Assessing the success, and failure, of the 2024-25 Premier League season

Ending in second place within the Premier League is sort of spectacular! It’s the very best league on the earth, and just one group was higher than the Gunners this 12 months. In actual fact, Arsenal have completed second three seasons in a row now. Ending in second might by no means be a disappointment. Nonetheless, that is Arsenal. It’s one of many greatest, most-successful soccer golf equipment on the earth. The time has come to really win the league, proper? To take dwelling a trophy with some substance? It’s been over 20 years since Arsenal’s final Premier League title. The clock is ticking.

Final season, Aston Villa stunned many by ending within the prime 4 and qualifying for the Champions League for the primary time in a long time. It wasn’t anticipated that Villa would end within the prime 4 once more and, certainly, it didn’t. As an alternative, the membership completed sixth, lacking out on the Champions League. Additionally, Villa’s plus-7 objective differential was tied for ninth. Nonetheless, for this membership, ending sixth continues to be stable, and it made essentially the most of its Champions League run, which needed to be enjoyable for followers.

Bournemouth have steadily climbed since returning to the Premier League three seasons in the past, having gone from fifteenth to twelfth to ninth this season. The Cherries did that even with Dominic Solanke transferring on. That’s good, however Bournemouth misplaced 12 video games and completed on 56 factors as properly. It was a slight enchancment, and thus a slight success. This isn’t a “simply completely happy to be right here” membership, so ending inside the highest half of the desk by a slender margin can solely yield a lot success.

Brentford additionally completed on 56 factors. It was tenth as a result of Bournemouth had a barely higher objective differential. So why does Bournemouth’s season qualify as a slight success and Brentford’s a full-on success? Nicely, previous to the 2021-22 season the Bees hadn’t performed within the prime flight because the 1946-47 marketing campaign. Brentford are a membership with a decrease price range getting by on guile and analytics. Ending prime half of the desk is huge for them.

Brighton completed eighth this season, although with a plus-7 objective differential. The membership has now completed between sixth and eleventh during the last 4 Premier League campaigns. This was a profitable season, although. They misplaced Pascal Gross from the midfield and noticed Roberto De Zerbi transfer on to Marseille. Brighton employed Fabian Hurzeler, barely over 30, as its new supervisor. That felt like a rebuilding transfer. As an alternative, Brighton didn’t miss a beat.

Chelsea have spent a lot cash and shuffled via so many managers. As soon as once more it yielded outcomes which might be high-quality for a membership like this. The Blues completed fourth, which suggests a visit to the Champions League. Solely three of the very best golf equipment on the earth during the last decade completed above them. And but, Chelsea don’t spend that type of cash to complete fourth. The membership is staying within the combine, however that’s a muted success.

Who cares that Palace completed twelfth with a objective differential of straight-up zero? Frankly, that will have been sufficient for a pat on the again and a “Good job, lads.” Nonetheless, the membership went on a exceptional (if considerably cynical, from a tactical perspective) run to win the FA Cup. For the primary time within the membership’s historical past — a historical past that goes again over a century — Crystal Palace have gained a significant trophy. It will get to play in Europa League subsequent season. That FA Cup win will reside on in membership lore for many years.

Granted, this season Everton completed on 48 factors, its greatest whole because the 2020-21 season. Nonetheless, this isn’t a membership that ought to be ending thirteenth within the desk, nor with a detrimental objective differential. The Toffees needed to sack Sean Dyche and rent David Moyes to proper the ship. Certain, that labored, and saved Everton from sweating relegation, however the slog has to cease for the membership — and cease subsequent season.

Fulham completed eleventh with a objective differential of zero. It gained 15 video games and misplaced 14. Fulham didn’t have to fret about relegation, however it didn’t even sniff Europe. That’s about proper — it’s the place this membership has discovered itself as of late. Fulham play unremarkable soccer and yield unremarkable campaigns. Provided that not too far up to now they had been often relegation fodder, that’ll suffice.

Certain, it was a swift rise for Ipswich. Two seasons in the past they had been in League One, and this season the Premier League. That was a enjoyable journey, we’re certain. Nonetheless, the 2024-25 season was a actuality test. Ipswich had been unhealthy. It was comfortably relegated on 22 factors. Ipswich completed nineteenth and solely gained 4 video games. The one cause this wasn’t a large failure is due to the truth that, properly, it was a membership within the third tier of English soccer not all that way back.

We will evaluate Ipswich’s season to Leicester, fittingly sufficient. Leicester, like Ipswich, had been promoted from the Championship previous to this season. The Foxes additionally received relegated, ending with 25 factors and ending up 18th. The distinction? Expectations. There was cause to imagine Leicester would keep up. The membership had been within the Premier League for years previous to being relegated. Hell, the membership gained the Premier League title in a type of seasons. To be a yo-yo group is an actual fall from grace for Leicester. That makes for important failure.

Granted, the tip of the season was extra slog than celebration, however let’s take a look at the massive image right here. Liverpool changed Jurgen Klopp as supervisor with Arne Slot. The membership then went on to win the Premier League title. Comfortably, at that. Even with the unhealthy vibes down the stretch, the Reds completed on 84 factors, 10 greater than Arsenal. Liverpool’s objective differential was 10 higher than the Gunners’ as properly. Additionally, the membership received Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk signed to new offers through the marketing campaign for good measure. This could’t be referred to as something aside from a fantastic success.

Metropolis have been the creme de la creme in Europe, and arguably on the earth, for years. This can be a membership that expects to not simply contend for a title, however win it. Trophies are the norm. So, when Manchester Metropolis wins no trophies, it attracts consideration. Metropolis completed third within the Premier League this 12 months. That’s its worst end because the 2016-17 season. Whenever you make it clear it’s all about titles and trophies, a season like that’s possibly not a failure, however a particular disappointment. Definitely, it isn’t successful.

Nicely, no less than the blue half of Manchester can nonetheless speak trash in regards to the crimson half. What a woeful season from Manchester United. The membership completed fifteenth within the Premier League. Sure, fifteenth. Manchester United, one of many most-storied golf equipment in soccer, wasn’t inside hanging distance of Brentford, a lot much less Manchester Metropolis. The membership did handle to make it to the Europa League closing, and a win there would have salvaged one thing. As an alternative, it misplaced, and any hope of this marketing campaign being something aside from a complete failure was misplaced as properly.

Newcastle gained a trophy for the primary time in years, however it was the Carabao Cup. It certified for the Champions League, however solely as a result of England earned a fifth spot within the new, expanded discipline. Newcastle truly completed even on factors with Aston Villa and solely certified attributable to higher objective differential. That’s all properly and good, for certain. Nonetheless, it’s straightforward to neglect that Newcastle are one of many wealthiest golf equipment on the earth, as a result of it nonetheless doesn’t look or really feel like one. So yeah, good job, we guess? There needs to be extra to it than this quickly sufficient although, proper?

Forest couldn’t preserve the fantastic run going all season. Ultimately, golf equipment like Man Metropolis, Chelsea, and Newcastle performed properly sufficient to leap over them. After all, these golf equipment are wealthy as all get out and have been good-to-great Premier League golf equipment for years. Forest shouldn’t have any current historical past alongside these strains. The membership completed seventh, and with two extra factors would have certified for the Champions League. That’s good things.

Late within the season, Southampton performed a mode of soccer Manchester Metropolis’s Ruben Dias referred to as “not soccer.” The membership earned a scoreless draw. What was the purpose of that? Nicely, that time received Southampton to 12, which stored it from equaling 2007-08 Derby County for the worst season in Premier League historical past. Nonetheless, let’s reframe that. Southampton completed on 12 factors! It gained two video games and misplaced 30! This was an all-time horrible Premier League season.

Spurs had in regards to the funniest season doable. It completed with 38 factors however a minus-1 objective differential. The membership scored 64 targets and allowed 65. Tottenham had been both successful soundly or getting smashed. It completed seventeenth within the Premier League. Sure, solely the relegated groups completed decrease. Oh, and Spurs gained Europa League and can play within the Champions League subsequent season. What a world.

In 2022-23, West Ham completed 14th. The subsequent season, i.e. final season, the Hammers completed ninth. Nonetheless, West Ham followers lastly received what they needed: Moyes out! Yeah, about that. Julen Lopetegui didn’t even final a full season earlier than getting sacked and changed by Graham Potter. Potter was in a position to assist get West Ham into 14th, however its minus-16 objective differential was higher than solely the relegated squads.

Certain, possibly we’re framing this a bit in a strategy to not finish on a low be aware. Wolves completed sixteenth within the desk on 42 factors. Then again, Wolves had extra factors than Spurs and simply as many as Man United! Plus, early within the season it appeared just like the Wanderers had been taking place, and taking place with gusto. As an alternative, the membership righted the ship (considerably) and completed properly out of the relegation race, points-wise. So, hey, there’s that!