Earlier in the season, an image surfaced online showing an inscription on Manchester City’s dressing room wall: “No team has ever won four consecutive Premier League titles… yet.”
Fast forward to the final day of the 2023/24 campaign, and fans at the Etihad witnessed an exhilarating but familiar sight as captain Kyle Walker lifted the Premier League trophy following City’s victory over West Ham United, securing a historic fourth consecutive title.
If there is one word to describe Manchester City since Pep Guardiola’s arrival in 2016, it would be “inevitable.” Despite Mikel Arteta’s high-flying Arsenal setting a club record with 28 league wins, the Citizens edged out their London rivals by two points for the second consecutive campaign.
Coming off a historic treble-winning season, City began their title defence with six consecutive wins before stumbling with back-to-back defeats against Wolves and Arsenal. They then dropped 11 points out of a possible 18 in November and December, falling to 4th place by Christmas.
What followed was a phenomenal stretch that football fans have become accustomed to: City embarked on a 23-game unbeaten run to retain the crown.
Meanwhile, Arsenal’s chances were severely dented by consecutive losses to West Ham and Fulham midway through the season. Despite an impressive second half of the campaign, which saw Arteta’s men win 16 of their last 18 matches, the crucial blow came when Aston Villa defeated the Gunners 2-0 at the Emirates in April.
The 2023–24 season also witnessed a record-breaking 1,246 goals scored, surpassing the previous tally set in 1992–93 by 24 goals.
With this in mind, FLOS takes a closer look at some notable performers, both players and teams, as well as the most underwhelming performers from the recently concluded Premier League season.
FLOS’ Club of the Season — Aston Villa
Perennial champions Manchester City may have rewritten Premier League history in the 2023/24
campaign, beating Arsenal to the title for the second consecutive season, but the remarkable
achievements of Aston Villa this season cannot be overlooked.
Villa were 14th and sinking fast when Unai Emery replaced Steven Gerrard in October 2022. Emery has
since masterminded a remarkable turnaround with some astute signings and a more attacking mindset.
The Spaniard strengthened the squad ahead of the 2023–24 season by bringing in players like Pau
Torres, Moussa Diaby, and Youri Tielemans.
The ‘Villains’, as they are fondly called, also managed to disrupt the traditional ‘big six’ in the league,
cementing themselves in 4th position and guaranteeing a spot in next year’s revamped Champions
League, marking their first appearance in the competition in 41 years.
Villa’s standout player of the season was Ollie Watkins, who spearheaded the attack with 19 goals and 13
assists, earning the Playmaker Award. However, other key contributors to their historic campaign include
World Cup winner Emi Martinez, Douglas Luiz and Leon Bailey.
This impeccable feat by the boys from Villa Park was largely due to their outstanding eight-game winning
run at home from the start of the campaign, which was surprisingly ended by relegated Sheffield United
(1-1) in December.
Although their early momentum faltered towards the end of the season, it provided the platform for their
top-four finish.
FLOS’ Most Underwhelming Team of the Season — Manchester United
A dismal season plagued by comprehensive defeats against better-organized and more motivated teams operating on far smaller budgets has left new owner Jim Ratcliffe facing major challenges.
Manager Erik ten Hag described United as one of the most entertaining sides in the league, and he was right, but only because they were so easy to play against. The team lacked any coherent game plan and often displayed shocking game management, hence the little surprise that this season saw the Red Devils concede the most goals in their Premier League history (58).
An improbable FA Cup final victory over Manchester City would provide some much-needed cheer, and Ratcliffe has already begun the crucial task of restructuring the club’s senior management team.
Dutchman Ten Hag’s time at United seems to be nearing its end, and a ruthless overhaul of the squad is essential before United can even think about returning to challenge for the league, thoughtless of winning the title.
United have undeniably regressed in Ten Hag’s second season in charge: finishing 8th-their lowest position since 1989-90 (13th), and suffering 14 league defeats- their highest total in the Premier League era. Ten Hag did pick up silverware in his first season, and there’s still time for United to do likewise this year, but the lows stand out starkly in memory.
FLOS’ Signing of the Season — Cole Palmer
From a fringe player at Manchester City last season to a standout star in a troubled Chelsea campaign, Cole Palmer’s performances have been nothing short of extraordinary. His stellar displays have transformed him into a senior figure in a dressing room filled with expensively assembled talents. It’s no surprise that his teammates look up to the 22-year-old, who carries himself with the poise, confidence, and grace of a far more experienced player.
Previously not even considered for England’s Euros squad, Palmer’s bold decision to leave City for more game time has paid off spectacularly. He is now a strong contender for Gareth Southgate’s final squad this summer, with discussions already underway about how best to integrate him into the team. When this frail-looking player is on the ball, time seems to slow down, and his four-goal performance against Everton in April showcased the full extent of his abilities. With 22 goals and 11 assists in the Premier League, it’s clear that without his contributions, Chelsea might have flirted with relegation, and Mauricio Pochettino would almost certainly have lost his job as manager even earlier than he did.
*Honourable mentions to Micky Van de Ven (Spurs), Declan Rice (Arsenal) & Alexis MacAllister (Liverpool).
FLOS’ Flop of the Season — Mason Mount
Manchester United clearly didn’t need Mason Mount, a fact evident to many when he made his controversial £55 million transfer from Chelsea last summer.
Mount’s best performances came when he played the No.10 role for Chelsea, where he was tasked with leading their press and had the freedom to express himself on the ball. However, at Man United, Bruno Fernandes occupies a similar position, and predictably, Erik ten Hag has struggled to fit both players into his system.
The Dutchman acquired Mount following his worst-ever season at Chelsea, where he recorded just six goal involvements in his 35 appearances, and he’s looked similarly devoid of confidence at United. Mount made 19 appearances in his first season at Old Trafford, recording just two goal involvements in a season hindered by persistent fitness issues, and his impact in those games has been minimal.
It’s unfortunate to admit, but the truth is that United won’t return to the top with this version of Mount in their squad. The 25-year-old appears to have lost his focus and passion for the game, adding to the myriad problems the club already faces.
*Other nominees: Dominik Szoboszlai (Liverpool), Kalvin Phillips (West Ham) & Ansu Fati (Brighton).
FLOS’ Manager of the Season — Unai Emery
Expectations soared at Villa Park at the season’s outset, especially considering the manager who took over in November 2022 rescued the club from a relegation battle and led them to a seventh-place finish in his first season.
Unai Emery, however, not only met, but exceeded these expectations, excelling beyond them. He guided Villa to their best league finish since 1996, and next season, they will compete in the UEFA Champions League for the first timesince qualifying as winners in 1982-83.
Despite the demanding Sunday-Thursday schedule brought by Europa Conference League football, which included their first European semi-final since 1982, Villa thrived. This achievement is even more impressive considering the squad’s lack of depth for significant rotation, as evidenced by 10 players making 45 appearances or more.
Remarkably, there are no signs of this squad breaking up; in fact, they appear poised to continue their progress. The real challenge may lie in retaining Emery, who has once again become one of the most sought-after managers in Europe.
*Honourable mentions to Andoni Iraiola (AFC Bournemouth), Sean Dyche (Everton) & Mikel Arteta (Arsenal).
FLOS’ Player of the Season — Rodrigo ‘Rodri’ Hernandez
It’s surprising that Manchester City’s metronome wasn’t nominated for the Premier League Player of the Season award, considering another incredible season that saw the Spaniard lift his fourth league title in England. Rodri stood out as the only player in the 2023/24 Premier League with 20+ shots on target, 20+ chances created, 20+ aerial duels won, 20+ fouls won, 20+ take-ons completed, 20+ tackles made, 20+ interceptions, and 20+ clearances. He also scored eight goals and provided nine assists (both career-highs).
Rodri achieved another milestone by becoming just the second player in Premier League history to go 50 consecutive games unbeaten after Sol Campbell (56), highlighting his crucial role for Manchester City and Pep Guardiola. For context, Manchester United have lost 25 matches across all competitions since Rodri last lost a game in a Man City shirt.
Interestingly, Manchester City suffered defeat on four occasions this season, all in matches where the mercurial Spaniard was absent from the field. This statistic highlights his importance to a side that features multiple stars like Phil Foden, Erling Haaland and Kevin de Bruyne.
Although the Premier League may not have recognised Rodri as the standout performer of the season, we at FLOS consider the Villarreal Academy graduate as our player of the season.
*Honourable mentions to Phil Foden (Man City), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa) and Cole Palmer (Chelsea).
FLOS’ Team of the Season
