Updated at 14.00
Arsenal
Season grade: B - — On the face of it, second place isn’t disastrous by any means, but overall, it’s been another disappointing season without a major trophy, in which the Gunners have flattered to deceive all too often.
Best player: Mesut Ozil – While he arguably still lacks the consistency to be regarded as a truly great player, Ozil for at least half of this season was performing as well as anyone in the league, as 19 assists suggests.
Biggest flop: Theo Walcott – Struggled for form and first-team football after being out with a long-term injury, Walcott has been justifiably left out of England’s Euro 2016 squad.
Need to sign: Granit Xhaka – Arsenal’s midfield could do with a commanding presence and Borussia Mönchengladbach’s Xhaka — who they have been heavily linked with of late — has been called the “young Schweinsteiger” by Swiss coach Ottmar Hitzfeld.
Aston Villa
Season grade: F — It couldn’t have been much worse, could it?
Best player: Idrissa Gueye — One of the few players emerging with credit from Villa’s awful season, Gueye at one point topped the Premier League interception charts ahead of N’Golo Kante. Unsurprisingly, he is being linked with an immediate return to the Premier League.
Biggest flop: Jack Grealish — His campaign is being described as the ‘worst-ever Premier League season,’ after Villa failed to earn a point in the 16 league matches in which Grealish appeared.
Need to sign: More or less a whole new team.
Bournemouth
Season grade: A — It may not have been pretty at times, but Bournemouth ultimately survived — an impressive feat for a club with relatively limited resources in comparison to their rivals.
Best player: Charlie Daniels – The Bournemouth players’ player of the season was one of the club’s most consistent performers, appearing in all but one of their games.
Biggest flop: Tokelo Rantie — One of the few Bournemouth players who didn’t impress, the South African international failed to score in six appearances this season.
Need to sign: Bournemouth had one of the worst defensive records in the league this season, so they could probably do with at new least one new player for their backline — Sporting Gijon’s Bernardo Espinosa has been among the names linked with the club.
Chelsea
Season grade: F — A disastrous season for the London club, with Jose Mourinho sacked and several star players underperforming.
Best player: Willian — Arguably the only Chelsea player who has been virtually blameless in their downfall, the 27-year-old scored 13 goals in all competitions this season.
Biggest flop: Radamel Falcao — One of Jose Mourinho’s most bizarre signings, Falcao barely played for Chelsea and was consequently sent back to parent club Monaco after a second successive failure of a season in England.
Need to sign: Even if John Terry does stay around next season, Chelsea could do with a younger centre-back in their squad – Stuttgart defender Antonio Rudiger is a prime candidate.
Crystal Palace
Season grade: B – They may have finished five places worse off than the season before, but an FA Cup final appearance has given fans plenty to get excited about.
Best player: Wilfried Zaha — The club’s player of the year has helped make Palace a formidable counter-attacking force with his pace down the wing, in the process recovering well from a disappointing spell at Man United.
Biggest flop: Marouane Chamakh — The 32-year-old former Arsenal striker has struggled to make much of an impact amid an injury-ridden season at Palace, failing to score in 12 appearances for the Eagles.
Need to sign: The club feel competition for Pape Souare is needed, so Sunderland’s Patrick Van Aanholt has reportedly been identified as their number one summer target.
Everton
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Season grade: D - – Roberto Martinez was deservedly sacked as Everton’s talented crop of players badly underachieved, with defensive mishaps commonplace at Goodison this season.
Best player: Romelu Lukaku — Even amidst the turmoil, Lukaku showed his undoubted class, scoring 18 Premier League goals in total this season.
Biggest flop: Oumar Niasse — Will likely be remembered as one of Roberto Martinez’s worst signings, since joining in January, the striker has yet to score in seven appearances with the club.
Need to sign: Lukaku is widely expected to leave Goodison Park in the summer, so West Brom’s wantaway striker Saido Berahino is one player with the potential to replace him.
Leicester City
Season grade: A + – From 5000/1 outsiders to deserved Premier League champions, the term ‘fairytale’ is overused in football, but this is one rare instance where it genuinely applies.
Best player: Riyad Mahrez — Rightly named the players’ player of the year, Mahrez either scored or assisted roughly half of Leicester’s goals this season. He was to the Foxes this season what Suarez was to Liverpool in 2013-14.
Biggest flop: Gökhan Inler — Signed as an ostensible replacement for the outgoing Esteban Cambiasso, the Swiss international midfielder made just five Premier League appearances, with the form of Danny Drinkwater and others keeping him out of the side.
Need to sign: It’s hard to see anyone being displaced in the first XI on current form, but Swansea’s Gylfi Sigurdsson would be a useful squad player at worst.
Liverpool
Season grade: B – What could have been a disastrous campaign was rescued by the arrival of Jurgen Klopp, who slowly but surely turned Liverpool into a force to be reckoned with again, as their performances against Dortmund in particular illustrated.
Best player: James Milner — One example of Klopp’s ability to get the best out of a player, only Payet, Ozil, Eriksen and Tadic managed more assists than the England international this season.
Biggest flop: Christian Benteke — Found it difficult to get first-team football, particularly after Klopp’s arrival. Having paid £32.5million for his services last summer, Liverpool would have been expecting much more from the Belgian international.
Need to sign: Simon Mignolet could do with some serious competition, and Mainz’s Germany U21 goalkeeper Loris Karius might be the man to provide it.
Manchester City
Season grade: C – On the plus side, they won the Capital One Cup and got to the Champions League semi-final. On the other hand, they failed to live up to the hype in the Premier League, with certain players often looking well below the necessary standard for a club of City’s ambition.
Best player: Sergio Aguero — The joint-second top scorer alongside Vardy in this season’s Premier League, City simply look a different team when they have the Argentine star in their side.
Biggest flop: Wilfried Bony — Has failed to justify the £25 million that City paid for him. By the end of the season, teenager Kelechi Iheanacho was getting in the side ahead of the Ivory Coast international, who has managed just four goals in 21 Premier League appearances this campaign.
Need to sign: With Yaya Toure set to leave, City badly need a top-class midfielder, and Paul Pogba would certainly fit the bill.
Manchester United
Season grade: D + – An FA Cup final win would prevent the season from being a total disaster, but failing to get into the Champions League means 2015-16 will be judged as a failure overall, despite a number of promising young players emerging.
Best player: David de Gea — Voted in the PFA Team of the Year by his peers, De Gea was outstanding once again for the Red Devils this season. If their current problems continue, United may struggle to keep hold of the Spanish international goalkeeper.
Biggest flop: Bastian Schweinsteiger — There were high hopes for World Cup winner Schweinsteiger after signing from Bayern Munich, yet when he wasn’t injured, the experienced midfielder invariably looked a shadow of the player he once was.
Need to sign: As good as Marcus Rashford has been this season, the Red Devils could do with more experience up front — Romelu Lukaku looks an ideal fit, and the Belgian international has been heavily linked with the club.
Newcastle
Season grade: F — They belatedly showed signs of life once Rafa Benitez took over, but it was too little too late, and the Magpies were deservedly relegated as a result.
Best player: Rob Elliot — A rare bright spot in Newcastle’s season, having started the campaign as third-choice goalkeeper, the Ireland international took his chance when the opportunity of first-team football arose, before injury curtailed his campaign prematurely.
Biggest flop: Florian Thauvin — Will likely be remembered as one of the club’s biggest transfer gaffes in recent history. After signing for Newcastle for £15 million in August, after 0 goals in 12 appearances, he was back at previous club Marseille on loan in January.
Need to sign: Andre Ayew — who has reportedly been made available by Swansea — is the type of individual talent that would surely thrive at Championship level.
Norwich
[image alt="Norwich City v Manchester United - Barclays Premier League - Carrow Road" src="http://cdn.thejournal.ie/media/2016/05/norwich-city-v-manchester-united-barclays-premier-league-carrow-road-11-630x419.jpg" width="630" height="419" title="" class="aligncenter" /end]
Season grade: F — Actually played some excellent football at times, but it counted for little, as the Canaries ultimately were not good enough at the back or up front.
Best player: Jonny Howson – One of the team’s more reliable players, the 27-year-old midfielder made 39 appearances in all competitions for the Canaries and was named as the club’s player of the year.
Biggest flop: Cameron Jerome — Three goals in 35 appearances is poor for a striker, and Jerome’s awful form is one reason why Norwich were relegated. Many Championship strikers from recent seasons have made a successful transition to Premier League football — Jerome has not been one of them.
Need to sign: Norwich’s failings in attack have been well documented, and Fulham’s Ross McCormack would certainly improve their lacklustre forward line.
Southampton
Season grade: A — The Saints have improved their position in the table each season since returning to the top flight, qualifying for Europe this year, and they have the potential to do even better in 2016-17.
Best player: Shane Long — Reached double figures for the first time in the Premier League, the Ireland striker has developed significantly under Ronald Koeman.
Biggest flop: Charlie Austin – The former QPR striker arrived for £4 million amid considerable fanfare in January, but has struggled to get into the first XI, scoring just once in seven Premier League appearances with the Saints.
Need to sign: With Southampton set to compete in the Europa League, they need a few players to bolster the strength of their squad – Lyon midfielder Corentin Tolisso, who has also been linked with Arsenal, would be a welcome addition.
Stoke
Season grade: B - — A solid but unspectacular season for Stoke, emulating last year’s ninth-place finish. Fans may have hoped for even better, after they signed a number of expensive and high-profile players in the summer.
Best player: Jack Butland — Justified Mark Hughes’ decision to play him ahead of Shay Given with a series of stellar performances. Butland would almost certainly be going with England to the Euros were it not for a bad injury he picked up.
Biggest flop: Mame Biram Diouf — After a fine 2014-15 campaign, striker Diouf has struggled for form this season, scoring just five goals in 30 appearances.
Need to sign: Stoke looked a little light up front this year — as just 41 goals scored overall underlines — so Marseille striker Michy Batshuayi could be the man to help solve their problems in attack.
Sunderland
Season grade: D + — They avoided relegation just, thanks to the astute management of Sam Allardyce, the continuing potency of Jermaine Defoe and a couple of well-judged signings in January.
Best player: Jermaine Defoe — Sunderland were criticised at the time for signing the experienced striker, but his 15 Premier League goals ultimately played a large part in keeping them up.
Biggest flop: Sebastián Coates — Has never really convinced at Sunderland, the 26-year-old was sent to Sporting on loan in January having only signed for the Black Cats on a permanent deal last summer.
Need to sign: Defoe has been huge for Sunderland this season, but in order to plan for the future, as younger forward is needed to complement the experienced hitman. Huddersfield Town striker Nahki Wells, who scored 18 goals in the Championship since the start of the campaign, looks like one player with Premier League potential.
Swansea
Season grade: B - — Their season promised so much at times, owing to sporadic impressive results, but they ultimately had to be content with the mid-table mediocrity of 12th, after sacking Garry Monk and looking like relegation candidates at one point.
Best player: Gylfi Sigurdsson — 11 goals and three assists saw Sigurdsson deservedly claim Swansea’s player of the year award.
Biggest flop: Bafetimbi Gomis — Looked superb at the start of the season, with four goals in four games, but the forward has struggled for form since then.
Need to sign: Swansea have struggled for goals this season, so re-signing underperforming Man City forward Wilfried Bony could work out best for all parties.
Tottenham
[image alt="Aston Villa v Tottenham Hotspur - Barclays Premier League - Vila Park" src="http://cdn.thejournal.ie/media/2016/05/aston-villa-v-tottenham-hotspur-barclays-premier-league-vila-park-2-630x404.jpg" width="630" height="404" title="" class="aligncenter" /end]
Season grade: A — Finishing below North London rivals Arsenal for the 21st consecutive season in such frustrating circumstances will have been a bitter pill for fans to swallow, but on the whole, it’s been a campaign to remember at White Hart Lane, with Mauricio Pochettino assembling a highly talented young squad that are starting fulfill their potential.
Best player: Harry Kane — The Premier League top scorer with 25 goals, Kane confirmed his first-season promise as he spearheaded Tottenham’s unlikely title challenge.
Biggest flop: Clinton Njie — It’s hard to single out anyone for Spurs, who have been superb this season, but considering he cost €12 million, Njie has yet to really set the world alight at White Hart Lane, albeit injuries haven’t helped and at 22, he could come good yet.
Need to sign: An injury to Kane would be catastrophic for Tottenham, as they have no obvious replacement currently, but £20 million-rated Basel striker Breel Embolo could come in during the summer.
Watford
Season grade: A — It may not have been enough to save Quique Sánchez Flores’ job, but for a promoted team to finish 13th in their first season in the Premier League is an extremely impressive feat any way you look at it.
Best player: Odion Ighalo — His 15 goals and three assists were one of the main reasons why Watford managed to perform well above expectations this season.
Biggest flop: Jose Holebas — An experienced international with Greece, Holebas came with a big reputation after joining from Roma but never really lived up to expectations and only appeared intermittently for the Hornets.
Need to sign: A new full-back, with Nathan Ake set to return to parent club Chelsea. Lille left-back Djibril Sidibe is one rumoured target.
West Brom
Season grade: B — It may not have been the most inspired footballing style, and they may have finished one place below the 13th spot, which they claimed in 2014-15, but Tony Pulis’ ability to get the most out of an ordinary enough bunch of players remains highly impressive.
Best player: Jonny Evans — Has made an effortless transition from Man United to the Baggies, quickly becoming an integral part of the team.
Biggest flop: Rickie Lambert — After some terrific displays with Southampton two years ago, the 34-year-old has carried his Liverpool form to West Brom, scoring just once in 24 appearances.
Need to sign: The Baggies looked a little short on creativity at times this season — they scored just 34 goals, with Aston Villa the only Premier League team to have a worse record in attack. Liverpool’s Jordon Ibe is one player who could make a big impact if he joined.
West Ham
Season grade: A — Their Champions League challenge may have faded at the climax of the campaign, but considering they finished 12th last year, the Hammers have made enormous strides since Slaven Bilic took over last summer.
Best player: Dimitri Payet — The French international has been a joy to watch at times for West Ham, chipping in with nine goals and 12 assists to boot.
Biggest flop: Victor Moses — Not a complete disaster, just significantly less impressive than the majority of the Hammers’ overachievers.
Need to sign: West Ham will get into the Europa League next season provided Man United win the FA Cup, and so could probably do with a few additions to their squad. Andros Townsend finished the season strongly with Newcastle, in the process, proving he is comfortably good enough to play at Premier League level.
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