Newcastle's Summer Signings
Newcastle's year-long chase to sign Yoane Wissa from Brentford finally ended in September with a £55m deal. The Democratic Republic of the Congo forward arrived after scoring 19 goals for Brentford last season, expected to lead Eddie Howe's attack in the Premier League and Europe. Instead, it has been a disappointing campaign. None of Newcastle's attacking recruits paid off; Wissa sat on the bench alongside £65m Nick Woltemade and £55m Anthony Elanga during the April defeat at Crystal Palace, where the manager preferred Jacob Murphy and Will Osula. Wissa has scored just once in 13 league appearances, starting only four times, as he struggles to fit into the system and replicate his partnership with Bryan Mbeumo. The team finished 12th, a drop of seven places from last season, missing out on European competition. With Anthony Gordon expected to leave, faith in reinvestment is uncertain.
Tottenham's Turmoil
After finishing 17th last season, Tottenham hoped for improvement under Thomas Frank. They lost only one of their first seven league games, even thrashing Manchester City away, but then collapsed. Between November and mid-April, they managed just two victories, costing Frank his job in February. Captain Cristian Romero criticized the hierarchy, signaling dressing room unrest. A chaotic search for an interim replacement led to Igor Tudor, who lasted 44 days with one draw and a Champions League humiliation at Atlético Madrid. Roberto De Zerbi became the third manager of the season, guiding the club to a 17th-place finish, avoiding relegation but leaving the club in a sad state.
The Football Itself
The standard of entertainment in the Premier League this season has been atrocious. Little is aesthetically pleasing; games are based on fitness and set pieces rather than skill. Thrillers are rare among the dross. With so much money involved, the league prioritizes business over entertainment. Teams either wear down opponents or rely on heading in the box. European fixtures show how the game should be played, while the packed schedule overworks elite players, squeezing every penny out of the sport.
Ange Postecoglou's Brief Reign
Ange Postecoglou's appointment at Nottingham Forest never seemed likely to work, and for once everyone except owner Evangelos Marinakis was correct. The Australian wanted to prove Tottenham wrong after winning the Europa League with Spurs, but he managed just two points in eight games. He was dismissed after 40 days, one of the shortest reigns in Premier League history. The squad was not built for his football and could not adapt mid-season, leading to dreadful performances and dragging Forest into an unexpected relegation battle. Replacing the popular Nuno Espírito Santo, who was not sacked for results, did not help. This failure will make it hard for Postecoglou to get another Premier League chance.
Ruben Amorim's Manchester United Exit
Ruben Amorim had mitigating factors in his first seven months at Old Trafford: a disjointed squad, low morale after replacing Erik ten Hag, and a rigid 3-4-3 formation that struggled with the English schedule. After a full pre-season and significant investment, things were supposed to improve. Despite entertaining press conferences, dreadful league form and outbursts cost him his job. The lowest point was a Carabao Cup exit to League Two Grimsby. That night, Kobbie Mainoo started a rare game, as Amorim judged him inferior to Manuel Ugarte, which may explain his departure.
