Over the years there have been some memorable seasons in the biggest and best football league in the world. Title races and relegations battles, superstar players and enigmatic managers, the Premier League has it all.
No season in recent memory has quite matched the season of 2010/11 though, which saw one of the tightest relegation dog fights of all time, and a similarly thrilling title race. Newcastle United and West Brom returned to the big time along with Blackpool, and when August came, things were well and truly about to explode.
So how did it all finish? He’s the final league table for the Barclays Premier League 2010/11:
The Table
1. Manchester United
2. Chelsea
3. Manchester City
4. Arsenal
5. Tottenham Hotspurs
6. Liverpool
7. Everton
8. Fulham
9. Aston Villa
10. Sunderland
11. West Bromwich Albion
12. Newcastle United
13. Stoke City
14. Bolton Wanderers
15. Blackburn Rovers
16. Wigan Athletic
17. Wolverhampton Wanderers
18. Birmingham City
19. Blackpool
20. West Ham United
It was a record 19th title for Manchester United and Sir Alex Ferguson, who led by a 9 point margin ahead of Chelsea and FA Cup winners Manchester City. All three teams automatically qualify for the UEFA Champions League next season, along with Arsenal who will be entered into the play-offs. Tottenham, Stoke, Fulham, and Birmingham will all be headed for Europa league next year, with Liverpool fans no doubt being disappointed by this news.
It was heart break for Birmingham, Blackpool, and West Ham however, as they were the victims of the relegation dog-fight which at once point included 12 potential teams. They will be playing Championship football next season, and will be replaced by QPR, Norwich, and Swansea.
The Statistics
The Players:
- Golden Boot: Berbatov (Manchester United)/Tevez (Manchester City) - 20 goals.
- Golden Glove: Hart (Manchester City) - 18 clean sheets.
- Most Assists: Nani (Manchester United) - 18 assists.
- Most Fouls: Davis (Bolton) - 115 fouls.
- Most Red Cards: Cattermole (Sunderland), Gardner (Birmingham), Koscielny (Arsenal), Mulumbu (West Brom), Shawcross (Stoke) - 2 red cards.
- Most Yellow Cards: Tiote (Newcastle) - 14 yellow cards.
The Teams:
- Goals Scored: Manchester United - 78 goals.
- Goals Conceded: Blackpool - 78 goals.
- Clean Sheets: Manchester City - 18 clean sheets.
- Fewest Clean Sheets: Blackpool - 2 clean sheets.
- Most Yellow Cards: Newcastle - 75 yellow cards.
- Most Red Cards: West Bromwich Albion - 7 red cards.
The Season in Review: The Teams
Arsenal
Finished: 4th
Key Player: Robin van Persie
Overall: Arsene Wenger will look back at 2010/11, and see it as a season of wasted opportunities. So many times did Arsenal have the chance to move top, but so many times was it thrown away with their inability to hold onto a league and maintain a level of consistency.
What Next: Improve drastically on this season's performance, and work on keeping it together under pressure. Wenger will no doubt be looking to make defensive additions to his squad, with Bolton's Gary Cahill currently in the crosshairs.
Aston Villa
Finished: 9th
Key Player: Darren Bent
Overall: Relegation candidates ealier in the season, and ending up in the top half by the end of it, 2010 was certainly a year of mixed fortunes for the Midlands giants as it was for many others. The acquisition of Darren Bent was essential to their survival, and without his goals Villa would have in serious trouble.
What Next: Wide man Ashley Young is practically out of the door already, which is not something that will please Villa fans. They will be hoping to cling onto their better players over Summer, and try and push for Europa League next season.
Birmingham City
Finished: 18th (relegated)
Key Player: Ben Foster
Overall: From Midlands success to Midlands heartbreak, it was Birmingham who fell victim to the relegation scrap on the proverbial D-Day, losing out to a superior Tottenham side. It was not all doom and gloom however, as they captured the Carling Cup earlier in the season, and secured a place in the Europa League next season.
What Next: Moral will hopefully be boosted by European football, but will this prove a distraction whilst they readjust to Championship football? Their main goal will surely be securing promotion as they look to return to the Premier League.
Blackburn Rovers
Finished: 15th
Key Player: Chris Samba
Overall: One of the many teams who were caught up in the relegation battle, Blackburn's season was like a rollercoster, which unfortunately had more dips than peaks. There were plenty of good results along the way though, such as a 1-0 victory over Everton, 3-1 win over Liverpool, and 2-1 win against Newcastle.
What Next: Their owners the Venky's will be looking to make further additions to the squad after numerous players will be released on a free after the expiration of their contracts. The question is though will they be able to buy results as well as players?
Blackpool
Finished: 19th (relegated)
Key Player: Charlie Adam
Overall: Blackpool have been the real entertainers this season, playing exciting football and refusing to back down to any team. Unfortunately points for style aren't awarded, and by the second half of the season fatigue had set in. A horrible run of defeats and draws saw them drop one too many points, and after fighting so hard to stay up, it was on the final day of the season they slipped and stayed in the relegation zone.
What Next: Keeping the team together. Holloway has already admitted his players have grown too fond of life in the Premier League, and that several will be unhappy with lesser contracts and Championship football. Solidarity is the key, and Holloway will need to do all he can to stop his team from drifting apart.
Bolton Wanderers
Finished: 14th
Key Player: Johan Elmander
Overall: After an impressive start to the season, and an impressive home record at the Reebok, Bolton slipped down into the bottom half of the table after a miserable run of results after January. Their last 5 games consisted of 5 straight losses, which put a disappointing end to an otherwise succesful season.
What Next: After losing Elmander on a free to Galatasaray, and Sturridge who will return to Chelsea after his loan spell has ended, Bolton will need to renew their forward lines if they are to remain league competitors next season.
Chelsea
Finished: 2nd
Key Player: Branislav Ivanovic
Overall: After hammering West Brom 6-0 in their first game of the season, many said Chelsea were going to be unstoppable this season. Their form saw a noticable dip however, and in contrast to other clubs, their season didn't pick up until the second half, when they finally started getting the results they were capable of. Despite second place being more than respectable, Ancelloti has been removed from command, a Chelsea currently remain managerless.
What Next: Finding a manager who can relate to the players and get the results that the directors want. Making Fernando Torres work properly would also be a plus, as £50m for 1 goal isn't exactly value for money.
Everton
Finished: 7th
Key Player: Leighton Baines
Overall: The slowest starters in the league did it again, and after a miserable first half, they turned it around to secure a very respectable 7th place finish. Injury has been a concern for Moyes' men this season, with captain Tim Cahill sidelined, and a lack of fire power upfront. But through hard work, and some excellent team football, Everton have once again secured a positive finish.
What Next: Working on finding that early form. If they can get more results under their belt earlier in the season, Everton will no doubt be contenders for European football. Signing a couple of strikers would also aid their cause.
Fulham
Finished: 8th
Key Player: Brede Hangeland
Overall: Another positive season for Fulham who will be playing European football later this year, thanks to the Fair Play policy, being the cleanest side in the league. The Londoners have no doubt missed Bobby Zamora, but a good team effort has keeped them safe from relegation worries, and in the top half of the table.
What Next: Capitalize on this season's performance, and take advantage of more European football next season. With some more additions to the side, Fulham could start to establish themselves as a force to be reckoned with.
Liverpool
Finished: 6th
Key Player: Maxi Rodriguez
Overall: Relegation murmers were short lived at the beginning of the season, and the installation of Kenny Dalglish as manager lifted the team spirit, rocketing them up the table and into 6th place. This was helped no end by the fine form which Maxi Rodriguez found, along with the big money January additions of Suarez and Carroll, who have definitely bolstered the side.
What Next: They missed out on European football this year, but after a Summer spending spree, will look to catapult themselves back into title contention next season.
Manchester City
Finished: 3rd
Key Player: Carlos Tevez
Overall: Arsenal hitting the self-destruct button was extremely benefitial for the City boys, but after the millions upon million they have spent, Manchester City have finally capured some silverware and Champions League football. Their overly defensive style has drawn the ire of football fans, but they have found a formula that has worked, and are now benefitting from it greatly.
What Next: No doubt even more spending is on the cards, with City trying to find another world class striker to replace Carlos Tevez, who is rumoured to be leaving in the Summer. An even greater title charge will also be expected, as more spending comes with more expectations.
Manchester United
Finished: 1st (champions)
Key Player: Javier Hernandez
Overall: Any other season and they might not have been so lucky, but the biggest team in England captured their 19th league title, fending off several advances from other teams, included a long-running battle with Arsenal, and a late charge from Chelsea. Super signing Javier Hernandez has proven invaluable this season, with his pin point finishing being the deciding factor in so many matches.
What Next: Reboot the team. Fergie has expressed his concern with the team as of late, and whilst Vidic, Hernandez, and Giggs have all been excellent this season, United can't afford to rely on them. With A reported £17m offer for De Gae having been accepted, the Red Devils will be looking to expand their defensive and midfield lines.
Newcastle United
Finished: 12th
Key Player: Kevin Nolan
Overall: Retaining Premier League status was the goal this season, and that's exactly what the Magpies did. Season's don't come as mixed as this one though, and despite a 6-0 win against Villa, a 5-1 win against Sunderland, and that 4-4 draw with Arsenal, a handful of disappointing results, and a major injury crisis left them in the bottom half of the table. The record sale of Andy Carroll also left the side in slight disarray, with the absence of an imposing an consistent goal scoring centre-forward.
What Next: Spending! The need for a pair of decent strikers has never been so great, which will much improve on this season's finish. Keeping hold of players might prove difficult with Barton and Enrique in contractual difficulties, which could effect how money is spent.
Stoke City
Finished: 13th
Key Player: Ryan Shawcross
Overall: It was a mixed season for Stoke, but with the formidable attack of Kenwyne Jones and Jon Walters, they were able to get enough results to keep their heads safely above the water. Despite criticism over their physical and defensive style of play, Stoke will be content to grind results out, and terrorize defenses with their throws ins. This successful formula saw them all the way to the FA Cup final where they lost out to Manchester City, but still qualified for the Europa League.
What Next: After 3 years in the Premier League, Stoke have established strong roots as a mid-table side, but will need to further expand their squad and work on getting more wins under their belts if they are to expand on this reputation. European football is definitely a step in the right direction, and will test the Midlands side next season.
Sunderland
Finished: 10th
Key Player: Asamoah Gyan
Overall: Sunderland were in contention for European football at the beginning of the season, however following the exodus of Darren Bent, the lack of goal scoring options were severely reduced. A nightmare run of games saw them lose 9 out of 10, and draw the other, which put manager Steve Bruce under pressure, and spoilt an otherwise successful season.
What Next: Summer will give Sunderland the chance to rest their injury-plagued squad. They will also look to make more additions to their strike force, in order to make sure they don't fall victim to a lack of goals again.
Tottenham Hotspurs
Finished: 5th
Key Player: Gareth Bale
Overall: Just one place behind their London rivals Arsenal, Spurs did not earn Champions League football again this season, but showed the world they have the quality to contend with the best after eliminating AC Milan from the competition. Their Premier League season has also been full of success, but one too many draws has cost them, despite having one of the best midfields in the league, with Gareth Bale now being recognized as one of the best wingers in the world.
What Next: Spurs are another team looking to dip into the transfer market over Summer, and are planning a big reshuffle, with Defoe, Pavlyuchenko, and Modric all on the way out. Keeping holds of their other star plays such as Bale might prove problematic however, with none other than Real Madrid and Manchester United in the hunt for his signature.
West Bromwich Albion
Finished: 11th
Key Player: Peter Odemwinge
Overall: Finishing as the highest newly promoted club, and acquiring one of the League's top scorers in Peter Odemwinge, West Brom will certainly be happy with their performance. After a dream start to the season, a drop in form over Christmas saw the eventual removal of Roberto Di Matteo, and replacement of Roy Hodgson. The ex-Liverpool finished the season on a high, coming from behind to draw with Newcastle 3-3, as the Baggies look to shake their 'boing-boing' mentality.
What Next: Holding onto star players such as Odemwinge is a must, and getting even more results next season is a must if they are to do this.
West Ham
Finished: 20th (relegated)
Key Player: Scott Parker
Overall: There isn't a great deal of positive factors that can be taken from West Ham's woeful season. Consistent defeats saw them slip into the relegation zone very quickly, where they remained for most of the season. Out of all the Premier League teams, their ultimate fate was decided the first, sealing relegation with 32 points. Following their assurance of Championship football, Avram Grant was removed from command, and West Ham will be looking to replace him over the Summer period.
What Next: To cope with the monetary situation, some players will obviously be shown the door, but the London club will be looking to hold things together to make sure their spell in the Championship is only a brief one.
Wigan Athletic
Finished: 16th
Key Player: Charles N'Zogbia
Overall: Relegation favourites for the majority of the season, Wigan left it very left to assure safety, but will be happy with the outcome nevertheless. The only real upset came at the beginning of the season when they beat Tottenham 1-0, but unfortunately their only other wins came from the teams around and below them, which there were not many of.
What Next: They have the players to maintain Premier League status, but this season revolved to much around the results of other teams. Wigan must work on grinding results out of the teams above them if they are to maintain Premier League status next season.
Wolverhampton Wanderes
Finished: 17th
Key Player: Matt Jarvis
Overall: Talk about leaving it late. Tottenham striker Roman Pavlyuchenko is now a hero at the Molineux after sinking Midlands rivals Birmingham on the last game of the season. After an impressive start their form declined very quickly, and similarly to Wigan they were relegation favourites for most of the season. Despite the number of losses they suffered, beating Manchester United and escaping relegation ahead of Birmingham will feel like winning the League for the Wolves fans.
What Next: Avoiding the same results next season is a must, and Mick McCarthy must work on isolating the form Wolves showed against Manchested United, and apply it to a formation and set of tactics that can be applied and adjusted to each opponents style of play.
The Transfers
1. Fernando Torres (From Liverpool to Chelsea) - £50m
2. Andy Carroll (From Newcastle to Liverpool) - £35m
3. Edin Dzeko (From Wolfsburg to Man City) - £32m
4. Darren Bent (From Sunderland to Villa) - £28m
5. Luis Suarez (From Ajax to Liverpool) - £26.5m
Looking Ahead: Predictions and Thoughts on What 2011/12 Might Bring
As one of the most chaotic seasons has now eventually come to a close, all teams will be glad to get some R&R, which will allow their players some time to recooperate, and for new ones to be brought in. With the landscape changing over Summer with the inevitable and numerous additions, as well as the promotion of QPR, Norwich, and Swansea, how will next season pan out?
Winners: Manchester United
With a £50m spending spree on the cards, United can only go from stength to strength with the potential signings of Ashley Young and Luka Modric. They may have benefitted from the misfortune of other teams this season, but expect an increase in form next season as they try to content with European rivals, Barcelona.
Relegated: Swansea, Norwich, and Wolves
The Premier League is the most competitive division in the world, and whilst we have received shocks this season from the newly promoted sides, Swansea and Norwich don't have the depth in their sides to keep up with the frenetic pace. Wolves managed to escape by an inch this season, but I don't think their luck will hold next season.
Golden Boot: Javier Hernandez (Manchester United)
Super-sub turned first team regular, Chicarito will only benefit from a renewed midfield, and will be packed with confidence after his impressive debut season. With this year's top scorers Carlos Tevez and Dimitar Berbatov unsettled at their respective clubs, Hernandez is in prime position to become the most feared striker in the league.
Surprise Package: Newcastle United
Having upset the odds more than once this season, and proven they are a Premier League side, Newcastle were pinned back by injury crisis and incosistency. Transfer window dependant and some shifts at the training ground, Newcastle could move on step closer to that world class team they used to be.
Most Fouls: Kevin Davies (Bolton Wanderers)
No explanation needed. Put the mortgage on it, but then again the odds are so high you'll probably only get a £5 return.
