After looking at the teams who garnered most of the success in the Premier League this season in the previous part of this series, we take a look now at the clubs who got very close to making an impact on the top four and what they have to do for next season to make those final strides towards potential Champions League football.
Tottenham Hotspur – 5th
Highlight of the season
A lot of fans probably feared the worst at the start of the season with Luka Modric being sold and no blockbuster signings coming in but in all truth AVB has done a fantastic job all season to get this team performing the way they have and pushing fellow Londoners, Arsenal and Chelsea and even Manchester City at times, to the limit in the race for Champions League football even if they were pipped to the post right at the death.
Low point of the season
Losses in games to the likes of Wigan and Fulham at home, games Spurs should be winning, are what fans will look back on at the end of the season as missed opportunities and the cause for why Tottenham didn’t walk into the Champions League places without a problem.
Player of the season
Without a doubt, Gareth Bale. The Welshman is showing the potential and ability that has seen him compared to the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo and has taken great strides towards becoming the best individual in the league.
What they need to do for next season
Aside from hold onto Gareth Bale, which goes without saying, sign a reliable striker. Moves have been touted for the likes of Benteke, Higuain and Leandro Damiao; any of these players would be fantastic additions to the squad because at aforementioned times this season, Tottenham have been found seriously lacking in front of goal; not very often, but often enough to hurt their prospects and they need to sort that out this summer.
Everton – 6th
Highlight of the season
A blistering start bucked the trend of previous seasons where Everton have inherently started so poorly. A change in fortunes this time around saw them even occupy top spot on two separate occasions and were regulars in the top four for the first nineteen games of the season.
Low point of the season
Again contrary to previous seasons Everton had a barren spell after their early season exploits where a 2-1 loss to Chelsea triggered a run of just two wins in eight games and saw Everton slip to sixth in the table; a spot they’ve virtually made their home since.
Player of the season
Fellaini is always going to be a name tossed into the hat at this point but I believe Everton’s player of the season this year was Leighton Baines. When you’re a Van Persie or a Mata it’s a lot easier to turn a game for your team compared to the likes of Baines as you’re usually already right in the thick of the action yet the wing-back manages it week after week. When this man plays well, Everton win.
What they need to do for next season
Finding a replacement for Moyes will be absolutely critical. The safe bet I think would be Roberto Martinez but I think the smart move should be for someone like Roberto Di Matteo, a guy with proven European and domestic experience. A statement of intent like that from the club’s board would surely get the fans and players ready for life without Moyes.
Liverpool – 7th
Highlight of the season
Despite fairing no better this season as far as the standings are concerned, the style of football that Brendan Rodgers has brought to Liverpool has seen the side take great steps forward and bodes well for the fans’ hopes of a return to the golden days with a few key additions here and there.
Low point of the season
Despite the new and improved style of play, Liverpool had a brutally bad start to the season as they won just two of their first 10 games and this is because some of the Reds’ old demons are still haunting them. The prime example being their lack of clinical finishing; time after time this season we’ve seen Liverpool have chance after chance to take fixtures by the scruff of the neck and just go to town on the opposition but they haven’t been able to do it and their lack of finisher is the cause for that.
Player of the season
You can’t look far past Luis Suarez for this one! I’d love to see where Liverpool would have been without him this season. Yes the man has had his fair share of controversies when the ball isn’t glued to his feet but when it is there aren’t many that have the right to pick a fault with the Uruguayan!
What they need to do for next season
In short, take a plunge into the transfer market. With Jamie Carragher retiring, Joe Allen having not lived up to expectation and uncertainty over Luis Suarez’ future, Liverpool are definitely going to have to take a good hard look at the options available in the market to avoid being left behind for another season.
West Bromwich Albion – 8th
Highlight of the season
A blistering start, spearheaded by the brilliance of Romelu Lukaku saw the Baggies occupy top-four positions on six separate occasions in the first 13 games; easily the surprise package at the start of the season and playing some terrific football to boot.
Low point of the season
After those games they just collapsed; a run of two wins in the following 12 games saw West Brom slip from 3rd to 10th and in truth they never really recovered and could only manage a 9th place finish by the end of the season.
Player of the season
Again, without a doubt, Romelu Lukaku. The Chelsea loanee was touted as the next Didier Drogba when the Blues snatched him from Anderlecht almost two seasons ago and we definitely saw that skillset from him this season with powerful runs forward and venomous finishes.
What they need to do for next season
Do all they can to retain the services of Lukaku. As of this moment the rumour is that Chelsea don’t want to loan him out again but things change in football so who knows. Failing that, they need to take a leaf out of Swansea’s book and find a 20-goal-a-season striker for tiny money but I don’t see that happening and think they’ll struggle next season without Lukaku.