Domestic Season Round-Up 2022/23

The 2022/23 English domestic football season has finally come to a close. With the unusual winter World Cup in the middle of it, it does feel like a long time ago that Crystal Palace and Arsenal kicked the top flight season off, back on August 5th.

380 Premier League matches later, it’s all over, and what a season it was. Few would have predicted back then how the season would shape up. Arsenal were top of the league for an incredible 248 days, but as Manchester City proved, that counts for nothing unless you’re in first place when the last ball is kicked. The relentless City machine ploughed through the second half of the season, and as Arsenal tired they were ready and waiting to march away with their third
consecutive title.

The addition of Erling Haaland to an already incredible squad paid off handsomely, as City brushed off the competition to win the Premier League.

Big Team Disappointments and Relegation

Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham were widely expected to challenge at the top of the Premier League this year, but all of them failed to qualify for the Champions League, with City joined in the competition by Arsenal, Manchester United and Newcastle – who have been a revelation under Eddie Howe and their Saudi owners. At the bottom, Southampton looked doomed before a ball was kicked in Qatar, and were joined on the final day of the season by former Premier League Champions Leicester, and the disappointing Leeds United. All of these teams changed managers during the season – twice in the case of Southampton and Leicester, a lack of continuity which no doubt contributed to their fate. Over the season, a record 14 managers were sacked by their Premier League clubs, an incredible stat which illustrates the insatiable lust for success.

Successfully Promoted Teams

Replacing the relegated clubs in the top flight are Burnley – led by former Manchester City skipper Vincent Kompany, Sheffield United, and lowly Luton Town – who were playing non-league football less than a decade ago. Luton will most likely be the bookmakers’ favourite for relegation next season, but as Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth and Fulham proved this season, there is no such thing as an inevitability in football. And if we know anything about the beautiful game, it’s that visiting a small, traditional old stadium like Kenilworth Road is not something every player will
relish.

Transfer Speculation for Next Season

The ramifications of what happened at the top and bottom of the table will inevitably lead to an intriguing transfer window, with players like James Maddison, Harvey Barnes and James Ward-Prowse likely to attract plenty of suitors. Declan Rice will surely move on from West Ham, along with Brighton’s World Cup winner Alexis MacAllister, and his teammate Moises Caicedo. Other big names could also be on the move – will Harry Kane leave Spurs in pursuit of silverware? Could he end up at Manchester United with Chelsea’s Mason Mount? And could United skipper Harry
Maguire be on his way out of Old Trafford? What plans will new Chelsea coach Mauricio Pochettino have for the belated squad he has inherited?

We won’t have to wait long to find out – the transfer window opens on June 14th, and runs to September 1st, but expect some of the big deals to go through earlier rather than later in the window as clubs prepare for the challenges of next season. Newcastle and Brighton in particular will be looking to add depth to their squads ahead of demanding European campaigns alongside their Premier League matches.

Lots to look forward to in the 23/24 Season

Here at Circuit Hospitality, we’re already working hard, making plans to bring you the very best hospitality experiences for next season – which will include elite Premier League packages, As soon as fixtures are released, you’ll be able to find what you’re looking for on our website, or give us a call on 01454 201210 and we’ll be delighted to help you make plans. In the meantime, enjoy your summer, and we look forward to hearing from you as the 2023/24 season approaches.

CONTACT THE TEAM

Give Us a call on 01454 201210 or email enquiries@circuithospitality.com to see how we can help you.