Who should start in the World Cup? - Marcus Rashford

The cycle of English football fans:

Step 1: Get let down and knocked out of a major tournament early.

Step 2: Realise just how average the side is and how far behind the Three Lions are from the worlds elite.

Step 3: Draw the easiest qualification group for the next competition.

Step 4: Qualify with ease.

Step 5: Regain confidence.

Step 6: Learn all the words to 'World in Motion' for the tenth time.

Step 7: "We're gonna win the World Cup!"

Step 8: Draw the opening game.

Step 9: "Quarter finals would be an decent finish."

Step 10: Scrape through the group in 2nd place and draw an average side in the next round.

Andddd repeat.

For English football fans it's becoming harder and harder to watch the national side. Many people will admit to not watching the qualifiers, not caring about the friendlies, or showing no interest in the side at all. The Three Lions have became the laughing stock of the international set up. Not because Southgate's side are losing game after game. But more because of the style of our football and the incredibly miss placed over expectation of our fans. We're boring. We're repetitive. We're generations behind the elite of world football.

I am not immune from this. I will be, like millions of others, watching the World Cup wearing the new shirt I've spent £50 on (That is a completely separate issue.) Singing God Save The Queen at the top of my lungs everywhere I go. Convincing myself that this tournament will be different to all the rest. And then, finally, I'll be writing on this blog about what exactly went wrong when we're knocked out in the second round.

In the 90's we had a wealth of the best strikers in Europe. Shearer, Fowler, Cole, Ferdinand and Sheringham. Surely success was a given? A 1996 European Championship semi-final defeat was the best we could manage. Then came the 'Golden Generation.' Gerrard, Lampard, Beckham, Terry, Owen and Rooney just to name a few. A catalogue of the best the Premier League had to offer in one side. Quarter final defeats in the 2002 and 2006 World Cups. The same fate in Euro 2004. Total failure to qualify for the European Championships in 2008 and the Golden Generation failed. Now we have the current generation. Perhaps the most underwhelming England squad in mine, and most fans lifetimes. Now that is doing a disservice to the likes of Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling who are currently ripping up the Premier League. But with the likes of Jake Livermore making the squad, Harry Winks earning a cap after a handful of good games for Spurs. Nathaniel Chalobah and Ruben Loftus-Cheek touted for the plane despite both being judged as 'not good enough' by Antonio Conte at Chelsea. I mean... it's not exactly the debate of the early 2000's when Sven had to pick between Lampard, Gerrard and Scholes in the heart of his midfield is it?

Now I do have a point and I'm getting to it.

I was listening to talkSPORT the other day and the question was who will be on the plane to the World Cup. Talking about attackers, Harry Kane is a certainty. You'd imagine Jamie Vardy would be also. This was what the presenters were suggesting. England usually take three or four out and out strikers on the plane with them, and the options for those slots were being suggested. Glenn Murray at Brighton. Andy Carroll from West Ham. Daniel Sturridge, currently on loan at West Brom. Jermain Defoe at Bournemouth. No disrespect to any of these players, I would celebrate a goal scored by any and all of them with everything I have. But they seem to pale in comparison when compared to the previously mentioned shoe ins. But one man was left from the list, and that man was Marcus Rashford. If you ask me, the youngster is an essential part of not only the squad, but the starting eleven.

Why exactly?

Well if I had published this piece last week you might need some more convincing. 'Rashford hasn't started since Christmas' would be most peoples response. That is very true, the influx of star power at Manchester United has seen Rashford's game time drop like a rock in the ocean. This isn't a knock on the speedy forward however. Jesse Lingard was turning heads in the first half of the season. With his brilliant goals and his shocking dance moves. He also is struggling to get a start. Jose has such a vast supply of attacking brilliance in his squad, that it's only natural that the youngsters would miss out. That brings me to Saturday 10th March. Manchester United vs Liverpool.

Perhaps the biggest game of the season on our shores. And Jose made the big decision to start the local boy. He came on against Palace the Monday before and was a catalyst in his sides comeback, from 2-0 down to win 3-2. Rashford was fronting up against fellow English youngster, Trent Alexander-Arnold. Playing left of a front three, besides Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez. Despite not being a natural winger, Rashford is gifted with such pace, and an ability to read the game players 10 years his senior would dream of having. So it came as no surprise that, despite his lack of starts, he came flying out the blocks. The greats take their opportunity when it is given to them, and that is exactly what happens from the first whistle. Two goal kicks from David De Gea; followed by two flick on headers from Lukaku. Pretty basic up to this point. Twice Trent A.A allowed Rashford to cut onto his right, and twice he was punished. Two clinical finishes gave United a 2-0 lead over their biggest rivals, and it was the local boy who had done it. Rashford was, and is a match winner. And that is what Garath Southgate NEEDS in Russia.

Harry Kane scores goals. But at Spurs he plays ahead of Christan Eriksen, a midfielder who can pick a pass as good as anyone in the world. Add Son Heung-Min and Dele Ali to the mix and Kane has constant supply. It's not like that with England. Put Southgate's men against Germany and Kane won't get a sniff. Do you know who just might? Rashford. At just 20 years old (1 day older then me... I'm not jealous at all!) The United man is still filled with such hunger that seems to die down as players get older. But despite his youth, he's made 70 first team appearances for one of England biggest clubs; as well as 15 England caps. Vastly experienced when compared to many his age, combined with the hunger of youth, he has a unique advantage. Drifting onto Alexander-Arnold against Liverpool was no accident. He knew the 19 year old would have a rick in him, he's still learning after all. He knew if he came at the full back, he might just be allowed to cut inside and from that point on it was curtains. As a natural striker you'd almost expect Rashford to come inside, into the channels between the centre back and full back, playing off the through balls from midfield. But he saw an opportunity and took advantage of it, it may seem so slight but it proved huge.

Over the past two seasons in particular, Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool have proven just how scary pace down the flanks can be. And this time around Salah and Mane have been terrorising defences, but also exciting the fans. Nothing quiet gets a crown to come alive like seeing your winger in full flight, burning past defenders. Raheem Sterling's incredible growth under Pep at Manchester City this season makes him a certainty for Southgate's team you'd imagine, and down the opposite side, Rashford is the only option in my eyes. No one who is even being considered for the squad is as direct as Rashford. He will just as easily get his head down and leave a full back in his dust as he will drill the ball into the bottom corner.

This brings me back to my point earlier about Harry Kane. Spurs' number 10 needs the supply, an excellent finisher no doubt but without support he can be snuffed out. Any defender will tell you they HATE dealing with a player with pace who knows how to use it. Rashford can create chances for himself. His raw physical abilities, pace, size and strength. When combined with the knowledge and know how to read the game and take advantage (proven against Liverpool) makes for a match winner. A game changer.  Now I hate to do this to you, but cast your mind back to the summer of 2016. England vs Iceland. Perhaps the lowest point for England in the last two decades, yes I'm including 2008. Marcus Rashford was introduced in the 86th minute, and created more danger in four minutes then any other player in white did in the whole 90. He instantly showed drive, and a desire to get in behind, which was non existent leading up to the change. Now, two years on, the desire remains but his knowledge of the game has grown substantially.

In the summer of 2018 Marcus Rashford will no longer be the 'new kid on the block'. But the proven goalscorer, constant threat, and injection of life England need. A world class attitude, after not starting since Christmas 2017, shows a maturity beyond his years. A fan favourite no doubt, and a player who will just continue to get better. With a run of games on his back, heading into the world cup, Rashford will be flying long before he gets on the plane. After his performance against Liverpool, how can Jose leave him out? Answer, he can't.

Kane might be the star of the show come Russia, but my money is on Rashford stealing it.

The calm before the storm - The day before deadline day.

August 31st is a strange day for football, the summer transfer deadline day! Over 100 days for clubs to do their business and over the years so many have left it right until the last minute to bring in the players they want for the upcoming season. This summer has been one of, if not the most, crazy transfer periods in football history. We have already seen the first two £100 million + players this summer, and could very possibly have a third and a fourth by 11pm tomorrow. So many clubs spending way over the odds for players in a market so overran with TV money, that no clubs REALLY need to sell. Some of Europe's giants have floundered, not willing to put their hand into their pockets, while others have spent fortunes. So much can happen between now and the window closing, and I am going to go into what could be making the back pages when August becomes September.

Coutinho to Barcelona - Okay, so lets start with the big one, the longest running story of the summer so far! I have written an entire article on the Coutinho saga already, so in summary. Barcelona want Coutinho, Liverpool don't want to sell Coutinho, Coutinho hands in and sees his transfer request rejected, Coutinho has a 'back injury' (back injuries are notoriously used when a player wants out of his contract as it's close to impossible to tell if the player involved is lying) and hasn't played or trained for Liverpool while the saga has gone on. However what has changed in the past 48 hours is that, Coutinho has been training for Brazil, and has been cleared fully fit by the national teams doctors. This all but proves his injury was entirely fabricated by either Coutinho or his representatives. Also this week it was reported that the Brazilian has asked NOT to be in the Champions League squad for Liverpool, this is because if he was to play for Liverpool in the competition and then sign for Barcelona in January, he would be cup tied and unable to play for the Catalan club in said competition. With all of this going on, Barcelona's final offer of £148 million is still on the table, and within the last hour Coutinho has reportedly sent a message to Klopp saying if he is not allowed to join Barcelona, there is no going back. Stating that things will never go back to normal, from both a performance and relationship stand point. It is being reported that Liverpool and FSG are close to caving to Coutinho's demands and representatives of the club are on their way to Barcelona to finalise the deal. If the deal is completed the Brazilian will become the second most expensive player of all time, over taking Barcelona's newest signing Dembele from Dortmund for a reported total of £138 million. For the first time in weeks this deal looks like it is going to happen, but where does that leave Liverpool? Well...

Liverpool (Van Dijk, Lemar and Oxlade-Chamberlain) - ... I right now can say with confidence, Liverpool don't really need Coutinho. Now before I am attacked by thousands of Coutinho fans, of which I am one, I am not saying it wouldn't be a huge loss for the reds to lose their number 10. From a technical standpoint he is in a class of one, and throughout the summer I have been firmly behind Klopp's stance to insist he stays. But not only have Liverpool looked sublime going forward early in the season, knocking in 14 goals in 5 games so far. The huge injection of funds could lead to the few deals currently in the pipeline being pushed over the line. At the time of writing this Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is scheduled for a medical with the club, transfer fee and contract negotiations have both been finalised and the deal is all but done. Naby Keita FINALLY completed his move to Liverpool earlier this week, however will not join the club until the summer of 2018 but this is still a massive step going forward for the club. The question marks are around two players who could both break Liverpool's transfer record, Thomas Lemar and Virgil Van Dijk. Starting with the French wide man Lemar, this deal looks certain to be completed if Coutinho does leave. Liverpool have offered a reported £60 million so far and Monaco have demanded £70 million, that extra 10 million will feel like pocket change to FSG should Barcelona get their man. The French international is one of the brightest young stars in football today and has been linked with a move to Arsenal all summer, however over the last couple of days it appears his has his eyes on a move to Anfield. He will offer a very similar ' it factor '  to Liverpool's side that will be lost with Coutinho, and should the move be over the line by 11pm tomorrow it could be huge for Jurgen Klopp and his side. Reports are also coming from France that, despite an offer not yet being agreed, Monaco has given Lemar permission to undertake his Liverpool medial TONIGHT.

And then of course, we get to the only saga more messy then Coutinho to Barcelona this summer... Virgil Van Dijk. The player was on his way to Liverpool months ago, however Southampton reported Liverpool for tapping up and the deal was dead in the water. However over the last two days it appears Liverpool are making one final swing at it. No offer has been made official yet but it is suggested that a £75 million offer will be made, and there is massively contrasting reports going around suggesting how likely the deal is to be completed. Now I am fairly confident a bid will be placed tomorrow, the problem lays with how committed Southampton are to sticking to their guns to 'sell to anyone apart from Liverpool'. If Van Dijk was to sign I feel like Liverpool could place a claim for the best transfer window out of any Premier League side. It will be a case of better late then never, but the Dutch centre back is exactly what Klopp needs in the heart of his defence, and the Southampton captain is improving every day. Without a transfer Van Dijk will be left, it appears, to rot in the reserves for the remainder of the season and maybe beyond and with no other buyers coming in as of yet, Liverpool seem to be back in the drivers seat. It could all of course be a case of wishful thinking on the part of the reporters, Southampton have given off no indication what so ever that they will sell Van Dijk, and until an offer if officially made there is no confirmation that Liverpool are even going in for him. However I can see this deal in particular being VERY active over the next 24 hours.

Alexis to Manchester City - Alexis Sanchez played his first game back for Arsenal at the weekend in a 4-0 defeat to Liverpool. A picture really can tell a thousand words. It has been clear all summer the Chilean has no intention of staying at Arsenal, and he has been linked with many clubs in the process. However only one has came in for the man, and that club is Manchester City. On Monday, City came in with a £50 million offer, which was instantly shot down by Arsenal. It has been clear since day one that Arsenal do not want to sell, and Wenger would rather Alexis ran down his contract then left for money this window. So £50 million, in today's market, does seem a little low for a player of Sanchez's ability. It is however being reported that Arsenal would be willing to consider a money plus player offer, with Raheem Sterling being used to account for the rest. City favour a straight money deal (of course they are the richest club in the world) but it has been reported that Sterling would be open to the idea, as the signing of Sanchez would see him fall down the pecking order at the Etihad, this despite his impressive start to the season. Manchester City are reportedly coming back in with an improved offer, whether or not that will include Sterling is another matter. I feel like this is a move that has been dragged out so much longer then it should have been, Manchester City have made their approach so late they risk not getting their man at all. And Arsenal have held onto him, expecting their number 7 to still be the same player he was for them last season, but against Liverpool he looked like a shadow of his former self, he simply doesn't care. For the sake of the player, both clubs involved, and the fans who want to see a world class footballer play some world class football, I do hope and expect this deal to be finalised by the deadline.

Mbappe to PSG - A deal that has flown relatively under the radar with everything else that has been going on, and it is perhaps the most interesting! Teenage Kylian Mbappe fired himself into the limelight in last season's Champions League and the world has't stopped talking about him since. When it became apparent that he wanted out of Monaco, the likes of Manchester United and Real Madrid have been rumoured to be coming in for the Frenchman. However it looks as if he will be staying in France, just moving to the capital and Paris Saint Germain. That's right, PSG are set to spend close to £200 million for the second time this summer, but much like the Neymar signing, the details of the transfer are really quite strange. Mbappe is to sign for a reported £166 million... next summer... after a season long loan at PSG. This is purely to give the French club more time 'balance the books' to ensure they stay within the guidelines of financial fair play. The signing of Neymar would make this impossible if the permanent switch was made this summer, and what is even more strange is Monaco agreeing to this. The current champions of France could get £100 million + for Mbappe from several clubs around the world, but they're willing to not only sell to their main rivals, but in such a way that PSG are likely to avoid reciprocation for violating FFP. Now although the deal is yet to be agreed to by all parties, Monaco have jumped the gun and announced the signing of Stevan Jovetic, and the forward was given Mbappe's number 10 to wear for the season. Mbappe will potentially become one of four players to be signed for north of £100 million this summer, and this is even more incredible when you consider Mbappe is 18 years old. If this deal comes off and Mbappe can help PSG push for the Champions League this season, and he continues to grow then it is great for all parties, what is essential however is that the teenager does not let the huge figures get to his head. It was however reported earlier this month that, when in contact with Real Madrid, Mbappe demanded a wage so high that the Madrid representatives simply responded with 'good luck in Paris'. A wage demand so high that even Real Madrid won't pay it, hopefully this isn't a sign of things to come and we have a new Thiery Henry on our hands and not another Mario Balotelli.

And the rest (Renato, Aurier, Barkley, Drinkwater, Sakho) - I'm just going to run through the 5 Premier League deals that, although won't end up going around the world, could have huge impacts for the future. Renato Sanches, Euro 2016 winner, 2016 Golden Boy winner, £30 million move to Bayern Munich, on loan to Swansea City. Pick the odd one out. Swansea manager Paul Clement worked as Carlo Ancelotti's number two at Bayern before taking the job in Wales, and this incredible deal you can imagine is down to the managers contacts within Bayern Munich. Spurs are FINALLY spending some money, Serge Aurier of PSG has been granted his work permit and with negotiations progressing at a very fast pace, Pochettino could finally have his Kyle Walker replacement. Ross Barkley was told if he did not sign the contract offered to him in May that he would have no future at Everton, yet the club have rejected an offer from Chelsea for the Englishman? A £25 million offer was turned down by the Toffee's, the champions however are ready to come back with an improved offer! This isn't the last you will hear of this. Another English midfielder who could be on his way to Chelsea is Danny Drinkwater. The Leicester man has handed in his transfer request, and a £40 million move is on the table. No official approach has been made by Chelsea, this is all just a rumour at this point, but reportedly both parties are very keen on the deal being completed, and with Chelsea in need of more squad players, Drinkwater could fit that bill. Liverpool and mainly Jurgen Klopp have been trying to push Sakho out of the door for over a year now, however when Liverpool finally received an offer for the French centre back, an offer of £25 million from Crystal Palace, it was rejected. Liverpool are holding out for £30 million for the defender, but Palace are confident they can get the deal done before the deadline. Much like Southampton with Van Dijk, there is really no point Liverpool keeping Sakho for him to rot in the reserves.

No matter how many potential deals you cover in the build up to the final day, there simply is no way to predict deadline day. In a summer where we have seen records broken and history made, it would not be at all surprising to see this years deadline day be the busiest ever.

Premier League Predictions - 2017/2018 Season.

With less then two weeks to wait until the start of the 2017/2018 Premier League season, the 20 top flight sides are well underway preparing their squads for the coming 12 months. We have seen huge contrasts across the division so far in terms of transfer activity. Both Manchester clubs have been splashing the cash like there is no tomorrow, and last season's runners up Spurs are yet to make a move. Lower down the table we have seen the likes of Bournemouth bring in a number of top class Premier League players to help their climb up the table, we have also seen however Championship winners Newcastle spend very little, keeping their squad very similar to the one which gained them promotion in May. So I'm going to throw my hat into the ring today, and give my main predictions for the upcoming campaign.

Let's start from the bottom.

20th - Burnley

Turf Moor was a fortress at times last season for Sean Dyche's men, for the first half of the campaign Burnley had one of the best home records in the league but as 2016 turned into 2017 that form appeared to abandon Burnley. Being placed in mid table coming into January, they ended the season in a relegation battle and just managed to scrape survival, reaching just 40 points. I can see Burnley carrying that same poor form into the upcoming season, and the loss of star defender Michael Keane could be a big part of that. The £30 million Burnley received from Everton for Keane is yet to be reinvested in the squad, so now they have an England international shaped hole in their defence and no one what so ever so fill it. Last season Burnley's defence is what kept them up, conceding the least goals out of every side in the bottom half of the table, in stark contrast however they struggled to find the back of the net. The only three sides to score less then Burnley last season all got relegated, and with their star defender no longer at the club, this weak attack will be even more exposed. Now I have little doubt that if Burnley go down, Dyche will find a way to bring them back up, that's just what he does. But their squad simply isn't improving, and I feel like this will be one step too far for the clarets.

19th - Huddersfield

This one pains me to say just a little bit, because towards the back end of last season, I was seriously rooting for Huddersfield to get promoted, and doing it through the drama of the play offs was an incredible story. But despite bringing in as many players as just about anyone in the league so far, (Including Tom Ince from Derby, giving Paul Ince's son another chance to prove he can live up to his family name) I just can't see them staying up any longer then a year. The style of football Huddersfield play is one which certainly drawers the eye, and when you notice their manager David Wagner was the manager of Borussia Dortmund's second team, and was an understudy to Jurgen Klopp during his time there, it is easy to see why. But in a similar vein to Blackpool in the 2010-2011 season, I feel their style of football will gain many plaudits, but will ultimately lead to their relegation. they quite simply aren't strong enough to play an entire season in the way they do, with the players they have, and survive! I feel like this is the prediction I am least confident about, maybe that's me being optimistic as I hope Huddersfield do retain a place in the top flight for years to come, but we'll just have to wait and see.

18th - Swansea

Much like Burnley who I have previously mentioned, Swansea spent the back end of last season in a fight for their lives, but managed to survive in no small part to new manager Paul Clement. The Englishman came in while the Welsh side were in free fall and he managed to get them organised, and keep them afloat. One man who had a huge part to play in the survival was Icelandic play maker Gylfi Sigurdsson who, at the time of writing this, is still a Swansea city player. But that is where I believe the problem lays, with the future of their best player. A £50 million price tag has been slapped onto Sigurdsson, one which has scared of a few potential suitors, but reports suggest Everton have matched the price tag and that the deal will be completed 'within days' as confirmed by Clement himself. This move could have drastic consequences for Swansea, an average squad, probably not strong enough for the Premier League has been being held up by one truly top drawer player. A top drawer player who, in a side which finished 15th with 41 points last time around managed 10 league goals and provided 13 league assists last season, Sigurdsson played a part in HALF of Swansea's top flight goals during the campaign, and without him I can't see a way the Welsh side survive. Even with the £50 million coming in, the climate of this transfer window, and the amount of time remaining in it means it will be harder then ever for Paul Clement to bring in a replacement for his star man. They've become almost a staple of the Premier League throughout this decade, but I feel like this season will be their last for now.

What about a place in mid table obscurity? Mid table in the Premier League is a strange place, for example Southampton ended last season in 8th with 46 points, a tally which was closer to 18th placed Hull then it was to 7th place Everton. It's not really a place anyone wants to be, but at least it's better then being in a relegation scrap! And if you can solidify a place in mid table obscurity for a number of seasons, it gives the club a foundation on which to build and push up the table. So let's have a look at a few of the top contenders.

11th - Leicester City

So that thing I just said about growing? That is both true and very very not true about Leicester. On one hand, they finished 12th last season, so 11th is one place higher, therefore growth right? Well if the 2015/2016 season didn't happen, and there wasn't a time when Leicester were the champions of England anyway. So you can either consider this as the continuation of the bubble bursting for Leicester fans, or an attempt to reach the heights of last year, is your glass half empty or half full, that sort of scenario. If I may be serious for a moment, I feel a place in mid table next season will be a good thing for Leicester. Despite the underwhelming defence of their title last time out, their run in the Champions League meant that the fans had their heads well and truly in the clouds. Finishing in mid table again will hopefully ground the fans, the players and the club into realising where they fit in regards to the Premier League. It sounds like I'm being overly negative so far, I am from Leicester and have sat in a pub, watching City in the Champions League, there is no doubt that the success has done a huge amount of good for the club and the city itself. And I do feel like this season can be a stepping stone towards big things again for the club in the long run. The signing of highly rated defender Harry Maguire from Hull could be the first step towards building a younger, more versatile defence after Huth and Morgan were found out last season. And despite the signing not being completed as of yet, Kelechi Iheanacho is set to complete his move from Manchester City, a move with bags of promise. With 12 Premier League goals to his name despite very few starts, and 6 goals in his only 10 international caps, he has shown he knows where the goal is. Maybe Iheanacho could be the answer to the question, who should partner Jamie Vardy? And with Mahrez reportedly on his way out, the Nigerian striker could fill in with the missing goals. I'm not saying they'll go on the win the league again, but don't expect to see the foxes in a relegation dog fight any time soon.

10th - West Ham United

Now West Ham have had a year to settle in to their new home in the London Stadium, there really is no excuse for West Ham anymore, and despite this I still see the London club finishing mid table. There is no doubt the Hammers have had one of the most successful transfer windows so far by their standards. Bringing in Joe hart on loan, Pablo Zabaleta on a free, Javier Hernandez from Bayer Laverkusen for £15 million, a bargain in the current climate. And finally, a club record signing, £20 million, potentially rising to £25 million for Austrian maverick Marko Arnautovic. So why won't West Ham be able to push up the table? First of all there is the factor that their first three league games will all be played away from home. Due to the World Athletics Championships taking place at the London Stadium, West Ham will start their campaign on the road, which at any other point of the season might not be too bad. But with every other team wanting to start the season of strong in front of their home fans, it could be a very tough beginning to the season for West Ham. Then, a complete opposite argument. Once West Ham return home, I can't see it getting any better, purely because no matter what happens, West Ham can't seem to adjust to their new home. The lack of atmosphere seems to drain energy from the side, and no amount of new signings can change that. So I can see their season starting off poorly, losing away from home, and then getting worse when they return. I'm not saying it will stay like this, they simply will have too good of a side to be involved in a relegation battle come 2018, and I do believe they will eventually learn to win games at home, leading to a finish which could have been a lot worse, mid table once again.

9th- Bournemouth

Eddie Howe and his side just seem to go from strength to strength at the moment. The smallest club in the league by quite some distance managed to chalk up a very impressive 9th place finish last season, and I'm backing them to match it this time around. For a club the size of Bournemouth, 9th is not only a respectable finish, but a very impressive one. The owners have proven they are not shy about backing the club, and the additions of Asmir Begovic and youngster Nathan Ake, both coming in from Champions Chelsea prove that the sea side club are trying to breed a winning mentality into the side. Also proven goal scorer Jermain Defoe has joined on a free from Sunderland, and with the World Cup in 2018 to earn a spot in, Defoe will be out to prove he still has it in the coming campaign. With everything pointing towards Bournemouth improving again in the coming campaign, why have I got them remaining in 9th position. Simple, the glass ceiling. Maybe they could reach 8th at a push, battling it out with Southampton for the crown of 'best of the rest' but the top 7 of English football right now is effectively a league of it's own, as I mentioned earlier, more points separated 7th from 8th, then separated 8th from 18th, the gap is huge. The only way, seemingly, to break into that group seems to be massive spending! That is how Manchester City joined the party almost a decade ago, and Everton have been steadily spending big to stay on the fringes, still on the outside looking in. Bournemouth, despite being heavily backed by their owners, simply aren't a big enough club to push on any higher. It does happen, Leicester defied the odds and broke their way in, but it was short and sweet as they failed to keep up with the spending power of the top 7. And this is why I can't see Bournemouth finishing any higher next season, not because they won't impress, because I'm certain they will, but because to get any higher, the league would have to change course dramatically.

Not quite Europe's elite -

6th - Arsenal

What's that saying about London busses? You wait forever for one and then two come along at once. For 20 straight years Arsenal finished in the top four of the Premier League, last season Liverpool beat them to the post on the last day of the season and this time around I think they'll go one better (Well technically one worse) and I think they'll drop another place into 6th. Now Arsenal fans, calm down. Yes you signed Lacazette, a huge signing, a world class striker, something you haven't had since RVP. But what's even worse, is this wasn't your biggest problem. With the likes of Alexis Sanchez, Theo Walcott, Mesut Ozil, Oliver Giroud, Arsenal have never struggled to score goals. Now yes, Lacazette is a better natural striker then anyone on that list, but to spend a club record amount on a player who shouldn't have been their top priority, that is cause for concern. For years it's been obvious that a leader, a strong midfielder, has been what Arsenal needs, and with their defence looking more and more frail by the day, they needed serious back up in front of Cech. Other then Lacazette they have signed one player, Kolasinac, a full back on a free from Schalke. Now the young defender has shown potential, but he certainly isn't the answer. They will still have far too strong of a team to fall any lower in the table, and with a month left of the season they could still bring in reinforcements but everyone they're being linked (Including Monaco winger Thomas Lamar) with fall into the same category as Lacazette, world class, but not what they REALLY need. Plus there's the fact Alexis looks all but certain to be on his way out, which much really suck for Arsenal as he is potentially the best player in the league, and if he goes to, like the rumours suggest, Manchester City then that would feel like a real kick in the teeth. Truth be told I feel like it will be more of the same at Arsenal, a group of incredibly talented attackers, made to look stupid by a mediocre back line, and a manager who is scared of change. If they hold onto Sanchez, they might challenge for a top four place, but without him, I can't see them getting close.

5th - Spurs

So I know writing this that I am potentially going to be made to look REALLY stupid in a years time, when Spurs have, once again, impressed and have challenged for the title against the odds for the third successive season. But if there is a year where the growth of Spurs will suffer, it is surely this year. At this point in the summer, Spurs have had the worst transfer window out of anyone in the league. They have brought in exactly no one, have been linked with virtually no one, and have lost a member of their first team in Kyle Walker, to title rivals Manchester City. Last season Spurs relied on their consistent side, when a member of that side was out with either an injury or suspension, they struggled to fill the hole. When Harry Kane was out last season, Spurs really seemed to struggle in front of goal, with Jansen failing to step up to the plate, Spurs struggled to pick up points. Kane missed 10 games in all competitions between September and November of last season, Spurs only won four of those outings. These stats surely would have made it obvious that, coming into this campaign, strength in depth would be essential? But no, no additions have been made to the squad, and they could face the same problems they did last season. Despite this however, they still finished second, so why have I placed them in 5th? Well not only do I feel every side around them seems to be improving where as Spurs are making no positive transfers, but they will play their home games next season, at the home of English football, Wembley stadium. Now I go more in detail into this factor in an article I wrote in April, titled 'Spurs to Wembley - is this a good move for anyone?' but to use the highlights, in the 10 years since the opening of the new Wembley, Spurs have won only 2 of their 10 matches there, and after building their success from the last two years off of the back of an incredible home record, which has seen them lose one home game in two years in the league, playing the next season at Wembley, could be a game changer for Spurs. Even if they where to lose just three of their home wins from last season, Spurs would drop into the position I have placed them in today, it is that tight at the top. Like I said, I wouldn't be surprised if they proved me wrong, and once again spent the season fighting at the top of the table, but we'll have to wait and see.

A place among Europe's elite -

4th - Manchester United

Now placing Manchester United down in fourth is very much going against popular belief at the moment. Many people are saying that Jose's men will be up at the top, challenging for the title. They're certainly spending the money to back up those claims as well, £75 million on Lukaku and £40 million on Matic speaks volumes. And as last season went on, record signing Paul Pogba was starting to find his form. Everything is pointing towards a huge improvement on last seasons league performance. But I just feel like something is still missing, I can't quite put my finger on what, but something is missing. I feel like the addition of Lukaku won't be enough to move away from the stagnant, boring style of play we saw from them last season. The Belgian is coming in to try and fill Zlatan's boots, which I don't believe he will be able to. he isn't the finished article, and although on his day, Lukaku is capable of greatness, I don't feel like he will be able to win a game from nothing in the style of the Swedish striker. If Romelu isn't getting the service, he struggles, plain and simple. At times last season Ibrahimovic was feeding off of scraps, and like you need from any world class striker, managed to produce the good from them. Not to say Lukaku wont succeed for the red devils, I'm sure he'll still fire in the goals like he has been for Everton in previous seasons. I just feel like everyone is expecting the big front man to hit the ground running because of his huge price tag, last season we saw where that left Pogba. And not to mention, they still look very questionable at the back. Phil Jones and Chris Smalling have proven that they can't be trusted to anchor a defence for an entire campaign, and with new signing Victor Lindelof struggling in pre season so far, it could be another tough defensive season for United. Then there is the elephant in the room with United... no not Ronaldo coming from Real Madrid, but David De Gea going the other way. Now it looks like for the time being that the deal has gone quite, but you never know with Madrid, their spending has been lose for Los Blancos standards, and I wouldn't out money for them coming back in for the Spanish number one before the end of the window. I feel like the slow, boring style of player United portrayed last season was a way to mask weakness at both ends of the field, and I wouldn't be surprised to see more of the same in the coming campaign. If Lukaku fires, Pogba finds his form, they hold onto De Gea and Jose manages to craft a strong defence, then there is no reason they can;t challenge for the title. But until I can see it in action, in the Premier League, I don't see them at the top.

3rd - Liverpool

The five time champions of Europe secured a place in the coming season's Champions League on the last day of last season, and I can see them pushing on and going one place better this time around. The main criticism of Klopp's side last time out was the lack of a plan b, how it seemed that if they weren't firing on all front, that the opposition could find a way through their weak defence. Towards the back end of the season they seemed to find that plan b, winning more games that they would have lost or drawn earlier in the campaign. The front line Liverpool posses is one that would strike fear into any opposition. Coutinho, Mane and Firmino leading the line throughout last season fired in the goals, as despite not have any one attacker featuring in the race for the golden boot, Liverpool finished as the 4th highest scorers in the league. The only problem with this line up was Countinho playing out wide left. The Brazilian has always been a more natural number 10, and despite him settling in on the left with relative ease, you could always see he wasn't quite at his best. In the final two games of the season Philipe moved back into his favoured position and scored three, as well as assisting two in two of his best performances of the season. This was just a glimpse of what could be a full time arrangement this season, with the addition of Mo Salah, to fill the second wide position. The frightening pace of Salah and Mane down the flanks could prove to be very fruitful for their side. With Daniel Sturridge and new signing from Chelsea, Dominic Solanke, looking very sharp in pre season, Liverpool's attack has strength in numbers as well. However with Barcelona sniffing around Coutinho, there is the potential that the star man could be pinched before the season gets under way. Klopp has sternly said that he is not for sale, but with a rumoured £100 million offer in the pipeline, we'll have to wait and see. Liverpool have however failed to address their other major weakness, their defence. As it stands, full back Andrew Robertson is Liverpool's only new addition to their back line, a talented young full back who in the future could answer Liverpool's on going left back problem. But the Scot's signature isn't the final piece to the puzzle. The potential signing of Virgil Van Dijk could be however. Now the controversy surrounding this deal is extreme, Liverpool had been accused of 'tapping up' the Dutchman, a deal between the player and the club appeared to be agreed, before the accusations killed to move. Since then Van Dijk has gone on strike, stating he wishes to leave current club Southampton. The defender was not taken on the clubs pre season trip to France, and has been training alone, it is clear he wants out. Now it appears to be a matter of time before Liverpool come in with an offer, rumoured to be in the range of £60 million, to convince The Saints to part ways with their want away captain. Should this deal go ahead I feel Liverpool will have everything they need to push a potential title challenge, overall however having to fight on four fronts, with a squad considerably smaller then that of the other potential title challengers, it all points towards them falling short. However, 3rd will still show signs of progression, and with potential challenges in Europe and in the cup competitions, Liverpool could continue to impress as they grow.

2nd - Chelsea

And runners up next season will be the current champions of England, Chelsea. Any other year I'd say Chelsea were a certainty to retain their title, they have invested well all over the pitch, they have a manager who knows how he wants his team to play, the fans are optimistic and the players know they're a part of something great. A club record £60 million was spent on Spanish striker Morata, who looks set to become Chelsea's new first choice striker. German centre back Rudiger could turn out to be one of the signings of the summer, the solid defender starred for Germany in the Conflagrations Cup cup this summer, and his £30 million move looks like a bargain when compared to some of the other signings floating around. And then we get to Tiemoue Bakayoko, the French midfielder anchored the Monaco midfield on route to their Ligue 1 win last season, and impressed on route to the Champions League semi finals. he was one of Chelsea's primary targets when the window opened, and slotting in along side Kante could form one of the best central midfield pairings in the country. And it appears the champions aren't even close to done, with rumours linking them to long time target Alex Sandro of Juventus, their defence could get even stronger. There is however a bit of uncertainty towards the top of the pitch with Chelsea. Diego Costa has been told he will play no part in the coming season, leaving the striker in limbo, with no club effectively. Eden hazard is the latest player to be linked with Barcelona, the Catalan giants of course coming into money with the sale of Neymar to PSG all but completed, and with speculation Conte isn't entirely sold on Hazard, the Belgian winger could be out the door. But in reality that is it, there is nothing else to say. All in all Chelsea look very strong from back to front, and they should been seen as one of the favourites to win the title. So why don't I have them as my predicted winners? Well...

Champions of England -

1st - Manchester City

Because I feel like this will be the year Pep gets it right and the year this Manchester City side finally click into gear. The problem last season was obvious, the players just weren't right to fit the style of play their Spanish manager wanted, so this summer, they have spent big. £50 million on Kyle walker, and £52 million on Benjamin Mendy, two attacking, natural wing backs, a huge part of Pep's style that simply didn't exist at the Etihad last season. Brazilian Ederson has been brought in between the sticks, he could be the answer to City's goal keeping dilemma, a capable keeper with the ability to play out from the back. Manchester City had perhaps the biggest and strongest squad in the league already, but they're even improving on strength in depth this summer. Bernado Silva is the latest player to come to England from Monaco, and the Portuguese midfielder has been turning heads during his time in France. Very good on the ball with an eye for a pass, he also can chip in with a goal too, putting him along side Kevin De Bruyne in the ranks of goal scoring midfielders at City. Not to forget the incredible roster of talent already at Pep's disposal. Gabriel Jesus showed everyone just how good he was during his brief stint last season, scoring goals, providing assists, and asking a huge question of the manager. Jesus or Aguero. The Argentinian is no doubt on the the best strikers on the planet, and if he can stay fit for the entire season, he will no doubt be in the running for the golden boot. Then you have the solid midfield pairing of Yaya Toure, and Fernandinho. (Not Fernando, he's off to Turkey) These two are capable of not only protecting the defence, which as times can be CIty's weak link, bit they are both capable on the ball, both at creating chances and taking them. So City look set, from back to front they can put out arguably the strongest team in the league. And in terms of depth no other side can stand with them, the question now is if the side can buy into Pep's philosophy and produce the goods. History shows that once a Guardiola side gets going, they're hard to stop, and I really can see this year being the year for the blue half of Manchester. The title race this season I think will be very tight, which is a concept Pep won't be used to, but if he is the manager everyone seems to think he is, then he should be able to adapt, and thrive under the pressure. They had the manager, they had the players, now they need to go and win the silverware.

So there we have it, my main predictions for the upcoming Premier League season. Now I could be drastically wrong on a few of these (Just waiting for Spurs to make me look stupid) but I feel whatever happens, we could be in for one hell of a season. The top 6 is ridiculously hard to call, with so many world class talents, managers getting to grips with their teams and money being spent like it;s going out of style. Then at the other end we have plenty of teams set to be for a dog fight to maintain their place in the top flight. I for one can't wait, the opening weekend can't come close enough.

Premier League Review - 2016/2017

The 2016/2017 Premier League season has come to an end, and it's certainly been a season to remember, for both good and bad reasons. I'm going to run through every side and evaluate their season, grading them on their performance and state what I believe they can do to improve. 

Chelsea - Final Position: 1st 

Under the watchful eye of Italian Antonio Conte, the London club secured their 6th English league title and they did it in an impressive fashion. A switch to a wing back system following a 3-0 defeat to Arsenal in September is what pushed the eventual champions to find their rhythm and put up a fight to regain the trophy they last won in the season before last. With a revitalised Diego Costa and an in form Eden Hazard leading the line, as well as PFA player of the season N'Golo Kante anchoring the midfield, Chelsea always looked a threat. Along side a defence which kept more clean sheets then any other in the league this season, from back to front Chelsea were simply the best! It's hard to say what will make this side stronger, maybe the inclusion of a few more squad players to allow them to compete both domestically and in the Champions League next season. But as a whole, they've been close to perfect. 

Final Grade: A+

Spurs - Final position: 2nd

Tottenham finished as the league's top scorers and also had the best defence. They also remained undefeated at home all season and had the leagues top goal scorer, Harry Kane, within their side. Their points tally of 86 would have been enough to win the title last season by 5 points, and it's hard to see how they didn't end the campaign as champions. Only the record breaking Chelsea side could hold the North London club back from winning their first Premier League title, throughout the season Mauricio Pochettino and his side surpassed expectations, which includes finishing ahead of closest rivals Arsenal for the first time in the Premier League era. Overall it was a great season for Spurs, and should they hit the ground running in their temporary home of Wembley as well as continuing to strengthen their squad in a similar vein to how they did last summer, they could potentially challenge for the title again next time around. 

Final Grade: A

Manchester City - Final position: 3rd

With the squad City had at their disposal, as well as one of the world's best managers in Pep Guardiola at the helm, this season has to be seen as a failure for the blue half of Manchester. Despite a 3rd place finish and automatic qualification for next season's UEFA Champions League, ending the season with no silverware and failing to put up a serious challenge for the title, City have drastically fallen short. It's no all doom and gloom however, with young start Gabriel Jesus lighting up the Premier League since his debut, and Kevin De Bruyne continuing to prove how big of a mistake Chelsea made by letting him go, a few individuals had very successful seasons. That is however just what Man City are, individuals. To regain the title they need to be a team, a much more well balanced team compared to what we saw this year. A wing back system with now real wing backs within the squad, and a huge goal keeper dilemma are two big factors that lead to City struggling this season. Heading into next season the owners are going to have to dig into their incredibly deep pockets to help build the side Pep needs. An entirely new defence is required, a long with captain Vincent Kompany managing to remain fit. Also the goalkeeper debacle needs to be resolved in order to build a sustainable back line. Holding onto Aguero is also paramount in City's success, the Argentine is simply world class.

Final Grade: C-

Liverpool - Final position: 4th

Securing Champions League football on the final day rounded out the season perfectly for the 18 time English champions. Any Liverpool fan would have taken a 4th place finish if offered to them at the start of the season, however after being 2nd at Christmas and looking set for a title challenge, has it really been a successful season for the reds? Of course it has, England's most successful European club returning to the Champions League is massive, and after a hard couple of seasons it is an achievement that Jurgen Klopp and everyone involved in the club should be proud of. However this season could be seen as a huge missed opportunity for Liverpool after starting off the campaign so brightly, which includes out playing eventual champions Chelsea and coming away with a win at Stanford Bridge. The football being played was one of a fast paced style and most teams we're being blown away. The lack of a plan b ultimately cost Klopp's side, and when player of the season Sadio Mane went away for the African Cup of Nations everything started to collapse, seeing them drop from second to fifth by the end of January. The return of Mane saw Liverpool manage to push back into top four contention and then when injury struck for the Senegalese winger, the Brazilian Philippe Coutinho stepped up to the plate and re-found the form that he had shown at the start of the season. Overall, fourth place feels deserved. On the whole most Liverpool fans seem happy with this season, but what is essential for Liverpool if they are to continue to improve and push up the table is that they must bring in 4 or 5 squad players and players who can make an impact off of the bench. Far too many times this season the opposition has simply set up with a packed defence and stopped the reds from breaking them down, catching them on the counter attack. Also with the 'heavy metal football' Jurgen Klopp plays his players do commonly pick up injuries or fatigue, so a much bigger squad is essential.

Final Grade: B

Arsenal - Final position: 5th

For the first time since Wenger took over Arsenal back in the 1990's the Gunners failed to finish inside the top four. This is huge for the club as during a decade which has seen the club win only two pieces of silverware, a Champions League place felt like the season wasn't a failure. This season however can go down as nothing but. With the top players showing a poor attitude throughout and a group of individuals not putting in the performances that their huge contracts should justify, you can not blame the fans for being outraged at this campaign. However the fans are also part of the problem, by flying 'Wenger out' banners over matches all they're doing is making themselves look bad, disrespecting a true club legend and wasting their money. Alexis Sanchez's goals may have pushed Arsenal to within one point of the top four but one man is never enough over the course of a season and that was exactly the case this year. The club needs a huge overhaul if it is to reach the expectations the fans have, an entire new squad needs to be prepared, one with the fire and the passion that so many of the current crop don't seem to posses. Arsenal also simply need to hold onto Alexis. He may at times show a poor attitude but he is a world class player and one who could be the difference maker for Arsenal next season. Of course the big decision is Wenger in or Wenger out? In my opinion it doesn't matter anymore if the Frenchman stays or goes, the whole situation is such a farce that the club is going to suffer regardless of what happens, so the sooner an announcement is made, the better.

Final Grade: D+

Manchester United - Final position: 6th

£89 Million on Paul Pogba and United finished 6th. A club record 25 game undefeated streak and United finished 6th. Jose Mourinho in charge and United finished 6th. This season's league campaign can be seen as nothing but disastrous for Manchester United. At the started of the season the talk for the title was United vs City, and much like their cross city rivals United failed to deliver. When you look at the money was spent in the summer there is really no excuse as to how they failed to challenge for the title, and the fact that they finished 6th is incredible. A Europa league final win on the 24th May could still see the red half of Manchester qualify for the Champions league but that shouldn't hide the fact of how poor they've been in the league. Zlatan Ibrahimovic was the only real stand out player this season, throughout the Swedish striker was sublime and showed the world that he really can do it everywhere. It's hard to think of what United need to do to improve for next season. After spending the money in 2016 it shows that spending doesn't guarantee success. Jose has had a year now to settle in and you imagine a performance like this next season would see the special one out of a job. I feel like, much like Arsenal, a major overhaul needs to take place. Far too many egos are apparent in this side and some players need to come in and show the passion that players of the past showed and which lead them to success. 

Final Grade: D+

Everton - Final position: 7th

Ronald Koeman's side have had a pretty successful season this time around. A 7th place finish which may as well be titled as 'the best of the rest' with Everton finishing 15 points ahead of 8th. This is largely down to Belgian striker Lukaku who, up until the last couple of games, was the league's top goal scorers. Everton managed to make Goodison Park a fortress throughout, losing just two home leagues games all season and beating sides such as Manchester City and Arsenal on home turf. The major worry from this campaign however is one which is yet to come, the transfer window. His form has seen Lukaku linked with a lot of the world's top clubs, including Spanish champions Real Madrid and his former side Chelsea. Also home grown Ross Barkley looks set to leave, with his contract running down he has refused an extension and is yet to announce his future plans. You'd imagine Everton will receive £60million+ for the two men, and how they reinvest that money will be huge in deciding how next season works out. 

Final Grade: B

Southampton - Final position: 8th

Teams from 8th down to 13th only had 2 points separating them and for most of them the same ruling applies, a position in mid table obscurity. Southampton have once again, had an acceptable season after offloading their top stars in the summer before. This has been common as of late with Claude Puel's best players leading them to a good league finish, before being signed by a bigger club for huge sums of money. After losing Sadio Mane to Liverpool last summer it was the same story, and it looks set to happen again, with centre back Vigin Van Dijk a target for both Liverpool and Chelsea. If Southampton can, once again, replace a top player successfully and maintain a lot of their spine I can see next season being more of the same. 

Final Grade: C+

Bournemouth - Final position: 9th

Eddie Howe has once again proved how he is the ready made next England manager by leading minnows Bournemouth to a 9th place top flight finish, the highest finish in the clubs history. Now referring to Bournemouth as 'minnows' is not without context. With by far the smallest ground in the league and as a whole have one of the smallest fan bases, The Cherries have continued to exceed expectations given to them from when they gained promotion during 2015. Despite the small size of the club, Eddie Howe is not short on money to spend on transfers. Owner Maxim Demin has proven he is not against throwing money into the club and this alongside the TV money the club will own from this season, strengthening the sides first team, including a stand out star, the same role Jake Wilshere failed to fill this season, will go a long way to continuing the incredible growth of Bournemouth.

Final Grade: B+

West Brom - Final position: 10th

Tony Pulis's West Brom side are guilty of downing tools this season 100%. After a very impressive first half of the season which saw them reach 8th in the table, from the start of February until the final game of the season West Brom managed only one win and only 7 points. During games the players, who knew they were safe from relegation, seemed to already 'be on the beach' and let certain games simply pass them by. It's typical of Tony Pulis to lead a team to 40+ points but never over 50, and I can see it happening again next season. West Brom have a solid team both in attack and defence, they can afford to go through this summer without many major changes and still have a strong showing next season. The addition of a new goal scorer however should be top of the agenda should Pulis be looking to improve on this seasons 10th place finish, as West Brom ended the campaign as one of the leagues lowest scorers. 

Final Grade: C-

West Ham - Final Position: 11th

This season was a weird one for West Ham. Last season was such a success that any finish below they heights they met last time out would be seen as a failure, despite out stretching expectations drastically last season. With the addition of playing in their new stadium during this campaign it was guaranteed to be an interesting year for West Ham. Sadly for the fans of the Hammers the side failed to settle in at home quickly and struggled early in the season, looking like relegation fodder throughout. With the sale of talisman Payet in January it looked as if West Ham where in for a very long end to the league season. However the team started to gel, picking up points at home, and with Payet out of the side everyone on the pitch appeared to be a part of a much more coherent squad, one without the huge ego the Frenchman developed. This season was one with huge potential that wasn't quite met, despite spending big in the summer of 2016. Hopefully for West Ham they will have the budget again to strengthen their squad, and much like plenty of other sides in mid table, a consistent goal scorer would go a long way to pushing West Ham to the heights they met last season. 

Final Grade: C

Leicester City - Final Position: 12th

Last years champions split opinions this season in regards to how they dealt with the sacking of Claudio Ranieri. I've given my opinion on this matter a lot in the past but when you look at the facts, following the departure of the Italian Leicester managed to escape relegation comfortably and secured a mid table finish. However for the champions of England to be battling relegation is nothing short of disastrous, and a late flourish of form will do nothing to hide this fact. A successful run in Europe will go a long way for a lot of people to forget Leicester's poor attempt to defend their league title. Their defence which received rave reviews last time out was this season found out. Stars Vardy and Mahrez never even got close to the form they showed in Leicester's title winning season and it was incredibly obvious how much they missed Kante. For Leicester to push on next season they have to find their style. From Ranieri to Shakespeare, the way the champions have played this time around has changed far too often and they need a style in which the club can be based around. Whether it's the same style that won them the title or one based on possession football, the players they bring in have to be in aid of that. 

Final Grade: D

Stoke City - Final Position: 13th

Stoke have became the masters of just about reaching the 40 point mark and staying in the Premier League. This season was no different, despite Mark Hughes not deploying the same philosophy of Tony Pulis during his time at the club, another very same season has gone by at the Britannia. They scored few goals but when compared to the sides around them they held a pretty solid defence. Much like many other sides the players appeared to be 'on the beach' once they were safe and there isn't much else to be said. The former Manchester United player Mark Hughes is trying desperately to pull stoke away from the defensive style of football which Pulis pushed in his time in charge and they now play a slightly more attractive game. If the Welshman is to progress Stoke then before the start of next season big moves will need to be made in order to continue to push that style. 

Final Grade: C-

Crystal Palace: Final Position: 14th

When Big Sam took the palace job what happened was inevitable. The London team were struggling down the bottom of the table and looked to be in a relegation battle. And despite this battle still going on heading towards the league's climax, Big Sam did what he always does, get his team over the line. Wilfred Zaha was the star of the show for much of the season, particularly in the show victory away at Standford Bridge. Christian Benteke found his form at Selhurst Park and his goals played a big part in Palace staying up, as did Liverpool loanee defender Sahko in the second half of the season. However on the eve of 23rd May, the Crystal Palace manager has just resigned which means once again the club will go into the Premier League season under doubts about their future. It's not a question of signing which will dictate Palace's immediate future, it's whether or not they can get the right man in and set up a long term strategy for how to take the club forward.

Final Grade: C-

Swansea City: Final Position: 15th

When Paul Clement came in following Bob Bradley's poor time in charge it looked like the Premier League's only Welsh club was destined for the drop. During Clement's time in charge Swansea picked up the 8th most points in the time flight, a very impressive accomplishment which saw them survive the drop and revitalise both the club and the fans who were equally underwhelmed during the American Bradley's reign. What is no surprise is that Icelandic Gylfi Sigurdsson was the star man for Swansea and the one key factor which will dictate the Welsh sides season next time around is simple, keeping hold of Sigurdsson. He is one of the most under rated players in the league and it's only a matter of time before someone sees that.  

Final Grade: D+

Burnley: Final Position: 16th

In a very similar vein to West Brom, Burnley's season fizzled out after a decent start. Burnley boasted the second best home form in the league coming into 2017, however their form at Turf Moor was not repeated on the road, where Burnley registered just one away win all season. Sean Dyche's side also had the worst goal scoring record in the league outside of the relegation zone, despite have the 2nd best defensive record in the bottom half, the Claret's stumbled to a 16th place finish and if the season had continued for another few games you could see them being dragged into the relegation zone. There is a very strong foundation at Burnley, if they can hold onto Micheal Keane in the summer, and talented young striker Andre Gray can fire for the entire season, there is no reason Burnley can't look for a top half finish in the 2017/2018 season. 

Final Grade: D-

Watford: Final Position: 17th

The Hornets this season simply could not get a run of form going and that is what lead to them finishing just one place ahead of the relegation zone. Now former manager Walter Mazzarri came in under dubious circumstances and never managed to win over the fans which lead to, on the last game of the season, the fans chanting 'off off off' at their gaffer while his side were being humbled by Manchester City and went on to lose 5-0 at home. Watford started the season looking like an okay side, with Etienne Capous in particular staring. However too many of the previous seasons big players failed to perform, with captain Troy Deeney under performing from the start, which lead to him being dropped and a fall out with the manager. There is a lot for Watford to do if they are to stay up next season. A team commendatory needs to be former and whoever is appointed as the Hornets new boss needs to make this number 1 on his agenda. During the summer transfer window Watford need to focus on bringing in a few game changers to shake up the side, a side which has under performed drastically this season. 

Final Grade: E+

Hull City - Final Position: 18th

At the start of the season if you told me Hull would go down I wouldn't have argued with you. No doubt the worst prepared team heading into this years Premier League, the side then led by Mike Phelan actually got off to a decent start, beating then reigning champions Leicester City on the opening day. Phelan only had the job in a caretaker capacity at the start of the season as well as a squad of only 14 fit players. However after their impressive start Phelan got the job on a permanent basis during October but from then it all went down hill which lead to him also being fired only three months after taking the job. The loss of top goal scorer Robert Snodgrass in January to West Ham was a massive blow, the Scottish international actually finished the season as Hull's top scorer despite leaving mid way through the campaign, demonstrating their lack of goals. Portuguese manager Marco Silva came in an attempted to save the club which, despite Silva's Hull ending the season with a very impressive home record, ultimately failed and Hull were relegated on match day 37. Marco looks set to take the managers job at Porto so Hull will once again have to look for a new man to take the helm heading into their season in the championship, and he has a big job on his hands. Should they manage to retain a lot of their current squad Hull should have enough to fight for promotion next season, however with the financial future of the club reportably struggling, I wouldn't be surprised if a number of players leave in the near future and Hull will have to rebuild before we see them back in the top flight. 

Final Grade: F

Middlesborough - Final Position: 19th

Boro last season finally gained promotion back to the Premier League with a team based on a solid defence. This season they demonstrated that defence to great effect, and with the signing of former man City striker Negredo up front they looked set to consolidate their place in the league. However they finished as the lowest scoring team in the league and despite having the best defence in the bottom half this wasn't enough to keep them up. Boro weren't necessarily one of the worst sides in the league throughout the season, they just simply didn't score enough goals to stay up. A lack of an attacking desire or threat is what caused their relegation. Out of the three relegated sides I'd say Middlesborough have the best chance of coming straight back up, and if they can sort out their attack I don't see why we won't see them during the 2018/2019 Premier League season. 

Final Grade: E-

Sunderland - Final Position: 20th

When your manager agrees his squad of players is 'pathetic' you know you never stood a chance. After staying up by the skin of their teeth last season, this year always looked like a unwinnable battle for the black cats. David Moyes was in charge after being fried from his last two jobs and he came into Sunderland during a very sensitive time, that was problem number one. Number two was that during both of the transfer windows in which Moyes was in charge, he failed to bring in anyone who would have an effect on the team. The Sunderland side was simply not good enough, but unlike last season where their manager believed in them and rallied the troops to keep them up, Moyes didn't even look like he wanted to try. The Scotsman seemed more occupied with threatening reported then fighting to keep his team up, the team which he said he thought had no chance of avoiding relegation from day one. Sunderland have averaged a home crowd of over 40,000 this season, incredible when you think just how poor they have been, the fans deserve better then what they've been given. While their arch rivals Newcastle won the Championship this season, Sunderland are the most likely side in years, in my opinion, to go through the divisions. If this is to be avoided big changes have to be made. On 22nd May 2017 Moyes resigned as manager to, i'm sure, the delight of the fans but top goal scorer Jermaine Defoe looks set to leave when his contract expires on July 1st. With young goal keeper Jordan Pickford the target of plenty of Premier League clubs it looks like Sunderland are going to lose plenty of their bigger players which may not be a bad thing seeing how poorly a lot of them have performed this season. It's hard to say what could prevent Sunderland from dropping into obscurity, but consistency is essential first of all. A manager who not only believes in the club but is willing to stick it out to ensure his side can grow and progress back to the Premier League.

Final Grade: F

It's been an interesting season, with plenty of sides under performing and just as money proving better then many of us thought they where. How will the remaining sides and those promoted from the EFL Championship get on next season? I'll write up my predictions closer to the time but for now we can just wait and see.