Javi Garcia to Hayden Mullins but their most controversy decision was sacking Nigel Pearson two games before the end of the season. The former Leicester City has been in situations with relegation before, and gave the Hornets some sort of stability and belief that they would stay up. Their highlight was beating Liverpool 3-0 but the Pozzo's decision to remove Pearson in order to find that bounce they wanted to stay up did not work. They struggled where their captain Troy Deeney has been unavailable but given their experience in the top flight, this season has been a bad one for Watford. Both on and off the field. Maybe this could change how the Pozzos operates. Who knows?


Bournemouth. Potential Finish: 12th. Final Position: 18th



Bournemouth have been able to become climb through the Football League over the past few years, which eventually led them to the Premier League in 2015. They have stayed in the top flight thanks to their attack but there would be a time when their attack will fail them as their defence has been a problem, conceding over 60 goals per season. This season, their attack has fluttered this season, scoring 40 goals compared to the 56 they scored last season. Eddie Howe has done wonders for the Cherries but it seems that his golden touch has deserted him and questions will be raised if he should stay on Bournemouth manager or leave to further his career. The likes of Ryan Fraser, Joshua King and Callum Wilson failed to continue their heights they had last season while Nathan Aké is heavily linked with a move away from the Vitality stadium with the likes of Manchester City interested in the Dutch international. With a high percentage of their revenue going into wages plus a group of players that have ran their course, it would be interesting to see where the South Coast will go as their five year stay in England's top flight is over.


Aston Villa. Potential Finish: 16th. Final Position: 17th



Aston Villa's season back in the Premier League was not smooth sailing. Despite having a fair start to their season, injuries as well as their inability to hold on to leads put the Villans in a dire situation as they were in the relegation for much of the season. Dean Smith made some changes when the Premier League resumes as Villa become very difficult to break done and got decisive wins against Arsenal and Crystal Palace to keep them in the Premier League. Some decisions went in their favour, particularly the disallowed goal that they conceded in their goalless draw against Crystal Palace. With the likes of Wesley and John McGinn injured, Jack Grealish have to be the source of inspiration for Villa scoring more goals than any Villa player whilst creating chances for his teammates. His goal on the final day against West Ham was vital as Villa stayed up but questions still persist on whether he will stay at Villa Park. Villa wanted to stay up and they achieved that in the first attempt. They probably won't spend heavily this summer, so can Dean Smith improve the squad for next season?


West Ham United. Potential Finish: 10th. Final Position: 16th



West Ham will be very fortunate that they managed to stay in the Premier League next season but their season has been a very disappointing one. Given the money they spent on new acquisition, many expected them to finish at least in the top half of the table. However, the Hammers never found any sort of consistency and their new signings never gelled with their new teammates. Their poor run of results led to Manuel Pellegrini losing his job with former Manchester United manager David Moyes taking the job at the London. The Scot did just enough to keep West Ham afloat with Michail Antonio his go-to guy as the winger scored nine goals, becoming their top goalscorer. West Ham under their current owners have been making lofty ambitions for the club to challenge the big boys. Maybe they should just make West Ham a stable club and probably stay away from the club's affairs. Nevertheless, West Ham should do better next season following this.


Brighton and Hove Albion. Potential Finish: 18th. Final Position: 15th



Brighton appointed former Swansea manager Graham Potter after two years under Chris Hughton. It was a bold move for the Seagulls as well as it being a risky one, changing the way they play drastically which could put them in trouble. But it's fair to say to Brighton made the right decision as the South Coast managed to stay in the Premier League for another season and have become exciting to watch. Beating Tottenham and Arsenal twice this season has been the highlight whilst Neal Maupay has been a good signing coming from the Championship. With more improvement through recruitment and more experience with what Potter wants to do, Brighton may not have to worry about another relegation battle next season.


Crystal Palace. Potential Finish: 15th. Final Position: 14th



Crystal Palace were able to stay in the Premier League without being in the relegation dogfight for much of the season. However, their form at the end of the season was horrible, losing eight of their nine games. They have the oldest squad in the league and are heavily reliant on Ivorian winger Wilfried Zaha, who has had a poor season and will still be pushing for a move away from Selhurst Park. The Eagles will have to change up their squad with Christian Benteke still having another poor season or they could have a bad start to next season which could put them in trouble. Roy Hodgson has extended his contract for another year but will it be worth it?