Premier League Season Review:Part 1

Now that the season's over and all the happenings are settling in,here's the season review. The Review will be a 10-part series focussing on two teams at a time.

We start with West Brom and Middlesbrough

West Bromwich Albion


Last Season : 1st (Championship)
Pre-Season Expectations : Relegation Candidates
Pre-Season Transfers(Major):
IN:Luke Moore (£3m)
Roman Bednar (£2.3m)
Gianni Zuiverloon (£3.2m)
Marek Cech (£1.4m)
Scott Carson (£3.25m)
Abdoulaye Meite (£2m)
Borja Valero (£4.7m)
Jonas Olsson (£800k)
Ryan Donk(Loan)

OUT:Zoltan Gera(Free)
Curtis Davies (£8.5m)
Kevin Phillips(Free)

Final Position:20

The sale of Curtis Davies pretty much ended their season before it started.With the money they obtained from the Davies deal,they bought defenders like Olsson,Donk and Meite.Davies bacame a regular for Villa who were contending for the fourth spot.This goes to show how much of a loss this dealing was.True,West Brom did play pretty football.True,they showed they some of the best fans in the world but it was their defence that led them down.Too many mistakes led to too many goals conceded.For winning (or even drawing) you should not concede stupid goals.Thats what West Brom didnt.They tried to make amends by signing 3 new defenders in January but to no effect.One positive from their season was their attack.Chris Brunt had a magnificent season.

Next Season:

If West Brom try to keep the same squad they would not have any trouble getting back to the Premier League.


Middlesbrough FC


Last Season : 13th
Pre-Season Expectations : Relegation Candidates
Pre-Season Transfers(Major):
IN:Didier Digard(£4m)
Marvin Emnes(£3.2m)
Justin Hoyte(£3m)

OUT:Mark Schwarzer(Free)
George Boateng(£1m)
Lee Cattermole(£3.5m)
Luke Young(£5.5m)

Final Position: 19th

Boro were seriously crippled after the departures of Schwarzer,Boateng,Cattermole and Young.But they started the season well.Gareth Southgate got the Premier League Manager of the Month award for August.But their fortunes steadily crumbled and they entered the relegation zone.Their strikers failed to grab the headlines.Afonso Alves who came for a club record £14m was a total flop.They brought in Marlon King in a loan transfer triangle deal but a couple of goals he didnt do much.And sadly Aliadere had more syllables in his name than goals this season.One thing that they could look back this season was the memorable 2-0 victory over Liverpool who simply didnt turn up.

Next Season:Next Season is a real test for them.They should be able to jump back to the BPL bandwagon but unless their finances improve greatly they would go straight down again.

Read more : English Premier League Season Review : Part 2
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