A New Year's Resolution for every Premier League club 🎱 | OneFootball

It’s that time again! A new year is upon us and resolutions are being made. Some will be kept, and most will not.

But what should every Premier League club be planning on achieving in 2024?

Arsenal

For all of Arsenal’s obvious progress under Mikel Arteta in the last 18 months, they have not won a trophy since his maiden campaign (2019/20).

That needs to change in the coming year, with the Gunners well placed for a push across the Premier League, the Champions League and the FA Cup.

The first two are clearly the priority but it would be foolish to disregard the latter, particularly in light of ending up empty-handed last season after putting all their eggs in the title push basket.

Aston Villa

Villa head into the New Year with the world at their feet and their ambitions seemingly endless.

Champions League qualification seems like the most realistic goal domestically though, and one that could really send Unai Emery’s revolution into a different stratosphere.

A trophy would be nice too, however. It’s a good time to be a Villain.

Bournemouth

Andoni Iraola’s reign at Bournemouth has truly kicked into gear of late after a trying start. At the centre of everything good has been Dominic Solanke, who the Cherries just have to keep a hold of this year – especially since both Arsenal and Chelsea are in need of a striker.

The 26-year-old has been one of the best performing strikers in the Premier League this season – he has 12 goals already, more than he had managed in his entire top-flight career prior.

Brentford

Speaking of strikers, Ivan Toney will make his long-awaited return to the game in mid-January after serving an eight-month ban for breaches of Premier League betting rules.

All things considered, Brentford have fared reasonably well in his absence, finding themselves nicely nestled in mid-table and not in any current danger of relegation. But they have missed their main man, who they have to hope can return to form and not depart for pastures new this year.

Brighton & Hove Albion

From star players to star managers comes Brighton’s 2024 resolution.

Roberto De Zerbi has done a truly brilliant job, continuing Graham Potter’s work and then bettering it, despite losing key players to bigger clubs. That hopefully will not be the case again for the Seagulls in the summer, with several big clubs likely to be hovering around the Italian.

Burnley

It would take a brave man to bet against Burnley making an automatic return to the Championship this year, but the Clarets simply have to give themselves a fighting chance in the January transfer window.

Vincent Kompany did a brilliant job last season, changing the team’s style of play and storming to promotion, but it has not been the same back in the big time. Their lack of nous and experience must be remedied in January.

Chelsea

It’s a now-derided phrase but Chelsea really need to “trust the process” this year, chiefly with their manager Mauricio Pochettino.

Todd Boehly and co. have already sacked two managers in their first 18 months at Stamford Bridge, and must now realise that you cannot simply spend your way to success. A proper structure is needed at all levels of the club.

Crystal Palace

The end of the season will see Roy Hodgson depart Selhurst Park for a second time and retire from the game as a whole.

This surely will mark the start of a new era in south London, with a new plan in place for growth as a club. That must include a forward-thinking managerial appointment – maybe Steve Cooper?

Everton

It cannot be overstated just how amazing a job Sean Dyche has done at Goodison Park in 2023, and now is the time to back him to the hilt, which of course is dependent on a resolution to the ownership situation.

He is pound-for-pound as solid as it gets in the league, as seen previously with Burnley, but he deserves the opportunity to flex his muscles in the transfer market and kick on with Everton.

Fulham

Marco Silva has moved past a tricky start to the season to have Fulham nicely nestled in mid-table and almost certainly safe from a relegation battle.

So, maybe it is time to push the boat out a bit further in 2024 and make a first final since 2010 and just a third in the club’s long history? The Cottagers find themselves only a two-legged tie with Liverpool away from their first-ever League Cup final.

Liverpool

Speaking of Liverpool, Jürgen Klopp’s side head into the new year well-positioned on all fronts and surely lifting at least one trophy is mandatory at this point for 2024.

A 20th league title is, of course, the dream but stiff competition from Manchester City and Arsenal might see the Reds squeezed out, particularly with Mohamed Salah set to miss several games due to the African Cup of Nations.

The FA Cup is there too but a Europa League win in Dublin would be far more romantic.

Luton Town

Not even the most biased Hatters fan would have predicted survival back in August but they have given themselves more than a puncher’s chance, sitting in touching distance of safety with a game in-hand.

Rob Edwards and his side just need to keep on keeping on, and see what happens come May. Defeating Manchester United at Kenilworth Road would be a nice bonus too.

Manchester City

At this point, it’s becoming a groundhog day of sorts. Manchester City stumble, finding themselves slightly off the pace at the turn of the year before going on one of those runs and lifting the Premier League trophy in May.

Will it happen again this time around? Well, the first part has already been “achieved” by Pep Guardiola and his men.

With the Club World Cup already secured, will City do what City often do in 2024?

Manchester United

On the other side of Manchester, any hope of a title push is already well beyond reach even at the halfway point of the season.

It has been a season from hell for United, but a semblance of hope came on Christmas Eve when Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS’ 25% ownership agreement was finally announced. It brings an end to a 13-month “strategic review” and could signal the beginning of the end for the Glazers’ rule after 19 years at Old Trafford.

Patience will be needed, but as a new year begins, it must mark the start of a new era for the fallen giants.

Newcastle United

Newcastle enter the new year under a bit of a dark cloud, such has been their terrible form in the final month of 2023.

Injuries have, of course, been a mitigating factor, but it is only so much of an excuse for Eddie Howe, particularly with his Saudi bosses looking to establish the Magpies as a top side both at home and abroad.

A proper run at the FA Cup is the only feasible aim left, and is one Howe needs to grasp if he is to ensure his position for next season. It is also something the fan base are crying out for, given the lack of trophies in near-70 years at this point.

Nottingham Forest

Owner Evangelos Marinakis may have grand plans of returning Nottingham Forest to their late-1970s to early-1980s heyday, but for now and for 2024, survival is the only aim.

Nuno Espírito Santo has been brought in to replace the much-loved Steve Cooper, and his reign got off to a good start, with a stunning 3-1 win at Newcastle following an unlucky loss against Bournemouth.

After 23 years away from the top-flight prior to promotion in 2022, it would be a huge shame were they to drop down again after just two seasons.

Sheffield United

Chris Wilder made his return to Bramall Lane with survival in mind, but any hopes of Sheffield United playing Premier League football in August 2024 already appear doomed.

Their struggles this season are hardly surprising: they spent the least of any side in the league and sold their two best players, one of them, Sander Berge, to fellow promoted side Burnley. The writing was on the wall before a ball was kicked.

All of their issues go back to the owner Prince Abdullah, who has been looking to sell the club for much of the last 12 months. That needs to be resolved urgently.

Tottenham Hotspur

Ange Postecoglou has been a breath of fresh air since arriving at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last summer, bringing an air of positivity to a club in desperate need of some after several miserable years.

Despite numerous injuries of late and the impending loss of players to the African Cup of Nations and Asian Cup, Spurs are well-positioned for Champions League qualification. Their lack of European football this time around should aid that.

However, do fans want another top four/five finish or a first trophy in 16 years? Both are achievable but Postecoglou would be wise to go all in on the FA Cup.

West Ham United

2024 could be another special year for West Ham, with the Irons set for more cup adventures.

The loss of Declan Rice has not slowed the side down, with the money spent on Ajax pair Mohammed Kudus and Edson Álvarez more than making up for the loss of their captain. Jarrod Bowen has also been exceptional.

They are right in the hunt for European spots in the league but the fans would no doubt swap that for another night like they had in Prague last June – either in the Europa League or FA Cup.

Wolves

When the season started, many tipped Wolves to go down, with the club in disarray following the exit of Julen Lopetegui a week prior to kick-off and the sale of many key players.

Instead, Gary O’Neil has performed wonders like he did last season with Bournemouth, having his side pushing towards the top half and improving numerous players, most notably Hwang Hee-chan. He must now be backed in the market, once FFP concerns have been lessened though.