EPL 2014/15 - Wrap Up

When each of the final whistle blew, it meant many things to many people and their loves. For each of us soccer fans, you feel relief from fatigue but your adrenalin slows down and weekend excitement dwindles. Some of you will probably feel lost.

The soccer clubs' fortunes soar or wane. Those that went down, a few may return immediately, others flounder even more and sink lower, in some cases never to return. Players come and they go. Others just fade away into oblivion. Cést la vie. That is life. Life is fickle. In the business and working world, it is very much the same. 

In the meantime, how were the teams in the recently concluded season and how will they fare next season kicking off after we celebrate SG50.

Chelsea - The Blues have a stable, experienced and winning team. Mourinho being the consummate pro knew what he wanted and he added wisely in particular with Cesc Fabregas and Diego Costa. Their defence was outstanding. John Terry was the main reason, so too Ivanovic. While Matic was outstanding in midfield togehter with Willan, newly crowned Footballer of the Year Eden Hazard was the prodigy that came good. Diego Costa delivered the killer blows. Mourinho clearly knew how he wanted his team to play and he built it around Fabregas and Diego Costa.

During the early stages, I thought that finally a Mourinho side or Chelsea could play exciting attacking soccer. That 5-0 thrashing of Swansea was a showcase. But alas, they went back to their usual best. Mourinho play to win. First by building a solid defence, absorb and strike effectively. They are the expert of the 1-0 wins. Next season Chelsea could be champions again. They are experienced, tough and have strength in depth. If a few more marquee players were added, they will soar further. Still the team to beat.

Manchester City - A mixed bag. Joe Hart had a very good season but Vincent Kompany was short. Worse, why did City spent so much on Mangala who as I said runs like a new-born baby giraffe. Yaya Toure was not as dominating  in the middle and this affected David Silva even as Sergio Aguero shone. Frank Lampard said that Chelsea and Manchester City will still dominate and that is fairly accurate as he has played in both camps. There is a need to refresh the squad. They will also need more than Aguero or they will struggle later. Their soccer philosophy is already there. 

Arsenal - The Gunners played their best soccer in the later part. Their defence has stabilise. Coquelin seemed to have solve their perennial problem and weak link. Even when Jack Wilshere was out, they did well and boy did you see that Wilshere goal last week? Based on the strength of their performance this season, and the recovery of the long list of injured players, Wenger believe they have turned the corner and shall provide a stronger challenge and do not need any new signings. That Walcott hattrick last week in slightly more than 30 minutes lent credence but I beg to differ. 

Because the rest will do so and Wenger has to keep up. Ospina seemed okay but he may not be that top keeper that the Gunners require. They need a top defensive linchpin to provide competition and cover for Mertesacker and Koscielny. Coquelin alone is not enough, they need a top defensive midfielder and most certainly a top striker who could score consistently giving 20 goals a season. Giroud was sharp in the tail-end of the season. Can he score more? But Alexis Sanchez was outstanding. He works so hard, chases lost causes and scores often - just like Suarez and it was only his first season. Liverpool should have gotten him as replacement for Suarez. He will be even better next year.

Arsenal's FA Cup triumph made them the best in the FA Cup, their 12th and signal a revival for the new season.

Manchester United - Lousi van Gaal got them back to European soccer. He has pedigree but would Moyes do better than Moyes did if he was given the same money to buy players. The much maligned Maruone Fellaini became a key player under van Gaal. The Dutch master dished out big money for top players Angel di Maria who while brilliant at first simply faded away and what about Radamel Falcao? When their best player for the season was goalkeeper David de Gea, something is not right. But United will get better because they are still Manchester United. They will buy more players and sell some as they go into Phase II. You can say that amount the top four, the have become the least settled side. Possibly top four again?

Tottenham - Tottenham can be breathtaking but they have also often hurt themselves. Pocchettino has done well. Their attacking instincts and DNA are strong. Even their fullbacks are exciting but they must surely beef up their defence that seemed to concede goals too easily at times. Erikssen was very good but faded towards the end. Chadli has become very good and their greatest hope is of course Harry Kane who came in second in the best player award after Eden Hazard and second top scorer after Aguero. Just remember that Kane only started playing not from the beginning of the season but later. Fifth was good and to get better lots more are needed. Will be there or thereabouts.

Liverpool - Was it Brendan Rodgers fault? He did fashioned a very exciting, unstoppable Liverpool just last season but he failed to have a capable replacement for Suarez. Granted, Sturridge's injury did not help. He was too focus on deepening his squad. Worse, few of the players he had bought excelled. Was it the management's fault, controlling the way things were. It depends on what Liverpool want going forward. To continue to grow and bring younger players into the fold, then Rodgers will have a few years?

Or add on some real quality players? Remember, not everyone may want to join Liverpool especially when they won't be in Europe next year. They have also lost their talismanic captain Steven Gerrard. Mignolet was very good at times but  "at times'' is the problem. You need a better goalie. Raheem Stirling has potential but besides his speed, he did not score a lot of goals and create lots of assist. His heart is not for Liverpool and I think he was a part of the problem. Sell him for a good price. Liverpool are really in need of a recognised goal scorer. 

So do you sack Brendan now? He may come good some day but something is not right. Who do you get as replacement? Carlo Ancelotti and Juergen Klopp are available but Klopp is no longer the same Klopp with the previous year's Borussia Dortmund. His stocks has also fallen somewhat. Only thing good is Klopp sounds like Kop. Successful, in a country, in a business and in soccer is so important. If there are no big decision or right changes, Liverpool can languish again. 

Southampton - I thought they were the most amazing success story of the year. Ronald Koeman must have been the most amazing manager/coach. The Saints were left for dead when Rickie Lambert, Adam Lallana, Luke Shaw and all their top players left in one fell swoop after the previous great year. Koeman recruited wisely, he bought players who would be a team and crafted them into place. The players clearly understood his philosophy. Goalie Fraser Forster's return will boost their stock and additional cover through wise recruitment could make them even better. However, you have to worry if the Saints have to sell more of their top players again.

Swansea - Garry Monk. I think he is really good and he must have done good work. I also like the fact that he is English as there are not many English managers these days and Swansea is Welsh. Despite selling the prolific Wilfried Bony to Manchester City, they did not seemed t have missed him and actually they have a very good midfielder in Jonjo Shelvey. It was the ex great Danish player Michael Laudrup that made Swansea fashionable before he got sack and Monk became manager from player and captain. It was Brendan Rodgers who led Swansea to win promotion to the Premiership in 2010 and they came in 11th the following year. In 2012/13 season they had a player called Michu who took the EPL by storm. Where is he now? Swansea will continue to play their pretty passing game but with a bit more steel. 

Stoke - When talking about Stoke City, I have fond memories of some of their heroes. Stanley Matthews, Gordon Banks, Geoff Hurst, Peter Shilton, Jimmy Greenhoff, Sammy and Jimmy Mcilroy and Alan Hudson. Their brand of soccer were once described as the working man's ballet on the good old days. Today, Stoke is a tough and physical side well drilled by Mark Hughes. In seasons past, their Britannia home ground was one of the most difficult places to visit. Judging by their last match of the season where they created a bit of history by thrashing Liverpool 6-1, Stoke should be looking forward to next season. 

Crystal Palace - Alan Pardew made the difference and Palace were resurrected but after securing their status they went flat. When Pardew left Newcastle to join Palace both  clubs' fortunes were reversed. Palace can play, they are fast and physical but can teams like Palace sustain the arduous journey of a whole season. What is their depth strength. This is why they can have a good season and then a poor one.

Everton - Everton were very good when David Moyes was there. Roberto Martinez made them more exciting and more attacking but something went wrong last season. They should be better than that. They should easily be in the top ten or better. 

West Ham - Sam Allardyce can make a team play tough and survive. His Bolton side was a good example years ago. The Hammers were in fact quite good in mid-season. Now I wonder what they will do with Andy Carroll who can be very good but the big man is always out injured. However, Sam's could not survive long at Upton Park because West Ham fans demand their teams play in a certain way that Big Sam do not. They are building a bigger stadium and deserve more success. I have friends who are West Ham fans and I wish them well. 

WBA - Welshman Ton Pulis was manager of Stoke, Crystal Palace and now WBA. He made Stoke very hard to beat especially at home. His Palace team was very good. No wonder sometimes I thought that all three teams play the same way. They could be hovering around the same position next season.

Leicester City - The Foxes made an incredible fight back to stay in the Premier League. It was a great effort and Nigel Pearson must have been amazing as they were mostly at the bottom three. It would be hard to improve on that but possibly what become of them is link to how the other teams below them here fare.

Newcastle - The Toon Army are among the most passionate and they deserve better. They waited with bated breath to save themselves with a win in their last match of the season escaping by the skin of their teeth. The first thing they should do is get rid of their owner Mike Ashley then find a good coach. You will always remember those years under Kevin Keegan where their swashbuckling attacking soccer  took our breath away. Will they return to those halcyon days? 

Sunderland - Dick Advcaat has left after the rescue job. Fans should be grateful but this is the umpteen time that the Black Cats has escaped going down. You see for teams that are likely to hover between 13th-20th position, the trick is to outlast the other three that would go down. You don't have to outrun the bear, you just outrun the last few people and yo won;t end up as food. Another year of struggle beckons. 

Aston Villa - Have been blowing hot and cold. A late revival got them out of trouble. They will need a much better start. Tim Sherwood was a capable and intelligent midfielder who captained Blackburn Rovers to the title years ago. He changed Villa's fortune by daring them to attack but having been assured of survival they did not do so well. Needs beefing up in the right areas otherwise will struggle next season.

See you next season!