EPL Season Recap

With the world soccer season coming to a close, and the World Cup coming up, we're going to dramatically increase our soccer coverage here at Randall Simon's Sausages. Every day during the World Cup, we'll provide thoughts and analysis of the day's games. We'll also have a monumental preview of the world's greatest sporting event at the end of the month. But, first, let's look back on the season that was in the beautiful game. First up, an EPL season recap.

Let's take a look at our predictions for the 2009-2010 season and how we fared. Our picks are first in black, and the real standings in green.

20. Burnley Portsmouth 19 pts

19. Portsmouth Hull 30

18. Birmingham Burnley 30

17. Wigan West Ham 35

16. Bolton Wigan 36

15. Hull City Wolves 38

14. Blackburn Bolton 39

13. West Ham Sunderland 44

12. Stoke City Fulham 46

11. Wolves Stoke 47

10. Sunderland Blackburn 50

9. Fulham Birmingham 50

8. Everton Everton 61

7. Arsenal Liverpool 63

6. Aston Villa Villa 64

5. Tottenham Man City 67

4. Man City Spurs 70

3. Man Utd Arsenal 75

2. Liverpool Man Utd 85

1. Chelsea Chelsea 86

We nailed the title winner and 2 of the 3 relegation spots, as well as Villa/Spurs/City beginning to crack the Top 4 stronghold. Of course, we had some glorious misses as well - like Liverpool being the fallen giant instead of Arsenal and Birmingham finishing in the Top 10 when we had them back in the Championship. But, as for our incredibly low standards of predicting goes... it deserves an A! So what were the moments and stories that defined the EPL season? Let's hand out some Yoder Awards!

Best Transfer - Arsenal gets Thomas Vermaelen for 12 Million Euros

-Arsenal shored up a big hole in the center of defense after selling Kolo Toure to Man City and found one of the best EPL defenders this season. Vermaelen was solid at the back and dangerous at set pieces. He was one of the main cogs in an Arsenal team that a lot of folks (including us) thought was going to take a step back this season.

Worst Transfer - Liverpool sells their soul... and Xabi Alonso

-When Liverpool sold Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid before the season started, they sold the most important player on the team not named Gerrard or Torres. Alonso's presence as a passing holding midfielder allowed Gerrard and Torres to do their magic up front last season. Nevertheless, Rafa relented and let him go to Madrid. What followed was a gaping hole in the middle of the team for Liverpool that was never fixed. Lucas, Aquilani, and any number of players tried to fill the role but failed. In the end, this move led to the domino effect that was Liverpool's disastrous season.

Best Loan Move - Landon Donovan & Everton

-It wasn't so much that Donovan put up gaudy numbers in Everton, but he was able to break the stigma that elite American players couldn't play at an elite level in Europe. Yes, Clint Dempsey and Tim Howard and Michael Bradley play important parts for their teams - but many in Europe don't believe the USA's best can be Europe's best. Donovan had failed at Bayern Munich and needed to perform well at Everton for his legacy and the legacy of the American soccer star. He did just that. By the end of his 10 week loan spell, fans were singing his name in tribute, and Everton was back in the top 10 of the EPL.

Biggest Surprise - Fulham's Europa Run

-Fulham's march through Europe, including an amazing 4-1 win at Craven Cottage to get past Juventus, was the surprise of the season. They beat much more storied and talented teams in reaching the final, before putting up a valiant effort and losing to Atletico Madrid. It showed the world that England is more than a 4-7 team league.

Biggest Disappointment - Any and every thing Liverpool

-A year after they lost only 2 games and finished in 2nd... Liverpool lost 11 games and finished way back in 7th. It was a shockingly poor season from the Reds. In truth, nothing worked the way it was supposed to: more injuries to Torres, injuries and a lack of form from Gerrard, Riera falling off the planet, Lucas still sucking, Carragher aging (good luck in South Africa), Aquilani sitting, boardroom melodrama, and a defiant manager who has lost the plot. Maybe falling out of the Champions League is the wake-up call Liverpool needs to blow it up and start over. It can't get much worse than this season.

Best Player - Didier Drogba

-Wayne Rooney earned most of the plaudits all season long, but it was a return to the elite level by Didier Drogba that returned Chelsea to the top of the table. He led the league with 29 goals and even slotted in the game-winner in the FA Cup.

Best Team - Tottenham Hotspur

-Spurs were perhaps the less fancied of the Villa/Man City/Spurs triumvirate to break into the Top 4. But, Harry Redknapp put together quite the team and made all of the right moves (even offloading an ineffective Robbie Keane) in getting into position to get 4th. It all came together in the penultimate game of the season when they went to Eastlands and beat Man City on a Peter Crouch header. The way this team is built, they could be playing CL football for a long time to come.

Best Rumor - Chelsea Wants Torres, Really Reallly Reallllly Bad

-In news just coming today, Chelsea may be willing to give Liverpool 40 million, plus 3 players in exchange for Fernando Torres. Now, don't get me wrong, I love Torres and Liverpool... but some offers are just too good to pass up. Imagine getting Anelka, Kalou, and perhaps John Obi Mikel PLUS more money to spend for an awesome player who is injury-prone. This would be the equivalent of the Herschel Walker trade many years ago. Yes, it helped the Vikings in the short term, but gave the Cowboys the tools to build a consistent champion. Maybe it could do the same for Liverpool. As they say overseas, watch this space.

Best Scandal - The Terry-Bridge Affair

-This one is pretty much a no-brainer. John Terry became the worldwide villain of many and Wayne Bridge was willing to turn down a place in South Africa because JT got busy w/ Bridge's babymama. Only in England. At least Terry had Tiger Woods to thank for removing him from the adulterous athlete spotlight.

Best Peaceful Non-Violent Resistance - The Green & Gold Campaign

-The campaign of the Red Knights, bringing green and gold (old Man U colors) gear to Old Trafford and rounding up support to oust the Glazers, shows what a united group of supporters are capable of doing. Their protests showed the world that they were unhappy with the club being saddled with debt and want to do something about it... too bad it probably won't make the impact that they want.

Best Game - Man Utd 4 Man City 3

-All the way back in September, these two Manchester rivals played one of the great games in EPL history. They went back and forth throughout the day until Michael Owen's winner in stoppage time. The game showed both teams would be contenders throughout the season. Here's the highlights...

Defining Moment - Chelsea Scores 8 With The Title On The Line

-Going into the final game of the season, Chelsea needed to beat Wigan to ensure the title. Not only did they beat Wigan, they demolished them. They won 8-0 winning the EPL Championship and setting a new mark for goals scored in a season.

We'll be back later this week with a look at the continental season in European soccer, and a preview of the Champions League Final between Bayern Munich and Inter Milan. Bye for now!