Premier league review 2014/15: March- May
After months and months of quality football, fans now wait the longest three months of the year for the Premier league to return. As the last games of the season were played, the race for the Champions league spots was wrapped up before the media could speculate on a last day race to the 'Promised land in Football' and the relegation battle claimed two teams before the final day, leaving Hull and Newcastle left to battle for their Premier league status. Some teams' performance levels dropped off in the final run-in to the end of the season but this was expected as this season's title race was an anti-climax, compared to recent seasons.
'Best Manager in the League' saves Newcastle from the drop
Newcastle saved their Premier League status on the final day of the season as they beat West Ham at the Sports Direct Arena, thanks to Sissoko and Gutierrez scoring in the 54th and 85th minutes, respectively. Fans continued their protest against billionaire-owner Mike Ashley, with supporters occupying the stadium well-after the final whistle as part of a planned protest by various supporters groups. A club like Newcastle shouldn't be in this position as staff at the club feel passionate and anger about the serve lack of invest from Ashley into the squad.
Hull were officially relegated to the Championship after drawing 0-0 with Manchester United at the KC Stadium. Although Hull created a fine amount of chances, their lack of cutting edge finishing provided to be their ultimate downfall (which is ironic as they put the ball in United's net twice but were ruled offside twice by the far linesman). Already relegated sides Burnley and QPR had contrasting final day fortunes, as Burnley beat Sherwood's Villa at Upton Park and QPR were thrashed 5-1 at the King Power Stadium by Leicester City (who were the standout team of the final run-in of the season, winning seven of their last nine games).
United make the Champions league
Van Gaal achieved his target of qualifying for the Champions league in his first season in charge of Manchester United. Although United in fourth and will have to play in the Champions league play-offs (against Anderlecht, CSKA Moscow, Fenerbahce, Monaco, Lazio, Panathinaikos, Rapid Vienna, Sparta Prague, Sporting Lisbon or Young Boys), United recovered from a mini-slump towards the end of the season, which saw them lose away at Chelsea, Everton which was followed by a surprising 1-0 loss at home to West Brom. Wins against Crystal Palace and a 0-0 draw against Arsenal meant that United qualified for the Champions league after only one season out of the Champions league.
Hazard and Kane snatch up Player of the Year awards
Eden Hazard won the PFA Player of the Year award after being the star of Chelsea's title-winning side that took the league by storm for large parts of the season. The Belgian forward beat Alexis Sanchez, Phillipe Coutinho, Harry Kane, David De Gea and team-mate Diego Costa to win the award and it was his 13 goals and 8 assists in 33 league appearances for the Blues that made him the league's best player. When asked about Real Madrid inquiring about Hazard's price tag, Jose replied "Put a figure on him? £100 million plus one of their three best players (James Rodriguez, Gareth Bale or Cristiano Ronaldo. Or £100 million per leg, because he is so young". Looks like the transfer mind games have started early.
Harry Kane won the PFA Young Player of the Year award after becoming Tottenham's clinical striker from November of last year and notching up 30 goals in all competitions for the Londoners. The England striker beat Thibaut Courtois, Philippe Coutinho, David De Gea, Eden Hazard and Raheem Sterling to win the award and to become one of the best strikers in the Premier league after only his first season of regular first-team football. Fans are divided as to weather or not he will be a one season wonder or if he will become England's next leading scorer after Rooney.
Final goalscorers table
Sergio Aguero- 26 goals
Harry Kane- 21 goals
Diego Costa- 20 goals
Charlie Austin -18 goals
Alexis Sanchez- 16 goals
Champions league places
Chelsea (Finishing first)
Manchester City (Finishing second)
Arsenal (Finishing third)
Manchester United (Finishing fourth and have to play two legged play-off to qualify for group stages)
Europa league places
Tottenham (Finishing fifth)
Liverpool (Finishing sixth and after inheriting the Europa league spot giving to Capital One Cup winners Chelsea)
Southampton (after Arsenal's 4-0 FA Cup final win over Aston Villa and enter in the third qualifying round)
West Ham (after topping the Premier League's Fair Play table and enter in the first qualifying round)
Team of the season
David De Gea
Ryan Bertrand
John Terry
Gary Cahill
Branislav Ivanovic
Nemanja Matic
Philippe Coutinho
Eden Hazard
Alexis Sanchez
Diego Costa
Harry Kane
'Best Manager in the League' saves Newcastle from the drop
Newcastle saved their Premier League status on the final day of the season as they beat West Ham at the Sports Direct Arena, thanks to Sissoko and Gutierrez scoring in the 54th and 85th minutes, respectively. Fans continued their protest against billionaire-owner Mike Ashley, with supporters occupying the stadium well-after the final whistle as part of a planned protest by various supporters groups. A club like Newcastle shouldn't be in this position as staff at the club feel passionate and anger about the serve lack of invest from Ashley into the squad.
Hull were officially relegated to the Championship after drawing 0-0 with Manchester United at the KC Stadium. Although Hull created a fine amount of chances, their lack of cutting edge finishing provided to be their ultimate downfall (which is ironic as they put the ball in United's net twice but were ruled offside twice by the far linesman). Already relegated sides Burnley and QPR had contrasting final day fortunes, as Burnley beat Sherwood's Villa at Upton Park and QPR were thrashed 5-1 at the King Power Stadium by Leicester City (who were the standout team of the final run-in of the season, winning seven of their last nine games).
United make the Champions league
Van Gaal achieved his target of qualifying for the Champions league in his first season in charge of Manchester United. Although United in fourth and will have to play in the Champions league play-offs (against Anderlecht, CSKA Moscow, Fenerbahce, Monaco, Lazio, Panathinaikos, Rapid Vienna, Sparta Prague, Sporting Lisbon or Young Boys), United recovered from a mini-slump towards the end of the season, which saw them lose away at Chelsea, Everton which was followed by a surprising 1-0 loss at home to West Brom. Wins against Crystal Palace and a 0-0 draw against Arsenal meant that United qualified for the Champions league after only one season out of the Champions league.
Hazard and Kane snatch up Player of the Year awards
Eden Hazard won the PFA Player of the Year award after being the star of Chelsea's title-winning side that took the league by storm for large parts of the season. The Belgian forward beat Alexis Sanchez, Phillipe Coutinho, Harry Kane, David De Gea and team-mate Diego Costa to win the award and it was his 13 goals and 8 assists in 33 league appearances for the Blues that made him the league's best player. When asked about Real Madrid inquiring about Hazard's price tag, Jose replied "Put a figure on him? £100 million plus one of their three best players (James Rodriguez, Gareth Bale or Cristiano Ronaldo. Or £100 million per leg, because he is so young". Looks like the transfer mind games have started early.
Harry Kane won the PFA Young Player of the Year award after becoming Tottenham's clinical striker from November of last year and notching up 30 goals in all competitions for the Londoners. The England striker beat Thibaut Courtois, Philippe Coutinho, David De Gea, Eden Hazard and Raheem Sterling to win the award and to become one of the best strikers in the Premier league after only his first season of regular first-team football. Fans are divided as to weather or not he will be a one season wonder or if he will become England's next leading scorer after Rooney.
Final goalscorers table
Sergio Aguero- 26 goals
Harry Kane- 21 goals
Diego Costa- 20 goals
Charlie Austin -18 goals
Alexis Sanchez- 16 goals
Champions league places
Chelsea (Finishing first)
Manchester City (Finishing second)
Arsenal (Finishing third)
Manchester United (Finishing fourth and have to play two legged play-off to qualify for group stages)
Europa league places
Tottenham (Finishing fifth)
Liverpool (Finishing sixth and after inheriting the Europa league spot giving to Capital One Cup winners Chelsea)
Southampton (after Arsenal's 4-0 FA Cup final win over Aston Villa and enter in the third qualifying round)
West Ham (after topping the Premier League's Fair Play table and enter in the first qualifying round)
Team of the season
David De Gea
Ryan Bertrand
John Terry
Gary Cahill
Branislav Ivanovic
Nemanja Matic
Philippe Coutinho
Eden Hazard
Alexis Sanchez
Diego Costa
Harry Kane
Chelsea have now won the league in 1955, 2005, 2006, 2010 and 2015.
