Image Credit: Premier League
By Lee Clow
06 March 2020 | Premier League
To me, the 2019/20 Premier League season will be a season to forget, not just as a Tottenham fan, but just as football fan altogether. With only 10 match day fixtures left to go, I cannot wait for the season to end. I just haven’t felt the same excitement as I usually do with every other season. But why is this? I will look at the potential factors why I think this season has been a major disappointment before giving my overall conclusion.
Liverpool winning the league by a huge margin:
It may be cliché, or people might say I am bias, but the fact Liverpool have comfortably wrapped up the Premier League trophy by huge margin has been very anticlimactic. However, it must be said that full credit has to Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp for an amazing campaign. Currently 22 points ahead of anyone else and only four victories away from sealing the title is quite remarkable and this team will surely go down in the history books as one of the greatest. Having said all that, because Liverpool have been so good and consistent, there has been a lack of competitiveness at the top of the table. You look back on last season and there was a title race between Liverpool and Manchester City which went down to the very last day. Not just last season there are many to choose from including the 2011/12 and the 2015/16 seasons respectively. This season has just been a huge slump as we already know who has won the title before the season has even ended.
No competitiveness around the table:
As I briefly touched upon in my last point, because Liverpool have been so strong this season, there has been a lack of competitiveness at the top of the league. Along with this, I feel it also stretches across the whole table with a lot of the teams looking unmotivated. I feel the teams at the bottom of the table, being Norwich City, Aston Villa and Bournemouth, are not worried as most teams have been in that position over the years. I am not sure whether it is because there are 10 match weeks left or if they are confident, but I do not have the feeling they are in a relegation battle. In the past there usually is a story where a team fights back from relegation, but I don’t see this happening this year. The only piece of competitiveness I have witnessed this season is the fight for the Champions League spaces with Chelsea, Tottenham, Manchester United, Sheffield United and Wolves all competing against.
Much of the highly anticipated games have been poor watches:
Another reason why I have found this season to be hugely disappointing is because most of the highly anticipated games have been very poor too watch. Yes, admittedly as football fans we hype up huge games to the next level however this is because they usually deliver. I feel this season, there has not been a standout game with more of the so called ‘lower teams’ having the more entertaining games. The first North London Derby this season ended 2-2, Liverpool comfortably beat Manchester City 3-1, Arsenal drew 1-1 with Manchester United – all of these games, on paper, are huge however none of these stood out in a spectacular way. The most iconic result from this season will most likely be Leicester City’s 9-0 thrashing of Southampton and despite the record-breaking score line, this game will not be compared to some of the classic matches that have been we have seen over the years.
No major ‘wow’ moments that define the season:
Leading on from my last point, I feel there has not been any major “wow” moments this season. Yes, we’ve had some pretty impressive goals, results, records etc however there hasn’t been that standout moment that has shocked the world. In the past for example we have had Sergio Aguero scoring in the final seconds to win Manchester City their first title in 44 years, Leicester City shocking everyone by winning the Premier League, Arsenal going the whole season invincible and a whole catalogue of more amazing moments. This season however, I struggle to put anything in that bracket. There is still 10 more match weeks to go so there is time for things to happen, but I feel this season will be forgotten quickly by most.
VAR:
Even if you have enjoyed this season, VAR is probably the one thing most people have disliked. The technology was brought in to fix the dodgy decisions that occur during a season and simplify the game, however it has backfired massively and seemed to have made it worse. I understand it was never going to be perfect in its first full season, however some of the controversy is has caused has been shocking. This is not what I wanted going into the season and I feel VAR has significantly ruined my enjoyment of this campaign. Whether the technology changes next season is another story, but I feel it needs to if it going to be successful and be accepted by the fans.
Despite what I have said above, this season has not all been disappointing. There have been certain elements that have made this season significant to any other. One of these has to be Leicester City’s 9-0 thrashing over Southampton. For a team to win by nine goals away from home is simply out of this world and this will always be remembered in the history books. Another aspect I have enjoyed this season is the rise of Sheffield United. Having been promoted last season, I would’ve expected Sheffield United to have struggled and been in a relegation battle, however they have proved me wrong massively as they push for a place in Europe. What Chris Wilder has done at the club has been amazing and proves why the Premier League is the best in the world. A final element which I have enjoyed this season has to be a change in the top six teams. In most recent years, we have been accustomed to the same six teams at the top of the table, however this season this has changed. Leicester City, Sheffield United and Wolves have all outshone some of the typical top six with Arsenal, Tottenham and Manchester United dropping out. As a Spurs fan it is not fun to watch however as a neutral is is quite remarkable and makes this season feel special.
Conclusion:
Overall, I feel this season to me will be forgotten very quickly by most fans. Yes, Liverpool will win their first Premier League title which is an amazing feat especially by how well they have played, but the fact they hardly had any competition has altered my perception on it. There have been many aspects which have let this season down for me such as the lack of ‘wow’ moments and VAR but there have been some positives as in every season. I am really looking forward to next season as I feel the competitiveness between teams will return and we’ll be in for a fantastic tight campaign. Bring it on!
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