Football would be boring if it was predictable, right. So rather than bask in all of my brilliant predictions of how the sport would play out over the last year [citation needed], I thought I’d laugh at some of things that I absolutely didn’t see coming.
NB: this does not say “all the things I got totally wrong in 2025”. There will be others…
Liverpool to defend the title
We do a season predictions feature at the start of every campaign, because it’s nice to have your horrifically poor foresight documented for all to see. I was hardly alone in predicting Liverpool to retain the Premier League, but I just didn’t see any way that a very good squad that dominated one season + apparent upgrades on several players in key positions couldn’t = more of the same.
That, it appears, was not smart. And so we begin…
Earps over Hampton
I didn’t think that England would defend their European Championship title, but the shame of that is slightly mitigated by their route through the tournament: losing to France, winning two penalty shootouts and scoring in the 96th and 119th minutes to beat Italy. Fine margins.
But what I certainly didn’t foresee was Hannah Hampton becoming the best goalkeeper in the world this year, or certainly the one that made the biggest difference. I figured that dropping Mary “big game” Earps was a risk not worth taking with so much other uncertainty around form and selection (particularly given the absence of Millie Bright).
Sunderland straight back down
The Premier League had worn me down. The last six promoted clubs had gone straight back down and I didn’t dare to predict that anyone could bridge that gap. Wolves being one of the worst Premier League teams in history has helped, but Sunderland deserve all the credit for both their recruitment and the ability of Regis Le Bris to knit it all together.
Sunderland probably aren’t quite safe yet but I’m prepared to be wrong twice in saying that the rest of this season will be enjoyable simply because supporters can enjoy the ride. That was unthinkable six months ago.
Postecoglou’s second chance
I was in Seville to watch Ange Postecoglou’s first European game in charge of Forest. Despite one draw from games against Arsenal, Swansea and Burnley before it, the quality of Forest’s play with and without the ball during the first half persuaded me that he could build something.
Ah well. Postecoglou was sacked after only eight – winless – games in charge, Forest immediately went for the risk-averse option of Sean Dyche and have won seven games in 12 since. Ange will struggle to get another job in England.
Why appoint Frank Lampard?
On 2 January, 2025, Coventry City were 14th in the Championship. Frank Lampard had been in charge for nine league games, winning three, drawing three and losing three. Supporters were angry at owner Doug King for a decision that they perceived was based upon fame rather than ability. Why replace Mark Robins with this?
Points at league table: Yeah, fair enough. Coventry have been the most dominant team in their league in English professional football this season. They are free-scoring, occasionally open defensively but it hardly matters when you’re picking up 2.24 points per game and 12 points clear of third place. Along the way, Lampard has rebuilt his own reputation.
We’d have a Man City verdict by now
“Man City’s 115 charges: Premier League’s 12-week hearing concludes with decision expected in spring,” read one headline in December 2024. Most media outlets and journalists were on the same page. After months of rumour and counter-rumour, we didn’t know how the case would shake out.
But we did think an initial verdict, along with punishment pending appeal for proven charges, would land in the first half of 2025. And still we wait. And still there would likely be appeals if it goes against Manchester City. And still we grow older and more weary.
Frank to impress at Tottenham
I didn’t think that Thomas Frank would supercharge Tottenham because the squad seemed imbalanced and I put more credence on the 17th-place finish than the Europa League win (I picked Spurs to finish ninth). But I absolutely didn’t think that Frank would look out of his depth to the point that the pressure would envelope him three months into the season.
There’s an obvious point to make: losing matches at Brentford was less of a national news story than it is at Spurs. But it’s the inflexibility tactically and the incapability to create dynamic patterns of attacking play that has underwhelmed me most.
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Tuchel’s crunch point
Because Thomas Tuchel had been appointed with a “win now” mandate, every setback seemed likely to become bigger than itself. So when England beat Andorra 1-0 and then lost to Senegal in the June international break, I feared that we may be witnessing a slump that England’s head coach could ill afford a year out from the World Cup.
Who knows what next summer brings, but Tuchel has absolutely got a firm grip back on this situation. England haven’t conceded in their six games since, Elliot Anderson has become a fixture in midfield and with it Tuchel has the balance right. It’s still win now or nothing, but I feel far happier than I did in June.
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