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Analyst, TSN Radio 690 Montreal

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Well so much for the experts and the opinion makers. By unanimous acclaim Chelsea was a certainty to repeat as BPL champions. So poor was their defence of the title by mid-December Mourinho was writing a letter to Santa containing his one wish; the Old Trafford job. Meanwhile Leicester was only making up the BPL numbers until their Championship beckoning was confirmed early in the New Year.

Not quite.

After the BPL season we’ve just had the immense pleasure of witnessing - no more can it be said that only mad dogs and Englishmen venture out into the midday sun. There’s no other league across planet futbol which provides the compelling storylines the Barclays Premier League does week in, week out, all season long.

My club-by-club take below.

Arsenal: Whilst it’s 20 straight years of Champions League football under Wenger, the Arsenal yet again let the title slip from their grasp. Not known to hold up his hand and take responsibility, Wenger’s worst moment occurred after witnessing his team lose 4-0 to Southampton on Boxing Day. Post-match ‘le professeur’ claimed Arsenal were the victim of bad decisions from the referee, “The first goal was offside, the second goal was a foul and the third goal was a goal kick.” At that point I thought I heard Wenger claim the fourth was knocked in by a Partridge in a Pear Tree - the holiday silly season indeed.

Aston Villa: Having teased their supporters in recent seasons as they flirted with the dreaded drop, Villa finally succeeded in getting relegated. Villa has always been one of English football’s most traditional of clubs, their most noble support deserved far better. Cleaning house will be in order, let’s just hope new investment can go a long way towards them reclaiming their lustre and rightful BPL spot. Clutching at straws for something positive, at least they managed to offload Christian Benteke to Liverpool for Andy Carrol like ransom money last summer.

Bournemouth: Less than a decade ago the Cherries were five minutes away from bankruptcy, whilst playing in the fourth tier of English football. Manager Eddie Howe, a player back then, performed cart wheels and a couple of minor football miracles as Bournemouth literally climbed from the very bottom of the Football League to join the BPL elite last spring. Beaten by Aston Villa in their opener, then by Liverpool a week later an immediate drop looked very likely. Howe then led them on a remarkable revival. Their season highlight surely came directly on the heels of a famous win at Stamford Bridge, by following that up with a win at home against Manchester United seven days later.

Chelsea: After compiling the very worst title defence in BPL history, as much as Chelsea will once more stage pre-season games in the US, not quite sure we’ll see the 2014/15 BPL Champions in la belle ville ever again. We will though it seems see John Terry in a Chelsea shirt next season – that club announcing on the eve of their final match the club captain has been offered another one year deal - an extraordinary turn of events for a player who made his Chelsea debut in fall 1998. As Terry was suspended for the final two matches of this season it was reported earlier in the week the 35-year-old had booked Stamford Bridge on the day after the season ends Sunday to play a private match behind closed doors with family and friends. Instead Terry may well make it onto the Stamford Bridge pitch Sunday to sign his new deal in front of 42,000 friends. Let’s hope he’s not wearing his kit and boots though.

Crystal Palace: The Eagles' season started their season with such promise Alan Pardew was been pencilled in as Roy Hodgson’s successor. Lapping it all up, someone then threw away the script as Palace went on an extended winless streak which saw them go from genuine contenders for a place in Europe to joining the pack at the bottom of the table as they battled relegation. They celebrated their spot in the BPL next season in some style, by winning their FA Cup semi-final and setting up a date with Manchester United in the May 21 Final

Everton: Whilst making it to the semifinals of both domestic cup competitions on the back of yet another mediocre BPL season, where ‘The Toffees’ have only won five matches at home, Roberto Martinez became yet another managerial casualty Thursday. Down a manager, Everton did though pick up a new, much desperately needed majority investor. Farhad Moshiri, who reportedly paid £85m [$160m] for a 49.9 per cent stake and who resides in Monte Carlo, has a very close family connection in Montreal.

Leicester: There is no comparable reference point in the sporting sense for the 5,000-1 rank outsiders. Where last time I checked more people have now claimed to have placed a wager on a Leicester BPL title last summer than the amount of hits Psy’s, Gangnam Style has garnered on YouTube. To help put Leicester’s most remarkable of sporting achievements into a clearer perspective - last summer the bookies were offering odds of only 1,000/1 for Bono to become the next Pope. Whilst the UK Prime Minister David Cameron at 2,500/1 odds to replace Tim Sherwood at Villa Park.

Liverpool: Brendan who? Mr. Rodger’s Neighbourhood has been completely remodelled and redesigned under Jürgen Klopp. With many players unrecognizable from how things were under Brendan Rodgers, Liverpool head into the off season with a firm belief of mounting a genuine title contention next season. Before that though comes a Europa League final and with it a place in next season’s Champions League on offer. There are not many finer things in world football than the sight of Liverpool supporters in full voice - which Basle will get to experience next Wednesday. A most fitting end to the season, coming so very soon after the Hillsborough Inquest had concluded.

Manchester City: Not quite the send-off Manuel Pellegrini would have wished, or hoped for. Having made it to a Champions League semi-final for a first time in club history the 2013/14 BPL champions then proceeded to play their most luck lustre football in their three seasons under Pellegrini during both legs. No coincidence their BPL aspirations faded just as their Champions League dream began making sense. They go into Sunday’s encounter knowing a draw on the road to Swansea guarantees not only a spot in next season’s Champions League but it also comes with the added attraction of denying their Manchester neighbours a place in the competition.

Manchester United: Love him, or loathe him no one has faced as much criticism and speculation about his future than Louis Van Gaal this season. The chorus singing for his departure, with quite possibly Mourinho replacing him, has grown in voice after each and every disappointing performance. Leading West Ham late on, then letting the most valuable 3-points of the season go begging this past Tuesday evening has typified their season. To his credit though Van Gaal hasn’t let it distract him and no matter what happens come season’s end the next generation of United players including the likes of Marcus Rashford and Jesse Lingard will always be thankful to the Dutchman. Who to me performed the funniest thing ever witnessed on the Old Trafford pitch when he channeled his best Arsenal player routine as he flopped to the ground to much laughter around in front of the fourth Official during United’s 3-2 home win over Arsenal back in late February. Arsene was suitably not impressed.

Newcastle: Benitez started the season with a team that many considered favourite to win the Champions League. He ended it with relegation into the Championship, only time will tell if Rafa will remain at the helm. To his credit owner Mike Ashley responded to the dreaded drop by writing a most frank, genuine sounding open letter to the club’s legendry supporters. No confirmation though if the letter came with a tear off voucher at the bottom offering a healthy discount if supporters buy a Newcastle jersey for next season from one of Ashley’s five hundred plus sports stores.

Norwich: At least the bookies and the pundits got this one right. Nearly everyone’s favourite relegation pick at the start of the season duly obliged even though it came on the same evening they managed to put four goals passed Everton. The only other time the Canaries managed that scoring feat this season was during January’s nine-goal thriller at home to Liverpool where they eventually lost 5-4. Manager Alex Neil only won them promotion last season and will look to replicate what Burnley achieved. Relegated at the end of last season, Burnley kept faith with manager Sean Dyche who has bought his club right back up to the BPL at the very first time of asking.

Southampton: Looking to build on last season’s seventh place finish, the club currently occupies that very same position going into Sunday’s final match of the season at home to Crystal Palace. A victory and other results going in their favour and the Saints will be marching into the Europa League with a most deserving fifth place finish. Ronald Koeman has performed wonders since taking over from Mauricio Pochettino in June 2014 at St-Mary’s. Club chairman Ralph Krueger will have to work all his magic to ensure a bigger club either in the BPL or elsewhere doesn’t come calling for his 53-year old Dutch coach during the summer.

Stoke: The so termed long ball merchants have evolved their playing style yet more under Mark Hughes this season.  Where it used to be the case no other club in the BPL were more of a goal threat via the set piece than ‘the Potters’ in Xherdan Shaqiri the club acquired one of European football’s most craftiest of players. Purchased last summer for a reported £12m [$22m], a club record, the 24-year-old Swiss international has set about BPL defences this season in the same manner Eden Hazard did through 2014/15. Currently in tenth place, Stoke conclude their campaign at home to West Ham Sunday.

Swansea: A home defeat by Leicester in early December spelled the end of Garry Munk’s reign with the Swans who began their fifth BPL campaign on the road at Chelsea with a tie last August. Munk though was let go in December as his club failed to build off their impressive start including the highlight of the season, beating Manchester United at home in late August. When Italian coach Francesco Guidolin took over Swansea was deep into a relegation battle, only two points from safety. Currently in eleventh spot they could end the season as high as ninth which seemed unimaginable when Guidolin took over only on January 18.

Sunderland: Sacked by Newcastle in 2008 let go by West Ham at the end of last season, and prematurely wrote off - Sam Allardyce has proved his BPL credentials once more after replacing Dick Advocaat in October. At the time ‘The Black Cats’ had accumulated only three points from the eight matches they had played under the Dutchman. Allardyce will enjoy taking the plaudits but will be the first to recognize the extraordinary effort it took for the remainder of the season from his players. None more so towards the climax of the season where they are unbeaten in their last five matches. Wednesday’s 3-0 destruction of Everton at the Stadium of Light igniting celebrations Allardyce and his players could only have dreamed about last fall.

Tottenham: If Arsenal measure by the number of consecutive Champions League spots, then Spurs season is defined by finishing above the red half of North London. When they destroyed Manchester United, and for an encore smashed Stoke to smithereens in back to back matches less than a month ago, a BPL title became a distinct possibility. However after only collecting three points of a possible nine since then if results don’t go their way Sunday, then Spurs may well face the embarrassment of finishing below Arsenal for a twenty-second straight season.

Watford: The ex-club of Sir Elton John had one simple target this season and that was to avoid relegation at all costs. They did. Plus the club came within a heartbreaking semi-final defeat of making it to Wembley for a date in next weekend’s FA Cup Final. Friday morning the club announced their maverick manager Quique Flores would leave at the end of the season. The ex-Real Madrid player was only hired by Watford in June 2015, his sudden departure a sad indictment of this modern football era.

West Ham: The East Enders bought the curtain down on Upton Park and the place they have called home for well over one hundred years in some style during their final home match of the season against Manchester United. A new era begins when the club makes the short journey over to London’s Olympic Stadium next season. The club’s supporters have responded with their wallets. Upton Park’s capacity was just over 32,000 but beginning next season 50,000 West Ham season ticket holders will be ‘blowing bubbles’ at the Olympic Stadium. Only Manchester United with 55,000, has more season ticket holders in the BPL.

West Brom: Mired currently in an eight-game winless streak their last victory in the BPL was all the way back on March 6 with a 1-0 win at home to Manchester United. It was a result which moved Tony Pulis’ team up to a very respectable eleventh place, and thoughts of a late season push into a Europa League spot for ‘The Baggies’. Late season heroics are a hallmark of a Pulis team but instead this term his team slid down the table. It makes you wonder then what part a lost independent tribunal hearing to previous employer Crystal Palace played in his club’s late season demise. Palace was awarded a reported £3.5m [$6.5m] which Pulis must repay for a bonus he collected from the London club at the end of the 2013/14 season as reward for guaranteeing their BPL safety. Pulis will want his team to finish on a winning note at home to Liverpool Sunday, in doing so end their eight-game winless streak, but you have to wonder if it will be enough to save Pulis his Hawthornes job come season end.

Enjoy your summers, plus EURO 2016. The BPL 2016/17 schedule will be announced June 15.

Chelsea v Leicester City TSN2 plus Manchester United v Bournemouth on TSN4 – both live Sunday at 9:30am et/6:30am pt