As the curtain falls on the Premier League, it is difficult to imagine the 2014/15 season living long in the memory.

Of course, we may look back on it as a breakout year for Harry Kane and all his associated memes.  Future journalists may well be able to point to this very season as Eden Hazard’s arrival to the top tier of world football.  However, for the most part, this season proved to be a little flat.

Once again; Chelsea, Arsenal and the two Manchester sides finished in the top four.  Despite some notable challenges throughout the years, these four sides have finished in the highest echelons of the Premier League three out of five years.

Is the Champions League now a bridge too far for the chasing pack?  What lies beneath in the troubled waters of Europa League qualification?

The top four spots of English football are among the most lucrative in the world.  Few have contested them in recent memory.  In fact, in the decade following Steven Gerrard’s Turkish delight, only six different sides have held such lofty positions.

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The two ‘breakout’ teams have been Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur, a pair of clubs who have 20 league titles between them.  Furthermore, Tottenham did not even play in the Champions League during the 2012/2013 season after a special night in Munich for a certain Mr Drogba & co.

A worrying trend (for the hopefuls) appears to suggest that the only glimmer of hope the chasing pack have is granted to them when one of the established titans goes through a transition.

Ten years ago, it seemed Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool had taken to their thrones as the powerful kings of English football.  That was until the wheels slowly started to come off for Liverpool.  Once proud rulers at home and abroad, the departure of first Xabi Alonso, and then Rafa Benitez left a gaping hole in a structure that once seemed so strong.  They were in transition.  Suddenly, new challengers were ready for battle.

An exciting Tottenham Hostpur side, always on the periphery of such elusive spots, had broken the top four for the first time in four years. A new sense of optimism filled English football.  It could be done!  Tottenham, Everton, Aston Villa rejoice!

Multi millions from Abu Dhabi decking the halls of (what was then) the City of Manchester Stadium crushed such optimism.  After a few (albeit very costly) seasons finding their feet as a financial powerhouse, Manchester City finally bulldozed their way into the promise land.  A successor to Liverpool seemed to be anointed.  The structure was back in place.  Arise, Manchester City.

The following year we witnessed the second transition to be seen in a top four club.  The mighty Chelsea.  The strong Mourinho team that had served the club so well appeared to ageing.  A second special one had been chosen to lead the West London side.  Andre Villas Boas swaggered into the Stamford Bridge halls to usher in a new age for Chelsea.  It did not work.

Tottenham did what they could to pounce, but we all know the events of THAT night at the Allianz Arena.  Ultimately the top four remained the same.

Finally, we had Luiz Suarez Liverpool last year.  The swashbuckling, cavalier approach employed by Brendan Rodgers and embodied by the Uruguayan captivated the Premier League as Manchester United were left reeling under David Moyes.

The post Sir Alex transition was always going to be difficult for United, and Liverpool took full advantage.  Louis Van Gaal appears to have somewhat steadied the ship, though the ride sure was stormy at times, and it will be fascinating to see if they can emerge from this period any more unscathed.

It is hard to imagine a team outside this establishment of order breaking the mould.  Newcastle, Everton and Swansea all dared to dream and the stress of the Europa League brought with it a shattering reality.

So, what will become of the vibrant Southampton team that captured the hearts of many neutrals on their march up the league last season?  Following a fire sale and predicted relegation, Ronald Koeman’s stylish South Coast outfit qualified for the Europa League.  Rightly, fans are delighted.

However, a curse appears to bewitch those who finish just below the promise land.  So much so, towards the end of the season the idea of a team performing badly in an effort to miss out on Europa League qualification reared its head.  Now, whether this is true or not is almost beside the point – it screams volumes about the feeling towards Europe’s second tier.

Teams that have come close to breaking the glass ceiling of the Premier League have become so effected by its gruelling schedule and strain on resources, the gap has become even greater.  Is this truly the reward for ambition?

Unless we see a Manchester City type investment or a post Arsene Wenger nose dive from Arsenal, the Premier League season may continue in the same rather dull fashion as 2014/15.

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