Premier League Review Pt.2

Part 2 of the review of the Premier League season.

Phil Jagielka captained Everton in a disappointing season

Everton
A poor season for Everton. The first half left them looking in real danger of relegation, and their Europa league campaign was more successful, reaching the round of 16 before falling to Dinamo Kiev. The big failings were in defence, Distin and Alcaraz proving their fraility, and Martinez's tactics of high wingbacks, being exposed. The same problems Wigan faced are starting to appear at Everton.
Europa League: Round of 16
Prediction: 7th Actual: 11th
Player of the Season: Phil Jagielka

Michael Dawson gave his all for Hull, but they've now sunk to the Championship

Hull City
Hull's previous season ended on a high, an FA cup final and European qualification, but their league form waned towards the end, and in 2014/15 it never picked up again. A collection of injuries, and poor signings left Hull facing the trap door. Robert Snodgrass cost £6m and was injured the whole season and Abel Hernandez cost £10m but scored just 4 goals in 25 games.
Some people have blamed the Europa league on their resulting relegation, but in truth they were never in it long enough to be affected.

Ultimately the run between 18th October and 20th December, where they picked up just 4 points in a 10 game winless run, and 1 point from their last 4 games, condemned them to relegation.Europa League: Play-off Round
Prediction: 16th Actual: 18th
Player of the Season: Michael Dawson

From the Bernabeu to the King Power Stadium,
Leicester's cultured midfielder played a key role in their survival

Leicester City
Hull City's demise was hastened by Leicester City's rise. A remarkable run of form.
Leicester's season started well with a thrilling 5-3 win over Man Utd, but after this they went 13 games without a win and picked up just 2 points. They had a similar spell at the start of the year with just 2 points from 8 games. They required something special to escape an immediate return to the Championship and they produced 7 wins out of 9 games, to finish a very credible 14th. 
Prediction: 19th Actual: 14th
Player of the Season: Esteban Cambiasso

The lively Brazilian Coutinho was a key performer,
amongst a litany of under achievers

Liverpool
After coming so close to the title in 2013-14, Liverpool have seldom looked further from it. It is not hard to see why they have struggled so much. Last year Liverpool outscored other teams, this year they had their lowest top scorer in the league in over 100 years, Gerrard scoring 9. They missed the departed Luiz Suarez and the injured Sturridge. Defensively they were better than last year conceding 2 less goals, but they scored only 52 compared to 101 in the previous season. The season couldn't have ended much worse either, with a 6-1 defeat to Stoke.
Champions League: Group Stage
Europa League: Round of 32
Prediction: 5th Actual: 6th
Player of the Season: Philippe Coutinho

It's Aguero! Aguero picked up his first golden boot,
but he would have rather had a third title

Manchester City
A season of underachievement for Manchester City. At one stage they looked like they might retain their title, but ultimately they finished 9 points short of Chelsea, were knocked out of both cup competitions early, and struggled in the Champions League again. Albeit they made it through to the round of 16, but were beaten by a superior Barcelona side.
Sergio Aguero had a sterling year, winning the golden boot, scoring 26 goals, and Joe Hart, won the golden glove for most clean sheets, with 14. But the midfield was a problem, as was the form of Vincent Kompany, expect some summer purchases.
Champions League: Round of 16Prediction: 2nd Actual: 2nd
Player of the Season: Sergio Aguero

Premier League predictions pt 2

Premier League Predictions

At the start of the season I made some predictions regarding the season, as we approach the business time of the season, over a third of the way in, it seems a good time to check in on my predictions

Everton
They have struggled, especially defensively, John Stones has been missed through injury, and Martinez' formation with the full backs pushing on, has been exposed. They have conceded 31 the second highest in the league, showing their defensive frailty.

Ross Barkley also missed the first 7 games of the season and has yet to hit form.

Everton are lower than expected, but they should still finish in the top half.

Hull City
For Hull 2014 has been a juxtaposition. They had the joy of the FA cup final, mixed with a terrible run of form, that has left them in the relegation zone. In fact in 2014, Hull have just 30 points from 38 games.

I think they will still be safe, but there is a lot of pressure now. They have been unfortunate with injuries, depriving them of a settled defence, and midfield.

They should be safe, around 16th/17th.

Leicester City
The Premiership has provided a stern test for Leicester. They had a bright start, beating Manchester United 5-3 after being 3-1 down. 

However since then their form has nose dived. They have conceded 31 the second highest in the league, but don't have the fire power to compensate for it.

Ulloa and Mahrez have provided their attacking threat, but they will need more than that to stay in the Premier League.

Liverpool
I predicted they would struggle, but they have struggled, even more than I thought. They are a long way from challenging for the title and are looking unlikely to challenge for the Champions League as well.

Suarez was a big blow, and he hasn't been adequately replaced, Sturridge has compounded that with his injuries, Lovren has looked lost at the back, and Mignolet has been exposed at the highest level.

I think 7th is more likely for Livepool now.

Manchester City
They managed to navigate a bad run of form in late October and early November, and are now just 3 points behind Chelsea and in the next stage of the Champions League.

They are currently without Aguero, Dzecko and Jovetic, even Jose Pozo has been unfit, so James Milner has been upfront. However they are winning regardless, and once their strike force regains fitness, they will prove a stern test for Chelsea.

I still think they'll be a narrow second.