AG's Football Reports

Burnley enjoyed their first season back in the Premier League after a year away. Season Summary: Premier League: 16th Total Points: 40 F.A Cup: Fifth Round EFL Cup: Second Round Top Scorer: Sam Vokes (10) Season Review: Burnley returned to the top flight after a season away with the aim of avoiding relegation and for the first time in their history they will have a second successive season in the Premier League. They even staved off the threat of relegation with time to spare, thanks largely to their home form. Not many teams were able to win at Turf Moor, Liverpool, Everton and Leicester were just three of the sides that were beaten at the stadium during the campaign. However, away from home it was a different story. Dyche's men managed just one away win all season and they had to wait until March for that win at Crystal Palace. They will now hope to continue that home form into next season and try to pick up more points away from home. Manager Review: Sean...

Bournemouth enjoyed their second season in the Premier League and achieved their best ever league finish. Season Summary: Premier League: 9th (+7) Total Points: 46 (+4) F.A Cup: Third Round EFL Cup: Third Round Top Scorer: Josh King (15) Season Review: This could have been a tough season for Eddie Howe and Bournemouth but it was a season that for the majority of the time went rather smoothly and they want on to beat last seasons points tally and secure a top ten finish. Not of all the summer singings made by Eddie Howe paid off and Bournemouth had to wait until mid March for their first win of 2017. Once they got that win they were up and running. The season will be remembered for the highs like beating Hull 6-1 and that cracking 4-3 win over Liverpool in December. The one low point was the performance,mance in the F.A Cup 3rd round when they were well beaten by League One Millwall. There are plenty of players who have enhanced their reputations a...

Arsenal missed out on Champions League football for the first time in the Arsene Wenger years. This was a difficult season that has ended with the possibility of an another F.A Cup and whole load of uncertainty.  Season Summary: Premier League: 5th (-3) Total Points: 75 (+4) Champions League: Round of 16 F.A Cup: Final v Chelsea EFL Cup: Fifth Round Top Scorer: Alexis Sanchez (24) Season Review: For the first time under Arsene Wenger Arsenal have missed out on Champions League football. 1996/97 was Arsene Wenger's debut season and ever since then they have been an ever present in the Champions League but they will not play in the competition next season. Devisions are in the fan base over the future of the manager which remains uncertain. Wenger has had pressure on him all season and it was at its high after Bayern Munich destroyed Arsenal in both legs of the last 16 tie in the Champions League. Arsenal started the season well, they even beat the...

SUNDERLAND'S 10 year stay in the Premier League is over.  Sunderland's 10 year stay in the Premier League is over Josh King scored two minutes from time to consign Sunderland to defeat and with Hull getting a point at Southampton relegation for the Black Cats was confirmed. Sunderland needed to better Hull's result to continue their fight against the drop for another week but Josh King's 88th minute strike gave Bournemouth all three points at the Stadium of Light and Hull held on for a 0-0 draw at Southampton which sealed relegation for Sunderland. Like on Wednesday night Sunderland showed encouraging spells but the lack of quality which has been evident all season cost them dear again.  Their lack of cutting edge has been a problem all season and is an area where they must invest in next season if they want to return to the Premier League next season.  Top scorer Jermain Defoe and Fabio Borini went closest for Sunderland while the in-form ...

Here we go with another round of predictions. Could this be the weekend that Sunderland are relegated? Southampton v Hull - Saturday 3PM This is an interesting game, Hull will feel that this is possibly a good chance to end that rotten form away from home, it is incredible the difference between them at the KC and away from home. Southampton and Claude Puel have had their critics this season, I do feel that they are a bit harsh and I think they will get the win here. My Prediction: 2-1 Stoke v West Ham - Saturday 3PM This for me is one of those typical end of season games. West Ham are safe and have nothing to play for after was has been at times a very difficult season for Slaven Billic. Stoke are safe and not going to qualify for Europe but they will want to finish in the top 10 for a 4th successive season. Its not often I go against Stoke at home. My Prediction 2-0 Sunderland v Bournemouth - Saturday 3PM Oh Sunderland! How many times have we been here?...

SKY SPORTS and Hartlepool legend Jeff Stelling has got his way as Hartlepool manager Dave Jones has been sacked. The Pool's confirmed this morning (Monday) that Jones had left his position as the clubs First-Team manager. A club statement read: "Hartlepool United can confirm that Dave Jones has left his position as First-Team manager by metal consent." "Assistant Managers Alex Armstrong and Kevin Cooper have also departed The Northern Gas and Power Stadium with immediate effect." "The club would like to place on record it's thanks to Jones, Armstrong and Cooper for their efforts and wish them every success in the future." "Matthew Bates will now take charge for the final two games of the season, assisted by Billy Paynter, Stuart Parnaby and Ian Gallagher." All of this comes after the Soccer Saturday presenter issued an emotional plea to Jones to quit 'for the sake of the club' after seeing his beloved side drop into...

So Jose Mourinho has nearly completed his first season in charge of Manchester United, but has their been any progress? Well United may have won both the Community Shield and EFL Cup this season they still sit 5th in the Premier League table, the same place they finished last season. In fact Louis Van Gaal had a better points return (56) than Mourinho (54) after 29 Premier League games. Performances under Mourinho have been a lot better though, in some ways there have been some classic United performances and the return of last-minute goals something that was never seen under the Dutchman. United are currently on a 23 match unbeaten run in the Premier League but they have drawn half of those games, if 5 of those drawn games had been wins then they would be up with Chelsea and Spurs at the top of the table. So overall if you look at the wider picture you can see that they have progressed in many different ways. You can't ignore the fact that they do have a trophy ...