At the end of the longest Premier League season on record, i is assessing all 20 teams: what went right, what went wrong, and what they need to do in the transfer window.
We’re starting with the relegated sides on Tuesday afternoon and working our way up to the top four on Thursday.
Here’s a schedule of what to expect (follow us on Facebook and Twitter so you don’t miss out):
- Tuesday PM: The Relegated – Bournemouth, Watford, Norwich
- Wednesday AM: The Survivors – Newcastle, Palace, Brighton, West Ham, Villa
- Wednesday PM: The Mid-Table – Sheff Utd, Burnley, Southampton, Everton
- Thursday AM: The European Contenders – Leicester, Spurs, Wolves, Arsenal
- Thursday PM: The Top Table: Liverpool, Man City, Man Utd, Chelsea
The four clubs who finished in positions 9th to 12th in the Premier League will have ended their seasons with with varying emotions.
Those involved with Sheffield United will probably be feeling a tinge of disappointment after looking like European contenders for so long – although they should of course be pleased with a remarkable season after being written off by so many following promotion from the Championship.
Burnley will be quietly content with yet another solid season in the top flight, albeit with concerns over the future of manager Sean Dyche.
Southampton, meanwhile, will be pleased after bouncing back from that 9-0 defeat to Leicester into becoming one of the form teams in the league in the past few months, while Everton… well, Everton had a very Everton season.
9th: Sheffield United
Season review – Tough act to follow: Their season was not dissimilar to Leicester’s: a strong start but ran out of fizz. Wilder learnt on the job and adapted quickly, but appeared to realise the Blades would fall short of Europe, despite peaks against Chelsea and Spurs. He must build on the goodwill and experience to avoid second season syndrome.
Targets in:
1. Hans Hateboer (Atalanta)
2. Kasper Dolberg (Nice)
3. Mikel Merino (Real Sociedad)
Targets out:
1. David McGoldrick
2. Lys Mousset
3. Jack Rodwell
10th: Burnley
Season review – Deeper pockets required: After last season’s European foray threatened to destabilise the club, the Clarets rediscovered their mean streak to finish in the top half for a second time in thee seasons. Keeping hold of Nick Pope, James Tarkowski and Dwight McNeil could be a big ask for Dyche, who has spoken of his dissatisfaction at Turf Moor budgets…
Targets in:
1. Osayi Samuel (QPR)
2. Macauley Bonne (Charlton Athletic)
3. Todd Cantwell (Norwich)
Targets out:
1. Matej Vydra
2. Ben Gibson
3. Robbie Brady
11th: Southampton
Season review – Patience rewarded: We promise not to mention the 9-0 any more! Fans feared the worst, and with good reason, after a shambolic humbling in October, but how they turned it around. The board deserves credit for allowing Ralph Hasenhüttl to make amends, with Danny Ings to the fore. Eye-catching on the road, home form must be a focus.
Targets in:
1. Kyle Walker-Peters (Tottenham)
2. Matty Longstaff (Newcastle)
3. Weston McKennie (Schalke)
Targets out:
1. Shane Long
2. Yan Valery
12th: Everton
Season review – Strikers need help: For all the goodwill generated by Carlo Ancelotti’s arrival, the team often looked worryingly average on the way to a lowest league finish in 16 years. A shake up of the defence is needed – how many more chances for Jordan Pickford and Michael Keane? – and a target man to ease the burden on Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison.
Targets in:
1. Wesley Fofana (Saint Etienne)
2. Gabriel Magalhaes (Lille)
3. Thiago Silva (free agent)
Targets out:
1. Gylfi Sigurdsson
2. Fabian Delph
3. Muhamed Besic
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- Kevin Garside: Man City’s attention should now turn to Europe… with hope of becoming Liverpool 2019
- Leicester’s Morgan reveals PL plans on taking a knee for rest of the campaign and beyond
- From world-beater at Liverpool to a failure at Barça, Newcastle may be Coutinho’s only hope
from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/2P5YY5x
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