In our final Fanfare & Fanguish of the season, our panel of fans wrap up their feelings of the 2024/25 campaign.
Arsenal
Arsenal’s 2024/25 season was one of high promise but ultimate frustration. For much of the campaign, the Gunners played with intensity, style, and belief, pushing hard in both the Premier League and Europe. Yet, as the season closed, they found themselves empty-handed once again. Despite their progress and clear development under Mikel Arteta, the lack of silverware remains a lingering shadow. However, there’s a n undeniable sense that this team is on the cusp of something big. With a strong, focused summer ahead and smart additions, Arsenal could finally convert potential into tangible success. This upcoming season is pivotal, not just for the club, but for Arteta’s legacy.I still believe in this squad, and manager, but until they lift trophies, it remains a story of “what ifs.”
Highlight of the season: Has to be Madrid home and away – I was there at both and they really were epic.
Season rating: 7/10 – despite a Champions League semi-final, that’s the expectation now.
Akhil Vyas
Arsenal Supporters Trust Board Member
Aston Villa
The Emery adventure continues. This season he kindly introduced the fanbase to Champions League football at Villa Park where the pre-match pyrotechnics were certainly matched by fireworks on the pitch. Qualifying in the top eight and then the agonising exit to finalists PSG is a testament to the elite displays in Europe. The league campaign was unsurprisingly bumpy given the volume of matches, however, Villa’s relentless form since March has made amends for some sloppy earlier spells. The FA Cup defeat to Crystal Palace is the major negative from this season, as the Emery era needs a trophy to cement him as Villa’s best coach in recent memory.The significance of today’s match is colossal as it will likely decide if the season was a good one or a great one.
Highlight of the season: Jhon Duran winner at home vs Bayern Munich.
Season rating: 8/10 (9/10 if Champions League is secured).
Armen Mirzoian
Bournemouth
We have exceeded expectations on pretty much every level, achieving our highest points total on the back of numerous outstanding individual and team performances. Beating Arsenal (twice) and Manchester City have been especially eye-catching victories, as were the thumpings handed out to Forest and Newcastle by our scratch side in February. We are a match for every PL team and just need more at key moments to convert narrow defeats and draws into wins. The opening of our new performance centre is a massive step forward and moving ahead on ground redevelopment is also very welcome. The best is very much yet to come.
Highlight of the season: The comeback win against Everton. We recovered from 2-0 down after 86 minutes to win 3-2, setting off the most euphoric away limbs ever. Just brilliant.
Season rating: 9/10
Jeff Hayward
Back of the Net, the AFC Bournemouth Fan’s Podcast
Brentford
What a season! A few more points would have guaranteed Europe instead of now needing snookers and most improbably – Spurs winning a league game. Regardless, it has been exhilarating to even be in contention. Besides, every recent Brentford ‘heartache’ has ultimately proven nothing more than a temporary stumble. 2013: Missing promotion in the last minute of the last game. We celebrated like we’d won the FA Cup in 2014. 2020: Losing the Championship play-off. Fulham got relegated from a Covid-ridden Prem whilst Brentford won at Wembley in 2021. 2022: Defeat at home to Leeds in the final game when victory would have relegated them. They went down in 2023. Europe? It will come.
Highlight of the season: Mikkel Damsgaard’s transformation to become first name on the teamsheet.
Season rating: 9/10
Brighton & Hove Albion
Well, it’s now time to reflect on what has been another transitional season at the Albion. Whilst European qualification requires every possible star to align, I think we can be extremely proud of another top 10 finish in the best league in the world. Our young manager has had to learn a lot of harsh lessons and learn quick. I feel like he’s done enough to prove to fans that he can take us to the next level next season, with a lot of young and talented players getting better with every minute that passes by. Whilst the end of the season means no football, I always secretly welcome it. No stressful weekends for just over two months! It’s time to reset, regroup and go again next year for what promises to be another rollercoaster of a season.
Highlight of the season: Our last gasp 3-2 win against Liverpool to keep our European hopes alive.
Season rating: 7/10
Joe Sayers
Co-Host of the Albion Obsessed podcast
Chelsea
Chelsea have had a steady season. Enzo Maresca has brought stability in playing style and system, and results, bar a two-month slide between December and February, have been positive. Sources around the club are so positive about Maresca that even if the club do not qualify for the Champions League this weekend, they are expected to keep the Italian. Those sources around Chelsea point to player development, playing style and man management and also advanced metrics such as chances created, xG and goals against as key reasons to keep building with Maresca.
Highlight of the season: Cole Palmer’s free kick vs Brighton (H) – scored 4 goals in one match.
Season rating: 7/10 – could be bumped up to 8/10 with top five and the Conference League trophy.
Max Fretwell
Crystal Palace
Late transfers in, the loss of Olise and no wins in our first eight league games wasn’t the start of the season anyone would have asked for in SE25. I have no idea why we were worried though – the combination of Glasner, a league double over Brighton, reminding Millwall and Charlton who South London belongs to, the return of Springtime Ebs and the fans riding the wave from Doncaster to Wembley, saw a sea of red and blue celebrating in floods of tears as the Eagles ended the season by lifting our first ever major trophy. Glad all over? You don’t know the half of it!
Highlight of the season: Can’t think of anyth… I mean, obviously it’s got to be winning the FA Cup!
Season rating: 10/10
Sam Hesketh
Everton
If you had told Evertonians in mid-January when Sean Dyche was dismissed, with the Toffees sitting just a point above the relegation zone, that Everton would end up finishing in the relative comfort of 13th, they might not have believed you. Such is the job that David Moyes has done with almost the same group of players that the club were effectively safe from relegation within just a few weeks of his appointment. A season of two halves, with the latter providing optimism for a brighter future.
Highlight of the season: Last weekend’s bittersweet farewell to Goodison Park was as much a celebration of Everton fandom as it was a finalé to 133 years of senior men’s football at the Grand Old Lady.
Season rating: 5/10
Lyndon Lloyd
Fulham
Fulham fans are finishing the season in good spirits, despite the what might have beens – a failed flirtation with Europe and a dismal end to our FA Cup dreams. Last week’s derby win against Brentford meant we’ve exceeded our previous Premier League record tally of 53 points and won more away games in a season than ever before. With doubles over Forest and Newcastle and the champions unable to beat us, we are no longer pushovers – we’re an established top-flight team. As Marco Silva often says, there’s always room for improvement. For that to happen next season, Fulham must spend well and wisely in the summer ahead.
Highlight of the season: Rodrigo Muniz’s winning goal to beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in injury time.
Season rating: 7/10
Ipswich
Ipswich fans were riding a wave of optimism before their return to the Premier League, but a series of failings resulted in a limp return to the Championship.
The story of Ipswich’s season was “competitive up to a point” and they were in the survival mix heading into the new year, but fell away badly in 2025. Overall, the first win took too long to arrive, the home form was abysmal, VAR wasn’t always on their side and the injury list was unsustainable.
Ultimately, the lack of squad depth and quality caught up with Ipswich this season and fans hope the shortcomings have been learned from before a squad rebuild and an expected promotion fight in 2025/26.
Highlight of the season: Ipswich 2-0 Chelsea
Season rating: 4/10
Tom James
Listens to Blue Monday
Leicester
Ladies & Gentlemen, Jamie Vardy has left the building.
13 seasons, 500 games, 200 goals and just like that he’s gone. Getting his 200th Leicester goal on his 500th and final appearance for the club was a magical end to a great career. You couldn’t really write it, unless you worked for Netflix of course.
It was a shame that a certain section of the crowd took the opportunity of his post-match celebration to reaffirm their dissatisfaction with the running of the club. Wrong place, wrong time, guys.
Highlight of the season: Taking four points off Champions League bound Tottenham Hotspur? Seriously I can look no further than Jamie Vardy’s 200th Leicester City goal.
Season rating: 0/10. Not a surprising nul points. A disastrous season all around.
Chris Forryan
Liverpool
Expectations shift rapidly – and Liverpool are no exception to the rule. How quickly the narrative turned from “Arne Slot’s going to struggle replacing Jurgen Klopp” to “How lucky were Liverpool?” Please. Liverpool claimed this season as their own. This was a campaign defined by Arne Slot’s ruthless streak and high technical standards. It wasn’t meant to be this easy. We were supposed to go the way of United and Arsenal after Ferguson and Wenger. But since when have we followed the script?
This is Liverpool at its finest; partying in away ends after losing 3-2 and screaming the Federico Chiesa chant on repeat on the concourses. This is Liverpool back on its perch.
Highlight of the season: Liverpool’s 5-1 comeback win over Tottenham to confirm the title
Season rating: 9/10
Farrell Keeling
Deputy Editor at Empire of the Kop
Man City
By City's recent standards, it's been a shocker. Another FA Cup final loss. Embarrassing in the Champions League. And who can forget that November/December period? Nine losses in 11 games. It's been Pep's worst season as City manager; he's made a host of truly baffling calls. But he's hardly the only one to blame. The club's decision not to refresh the squad in the summer (on Pep's orders) was another terrible call. We allowed the team to grow old together and paid the price. And in terms of player performances, a lot of our historically most reliable players (e.g. Bernardo, Haaland, Dias and Gundogan) have been our most inconsistent performers. Bring on next season.
Highlight of the season: Man United.
Season rating: 3/10
Lloyd Scragg
Man United
In many ways, the underperformance of a limp unit in Bilbao adequately represents this Manchester United side throughout the most forgettable of campaigns. Although Ruben Amorim’s men possessed plenty of attacking possession, a lack of confidence and final third cutting-edge delivered another damaging blow to a dejected fanbase. While in defence, further calamity within a routinely mistake-laden setup handed Spurs a European gift. Despite all, Amorim retains the backing of this new-look Ineos hierarchy and will receive financial support in the summer. But this squad requires cleansing and a fresh look ahead of an unthinkable season without European football at Old Trafford.
Highlight of the season: The Europa League quarter-final second-leg comeback against Lyon in Manchester.
Season rating: 2/10 (simply because of the run to a continental final)
Shaun Connolly
Editor-in-chief, Theatre of Red
Newcastle United
This has been the best season of my life as a Newcastle fan. I don’t claim to speak for the masses, but I’m sure there’s a general consensus on that. However, I’m desperate for it to end. On paper, a home game against Everton, with their solid defence pretty much all missing is by far the most appealing of the fixtures CL contenders face today. However we all have the same fear: that staunch mackem Jordan Pickford puts in one of his superhero performances to deny the Mags a CL spot that will be a springboard for a huge summer and season to follow. I don’t think he will, United turn up for these big games, and whatever happens this has been the season of my life. Thanks Eddie, love you.
Highlight of the season: Hmm tricky. Oh hang on, it’s that magnificent day at Wembley in March where we smashed our trophy curse. Unforgettable.
Season rating: 10/10
Jamie Smith
Senior Writer, The Mag (independent Newcastle Fans website)
Nottingham Forest
How do you review a season with so much left to play for? Forest host Chelsea today with Champions League qualification still in the balance. Even now, it feels alien to write those words. But, actually, it’s not difficult to review the season. Whatever happens today, this is a Nottingham Forest side that has already qualified for Europe. It’s a team that has already made us beyond proud – and given us memories to last forever. It still feels like yesterday that we had been out of the top tier for 23 years – and now this. A review of the season? One word: Remarkable.
Highlight of the season: Beating Liverpool away when they seemed invincible.
Season rating: 9/10. They deserve a 10 but we have to leave room for improvement for next season’s title charge.
Peter Blackburn
Southampton
It has been agonising. We were down as soon as the transfer window closed and the soundest bloke ever to be a Premier League manager was doomed from then on. There were bewildering decisions on the pitch as well as off it, with Howard Webb wheeled out every week to manufacture consent for our Kafka-esque VAR nightmare. What little joy we’ve had has come from players who will no doubt be leaving – Tyler Dibling and Matty Fernandes are going to the very top, but perhaps the player who emerges with the most credit is “Awan Wamsdale” (Aaron Ramsdale has become my son’s hero, and my son can’t say his Rs yet). Rambo has repeatedly made saves as logic-defying as his decision to join us, and seems an uncomplicatedly good-vibes lad in a world of muscly poseurs. He’ll be off after one season with us but will probably go down as one of our family’s favourite ever Saints players.
Highlight of the season: Dearly departed Russell’s sole PL win over Everton, when it briefly seemed like everything might somehow be alright.
Season rating: 1/10
Tom Williams
Co-host of the Pro Revolution Soccer podcast
Spurs
Well. We actually did it. After 17 long years without silverware, Spurs are European champions. Against all odds, this group of players delivered a moment that will live forever in North London. Those beautiful boys at the back spent 90 minutes throwing themselves in front of anything that moved - blocks, tackles, a healthy disregard for the laws of physics. Dark arts were deployed (I’m looking at you, Cuti), time was wasted, and somehow, it worked. Yet, as celebrations continue, the lingering frustration remains. Postecoglou’s admission that the league campaign was knowingly sacrificed for European success leaves a bitter aftertaste. Progress should never come at the expense of competitiveness.
For now, though, Spurs fans can revel in a long-awaited triumph, the kind that seemed a distant dream for nearly two decades. The question is whether this is the start of something bigger - or just another fleeting high in a rollercoaster ofinconsistency.
Highlight of the season: Need you ask? Europa League winners.
Season rating: 1/10 (PL) 10/10 (UEL)
Sean Cook
West Ham
What a season we have had and for all the wrong reasons. Off the pitch we took a leading role in the #StopExploitingLoyalty campaign. This Football Supporters Association campaign highlights that loyal, regular match-going fans are being priced out of attending Premier League games. We launched #SaveOurConcessions and campaigned home and away for the return of price concessions for our young, old and disabled West Ham fans. We got them back for next season and we got season ticket prices frozen to boot. That’s our biggest victory.
Highlight of the season: Getting our concessions back because we protested with our opponents at every single game.
Season rating: Football 3/10. The black balloons which signify the death spiral of our beloved bubbles, being let off at all away games definitely 10/10
Andy Payne
Joint-secretary of Hammers United
Wolves
It feels like Wolves have had three seasons in one. It has been chaos. Under Gary O’Neil we unravelled. Players fighting each other, arguing with fans, refusing to play, and getting thrashed.
The change was immediate under Vitor, and the six-game winning run showed what the players are capable of with some concrete direction. I interviewed Vitor earlier in the week – and within three minutes was, genuinely, willing to run through walls for him. I’m excited by the idea of him having the time over summer to work with the players, and hope that next season is just one season in one.
Highlight of the season: Vitor’s first game in charge - a cold and rainy win away at Leicester just before Christmas.
Season rating: 4/10
James Bird, editor-in-chief at Mundial Magazine
Photograph by Harry Murphy/Getty Images
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