Season of Disappointments – The Shocking Falls That Rocked the Premier League
Thierry Henry has reacted cynically to Gary Neville’s claim that he builds Arsenal every season. The Frenchman joked that the building process has taken too long and where are the finals and trophies? Mikel Arteta continues to sit second in the Premier League and Henry is right – there was no end-of-season championship competition this year. That’s always a big disappointment.
The end of the RPL was made more interesting when Krasnodar forced Zenit to compete. The rivalry between Inter and Napoli made Italians watch the decisive rounds of Serie A. All fans of the Premier League quickly realized that Liverpool would easily be the top, and this time there was no need to accumulate inappropriate points like Klopp did.
84 points were enough for Slot, and that was precisely because of the teams of Guardiola, Amorim, Maresca and Arteta. As 1win precise predictions in modern football analysis show, Liverpool’s chances of winning the title were high from the beginning of the season and they actually came true. Let’s hope that next year there will be a real competition for the crown in the last rounds of the Premier League. This spring, without any special competition, all the valuable awards were given to Salah.
Tactical limitations and poor performance of managers
Even Nuno Espírito Santo and Unai Emery, who were competing for Champions League qualification until the last round, had incomprehensible periods with their teams during the season. Moreover, Nottingham Forest was the attraction of the season, and the Birmingham club was successful in the Champions League. However, the “Foresters” and Aston Villa did not receive 100% support from their managers. When we talk about Guardiola, Arteta, ten Hag, Amorim and Postecoglou, a list of managers who have failed to show their best is formed. Even mid-table teams are unhappy with the work of their managers. Lopetegui has slumped West Ham, and their fans are the main pessimists of the season in the latest poll – their Championship results are considered terrible. There is also a little less harsh negativity among Manchester United fans, despite the fact that their two managers have made mistakes in succession.
A number of managers have been inconsistent throughout the season:
- Guardiola’s Manchester City have suffered a sharp slump since the middle of the season
- Arteta’s Arsenal are once again disappointed with a second-place finish
- Both ten Hag and Amorim have failed at Manchester United
- Postecoglou’s Tottenham have been unpredictable
The complete collapse of the Big Six system
While instability has hit the conventional leaders, they are not the only ones who have been inconsistent in their performances. In November, Brighton were third with a young manager, Tottenham were sixth in the Premier League table, Crystal Palace were 19th and Manchester United’s caretaker manager Van Nistelrooy was four points off the Champions League places.
A month later, Newcastle, who eventually qualified for the Champions League, were 12th in the Premier League. Not only did Crystal Palace avoid relegation, they also won the FA Cup, their first trophy in the club’s 119-year history. Van Nistelrooy left the Premier League with Leicester, leaving Manchester United without European competition.
Above the table are Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest, who are not “Big Six” clubs. Guardiola has reconciled with his wife and led Manchester City back to the Champions League zone, but as the Crystal Palace manager rightly put it: mid-table teams have studied the title contenders’ game, and even champions Liverpool have had a hard time.
The decline of traditional powerhouses has been seen in the following ways:
- Manchester City’s shocking 1 win in 12 games since the middle of the season
- Arsenal’s second-place finishes have disappointed fans
- Chelsea’s tumultuous season and over-recruitment
- Manchester United and Tottenham’s descent from the bottom
Unexpected slump of star players
It is impossible to check Rodri’s condition after receiving the Ballon d’Or, as the Spanish Manchester City midfielder is hospitalized. However, judging by the general readiness of the former champions among Guardiola’s teammates, the Spaniard could have had a poor season in the style of Walker, Grealish, Haaland and Foden’s worst months.
The young Phil was the best footballer in the Premier League a year ago, but now he is one of the main losers of the season. There has also been a setback for those who defend themselves with statistics. Haaland has scored a lot of goals in the Premier League, but Erling will certainly not claim that he has had a great season. Even Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard has not been consistent in the Championship.
While Salah has worked like crazy, there are doubts about many of the league’s stars. Often these are “citizens” players, as Bernardo and Ederson have not been the heroes of the season either. Despite the story of an incredibly rich and powerful league, the stars have left many questioning their form.
Inconsistency at the top level isn’t just about form — it’s often a question of mindset, adaptation, and resilience. Much like the stories shared on Nomadic Hustle, success in high-pressure environments requires more than just talent; it takes grit, reinvention, and mental strength. For many Premier League stars, especially those expected to deliver every week, the challenge lies in maintaining hunger and focus despite the spotlight and immense resources surrounding them.
A few examples of key players struggling:
- Haaland: Scoring goals but lacking substance and impact
- Foden: Performances down sharply from last year
- Grealish: Not proving £100m worth
- De Bruyne: Injuries and age have diminished his influence
These general struggles have shown that the Premier League cannot rely solely on individual talent, and have once again highlighted the importance of teamwork and tactical consistency. These issues, which persisted until the end of the season, will be important lessons for next season.
