There is a lot of learning to be done after the 17/18 Premier League season – but it’s not Manchester City, Tottenham, or Liverpool who should inspire.
The Premier League feels like it’s at a crossroads at the moment as a series of supposedly ‘established’ clubs fight the fear of relegation.
West Brom, Stoke, Southampton, Swansea, and West Ham are all in that mix despite all five having looked comfortable in recent years.
But one thing connects them all – the quintet has aspired for attacking football.
On the flip side, the midtable sides who have pulled away and not felt the danger, in the latter stages of the season at least, are Newcastle, Everton, and Burnley.
All three have faced criticism from some areas this year but all three have achieved comfortable positions through football at the opposite end of the spectrum – disciplined, rugged, and no apologies for getting the job done.
It’s something that has to be considered by the teams at the bottom; there’s a lot more to football than style and the Premier League won’t take prisoners.
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