Has this collectively been the worst season ever for the PL?

[Wheato]

Remarkable how many teams actually phoned it in.

Liverpool, Chelsea, Spurs and United (post February) all downed tools.
World cup in the middle.
Queen dying, games cancelled.
"established" clubs going down.
Really dull relegation 'battle' with 5 utterly bobbins teams deserving to go down, and only room for 3
Half hearted attempt at a title race until the inevitable.

Feels very like season 7 of a US sitcom where it's making too much money to stop now.

Is the PL approaching a turning point?

 

[Red4Ever]

Remarkable how many teams actually phoned it in?

Liverpool, Chelsea, Spurs and United (post February) all downed tools.
World cup in the middle.
Queen dying, games cancelled.
"established" clubs going down.
Really dull relegation 'battle' with 5 utterly bobbins teams deserving to go down, and only room for 3
Half hearted attempt at a title race until the inevitable.

Feels very like season 7 of US sitcom where its making too much money to stop now.

Is the PL approaching a turning point?

no


you answered your own question with the World Cup bit but there’s multiple reasons why chelsea, spurs & liverpool regressed while United improved as did city Arsenal & many more

 

[Sandikan]

Most seasons are similar aren't they?
Couple of teams going for the title until late on. Most other big teams a bit of a shambles.

The huge difference this year is all of the promoted championship teams stayed up, which has to be the first time in yonks. But that's to be applauded, rather than the Everton/Leicester/Southampton likes stinking it up for another year.

 

[Siorac]

Most seasons are similar aren't they?
Couple of teams going for the title until late on. Most other big teams a bit of a shambles.

The huge difference this year is all of the promoted championship teams stayed up, which has to be the first time in yonks. But that's to be applauded, rather than the Everton/Leicester/Southampton likes stinking it up for another year.

The Premier League has its own boom-bust cycle.

At the start of the season, people keep saying that this will be the most competitive season yet and 5-6 teams could be going for the title.

Then it becomes obvious that halfway through that at best two teams have any chance of winning the league, the other supposed challengers are fighting for CL qualification. So we start hearing that yeah, whoever is in front had an easier time this year but next season, X, Y, and Z will all strengthen and they'll be back!

Once the season is over, some fans call it the worst ever if their team didn't do particularly well. The rest are amping up the 'next season will be insane' rhetoric, and we go again.

 

[horsechoker]

We also have 3 clubs who weren't in the top 4 last season now there so it's been less predictable. I think many didn't expect Arsenal to do as well they did until April nor Newcastle to be in the top 4.

Part of the fun has been Chelsea's demise.

From a neutral perspective it's been a decent season.

 

[Wheato]

We also have 3 clubs who weren't in the top 4 last season now there so it's been less predictable. I think many didn't expect Arsenal to do as well they did until April nor Newcastle to be in the top 4.

Part of the fun has been Chelsea's demise.

From a neutral perspective it's been a decent season.

The improvement of Newcastle, Brighton, Villa etc... has to be combined with the lack of European football. Arsenal also managed to drop out of the cups early.

I think that they will all struggle in the coming season to keep up with CL/Europa/PL schedule. It definitely broke us, post feb.

 

[RedDevilCanuck]

Midtable has been good with good stories.

Looks like a couple big, historic teams will go down.

City can feck off.

 

[KeanoMagicHat]

People always complain, if the big teams do too well, it’s top heavy. If the big teams are seriously challenged by good teams like Brighton then it’s because they’re shit.

I think it’s been a decent season, at least on par with some of the last 6 or 7.

What I think people need to realise is that with the emergence of Newcastle there’s no ‘big 4’ or anything any more. At least 2 of United, Chelsea, Spurs, Arsenal, Liverpool are probably not making the top 4 from now on. There are no guaranteed placings anymore.

That doesn’t make it low quality, it just means there’s more competition and the balance of power has changed.

 

[Big Ben Foster]

European and relegation battles went down to the wire

Two clubs in European finals

No, I reckon from a neutral perspective, it's actually been a fantastic season for the PL

 

[Wheato]

People always complain, if the big teams do too well, it’s top heavy. If the big teams are seriously challenged by good teams like Brighton then it’s because they’re shit.

I think it’s been a decent season, at least on par with some of the last 6 or 7.

What I think people need to realise is that with the emergence of Newcastle there’s no ‘big 4’ or anything any more. At least 2 of United, Chelsea, Spurs, Arsenal, Liverpool are probably not making the top 4 from now on. There are no guaranteed placings anymore.

That doesn’t make it low quality, it just means there’s more competition and the balance of power has changed.

Or that teams who have a week off, in-between fixtures, have a distinct advantage over the teams in Europe.

 

[Offside]

I don’t think so. I think it’s been better than a lot of recent seasons.

 

[2 man midfield]

I wouldn’t say the relegation battle has been dull. Ever since City beat Arsenal, apart from our own games it’s been what’s kept it interesting, for me.

 

[Idxomer]

The two covid seasons were awful, last season was also not very good.

Personally, I feel the PL has been weak since 2019.

 

[DutchSerb]

I loved every bit of Chelsea's downfall. I loved Spurs imploding. I love the massive relegation battle and I love that Utd managed to do relatively well during a tumultuous season. I think it's been a fun season, I think Arsenal holding on a bit longer would be better for the neutral spectator.

If anything, I think this CL season has been one of the worst I've ever seen, if not the worst.

 

[El Zoido]

I can’t decide whether it’s getting worse or I’m just getting old, but I don’t love it like I used to.

 

[Seveneric]

Liverpool, Chelsea, Spurs and United (post February) all downed tools.

Huh? That's not what that phrase means in this context. Unless you think all the players at those clubs willingly and intentionally chose to be awful.

 

[Doracle]

People always complain, if the big teams do too well, it’s top heavy. If the big teams are seriously challenged by good teams like Brighton then it’s because they’re shit.

I think it’s been a decent season, at least on par with some of the last 6 or 7.

What I think people need to realise is that with the emergence of Newcastle there’s no ‘big 4’ or anything any more. At least 2 of United, Chelsea, Spurs, Arsenal, Liverpool are probably not making the top 4 from now on. There are no guaranteed placings anymore.

That doesn’t make it low quality, it just means there’s more competition and the balance of power has changed.

This has been the case for 10 years though as it’s always been 4 from 6, with City being virtually guaranteed since Pep has been there. Newcastle being involved as well just means that there’s even more competition.

Over time, I think Spurs will drop away if the status quo remains as it is currently and Newcastle will replace them in a big 6.

 

[Doracle]

As for the initial question, it’s been a fairly entertaining season I would say. Some intrigue with Arsenal building up a lead, Chelsea and Liverpool struggling and some big clubs being involved in the relegation scrap. The downside though is nothing is really going to be left until the last match, so next weekend will be a bit dull.

 

[Gentleman Jim]

The two covid seasons were awful, last season was also not very good.

Personally, I feel the PL has been weak since 2019.

If the PL is weak then football in general must be weak too as England has a large slice of world talent of Coaches, Administrators and Players in it.
United, Liverpool and Arsenal would probably win or come very close to winning any other European League had they played in them .

 

[Vernon Philander]

City making this league a one horse race has stunk it up more than any other reason

 

[LawCharltonBest]

City making this league a one horse race has stunk it up more than any other reason

Pretty much what I was going to say

Feels like they created their own competition by giving Arsenal a load of their B team players to accompany their old assistant manager, gave them a head start and then came back easily once they started trying.

Only true competition they'll have is when Newcastle start signing the World's best players from this Summer onwards.

Oil money makes for a boring league.

 

[surf]

Pretty much what I was going to say

Feels like they created their own competition by giving Arsenal a load of their B team players to accompany their old assistant manager, gave them a head start and then came back easily once they started trying.

Only true competition they'll have is when Newcastle start signing the World's best players from this Summer onwards.

Oil money makes for a boring league.

Yeah, seems like Pep spent the first half of the season relaxed and experimenting with how to optimise the presence of Haaland, happy to keep in touch with the leaders. Then he blows away the rest with a Lester Piggott burst for the line. It was inevitable because City can reel off 10+ wins in a row once they set their mind to it.

 

[Robertd0803]

Its probably a stronger league than ever with no "easy games" (other than Everton vs Liverpool), its certainly not weak. West Ham being in the Europa Conference final despite being just out of relegation zone is proof of that.

Soulless would be how Id feel about it. Nobody outside City and paid off pundits gives a shit about City winning the league all the time while compare that to everyone at least begrudingly admiring us/Chelsea/Arsenal in the 90s and late 2000s when those teams were winning. (And much as it pains me to say it Liverpools title win as well was more impressive than any of Citys because they won it fairly but anyway).

The relegation battle this season has been pretty entertaining due to it being between teams that have no business down there and the curiosity of a big name going down.

 

[SER19]

Made a thread along these lines before. The league is gone crap and City have cheapened the meaning of the top prize. All in all the last decade or so has just seen an enormous decline in the intensity and significance of the league from a fan point of view. It parallels a lot in society and is typified by City fans 'celebrations' at the weekend. It all seemed so pointless and contrived. Some of the scenes were full on cringey. Even today, it's kind of like 'who cares' that the title was decided this weekend. I remember it used to be such a defining weekend and dominant story. Definitely within the PL City have just been a massive exacerbating factor and have been as bad for football as many of us predicted after they were bought and before they were succesful.

 

[SER19]

Pretty much what I was going to say

Feels like they created their own competition by giving Arsenal a load of their B team players to accompany their old assistant manager, gave them a head start and then came back easily once they started trying.

Only true competition they'll have is when Newcastle start signing the World's best players from this Summer onwards.

Oil money makes for a boring league.

I doubt even Newcastle will get the leeway City did, especially given the current charges. What happened at City was an absolute abomination and we watched it all unfold in slow motion, countless people calling it out for what it was while those who could do anything about it twiddled their thumbs.

 

[Chief123]

Remarkable how many teams actually phoned it in.

Liverpool, Chelsea, Spurs and United (post February) all downed tools.
World cup in the middle.
Queen dying, games cancelled.
"established" clubs going down.
Really dull relegation 'battle' with 5 utterly bobbins teams deserving to go down, and only room for 3
Half hearted attempt at a title race until the inevitable.

Feels very like season 7 of a US sitcom where it's making too much money to stop now.

Is the PL approaching a turning point?

I would say the season we finished 2nd with Jose was a pretty crap season in general.

 

[RuudTom83]

Yeah, I would lean towards this being a poor season overall...but the media always love to push the present as the BEST EVER!

So it can be hard to step back and see if for what it is.

 

[LDUred]

I disagree. It's been the same old same old in terms of the eventual outcome, but how we've got there has been anything but dull.

It seems all too predictable that City won it again but it is largely because of one almighty bottle job by Arsenal.

Backtrack 10 games and there seemed no way back in for City.

City will generally come on strong at the end of the season thanks to the depth of their squad and their experience of winning the title under Pep, but it doesn't hide the fact that Arsenal basically gifted them the title. They even squandered sizeable leads in games they dropped points in.

You have to give City credit for scenting blood and amping up the pressure, but the way in which Arsenal have crumbled has been astonishing. Yes, Brighton are a good team, but losing 3-0 at home to them with the league title on the line? Drawing 3-3 at home to Southampton? Meekly throwing in the towel at the City Ground?

A team that is good enough to lead the rest for more than half the season should not do that.

 

[Ayoba]

Yea

 

[MayosNoun]

It’s still a one team league despite Arsenal’s attempts.

Man City are far too good and next year, with a few additions, they’ll only get better.

 

[FrankFoot]

PL a on team league now

 

[AlPistacho]

It’s the big Premier League myth that we’ve had for over 15 years. 5-6 teams can win it…. But it’s usually won with games to go, with teams 3-5 never ever really in it. Don’t think we’ve ever had a last day where 3 or more can win it, even last days where two can win it are once a decade occasions.

 

[tentan]

I think 14-15 season was pretty poor

 

[Ted Lasso]

It's been an excellent season. A very different Top 4 and unexpected (for most) relegation battle that sees two longstanding Premier League teams out. Then there's individual surprises like BHA and of course highlights for United like Garnacho breaking thru, Rashford purple patch as well as drama from the Ronaldo fall out. Begrudgingly Haaland has lit the league up in spectacular fashion and equally spectacularly Arsenal have dropped the ball on what would have been a surprise league triumph. Even the race for Top four had some late season drama.

You probably couldn't have written a better season considering it was interrupted by the World Cup.

Edit:
The Queen's passing was a cherry on top symbolic culmination of a very painful history that also made this season even better.

If we can add the end of the Glazers to it, yee haw what a memorable one it will be.

 

[Karel Podolsky]

Poor season. Chelsea, Liverpool, Spurs, Arsenal gave too much fun week in week out.

 

[Sky1981]

It's always shit when your team's not in it

Football fans

 

[Ludens the Red]

no


you answered your own question with the World Cup bit but there’s multiple reasons why chelsea, spurs & liverpool regressed while United improved as did city Arsenal & many more

Being pedantic but have they really? I feel city are kind of the same. Adding Haaland has been a success but it’s seen a drop off from a few others in their squad.
City would have to win their last two games to surpass last seasons points total… by one point.
They’ve already conceded more goals and would need to score eight more goals to surpass their goal tally from last year. There’s this big idea that Haaland has taken them to new levels but he hasn’t really and he didn’t do anything in the CL semies either.

 

[Care_de_Bobo]

Backtrack 10 games and there seemed no way back in for City.

This is clearly not true, Arsenal had a favourable run in the first half of the season with a lot of their harder games left until a very tricky run in. They also had to play City twice who also had a game in hand for a long time. They were also getting very fortunate and scraping wins with last minute goals and that type of luck doesn't usually last unless you're Liverpool.

There's also the fact that Arsenal have a very young side and don't have any real leaders who could help get them over the line. They were never going to keep up with such a weak squad, even without fixture congestion. They'll be back to fighting it out for top 4 next season now that there's no mid season World Cup and they'll actually have to play their first team in their European fixtures.

 

[Wheato]

This is clearly not true, Arsenal had a favourable run in the first half of the season with a lot of their harder games left until a very tricky run in. They also had to play City twice who also had a game in hand for a long time. They were also getting very fortunate and scraping wins with last minute goals and that type of luck doesn't usually last unless you're Liverpool.

There's also the fact that Arsenal have a very young side and don't have any real leaders who could help get them over the line. They were never going to keep up with such a weak squad, even without fixture congestion. They'll be back to fighting it out for top 4 next season now that there's no mid season World Cup and they'll actually have to play their first team in their European fixtures.

They also played lots more games than everyone else. So had a 2/3 game points buffer for most of the season. As soon as City caught up, and beat them home and away, it was done and dusted.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

I loved every bit of Chelsea's downfall. I loved Spurs imploding. I love the massive relegation battle and I love that Utd managed to do relatively well during a tumultuous season. I think it's been a fun season, I think Arsenal holding on a bit longer would be better for the neutral spectator.

If anything, I think this CL season has been one of the worst I've ever seen, if not the worst.

Yeah, agreed. PL has been fairly standard. Entertaining and plenty of twists and turns. CL has been absolutely muck. Not one memorable match in the whole thing.