As the 2018/19 Premier League season has come to a close, it’s time to take a very brief look back at each club’s campaign and review how they did. First, we look back at the bottom five sides and work our way up the table.
Huddersfield Town, Fulham, and Cardiff City were relegated to the Championship, while Brighton & Hove Albion and Southampton both managed to stay up, barely. Each team took its own path to where they finished in the table, so here’s a look back at some of the journeys.
Huddersfield Town
Finishing position/points total: 20 / 16pts
High point: Doing the double over Wolves.
Low point: Losing 5-0 to Liverpool to cap a stretch of 8 losses.
Our opinion: They struggled to score all season, with just 22 goals in 38 league matches. Shut out in a whopping 19 Premier League matches, they never had the firepower to compete.
Star player: Aaron Mooy
Most memorable goal: Isaac Mbenza equalized on an assist from goalkeeper Jonas Lossl to draw Manchester United on the penultimate day of the season.
Manager grade: David Wagner: C- / Jan Siewert: F
Hopes for next season: Huddersfield needs to stabilize and regroup next season, and a top-10 Championship finish should be the target, building towards a promotion campaign the following year. Siewert wasn’t able to do anything of note in charge during the second half of the Premier League season, and the jury is still out on if he’s the right man to lead them through the Championship.
Fulham
Finishing position/points total: 19 / 26pts
High point: Winning 3 straight under Scott Parker.
Low point: A 4-1 loss to Watford to mark 9 straight.
Our opinion: An absolutely woeful defense doomed what was an otherwise entertaining attacking club. With a change of manager came a change of style, but nothing improved at the back. Fulham needs to sort out its back line for next season or a quick return to the Premier League can be thrown out the window.
Star player: Aleksandar Mitrovic
Most memorable goal: Jean-Michael Seri blasted an absolute stunner against Burnley early in the season. Andre Schurrle also victimized Burnley with a glorious volley as well.
Manager grade: Slavisa Jokanovic: D- / Claudio Ranieri: F / Scott Parker: C+
Hopes for next season: The club did well to secure a permanent manager so quickly so they can get to work strengthening the squad for a promotion campaign to come straight back up. The priority this offseason will be looking to secure assets like Mitrovic, Jean-Michael Seri, and Ryan Sessegnon while looking to improve the defense.
Cardiff City
Finishing position/points total: 18 / 34pts
High point: Beating Manchester United on the last day of the season.
Low point: Failing to score in 4 straight, confirming relegation.
Our opinion: A club that many through would finish bottom of the league, or close to it, gave it a real fight and came close to staving off relegation a few times. The season clearly wore on Neil Warnock, who said there isn’t “a cat’s chance in hell” he ever manages in the Premier League again.
Star player: Victor Camarasa
Most memorable goal: Junior Hoilett’s wonderful curler to beat Wolves in November pulled the club out of the relegation zone for the time being, but it can’t beat Camarasa’s unbelievable strike to beat Leicester City in stoppage time.
Manager grade: Neil Warnock: C
Hopes for next season: They will be a real challenger for promotion in the Championship and should do well if they can improve the playmaking abilities up front.
Brighton & Hove Albion
Finishing position/points total: 17 / 36pts
High point: Winning 3 straight in October, critical to staying up.
Low point: 8 straight without a win Jan-Feb in a relegation battle.
Our opinion: Brighton was one of the most fun teams this season, with a combination of suffocating defense and an attack that could crop up at any time against any club. While they often fired blanks, when they came alive it was exciting and enjoyable. Still, the attack was too inconsistent and they’ll want to make smart improvements.
Star player: Shane Duffy
Most memorable goal: Glenn Murray’s winner against Wolves capped off a critical 3-game winning streak and ultimately proved vital in keeping the club alive.
Manager grade: Chris Hughton: C-
Hopes for next season: Sacking Chris Hughton, the man who pulled the club out of the muck and brought them to the promised land, is a bold decision. This is a team with good assets and a solid base, and they should be able to stay up again next season with the right leader.
Southampton
Finishing position/points total: 16 / 39pts
High point: Beating Arsenal 3-2 in December.
Low point: 6-1 loss to Man City as part of a 12-match winless run.
Our opinion: Southampton started off the season horribly and was a real candidate to go down until Ralph Hassenhuttl saved them. His management kept this team up and there’s real hope for the future with a young, scrappy squad that needs improvement.
Star player: Nathan Redmond
Most memorable goal: It wasn’t the best goal of the season (that would be the Redmond curler to finish off the campaign on Sunday?) but the most memorable is Charlie Austin’s in the 85th minute to beat Arsenal and end their long unbeaten run. It sparked the turnaround for Southampton, marking their first league win in over three months and beginning a nine-match run where they picked up 15 points.
Manager grade: Mark Hughes: D- / Ralph Hassenhuttl: A-
Hopes for next season: With Hassenhuttl in charge and improvements to the defense this summer, Southampton should be able to show more consistency next season. On their day, they’re capable of beating any team in the league and that should lead them to a belief in a top 10 finish. This team shouldn’t be battling for Premier League survival again.
