Premier League season review part four: QPR, Stoke, Sunderland and Swansea
As the dust settles on Manchester City's title win, talkSPORT continues its season review of the highs and lows for each club. This time round it's QPR, Stoke, Sunderland and Swansea.
TEAM: QPR
Final Position: 17th
Player of the season
Jamie Mackie's goals were a big part of getting QPR promoted from the Championship, and this year they were just as big a part of stopping the club from going back down. Mackie's desire to win the ball, positive mentality and seven goals from the wing have been vital for the Super Hoops this season, and his new contract suggests his boss agrees. His absolute determination to get to his head on the ball for his goal against City summed up his season perfectly.
High point
QPR have claimed a few big scalps this season, but three wins against the other three London sides in the Premier League have to go down as something special. A 2-1 home win against Arsenal is probably the pick of the bunch, with the Gunners coming into the tie off the back of a seven-game winning run. Even Arsene Wenger admitted the home team were the better side on the night.
Verdict
QPR were favourites to go down this season and many fans would have taken their final position at the start of the campaign, so the year can be classed as a success. On the other hand, with a change of manager and a couple of big winter signings, Hoops fans could be forgiven for asking for a bit more consistency. Djibril Cisse's love of a red card is a decent excuse for their hiccups in form, though.
TEAM: STOKE
Final Position: 14th
Player of the season
Peter Crouch and Stoke City are a match made in heaven. The towering forward has benefited from Stoke's style of play as much as they have benefited from him and he managed 14 goals in all competitions making him Stoke's top-scorer and THAT strike against Manchester City will have gone some way to earning him Stoke's own player of the year award.
High point
For a team of Stoke's humble stature, managing a decent Premier League campaign alongside a run to the knockout stages of the Europa League is an incredible feat. Stoke claimed points from Besiktas, Dynamo Kiev and Maccabi Tel Aviv to finish second in their group, and their European adventure will be remembered for years to come.
Verdict
Though Stoke's league position is slightly lower than last year, they never looked likely to be in a relegation battle. Tony Pulis has done a brilliant job to maintain their sustainability in the Premier League alongside a European run, and the Britannia has further cemented itself as one of the most feared grounds in the country. When it's wet and windy. On a Wednesday night.
TEAM: SUNDERLAND
Final position: 13th
Player of the season
Stephane Sessegnon's mesmerising displays this season have looked fit for any of the top clubs in the Premier League, so it's no surprise he's excelling at thirteenth-placed Sunderland. His pacey runs from midfield have led some to even go as far as calling him the best talent Sunderland have had in a generation, and big clubs like Arsenal are understandably reported to be interested in acquiring him from the Black Cats. Sunderland will do well to hold on to the little magician.
High point
Martin O'Neill's arrival at the Stadium of Light in December completely rejuvenated Sunderland, and the Irishman took his points total to 13 in six games with an emphatic 4-1 win over Wigan in January. Craig Gardner's 30-yard free-kick was the pick of the four goals, but Nicklas Bendtner bowling through Maynor Figueroa to set up Sessegnon was equally impressive.
Verdict
Sunderland were in 16th when Martin O'Neill replaced Steve Bruce, and when compared to their final placing, the turnaround in the north east doesn't look as dramatic as it truly was. The difference however lies in consistency as under Bruce, Sunderland were unpredictable and capable of imploding as well as causing an upset in equal measure. Under O'Neill, though, the one thing that was guaranteed is that Sunderland proved hard to beat. A decent season given the circumstances, but next year will be the real test.
TEAM: SWANSEA
Final position: 11th
Player of the season
Swansea's success this year has been built on their team mentality, so as a result there are a few candidates for their star performer. Gylfi Sigurdsson stakes a massive claim, with his string of match-winning performances earning attention from Europe's elite, but as far as consistency goes it has to be Michel Vorm. Keeping goals out is vital for a newly-promoted side, and with 13 clean sheets the Dutch stopper has been stellar for the Swans. At the other end of the spectrum, Vorm's ability to play the ball with his feet has been a key cog in Swansea's flowing football, making him more akin to a Spanish keeper than the type usually found in English football.
High point
When the final whistle blew on Swansea's 4-0 defeat to Manchester City in their opening game, few gave them any hope of survival. Come winter and people's tunes had changed, then in January heads really turned when the Swans outplayed Arsenal in a 3-2 victory. Coming from behind after a Robin Van Persie strike put them 1-0 down early on, the club, in typical Swansea fashion, showed the huge self belief and responded when necessary to claim all three points. Arsenal could have done with a few of their players.
Verdict
Out of the three promoted sides Swansea's season has been the most impressive of all. In managing to finish in a respectable 11th place while still staying faithful to their principles, Swansea proved that it's possible to make a mark as a Premier League newcomer without abandoning attacking football. The Swansea effect could yet be felt for years to come, but it will be difficult to replicate for any of next season's promoted teams.
Missed part three, click here to read it and check back on Friday for part five.