Leicester City
The team who wouldn’t say die. Leicester City pulled off a remarkable run to get out of the relegation zone. After being in last place for most of the EPL season, Leicester pulled off the greatest of the great escapes and even get to enjoy the final week of the season stress free. That wasn’t something that was expected last month.
Final Grade: B-
Liverpool
Liverpool has had its share of trials and tribulations. They sold their leading goalscorer and their other leading goalscorer has been hurt for most of the season. A legend is leaving the team and their 20 year old wunderkind, along with his agent, is currently in an ugly contract dispute. Amid all of this, Liverpool still had a chance, multiple chances even, at a top four spot. The season will be known as the season of missed opportunities and the team may need to look at themselves in the mirror if they want to break through the top four in the future.
Final Grade: C-
Manchester City
Manchester City really went off the rails in 2015. Yaya Toure left Manchester City to go to the Africa Cup of Nations as a world class midfielder who was the rock of the team. He came back as an expendable older player overnight. Vincent Kompany also got old overnight among other players and they now have a crisis on their hands. Manuel Pellegrini is essentially a dead manager walking and City is starting over. At least they have the money and they still have a Champions League spot.
Final Grade: C+
Manchester United
Judging Manchester United’s season is all a matter of perspective. If you are grading based off of an improvement over last year and getting a Champions League spot, then it was a successful season. If you are grading off of the money spent and the talent on the team and expected that they should’ve been way better than they actually were, it wasn’t that successful of a season. All in all, Manchester United knew that they weren’t going to win the title and the main objective was getting a top four spot. It wasn’t the most convincing way to earn it but they earned it nonetheless and that’s a successful season. And, there’s also this.
Final Grade: B-
Newcastle United
Newcastle has just been an embarrassment. There’s just no other way to put it. Mike Ashley needs to go, John Carver needs to go, most of the players need to go. The only reason they aren’t getting relegated is because they’re safe by default and Hull can’t get the points to overtake them on Sunday. They’re only staying in the EPL because of the run Alan Pardew made before leaving to Crystal Palace and fans crapped on him and launched the #PardewOut website. Yeah, under Pardew, Newcastle had seen better days and fans had every reason to complain, but be careful what you wish for.
Final Grade: F
Queens Park Rangers
QPR is an interesting phenomenon. They got the money from the promotion playoff and had the experience of playing in the EPL a couple years ago. All of that couldn’t save QPR. Harry Redknapp had to resign and Chris Ramsey came in to lead the team. QPR seems like they’re accepting their fate and focusing on the long haul. Ramsey got a three year contract after being relegated so it seems as if they’re going for stability and will try to get back to the EPL for good.
Final Grade: D-
