Everton: thirteenth

McNulty’s pre-season prediction: eleventh

A season that was one in all despair till Sean Dyche’s sacking in January ended filled with hope. The Friedkin Group, bold new American house owners, took cost, and David Moyes returned to encourage an outstanding revival.

Three successive league wins on the finish, together with victories at Fulham and Newcastle United, confirmed the development, however Moyes will nonetheless oversee a significant squad overhaul.

Now it’s off to the magnificent new stadium on the banks of the River Mersey after the boys’s staff bade an emotional farewell to Goodison Park.

An enormous summer season lies forward however Everton’s future seems to be a lot brighter.

What McNulty stated in August: “They’ll want luck with accidents to fulfil this forecast, in addition to one or two extra additions, however I don’t see Everton struggling this season.”

West Ham United: 14th

McNulty’s pre-season prediction: eighth

A joyless season for the Hammers, who had excessive expectations following Julen Lopetegui’s arrival. It proved an ill-fated appointment. He was sacked after solely six months in cost, whereas Graham Potter has been unable to engineer any vital enchancment.

Potter can solely actually be judged as soon as he has put his personal stamp on the squad, with Jarrod Bowen the participant he’ll construct round, however no escaping this has been a determined marketing campaign.

What McNulty stated in August: “Julen Lopetegui has changed David Moyes, whose full value to West Ham United might but grow to be clear within the months forward, and never simply because he received the Europa Convention League.”

Manchester United: fifteenth

McNulty’s pre-season prediction: fifth

The place do you even begin?

When a supervisor, on this case Ruben Amorim, is providing public apologies on the pitch simply six months after his appointment, you get the image of simply what a dreadful state a proud membership is in.

Amorim additionally instructed supporters: “Good days are coming.” There may be little proof of this coming to move on the finish of United’s worst top-flight season since 1973-74.

They had been an utter shambles. On and off the pitch, from the ill-judged (to not point out vastly costly) choice to maintain Erik ten Hag and prolong his contract, then sack him, to the overall lack of affect from successor Amorim after his arrival in November.

A run to the Europa League closing threatened to cowl up gaping cracks, in addition to the rising discontent with part-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, however United reverted to kind with a mind-numbingly unhealthy show in shedding to Tottenham.

A head coach who appears uneasy in his position. A mediocre squad ill-suited to stated coach’s most popular three on the again. Unpopular house owners. Morale on the membership all-time low.

Apart from that…

What McNulty stated in August: “Erik ten Hag remains to be in a job after successful the FA Cup final season however he’s absolutely lifelike sufficient to know he wants begin to cease hypothesis rearing its head once more, even after signing a brand new contract.”

Wolverhampton Wanderers: sixteenth

McNulty’s pre-season prediction: fifteenth

Factors then pints was the mantra of Wolves’ supervisor Vitor Pereira as he talked about sharing a drink with followers – and he bought greater than his share after he changed sacked Gary O’Neil in December once they had been second from backside.

They’d a tame finish to the season, however Pereira introduced new unity, resulting in a revival which included six straight top-flight wins for the primary time since 1970.

Wolves, who’re prone to lose star striker Matheus Cunha to Manchester United, pale as soon as security was assured, however there may be now trigger for cautious optimism below the charismatic Pereira.

What McNulty stated in August: “I feel Wolves can keep away from hazard – and absolutely they are going to get a greater deal from VAR this season.”