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, Crystal Palace, Brighton, West Ham, Aston 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
Bournemouth, Watford and Norwich all find themselves preparing for life in the Championship following relegation from the Premier League.
For the Cherries and Hornets, there were similarities. The two clubs had enjoyed relative mid-table security since being promoted together in 2015 but their five-year stays were ended after underwhelming seasons and final day heartbreak.
Norwich were slightly different. After some eye-catching wins, most notably a famous 3-2 victory over then-champions Man City in September, a drastic downturn in results meant the newly-promoted side knew from fairly early on that their stay would be lasting just the solitary season.
Either way, all three clubs now face a busy summer ahead if they want to bounce straight back up.
18th: Bournemouth
Season review – Forgetting basics was so costly: Everyone’s second favourite team finally ran out of goodwill, forgetting the basics of staying up.
Injury problems did clear, but Eddie Howe’s naïve side were forever porous at the back and offered little consistent threat going forward, with only the Wilsons – Callum and Harry – scoring more than six and the Ryan Fraser fiasco a distraction.
Targets in:
1. Nathaniel Clyne (free agent)
2. Tyrese Campbell (Stoke)
3. Joe Lolley (Nottingham Forest)
Targets out:
1. Callum Wilson
2. Artur Boruc
3. Jefferson Lerma
19th: Watford
Season review – Only have themselves to blame: Hardly a week seemed to go by without the Hornets sacking a manager, and just when they appeared safe, confidence went to pieces in the final fortnight after Nigel Pearson left.
Troy Deeney is not getting any younger (Ed’s note: He’s not that old, you cheeky b…) and a quick return could be a big ask for a mentally weak side.
Targets in:
1. Teemu Pukki (Norwich)
2. Karlan Grant (Huddersfield)
3. Bradley Dack (Blackburn)
Targets out:
1. Roberto Pereyra
2. Andre Gray
3. Étienne Capoue
20th: Norwich City
Season review – Inevitable outcome: The commendable decision not to overspend was always going to give Daniel Farke’s side an uphill task.
An eye-catching start quickly fizzled out, as did the form of Todd Cantwell and Teemu Pukki.
They will sell their impressive youngsters (Ben Godfrey, Jamal Lewis, Max Aarons et al), generate funds, and be there or thereabouts to return.
Targets in:
1. Macauley Bonne (Charlton Athletic)
2. Lyle Taylor (free agent)
3. Matthew Dennis (free agent)
Targets out:
1. Alexander Tettey
2. Onel Hernandez
3. Mario Vrancic
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More on the Premier League
- Transfer window: 8 players who could be on the move this summer
- What the overturned Champions League ban means for Man City’s rivals
- 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
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