Premier League Review
Another season down in the PL with City (yawn) claiming their 4th on the trot. Hard to say they didn't deserve it either, with Arsenal pushing them really hard, they withstood the pressure, stepped up and won. One of the most fun seasons I've watched with plenty of twists, strange results and goals. Rather odd that it co-incided with Englands arguably worst season in Europe in a long time. So let's wrap it up.
City: Champs again, phenomenal team full of phenomenal players with a generational manager.
Arsenal: Decent enough choke again, the loss vs Villa the difference between 1st and 2nd
Liverpool: Klopp didn't get his dream farewell as once again he proved, he cannot manage a title race.
Villa: Wow! What a season for them, huge kudos to Emery.
Spurs: Excellent first season for Postecoglu, hard to beat at home and epitome of the fun season
Chelsea: Poch worked it out in the last quarter (pass it to Cole), great launchpad for next year
Newcastle: Bit of an also-ran season after last year, Howe has some off season thinking to do
Man Utd: Ten Hag been sacked yet? Colossally underachieving squad.
West Ham: Farewell to Moyes whose been superb, shame the fan base didn't really appreciate it
Palace: Unbelievable finish and mid table a superb return for this club
Brighton: De Zerbi leaves with a job very well done. Always threatening, not always getting what deserved
Bournemouth: Similar to Palace, fans must be happy with this season
Fulham: Look the full Premiership team this year with a disappointing end to the season.
Wolves: Sold, but not spectacular. Suspect fans will want more next year
Everton: Fans happy to see them stay up which isn't good enough for a club of this calibre. Financial difficulties will continue to unfold, but perhaps worst is behind them
Brentford: Another good season, have a feeling they will struggle next after the last couple as don't seem to be moving forwards
Notts Forest: Perhaps could have done better as Wood had decent service. Will be happy to stay in though
Luton Town: Disappointing to see them go down, epitome of the fun season with Spurs. Will be missed
Burnley: Back to the championship, with that perhaps a better reflection of their level
Sheffield United: Totally not up to it, arguably would have gone down in the Championship as well
Awards
One Man Team Award:
Must go to Cole Palmer at Chelsea. Absolutely carried them through the middle part and then when the team realised that working with him was the way forwards, results came. Penalty fight vs Everton epitome of Chelseas lows. A true football hero in the middle of a bunch of over paid prima donnas.
Worst Call Of The Year:
@MajorRage said in EPL 2023/2024:
I think Rice is going to be a complete failure at Arsenal. There is no way he's worth 105mm & the pressure of it will tell.
Dickhead Of The Year:
Hotly contested award with plenty of contenders, but I'm going with West Ham fans. Moyes has done more for your club than anybody and he agrees it's time to depart, but all your Moyes Out signs when you've been in the top half of the table shows just how much you think you are above your station. Dickheads.
Toughest Challenge For Next Year Award:
Ratcliffe. What are you going to do when you learn that ten Hag wasn't the biggest problem, your over paid for bunch of talent is. Good luck fella, will need.
We Will Miss You Award:
Luton Town, what a club to have in the EPL. Walk through the postman's back garden to enter the stadium, then have no clue what you'll get. Down 3-0 at half time? Doesn't mean anything ..... So much fun to watch week in, week out.
Departing Manager Award:
Lots to choose from here, but I'm going to give it to Klopp. Not only did he manage to win the EPL once in his 8 years, but he managed to turn the worlds biggest fan club of over entitled one eyed fools, into something even .... worse. He shall be missed, but I'm sure I'll keep hearing the he would have won so much more if it wasn't for cheating City line over and over again .... Fun fact. He didn't.
Biggest Thing Of Last Year To A Bit Nothing This Year:
Newcastle. Talked about at every level the entire season last year, but a bit of an also ran season this one.
Spirit of the Premier League award:
I'm giving this to my colleague Carl. Season ticket holder at Spurs for 25 years, 42 year old Dad of 2 boys, loving father, fantastic husband and hard worker. He gets it for, in his words "punching the lights out of the Spurs fan supporting City. I'll always support the team, fuck that". The best part is he took a Dutch graduate to the game and it all unfolded in front of him. Legend.
Proper Awards
Manager Of The Year:
Really tough this one, but I'm giving it to Emery. Villa were superb from the get go and he managed it superbly. Guardiola superb as always, and this could have been Arteta's if they'd gotten over the line. But for sheer punching above expectations, it's gotta be Unai.
Signing Of The Year:
I'm giving this one to Palmer. Perhaps Rice was a better overall, but he came with a huge amount of talent, fanfare, talk & coverage. Palmer didn't, and he did more for his team than Rice.
Player Of The Year:
Honourable mentions to Palmer, Odegaard, Rice, Watkins but I have to go with Foden for this one. Sheer talent, sheer will and some fantastic goals. When somebody outshines Haaland, De Bruyne, Grealish ... the list goes on ... they have to be somebody special.
The Major Rage Overall Award:
And the big one, the one you've all been waiting for. I don't think there has been a bigger standout for me across the season this year as much as previous ones. Loads of talent out there, loads of excellent games, loads of brilliant watching but I think one person just sums it up for me. I acknowledge this come from left field but I have absolutely fucking loved Ange Postecoglu. I can't even really explain why, maybe it's because he's really just a fat Aussie bastard, but I've loved it.