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
West Ham and Aston Villa left it late but escaped relegation and can plan for another year in the Premier League.
Brighton looked in trouble for a little while but Graham Potter will be relatively pleased with his first season in charge, while Steve Bruce did his best in trying circumstances at Newcastle and will hope new owners take charge sooner rather than later (as long as they decide to keep him on!).
As for Crystal Palace, European qualification had looked a possibility at one stage until a dreadful run of post-lockdown form saw them plummet into bottom-half obscurity again.
All five clubs will be hoping to kick on and improve next year.
13th: Newcastle
Season review – Bruce’s impossible job: Takeover, what takeover? Steve Bruce will never get the credit his work on Tyneside deserves, however much he yearns for it. Until ownership is determined, he cannot prepare for next season. Perenially misfiring strikers could do with some competition, as could a weak defence. Allan Saint-Maximin must stay.
Targets in:
1. Callum Wilson (Bournemouth)
2. Todd Cantwell (Norwich)
3. Ismaila Sarr (Watford)
Targets out:
1. DeAndre Yedlin
2. Yoshinori Muto
3. Jamaal Lascelles
14th: Crystal Palace
Season review – Squad looks stale: Roy’s boys paid the price for their form immediately before lockdown – after achieving relative safety by mid-March, the players seemed to lose focus. Wilf Zaha wants off (again) and the rest of a stale squad needs an almighty overhaul if Hodgson – if indeed he stays – is to keep Palace among big boys.
Targets in:
1. Flynn Downes (Ispwich)
2. James Tarkowski (Burnley)
3. Nathaniel Clyne (free agent)
Targets out:
1. Wilfried Zaha
2. Max Meyer
3. Christian Benteke
15th: Brighton
Season review – Steady improvement: The Seagulls soared after lockdown, bullying Arsenal and Norwich and holding Leicester and Southampton as Graham Potter’s side showed pleasing signs of learning how to hold their own to secure safety. Have found consistency and possess enough young talent to stick around for a couple more seasons yet.
Targets in:
1. Teemu Pukki (Norwich)
2. Matt Targett (Aston Villa)
3. Abdoulaye Doucoure (Watford)
Targets out:
1. Glenn Murray
2. Joze Izquierdo
3. Bernardo
16th: West Ham
Season review – Should do much better: Early-season flirtations with the top five fooled no one, and the end of Manuel Pellegrini’s reign was as expected as David Moyes’ return was not. The latter fared little better, only keeping the Hammers up thanks to a kind run-in. Tomas Soucek and Jarrod Bowen, and consistency from Michail Antonio, could spark a push for top 10. Declan Rice and Issa Diop have to stay.
Targets in:
1. Ollie Watkins (Brentford)
2. Eberechi Eze (QPR)
3. Ryan Fraser (free agent)
Targets out:
1. Felipe Anderson
2. Jack Wilshere
3. Roberto
17th: Aston Villa
Season review – Something to build on: Unexpectedly hauled themselves clear of danger thanks to fortunate officiating and talisman Jack Grealish belatedly rediscovering his form. Distracted by a Carabao Cup run, Dean Smith’s side spent most of the season in trouble and any departure of Grealish or John McGinn could set them back again.
Targets in:
1. Daniel Sturridge (free agent)
2. Alexander Sorloth (Crystal Palace)
3. Sil Swinkels (Vitesse)
Targets out:
1. Mbwana Samatta
2. Danny Drinkwater
3. Marvelous Nakamba
Follow i sport on Facebook for the latest Premier League news, interviews and features
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
from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/31c3wNB
Post a Comment