It's time to get our new series underway!
We've got 21 iterations of this to get through, so I'll try and keep these brief. This is how the managers are drawn this time round:
We've got 21 iterations of this to get through, so I'll try and keep these brief. This is how the managers are drawn this time round:
Highlights involve Jurgen Klopp and Eddie Howe involved in a job swap, whilst Patrick Vieira gets a go at his former club Manchester City. And I distinctly remember Ralph Hasenhuttl mooted as a potential Manchester United manager in the past.
June - November
The season kicked off with the Nations League, and Brendan Rodgers' England beat Hungary twice and drew with Germany to stay in the hunt. However, in the September international break a loss in the return match with Germany ended England's hopes of winning the group. A brace from Bukayo Saka guided England to a 3-0 win over Italy which earned second place.
In the Premier League the top of the table saw a clear top four in Julen Lopetegui's Arsenal, Liverpool, Man City and Erik ten Hag's Chelsea. The first three each spent at least four weeks top of the table, but it was Chelsea who beat Man City and Leeds to hit the top, and a draw with Arsenal meant they held their slender lead into the World Cup break.
The surprise story came from Unai Emery's Bournemouth, whose knack of securing tight wins saw them in a top 6 spot at the expense of Steve Cooper's Spurs. It was less good news for fellow promotees Nottingham Forest, managed by Graham Potter, who needed until mid-October to get their first win, which proved just enough to get them off the bottom of the table at the expense of Leeds, for whom having their real-life (former) manager Jesse Marsch isn't much help for Leeds.
For now Potter and Marsch keep their jobs, unlike David Moyes who finds himself sacked by Wolves after 7 points from their opening 12 games. He is the only managed to fall away before the break.
Every English side topped their group in Europe, with the exception of Spurs who were left well behind Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund in their group. In the League Cup the only result of note was Gary O'Neil's Fulham knocking out Manchester United.
This is how the league stands:
June - November
The season kicked off with the Nations League, and Brendan Rodgers' England beat Hungary twice and drew with Germany to stay in the hunt. However, in the September international break a loss in the return match with Germany ended England's hopes of winning the group. A brace from Bukayo Saka guided England to a 3-0 win over Italy which earned second place.
In the Premier League the top of the table saw a clear top four in Julen Lopetegui's Arsenal, Liverpool, Man City and Erik ten Hag's Chelsea. The first three each spent at least four weeks top of the table, but it was Chelsea who beat Man City and Leeds to hit the top, and a draw with Arsenal meant they held their slender lead into the World Cup break.
The surprise story came from Unai Emery's Bournemouth, whose knack of securing tight wins saw them in a top 6 spot at the expense of Steve Cooper's Spurs. It was less good news for fellow promotees Nottingham Forest, managed by Graham Potter, who needed until mid-October to get their first win, which proved just enough to get them off the bottom of the table at the expense of Leeds, for whom having their real-life (former) manager Jesse Marsch isn't much help for Leeds.
For now Potter and Marsch keep their jobs, unlike David Moyes who finds himself sacked by Wolves after 7 points from their opening 12 games. He is the only managed to fall away before the break.
Every English side topped their group in Europe, with the exception of Spurs who were left well behind Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund in their group. In the League Cup the only result of note was Gary O'Neil's Fulham knocking out Manchester United.
This is how the league stands:
World Cup
It was an unconvincing start to the World Cup for Rodgers' England, as they fell two goals down to Wales before goals from Saka and Jude Bellingham salvaged a point. Rodgers' former club player James Maddison was on target in a 4-0 win over Iran, and Marcus Rashford got the only goal against USA to earn top spot in the group.
Netherlands presented a fairly tricky second round tie, but Raheem Sterling - the current leader for average rating in the Premier League - scored early on in a 1-0 win. This set up a quarter final against Argentina, and just like in real life Lionel Messi's fairytale was unstoppable. He scored the only goal as Argentina won 1-0, and grabbed a brace in the semi final against Brazil. He didn't score in the final, but it didn't matter as plenty of his teammates did in a riotous 5-2 win over Spain.
It was an unconvincing start to the World Cup for Rodgers' England, as they fell two goals down to Wales before goals from Saka and Jude Bellingham salvaged a point. Rodgers' former club player James Maddison was on target in a 4-0 win over Iran, and Marcus Rashford got the only goal against USA to earn top spot in the group.
Netherlands presented a fairly tricky second round tie, but Raheem Sterling - the current leader for average rating in the Premier League - scored early on in a 1-0 win. This set up a quarter final against Argentina, and just like in real life Lionel Messi's fairytale was unstoppable. He scored the only goal as Argentina won 1-0, and grabbed a brace in the semi final against Brazil. He didn't score in the final, but it didn't matter as plenty of his teammates did in a riotous 5-2 win over Spain.
December - April
The second managerial casualty came immediately after the resumption, as Aston Villa's defeat to Everton saw them drop into the relegation zone and Thomas Frank given the heave-ho. Marsch joined him in the job centre a few days later.
It meant neither manager was involved in the January transfer window. Man City were the most active, with Vieira splashing out roughly £100m on Lutsharel Geertruida, Ricardo Horta and Álex Grimaldo. Spurs took Donny van de Beek off Manchester United's hands, whilst Everton and Newcastle also added a couple of new faces.
The League Cup reaches its business end with Man City the only big team in the semi finals. They breezed past Bournemouth whilst in the other semi final Fulham overcame Antonio Conte's Brighton. In the final Grimaldo was player of the match Julián Álvarez scoring both goals in 2-0 City win.
At the top of the table Chelsea managed to keep their noses ahead of City, with Liverpool and Arsenal battling for third. Newcastle mounted a late surge to move up into fifth, with a chance of snatching a Champions League place.
Leeds' new boss Gennaro Gattuso (!) was able to lead them away from the relegation places, but Javier Aguirre struggled at Wolves who seem destined for the drop. Forest also couldn't get free, and those two were joined in the bottom three by Marco Silva's Crystal Palace, whose run of 2 points from 5 games came at just the wrong time.
In Europe Dortmund claimed their second English scalps by beating Liverpool on penalties in the second round, whilst Man City couldn't match their real-life counterparts by losing to Barcelona in the quarter finals. However, a Kai Havertz goal in extra time saw Chelsea best holders Real Madrid 4-3 on aggregate to get into the last four. Arsenal got to the semi finals of the Europa League as did Manchester United, who overcame Spurs in the quarter finals. In the Europa Conference League West Ham overcame Fiorentina in a dramatic quarter final to maintain English representation in every tournament.
The FA Cup was not the place for upsets this year, as every Premier League team was knocked out by a side from the same division. Spurs had a difficult run, but beat Man City, Chelsea and Newcastle on their way to the semis, only to lose on penalties to Aston Villa. Now managed by Paulo Fonseca, Villa will take on Liverpool in the final.
The second managerial casualty came immediately after the resumption, as Aston Villa's defeat to Everton saw them drop into the relegation zone and Thomas Frank given the heave-ho. Marsch joined him in the job centre a few days later.
It meant neither manager was involved in the January transfer window. Man City were the most active, with Vieira splashing out roughly £100m on Lutsharel Geertruida, Ricardo Horta and Álex Grimaldo. Spurs took Donny van de Beek off Manchester United's hands, whilst Everton and Newcastle also added a couple of new faces.
The League Cup reaches its business end with Man City the only big team in the semi finals. They breezed past Bournemouth whilst in the other semi final Fulham overcame Antonio Conte's Brighton. In the final Grimaldo was player of the match Julián Álvarez scoring both goals in 2-0 City win.
At the top of the table Chelsea managed to keep their noses ahead of City, with Liverpool and Arsenal battling for third. Newcastle mounted a late surge to move up into fifth, with a chance of snatching a Champions League place.
Leeds' new boss Gennaro Gattuso (!) was able to lead them away from the relegation places, but Javier Aguirre struggled at Wolves who seem destined for the drop. Forest also couldn't get free, and those two were joined in the bottom three by Marco Silva's Crystal Palace, whose run of 2 points from 5 games came at just the wrong time.
In Europe Dortmund claimed their second English scalps by beating Liverpool on penalties in the second round, whilst Man City couldn't match their real-life counterparts by losing to Barcelona in the quarter finals. However, a Kai Havertz goal in extra time saw Chelsea best holders Real Madrid 4-3 on aggregate to get into the last four. Arsenal got to the semi finals of the Europa League as did Manchester United, who overcame Spurs in the quarter finals. In the Europa Conference League West Ham overcame Fiorentina in a dramatic quarter final to maintain English representation in every tournament.
The FA Cup was not the place for upsets this year, as every Premier League team was knocked out by a side from the same division. Spurs had a difficult run, but beat Man City, Chelsea and Newcastle on their way to the semis, only to lose on penalties to Aston Villa. Now managed by Paulo Fonseca, Villa will take on Liverpool in the final.
May - June
So the crunch. Man City immediately dropped two points in the title race by drawing with Villa and Chelsea capitalised with wins over Fulham and Brighton to move to the brink of the title. Despite Chelsea losing heavily to Liverpool, City lost their local derby 2-1, meaning that Chelsea secured the title a game early. Their loss to Liverpool, meanwhile, meant the Merseyside team were safe in the final Champions League spot behind Arsenal.
The relegation race was also decided early, as Palace and Forest lost three on the bounce to join Wolves - whose late resurgence came too late - in falling through the trapdoor. It meant the only thing riding on the final games were top 6 places. Man United beat Southampton to secure their spot, whilst Spurs and Newcastle had a final game shootout. Miguel Almirón had the northern side ahead, but goals from Heung-Min Son and Harry Kane (who else) saw Spurs come back to win 2-1 and take fifth place.
So to the cup competitions. Aston Villa had the perfect start to the FA Cup final, going ahead in the opening minute, but Liverpool took it to extra time and Cody Gakpo struck to defy the underdogs.
Chelsea couldn't cap a great season with a Champions League final, as they lost to surprise package Sevilla on penalties. But there was no such problems for the other English sides in the semi final. It meant Arsenal and Man United met in the Europa League final, a tie which was settled by Gabriel Martinelli on the hour mark for a 1-0 Arsenal win. West Ham faced Trabzonspor in the Conference League final, and just as in real life Jarrod Bowen scored in a 2-1 win.
So the crunch. Man City immediately dropped two points in the title race by drawing with Villa and Chelsea capitalised with wins over Fulham and Brighton to move to the brink of the title. Despite Chelsea losing heavily to Liverpool, City lost their local derby 2-1, meaning that Chelsea secured the title a game early. Their loss to Liverpool, meanwhile, meant the Merseyside team were safe in the final Champions League spot behind Arsenal.
The relegation race was also decided early, as Palace and Forest lost three on the bounce to join Wolves - whose late resurgence came too late - in falling through the trapdoor. It meant the only thing riding on the final games were top 6 places. Man United beat Southampton to secure their spot, whilst Spurs and Newcastle had a final game shootout. Miguel Almirón had the northern side ahead, but goals from Heung-Min Son and Harry Kane (who else) saw Spurs come back to win 2-1 and take fifth place.
So to the cup competitions. Aston Villa had the perfect start to the FA Cup final, going ahead in the opening minute, but Liverpool took it to extra time and Cody Gakpo struck to defy the underdogs.
Chelsea couldn't cap a great season with a Champions League final, as they lost to surprise package Sevilla on penalties. But there was no such problems for the other English sides in the semi final. It meant Arsenal and Man United met in the Europa League final, a tie which was settled by Gabriel Martinelli on the hour mark for a 1-0 Arsenal win. West Ham faced Trabzonspor in the Conference League final, and just as in real life Jarrod Bowen scored in a 2-1 win.
Unsurprisingly, ten Hag collects Manager of the Year, whilst Player of the Year goes to Liverpool's Mohamed Salah despite a return of only 9 goals in the league. The top scorer was Fulham's Aleksandar Mitrovic. These and other trinkets give us the final table for the Manager League:
ten Hag is the clear winner this time, with 1380 Manager League points representing an excellent haul. As expected the bigger clubs picked up the most points, but there is one clear exception: Unai Emery, whose 8th-place finish at Bournemouth was an outstanding achievement.
Having gone through a season at length, we'll start to go through the next seasons a lot quicker as we begin to see how the manager league takes shape.
Having gone through a season at length, we'll start to go through the next seasons a lot quicker as we begin to see how the manager league takes shape.