ASTON VILLA
 Position: 11th

Points: 50

Perhaps the biggest signing of Aston Villa’s season has to be that of Martin O’Neill. The inspirational Northern Irishman has brought a renewed freshness and zest in the club and players after the stagnation of previous boss David O’Leary. With captain Olof Mellberg and Gareth Barry revealing their renewed desire to continue playing for the club under O’Neill at the start of the season, whereas they were on the verge of leaving last season had O’Leary’s tenure gone on, O’Neill is definitely running a happy ship right now at Villa Park.

The takeover from U.S. billionaire Randy Lerner at the start of season 2006-07 helped to finance buys like big John Carew from Lyon and record signing Ashley Young from Watford. This addition of class to Villa’s much-maligned strike force (or lack of it) led to the Villains (as Villa are affectionately known as) finding form in the second half of the season, finishing strongly with a 9-match unbeaten run which saw them just miss out on a European this season, finishing 6 points behind 7th-placed Bolton, but considering this was a season of rebuilding and getting rid of the old wood like a certain Juan Pablo Angel (who crossed the Atlantic and signed for Major League Soccer (MLS)Red Bull New York), this season has just about met with the fans’ expectations.

O’Neill has restored the balance in the team with both pace and guile available in the midfield through Stilian Petrov and exciting whiz kid Gabriel Agbonlahor respectively.

Add that to the fact that the full complement of classy finishing talent in Carew, Young and Luke Moore will be available from the start next season, plus a full pre-season ahead for O’Neill to work with his purchases especially with Lerner’s cash, Villa fans should not be too demanding in asking for a Uefa Cup spot next season.

BLACKBURN
Position: 10th

Points: 52

In Blackburn Rovers’ case, they actually did qualify it to Europe next season. However they’ll have to do it through the Intertoto Cup. Mark Hughes’ men just failed to qualify for Europe through the bread-and-butter of league football, despite a late 6-match unbeaten run.

The main gripe with Hughes’ side this season has been inconsistency, which was attributable to their Uefa Cup commitments.

Unfashionable they may be, but in Benni McCarthy, Hughes may just have unearthed a diamond, especially when you take into consideration the South African’s 24 goals in total this season.

The Welshman’s team continues to mix talent with grit, steel and pure determination. Grafters like the Ryan Nelsen, Aaron Mokoena and Brett Emerton are complemented nicely by the guile of old Turkish warhorse Tugay and the ever-present ‘irritant’ (in opposing midfielders’ eyes, that is) Robbie Savage.

In terms of attacking options, Hughes has a few hugely underrated players at his disposal. The Norwegian Morten Gamst Pedersen has plenty of guile and pace in abundance, and as if that wasn’t enough, a wicked left foot. 21-year-old youngster Matt Derbyshire’s tally of 5 league goals bodes well for the future in his first full season in the team. Arsenal reject, David Bentley, another English youngster, has blossomed under Hughes, and looks set to replace David Beckham in the England set-up.

With rumours that the Big Four are already sniffing around McCarthy, as well as the irrepressible Pedersen, Hughes vehement claims that Blackburn are “not a selling club” are actually food for thought.

PORTSMOUTH
Position: 9th

Points: 54

From 17th place in the league at the end of last season to 9th position at the end of May 2007—Portsmouth’s revival this season has been nothing sort of spectacular. And most of it can be attributed to Harry Redknapp.

Performing shrewdly in the transfer market last Aug, the wily dealer brought in Arsenal old wood Sol Campbell and Nwankwo Kanu, as well as Croatian World Cup playmaker Niko Kranjcar from Croatian side Hajduk Split for a record £3.5 million.

Thumping wins at the start of the season, 3-0 at home to Blackburn and 4-0 away at Middlesbrough delighted the Pompey faithful, as well as the record of being the last Premier League side to concede, with 5 consecutive clean sheets at the start of the season before falling at home to a Kevin Nolan goal at the end of Sep. With the gangly yet always entertaining Kanu conjuring up some magic to defy the critics that said he was past it, Portsmouth surged up the table and were well in the European places till the turn of the year.

Even though Portsmouth did eventually fall off their paces in the second half of the season, any place above 17th place was always going to be an improvement. It’s not to say that Portsmouth’s season descended into an anticlimax though. The form of Matt Taylor was the main highlight, as stunning goals against Everton and Arsenal left the regular “Goal of the Week” show viewers drooling for more. The left-sided midfielder rifled in another 3 goals in 3 games in mid-Apr against Man United, Watford and Newcastle to leave many Pompey fans clamouring for his inclusion in the full England squad.

READING
 Position: 8th

Points: 55

If Portsmouth’s improvement this season was spectacular, then Championship winners Reading’s success must be out of this world.

Even before the season started, the critics were out in full force, casting predictions of doom thanks to Steve Coppell’s faith with the same squad that won him promotion to the Premiership. With only new signing South Korean star Seol Ki-Hyeon, and utility men John Oster and Ulises de la Cruz boasting any Premiership experience.

Salvation came in the form of 2 young strikers from lesser leagues. With a combined total of 20 goals in the league, the Irish hitman Kevin Doyle was a revelation in the Royals’ attack, hitting 12 goals in the Premiership with his refreshing blend of pace, off-the-ball running and clinical goal poaching abilities. The other striker, Leroy Lita, an ex-England U-21 international, also showed little sign of nerves with a respectable 8-goal haul in his first ever season in the top flight.

The attacking duo’s caused was helped in no small way by the supply line, which wasn’t exactly chock-full of household names. Stephen Hunt, another Irish international, provided the Royals with tenacity, grit and a lethal left foot to swing in the crosses from Reading’s left flank. Midfield general Steve Sidwell, brought ferocity to the midfield, along with numerous assists and 4 goals from midfield.

Reading’s remarkable success this season has been well-deserved, with each player who stepped on the pitch giving no less than 110% commitment. However, there remains the burning question: Can the Royals maintain their fairy-tale story for a second season? Experience shows that it is in their sophomore season that newly-promoted sides find the going is not all rosy and sweet; just ask Wigan, Ipswich, and most notably, West Ham.

Keeping more or less the same core of players is crucial. The most important factor however, has to be keeping Coppell himself at the Madejski Stadium. If Coppell remains at the club next season, they could be the biggest overachievers yet again.