After a season that has verged between crawling and racing to it's end, the Barclays Premier League is over for yet another year. While the league waits to find out which of Watford and Crystal Palace will join Cardiff and Hull in next season's Premier League, all 20 teams will now reflect on their season and see what they can do to reach their new goals.
Every team has a story to tell and something they can look to build on for next season.
Manchester United
Finished: 1st (Champions)
Can they be happy with their season?: Absolutely. From the moment the title slipped from their fingers on the last day in May 2012, Sir Alex Ferguson's men have had one goal - to regain the trophy. Sure enough, they have done so at a canter. It's not been plain sailing but for the bulk of the campaign they had their noses in front and never looked like losing, and were worthy to deliver Ferguson's 13th, and last, Premier League title.
Star Man: Robin van Persie. Arguably the signing that clinched them the league.
Needs To Improve: Antonio Valencia. The winger has regressed badly and needs to improve vastly next year. Special mention for the extremely overrated Danny Welbeck
What's Next?: It promises to be an interesting campaign given this season was the last for Fergie, with Wayne Rooney doing his best to follow him out. David Moyes is set for an interesting first season as he seeks to prove he is the right man for the job.
Manchester City
Finished: 2nd
Can they be happy with their season?: No. The worst performance from an English team in the Champions League was bad enough but a litany of poor displays - particularly away from home - meant City were dethroned from their league title with breathtaking ease. A poor FA Cup Final showing that culminated in defeat rubbed City's noses in it as they endured a painful campaign.
Star Man: Vincent Kompany. Not quite the take-no-prisoners defender of seasons past but still a huge asset, not least given City's defence tends to fall apart without him.
Needs To Improve: A number of players have regressed. Chief among them are Joe Hart, Yaya Toure and David Silva, who have all failed to deliver anything like their championship-winning form.
What's Next?: Better showings in the league and in Europe are a prequisite. City now live in a sphere where such humiliations like this year can't be tolerated, and whoever takes charge cannot risk another season like this one.
Chelsea
Finished: 3rd
Can they be happy with their season?: They have more to happy to be about than they don't. For most of the season, Stamford Bridge has been a cauldron of hate as the stupidly unpopular Rafa Benitez replaced Roberto di Matteo. While Chelsea have fallen away from their league standings, they still have Champions League football and another trophy - the Europa League - in the bank.
Star Man: Juan Mata
Needs To Improve: The easy option for this category is Fernando Torres. However John Terry, much as he is beloved by Chelsea fans, has not been that convincing a presence. Chelsea could use thinking about their long-term proposition for a post-JT world but the centre half has not had one of his better seasons.
What's Next?: A true sense of where Chelsea are heading depends on who their next appointment is.
Arsenal
Finished: 4th
Can they be happy with their season?: Just about. 4th or bust has been the Wenger mantra for years and for vast swathes it looks like the club had hit bust. A defeat by Spurs left them adrift of the the top 4 in the wake of Champions League, FA Cup and Capital One Cup humiliation. But they returned with a great strike to fly into the Champions League spots by the time the whistle went on game 38.
Star Man: Laurent Koscielny. Surprisingly, the French defender has been a huge cornerstone of Arsenal's defence and, a few brain blips aside, has demonstrated great consistency. Theo Walcott and Olivier Giroud have also done well to help ease the blow of Robin van Persie's deprature.
Needs To Improve: Thomas Vermaelen. Supremely inconsistent defending and a lack of captains leadership has shown as the Gunners' best performances have all coincided with his absence.
What's Next?: Winning a trophy remains the ultimate goal, but cementing their top 4 spot again remains essential. For once it looks like the Gunners will spend big in the summer.
Tottenham Hotspur
Finished: 5th
Can they be happy with their season?: The season's may change but the bitter story remains identical. Despite accumulating a record points total for a single season, Spurs again conspired to throw away a great season and the season both behind Arsenal and out of the Champions League. It was a little harsh given they've spent most of the season up there, but had they not thrown away so many cheap points, things would've been differently.
Star Man: Gareth Bale. Little doubt anyone else would pip the PFA Player and Young Player of the Year to this one, given he scored a shedload of vital strikes. If he leaves Spurs they face trouble.
Needs To Improve: Emmanuel Adebayor, whose contribution for most of the campaign has been between fitful and pitiful. Spurs' lack of firepower is arguably what cost them top 4.
What's Next?: A new striker is requiried but a lot hinges on whether or not Bale sticks around. A few more players could also be useful, but the ambition will be to ensure they can finally return to the Champions League and overhaul their neighbours for the first time in generations.
Everton
Finished: 6th
Can they be happy with their season?: Yes and no. For once, Everton started a season like they ended it as they had a sensational start to the campaign. But even then, they were dropping points and then dropped more in an underwhelming second half that saw them lose out on Europe altogether. Finishing in the top 6 - above Liverpool again - is a reasonable enough thing to take solace with.
Star Man: Leighton Baines. A force from full back, who is one of the most potent attacking supply lines in current English football, with a forceful free-kick to match. Keeping him and Marouane Fellaini will be hugely key for the Toffees' ambition.
Needs To Improve: Nikica Jelavic. Having started out well to follow his fantastic early form, his performances have nosedived alarmingly over the final few months, and Everton generally perform better without him. Special mention for Jonny Heitinga, whose presence seems to make Everton's defence a lot softer.
What's Next?: The end of the David Moyes reign at Goodison Park means a new manager. Losing Fellaini and Baines, as some people fear, will be even worse. Anything could happen next season, and it all hinges on which hardy soul Bill Kenwright will appoint.
Liverpool
Finished: 7th
Can they be happy with their season?: 50-50. The first half of the season saw Liverpool struggle a fair bit, with a worst ever start and a serie of unconvincing performances seeing them struggle. But they kicked up a notch in the second half, and fans will feel a little gutted they didn't get started earlier as a few more wins could've seen them return to Europe.
Star Man: He may well be a cannibal but there is no denying Luis Suarez is a vital cog in the machine for Brendan Rodgers' side. Given he is top scorer, top assister and often looks like making things happen, it is vital he remains despite his unusual culinary habits. Phillipe Coutinho has also impressed.
Needs To Improve: Their entire midfield could use a shake up. Joe Allen offers little, Lucas seems to lack something after his injuries, Jordan Henderson is improving but still has a long way to go and Stewart Downing is still poor.
What's Next?: An assault on the top 4 may not be immediate but it is the ultimate goal. Wrestling back a top 6 place is the ultimate early goal and it could be in their reach depending on how well they apply themselves. If the last few weeks are anything to go by, they do have the chops.
West Bromwich Albion
Finished: 8th
Can they be happy with their season?: Absolutely. Many people had thought a post-Roy Hodgson WBA would struggle but instead, they were better. At one point they looked to be in the mood for a surprise top six challenge, but the fact they finished light years above the dropzone will please Steve Clarke and his team's fans.
Star Man: Romelu Lukaku. The Belgian striker came with a big reputation but went about bolstering it, with many goals and some grand forward play ensuring he was a huge star in a hugely impressive season for WBA.
Needs To Improve: Peter Odemwingie, although this is less a question of talent and more of attitude. The Russian-Nigerian has been a running joke all season long with a preposterously poor attitude capped off by his bizarre attempt to force through a deadline day move to QPR.
What's Next?: It all depends on how WBA go about their attack, with Lukaku set to return to Chelsea and Odemwingie more than likely departing. More of the same would work but it'll be tricky act to follow. In the long-run, keeping in the division is still a must.
Swansea City
Finished: 9th
Can they be happy with their season?: They sure can. Some pundits had foolishly thought Swansea would struggle following the departure of Brendan Rodgers for Liverpool, but Michael Laudrup created a stronger Swans team that secured a top half finish and the Capital One Cup. Job well done.
Star Man: Michu. A snip at £2milllion from Spanish side Rayo Vallecano. A great shout for signing of the seaon and a hugely key player that help fire the Swans into Europe.
Needs To Improve: Although the attitude of their ball-boys is a fair shout, Nathan Dyer's behaviour has been questionable at times and he could do better next season.
What's Next?: Once again, it's to build on. Laudrup will want to avoid repeating Newcastle's Europa League-based failings, but they'll also want to ensure another good Premier League finish. The 6 or 7 additions Laudrup has discussed will prove vital.
West Ham United
Finished: 10th
Can they be happy with their season?: They sure can. Last season's play-off winners seemed the best equipped of the promoted clubs and sure looked enough they looked like they'd never been away.
Star Man: Kevin Nolan. The experienced custodian has chipped in with many a key goal after reprising his profitable partnership with Andy Carroll, and has been a good bed rock to build a team on.
Needs To Improve: Away from home, the Hammers seem to throw their gameplans out and regularly look a poor imitation of themselves away from Upton Park. This consistency almost threatened to be their undoing, and more needs to be done to solve this.
What's Next?: Building on this season is the big touch. The obvious option is keeping Andy Carroll, but a few more players could come in handy.
Norwich City
Finished: 11th
Can they be happy with their season?: It's difficult to comment. Their season has seen two awful runs sandwich a fantastic two months unbeaten, but the important thing is that they stayed up and Chris Hughton's side summoned up the firepower when they needed it most to retain their league status.
Star Man: Robert Snodgrass. The winger has been a very potent force on the wing and looks a great option. Sebastien Bassong, previously seen as a bad luck charm following relegations with Newcastle and Wolves, has also been a great addition.
Needs To Improve: Their strikeforce. A lack of firepower at one point looked to be spelling big trouble for the Canaries, with the team drawing a lot of blanks.
What's Next?: The ultimate goal for clubs in the position of Norwich is keeping their Premier League status. To do this teaching their strikers how to find the goal or finding a big scorer - presumably the confirmed £8.5M signing of Ricky van Wolfswinkel - is a must.
Fulham
Finished: 12th
Can they be happy with their season?: Somewhat. Fulham's season has been a fairly confusing mish-mash, where the team has frequently veered from sensational to diabolical, usually in the same game. Ultimately they came in the mid-table place that everyone thought but they have offered a sense they could well have finished anywhere.
Star Man: Dimitar Berbatov. Some people feel he had something to prove after his Man United career ended but by the banks of the Thames he has looked a wonderful player, and is certainly a classy option.
Needs To Improve: The team as a whole needs to find some consistency that has been somewhat lacking. Being the first team to lose to QPR and then almost throwing away a 3-0 lead against the same opposition - coupled with handing Reading 4 points - is the worst evidence that consistency seems to elude Martin Jole's side.
What's Next?: The team is certainly in rebuild mode, as the legendary Europa League Final squad is being rebuilt. The ultimate goal for the Cottagers is finding consistency, and trying to avoid the winless sequences that made the end of the season a lot more uncomfortable then it needed to be.
Stoke City
Finished: 13th
Can they be happy with their season?: There are three different answers for the three different ways Stoke's season can be divided. Until New Year's Day they were having a great campaign, with a solid defence, top 10 and playing reasonably well. Then they fell apart for a few months, and at one point looked doomed. But a final flourish ensured they stayed up.
Star Man: If it wasn't for Asmir Begovic, Stoke would've fallen out of the league. The Bosnian international is a grand goalkeeper and keeping him is hugely key. Robert Huth remains a key defender for all his elbowing.
Needs To Improve: Stoke have been a team that have struggled for goals, with their wingplay and strikeforce both not delivering to the quantities they would've liked. With just three goals, Peter Crouch is top but is by no means alone, and both options need bolstering or encouraging in the summer.
What's Next?: All sorts of inquests will be deliberated about why Stoke's second half of the season was alarmingly shambolic. It'll be worth bolstering the team's attacking options in the pre-season before trying again next year.
Southampton
Finished: 14th
Can they be happy with their season?: More or less. The goal for Southampton was staying in the Premier League. Despite the baffling managerial sacking of Nigel Adkins, various poor defensive performances and coming close to chucking it away, they managed survival and Mauricio Pochettino has a platform to build on ahead of next season.
Star Man: Rickie Lambert. Like Grant Holt in 2011-12, an experienced English centre forward seized his chance at the big league with aplomb. Lambert however looks a better all round better option.
Needs To Improve: A litany of baffingly poor defensive performances threatened to undercut the Saints all season long, and the could use a more solid backline for next year.
What's Next?: Although Pochettino has spoke he'd love to one day lead the Saints into the Champions League, a platform needs to be constructed for that. Next season is likely to be about avoiding relegation again, although a mid-table finish would certainly be welcome by the banks of the Solent.
Aston Villa
Finished: 15th
Can they be happy with their season?: Not so much the majority as the conclusion. Things looked desperate when Chelsea, Spurs and Wigan racked up an accumulative 15-0 win over Villa in December. But soon enough, a promising young team began collecting valuable points and they soon picked up the vital points to keep their heads above water and their league status intact.
Star Man: Eyebrows were raised when £7million was splashed on Christian Benteke but that has proved far from being the case. Without his goals and his general up-front play, Villa would have been in deep trouble.
Needs To Improve: Darren Bent has looked nothing like a £24million striker, and has been deservedly kept out the team by Benteke. Shay Given could also help himself with better performances after losing his place to the impressive Brad Guzan.
What's Next?: The young players will have gained valuable experience. Although it's likely Villa are going to have to wait a long time before attempting to return to the top 6 finishes of Martin O'Neill, they have proved they're a good team and should steer clear of drop zone shenanigans next year.
Newcastle United
Finished: 16th
Can they be happy with their season?: It seems weird to be seeing a season with a Europa League Quarter Final as failure, but in terms of the league, it was an abject year. On another day, last season's surprise packages in 5th place could well have ended their season going down. Maulings by Sunderland and Liverpool, and many other displays lacking ambition, didn't help. In the end they did enough to stick around.
Star Man: James Perch may not be the most heralded of the stars in black and white but has been the most consistent and remains a good option. Despite a mid-season departure, the goals of Demba Ba proved ultimately vital in preserving the Toon's Premier League lives. Ditto those of Papiss Cisse, who took up the scoring mantle following Ba's mid-season move to Chelsea.
Needs To Improve: Alan Pardew. While he couldn't vouch for all the injuries, his tactical decisions and team selections have defied comprehension, and he has to carry the can for an alarmingly poor league season. Hardly an advert for an eight year deal. Cheick Tiote and Jonas Gutierrez are the two players whose form also dropped signifcantly.
What's Next?: It's difficult to say. The squad is full of fantastic players the club should attempt to keep but they remain fragile. Another shocking sequence like the last two months and the shaky ground beneath Pardew's feet will collapse.
Sunderland
Finished: 17th
Can they be happy with their season?: It depends on what parameters you give it. Martin O'Neill's teams lacked ambition and his poor performances ultimately cost him his job. Replacement Paolo di Canio has already lived up to his nutter tag and has had an eventful start, including a sensational victory at St. James' and a mauling by Villa. But ultimately, they stayed up so, for him, job done.
Star Man: Simon Mignolet is a great goalkeeper, and it's arguable without him in goal things would have been a lot more dicey for the Black Cats. Steven Fletcher is also not far behind, given he spent the bulk of the campaign being Sunderland's only goalscorer.
Needs To Improve: For most of the season this looked like being the extremely underwhelming Adam Johnson. But while Johnson has improved, £5million January signing Danny Graham has been very disappointing and has looked even worse. Appropriate given the Newcastle fan once said he'd rather play for Gateshead.
What's Next?: The Black Cats face a true leap into the unknown. Di Canio's only experience of the top two tiers is his 7 games, and it will be an interesting test next season to see how he adjusts to the rigour of Premier League life. It'll also be interesting to see if the players can match the rigour the manager expects.
Wigan Athletic
Finished: 18th
Can they be happy with their season?: To amend the words of a song Bono wrote for Frank Sinatra, it was one shot of happy and two shots of sad. The shot of happy was their sensational FA Cup victory, when they upset the odds to upset Manchester City and lift the trophy. However, this was immediately counteracted by relegation after eight years in the top flight. Ultimately some suspect defending was unable to bail them out and as a result it was the end of the Premier League road and their escapology acts.
Star Man: Shaun Maloney. Although he isn't always at full pelt, his presence is a huge creative presence for the Latics. Arouna Kone's first season in the league has also been a good scoring success, while Callum McManaman has looked a good future player despite his 'tackling'.
Needs To Improve: Their defending has ultimate been their downfall. A ludicrously poor rate of clean sheets and jaw-dropping errors ultimately proved the end of the road.
What's Next?: Regardless of the future of their manager, Wigan have to attempt promotion. They certainly can keep together a squad capable of bouncing straight back up, and should attempt to be up their with the best in a tricky league.
Reading
Finished: 19th
Can they be happy with their season?: Not really. Royals fans were never that optimistic they would survive, and underinvestment to a big degree ensured their squad didn't have enough quality. With Brian McDermott harshly fired, the onus now falls on Nigel Adkins to ensure their return to the Championship is a brief one.
Star Man: Adam le Fondre. Often a super-sub, the striker with a French name hit the double digits figure. His goals gave Reading brief hope in January they could stay up, and he will be key in the division below.
Needs To Improve: Pavel Pogrebnyak was a big move that promised much but ultimately did not deliver. His goal ratio was ultimately poor, and the Russian has not delivered to the aspect expected of him.
What's Next?: The big goal is to get back up. All teams relegated share this and the Royals certainly have a squad that knows they can come up. But, like the teams either side of them, they are in a tricky tier to escape from and much work will be requiried to ensure the challenge happens.
Queens Park Rangers
Finished: 20th
Can they be happy with their season?: You would be barking mad to think they would be. No wins until mid-December, with only 3 further league wins all season, from a team of overpaid lackies not giving a toss was not what was wanted. But at least Mark Hughes was right in speculating they wouldn't be in a relegation battle - pretty much all season, the battle to stay up took place above them.
Star Man: Nobody really deserves this, except possibly Loic Remy, even despite his rape charge. Who knows where they'd be if he'd been signed in the summer? Player of the Year Clint Hill has also provided a rare inspiration in a sea of mediocrity.
Needs To Improve: Everyone, in one respect or another, has disappointed. Picking one is hard, so it'd be easier to simply say that QPR, as a whole, have failed and need to improve.
What's Next?: Promotion is a goal but maybe too far as the league is a difficult one to get out of, as Wolves and Blackburn can testify.
That was it for an eventful mad-cap season. Every team's fans will have a story to tell, no matter how sad, happy or confusing it may be, and every fan will feel strange waiting for three months before the madness begins again with no World Cup or European Championship to distract them.
There are still last hurrahs, with the Champions League final and the afformentioned play-off match to see the final team to confirm promotion. But after that, the anticipation will begin for the next season and the excitement can begin now. Bring it on.
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