So another season has come and gone, and it’s time to flick through the channels to find another sport to keep you ticking over for the next 8 weeks until those beloved pre-season friendlies begin! But what have we learnt from the last 10 months? General consensus would suggested we witnessed the most competitive season for many years in the “World’s best league”. But is this down to some of the big boys losing punching power or some of the ‘weaker’ sides improving? Let’s look first at how the big 4 (+2) got on!
Eventual table toppers Manchester United undoubtedly put in some stereotypical ‘Champion’ performances, including classic comebacks against Blackpool and West Ham, but it is fairly clear their blood, sweat and tears are making up for a lack of creativity in midfield, as well as a bit of ‘metal’. Michael Carrick’s end of season performances have covered up another fairly unconvincing season for the Red Devils. The quality of the current side is a notch or two down from two seasons ago when Ronaldo, Tevez and Rooney ran riot, though seemingly good enough to edge ahead of the rest. And fans must surely hope the transistion to new No.1 keeper is easier and quicker than the last!
Meanwhile, Chelsea continued their impression of a ‘Real Madrid’ of Northern Europe, with another manager coming and going, numerous highly paid players under-performing and strange decision making. Players such as Drogba and Essien are playing well below the level set under the Mourinho, and the lack of wisdom shown in investing £50m mid-season on a player in a confidence crisis for over 9 months, and throwing a young foreign defender into a league as intense in the Premiership, was only beaten by that in getting rid of Ray Wilkins. And with Ancelotti getting the boot for disgracefully finishing second, after winning the double last year, this circus could continue next season, although both aforementioned players could help contribute to a more successful term with a pre-season behind them!
Manchester City may have achieved a third place finish with a stretch at the finish line, but a lack of stability in tactics and personnel means results are still a bit of a lottery! They have the look of a man who bought a Ford Mondeo and determined to convert it into a Ferrari by buying the parts separately and changing the mechanic every week, slowly they are improving but they are still unreliable and sluggish.
Arsenal meanwhile continue to float around the top four with plenty of promise but continue to fall short of winning trophies, akin to a 100m sprinter capable of running the first 90m in 9s but who can only jog the last 10m! For all their skill and beautiful play, they miss a strong spine and surely need a keeper who can command the area, two centre backs capable of defending every week and a midfielder who can boss teams who like to rough it up a bit! And switching Chamak and Bendter for a more workman-like striker might help when it comes to ‘Plan B’ in matches!
Tottenham Hotspur seem to have become everyone’s favourite second team, their ‘have a go’ attitude winning them many plaudits during the first half of the season. But they stumbled through most of 2011 due to player fatigue, injuries and errors by players who may find their P45’s this summer. A top keeper and another centre back should be top of ‘arry’s shopping list!
Liverpool’s rollercoaster journey continued from last season to this with more managerial changes and a lack of clarity in the transfers made last summer. How the Kop must be ruing that King Kenny was not installed last summer! With Carroll and Suarez they have potentially a partnership to kick them back to title challengers, but their end of season performances were another reminder, if one was needed, that the side is lacking quality all over the pitch no more so that midfield where a replacement for Alonso needs to be found this summer. A couple of defenders wouldn’t go amiss either!
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