What? An article that isn't about the Champions League final?! Are you crazy?!?! Perhaps. But I didn't watch it. So I'll write about what I've been thinking about writing about since 6pm last Sunday.
It feels like a lifetime ago that the Premier League season ended and it surprised me to discover that it's been a week. Just one week and I'm struggling to cope without my Fantasy Football.
It already feels like I'm late in sharing my thoughts on this season but I'm going to do it anyway by looking at each team and if I think they've had a successful season. When I initially thought about this, I decided that most teams will be disappointed but we'll see. So today, I start with "the big-6". That's Man Utd, Man City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal and Spurs - the teams that account for roughly 70% of all Premier League revenue. I had intended to cover all 6 in 1 article but I'm only part way through and it's getting a bit lengthy so I'm splitting it into "North" and "South".
Source 1License 1Source 2License 2Source 3License 3 + Lots of Photoshop
Manchester City (1st)
Where else do we start other than the champions, Man City. It's a long time ago now, but the season didn't start well for City and after the first 8 games, they found themselves 13th in the table. That's right, 13th. Who remembers this? And why should you? It was a catalyst for them to go 19 games unbeaten in the league and go on to run away with the title.
My thoughts - As far as the Premier League goes, they've got to be happy. They managed to win the league by 12 points, utilising their entire squad (much to the annoyance of most FPL players) and helped the likes of John Stones, Ilkay Gundogan and Phil Foden to shine. It didn't feel like the total dominance of 2017/18 and there is at least 1 obvious problem that Guardiola will need to look at for next season (they need a decent striker). But the record books won't care, their 5th Premier League title.
Verdict: Successful but lacking some of the flair of previous title wins
Manchester United (2nd)
I think this is a difficult one to assess - a 2nd placed finish is fairly decent but I don't think it reflects the optimism going into the season. Man Utd finished last season strongly with Greenwood, Fernandes, Rashford and Martial in great form and there was talk of a title challenge. After 19 games, Man Utd briefly topped the table and that's when Fernandes seemed to run out of gas and Man City had the squad depth to ease home.
My thoughts - Like I said, I'm undecided here. 2nd is an improvement on last season, finishing 8 points better off so it's progress and that's always a good thing. What's clear to me though is that Man Utd don't have the depth to cope with injuries or poor form and in my opinion don't have the defence required to seriously challenge for the league. Having said that, Luke Shaw was exceptional this season, defending superbly and offering an attacking threat. Similar to Man City, I believe they need a striker with Edinson Cavani unlikely to get through the 50 games required to challenge on all fronts. Greenwood has deputised reasonably well with Martial a player that does nothing but frustrate. I also don't think their centre backs are good enough. Maguire, Lindelof and Bailly don't have the air of premier league winners about them.
Verdict: Reasonably Successful but would have liked to pose a stronger title challenge
Liverpool (3rd)
If you'd have told me on the 8th March (the day after Liverpool's 1-0 defeat to Fulham) that Liverpool would finish 3rd, I'd have wondered how. Liverpool were languishing 8th in the Premier League and the idea that Klopp might lose his job was being taken seriously.
They then went on a run of 8 wins in 10 Premier League matches to get themselves up to 3rd in the league and secure themselves Champions League football.
My thoughts - Only knowing their high intensity "gegenpress" style of football, the lack of a summer break was perhaps responsible for a lack of energy in many fixtures with Scott Parker's Fulham claiming "Liverpool weren't up for it". Injuries were blamed on a heavy schedule with Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip in central defence all getting injured and could be considered unlucky. Their metronome in midfield, Jordan Henderson also getting injured damaged the spine of the team that had been so strong in winning the league last season. Salah, Mane and Firmino seemed to be shadows of their former selves and their brightest spark in my opinion was Diogo Jota.
Being reigning champions, they'd have hoped (and expected) to put up a better fight in defending it and I think we all expected the same. In the end, I think Liverpool will be happy that they got themselves into a Champions League spot but if you'd have told them at the beginning of the season that they'd be finishing 3rd, I don't think they'd have been too happy about it.
Verdict: Disappointed and would have expected a stronger title defence
Fantasy Sports Euro 2020 Fantasy Football Contest is now open with a current Prize Fund of 200 STEEM. Click here to find out more and enter.
