Will Burnley struggle in the Championship next season?
Burnley's relegation from the Premier League was sealed following their final day defeat to Newcastle ending their six year stay in the top flight. With nine first team players out of contract in the summer and other certain player likely to leave as well; Could they struggle in the Championship next season?
Among the players who are out of contract in the summer are centre back duo James Tarkowski and Ben Mee who have both been crucial players for the Clarets throughout their stay in the Premier League. Tarkowski has gone on to establish himself as a proven Premier League defender as has Mee who is also the captain of the team and the leader both on the pitch and in the dressing room. Without these two next season, the Clarets may not be as solid defensively as they have been over the last few seasons.
Some under contract players could also leave in the form of Nick Pope, Maxwel Cornet and Dwight McNeil.
Pope has been without a doubt their best player this season because of the amount of times he's kept them in games plus since he's been at Burnley he's gone on to become an England international and one of the best keepers in the league. There will definitely be clubs chasing his signature in the summer and he'll certainly want to stay in the Premier League with a World Cup coming up at the end of the year.
Cornet has carried the team at time this season by being their standout attacking player with 9 goals ending the campaign as their top goal scorer. A player of his talent will not want to be in the Championship next season and there will be numerous clubs around Europe who will want to sign him.
McNeil didn't have his best season this year but he is still an exciting young talent. With the potential he has, certain Premier League clubs will surely come looking for him in the summer. He played for England at U21 level and he'll definitely one day want to make the step up to the senior squad. His best chance of doing that would be by staying in the Premier League.
Son surely now among Europe's elite
Heung Min Son just had his best year in a Spurs shirt with 23 league goals as he shared the golden boot with Mohamed Salah. This surely must put him among the best players in Europe because of the player he is and the season he's just had.
He's been a top player throughout his time at Spurs because of how important he's been for them over the years and the amount of goals he's scored for them. Harry Kane may have received the majority of the plaudits over the years and rightly so but Son surely has to be put in that world class category like his striker partner is. He's stepped up as the main man when Spurs have needed him to and he's also delivered in the Champions League despite it being two or three years ago. The amount of goals he's scored over the last few seasons combined are up there with some of the best and because of that he should now be put in that world class bracket.
Has James Maddison put himself back in contention for an England recall?
James Maddison has had an excellent season for the Leicester this year as he ended the campaign with 12 goals and 8 assists which marks his best season to date. He certainly ended the season well as he registered 4 goals and 3 assists in the Foxes' final four games as they ended the season strongly to finish 8th. With the season he's just had alongside the way he ended it; Has he put himself back in contention for an England recall?
His form this season certainly suggests but with players like Mason Mount and Phil Foden ahead of him in the pecking order his chance to return to the squad may have to wait. Especially with Jarrod Bowen likely to earn his first call up.
If he was to be recalled it will be interesting to see where he would fit in as his best position is in the no.10 role and England don't really play with a no.10. They did at the Euros last summer but in more recent games they've played with a three up top and two sitters in front of the defence. He could play as an inside 10 or in a wide position as he has played there before. But England are more likely to play players higher up the pecking order in that position. His form this season will give him confidence of getting a call up but with player ahead of him in the pecking order, it's possible that he could again miss out.
Man City now the dominant force in England
Four titles in five seasons under Pep Guardiola. You have to say now that Man City are the dominant team in England. Liverpool may have pushed them all the way this season. But City were always going to have enough to win the title and dominate English football yet again.
When Man United were winning titles under Alex Ferguson during their dominance, there were teams that pushed them in the likes of Newcastle, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool. But they were still the dominant team at the time as they won many titles. City are the dominant team now because of the titles they've won in recent years. I expect that they'll be the dominant team for the next few years with Pep in charge and the players he has in his squad. Liverpool will still push them because of the mentality and hunger they have but City will still be the dominant force in England.
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