Season Review (Team by Team)

Liverpool FC

How they finished: League: Champions
DFA Cup: Champions

High point(s): League and Cup champions in convincing style. Stood top of the table after day one, and never looked in any danger of being moved.

Low point(s): Slim pickings here, surely must be the sole blemish on their campaign, the 3-2 loss to Ronal- er, Man U.

Top performer(s): Bountiful pickings here, however, League & Cup Top Scorer: Fernando Torres. DFA Player of the Season: Steven Gerrard. DFA Golden Gloves Winner: Jose Reina.

Disappointment(s): No one player in particular, only the singular loss can be chosen.

Manager review: A+. A clean sweep of all available trophies brings three more pieces of silverware to Liam Pruitt's cabinet. Odds on favorite to bring home the treble again next season. With these convincing results, who could bet against him?


AS Roma

How they finished: League: Runner-up
DFA Cup: 3rd

High point(s): 8-1 thrashing of Barcelona announced Roma's (and Totti's) ruthless intentions this season.

Low point(s): Losing the Hall A derby is one thing but to do so because of two trouncings is another thing entirely. "Pulling plug" mid-match was perhaps the least sporting moment in GIMP history.

Top performer(s): Francesco Totti, as if you didn't know.

Disappointment(s): Totti's failure to bring home any plaudits, individual or otherwise, will surely stick in the wolves' collective craws. Beyond that superficiality, the Romans performed brilliantly.

Manager review: B-. League Runner-up, 3rd in the Cup, not a bad showing by any means; but failure to mount a serious title challenge, offensive singularity, and most importantly pulling the plug, deduct from the potentially high marks.


Manchester United

How they finished: League: 3rd
DFA Cup: Eliminated first round

High point(s): Comfortably securing a top-half finish before season's end surely must have felt good to a club written off in preseason.

Low point(s): A disappointingly early cup exit to a bitter rival.

Top performer(s): Wayne Rooney, club top scorer.

Disappointment(s): Carlos Tevez. Normally integral, failed to find consistent playing time for the red devils this season.

Manager review: A-. Suprised everyone with his quality, and perhaps the early cup exit allowed his quality season form to continue unhindered.


AC Milan

How they finished: League: 4th
DFA Cup: Eliminated first round

High point(s): Brilliant final third to prevent a basement finish.

Low point(s): Rubbish first two thirds to set up a potential basement finish. Melodramatic mid-season retirement announcement.

Top performer(s): Kaka, club top scorer.

Disappointment(s): Ronaldinho, 0 goals, 0 MotM.

Manager review: C. Grossly underperformed, but could have been much worse.


Chelsea FC

How they finished: League: 5th
DFA Cup: Runner-up

High point(s): Arriving at Wembley for the DFA Cup Final. Taking the Hall A derby in some style.

Low point(s): Everything else. The 2-1 loss to Barcelona at season's end that placed Chelsea one point from rock bottom.

Top performer(s): Didier Drogba, club top scorer. Michael Essien, DFA Cup top performer. Michael Ballack, club top performer.

Disappointment(s): Frank Lampard, 0 MotM, 2 goals. John Terry, 2 yellow cards, 1 red card, 0 MotM.

Manager review: D-. For a manager with so much (albeit, self-manufactured) hype, there was rarely a glimmer of hope for any sort of glory at Stamford Bridge this season. "Sir" David lacked the composure, tactical nous, and most importantly bollocks to succeed on the pitch. A decent cup run is the only thing that spared him the indignity of an outright 'F'.


FC Barcelona

How they finished: League: 6th
DFA Cup: Eliminated first round

High point(s): Wins against Chelsea, Milan, and Man U.

Low point(s): Where to begin...

Top performer(s): Eto'o, hands down.

Disappointment(s): Messi, 3 goals, 0 MotM.

Manager review: C. The cookie, but no one expected him to be a world beater. Found a bit of form late, just ask Chelsea.