2014/15 EPL report card - Scoring the clubs out of 10

Leicester City scripted the most unlikeliest of comebacks to stay in the Premier League

Everton – 4/10

If there is one thing Liverpool fans can be happy about this season, it is the performance of their neighbours. Playing at times like they were walking through knee-high sludge, Everton’s style of play was passive, predictable and decidedly mid-table. Roberto Martinez needs to get his act together.

West Ham United– 5/10

A season that started out so promisingly petered out in the second half when the attacking bravado of the first half simply up and disappeared. It was a tame end to what should have been a path-breaking season.

West Bromwich Albion – 6/10

West Brom were 16th in December, and looking at the very real possibility of relegation – but the appointment of Tony Pulis in place of Alan Irvine saw them go from shaky and unstructured to organized and disciplined. A fine season for a club many had expected to go down.

Leicester City – 7/10

As April dawned, the Foxes lay rock bottom, with almost no hope in front of them. Nigel Pearson, though, stuck to his guns and engineered the most remarkable run of successes to guide Leicester to safety. A remarkable, yet much deserved ending for a team that never stopped playing easy-on-the-eyes attacking football.

Gallowgate End, St. James’ Park, Newcastle – the expressions say it all

Newcastle United – 3/10

Newcastle were at their mercurial and unpredictable best (or worst, your perspective on things really) under Pardew but were absolutely horrendous under the completely inept John Carver.

Carver led a team that lay in ninth in December, to within touching point of relegation. If the season had dragged on for a couple of more weeks, they would have gone down – and comfortably so.

Sunderland – 3/10

Were it not for Dick Advocaat, the Black Cats would be playing in the Championship next year – as simple as that. The great Dutchman brought some much-needed steel and solidity to Sunderland and the Wearside club will be looking to build on it.

Aston Villa – 4.5/10

Under Paul Lambert, Aston Villa appeared to be dying a very slow death. Watching them was torturous to the ever faithful Villa fans, and even more so for us neutrals. But, like so many sides this season, the late change in manager worked wonders.

The under-appreciated Tim Sherwood spread his unique brand of contagious joy across Villain ranks. That FA Cup final appearance should do them the world of good (Just forget the scoreline, though, will you?).

Hull City – 3/10

Steve Bruce’s men never really got their act together this season and the failure of big money signings (Tom Ince and Abel Hernandez to name but two) and the ridiculous drama off the pitch (Hull City to Hull Tigers – really Mr. Allam?) did not help one bit.

Disappointing season for a club that held great promise before the season began.

Burnley - 4/10

Sean Dyche’s men were tremendously hard-working, pretty well organized and pushed themselves to the utmost, but in the end the gap in quality was too much to bridge. Burnley go down – yes - but with their heads held high.

Queens Park Rangers – 2/10

Hopelessly inept under both Harry Redknapp and his replacement Chris Ramsey, they looked like they had already been relegated for much of the season. They shone in patches (especially under Ramsey), but those patches were few and far between and will most likely end up losing their star performers Charlie Austin and Robert Green.

In short, no joy to take away from the season for Rangers fans.