Randy Lerner has the cash, but will O'Neill spend it wisely enough to turn Villa in to CL contenders? And can they hold onto Captain Fantastic Gareth Barry? 8/10
7. Blackburn Rovers. Mark Hughes' reputation continues to grow by the season. Last season Benni McCarthy cleaned up the "signing of the season" awards; this time round it was Roque Santa Cruz, who added goals galore and fitness to the glimpses of quality he showed at Bayern.
No cup run this time round, and where can Rovers realistically go from here? Bentley and Santa Cruz are already being talked up for summer moves, but the biggest worry for Rovers' fans must surely concern the future of their golden gaffer... Are Blackburn fans the only ones in the country (other than Manchester Utd) who don't want Sir Alex Ferguson to quit? 8.5/10
8. Portsmouth. Our 'Arry has done it again. Pompey fans are in dreamland as they flirt with Europe in the league, and even win at Old Trafford in the Cup.
A strong squad that needs to get stronger still to elongate the glory years, but if Pompey win the FA Cup on Saturday, the fans will have had a memorable season whatever the future holds. How they must be relieved that 'Arry saw the light and turned Newcastle down. 9.5/10
9. Manchester City. A typical City season you might say. Just when it looks like they are on the verge of something special, they go and self-destruct in a manner that only City can.
Is their any truth in the rumour that seats at Eastlands come with free pacemakers?
Sven's agony looks set to continue for a little longer as he takes the team for an end of season tour of Thailand, those ladyboys must look more appetising for him than the planned meeting with mad Thaksin though.
Just close your eyes and think of August to November, City fans: Elano's goals, Petrov's wing wizardry, those were the glory days of Sven's short lived reign... 7.5/10
10. West Ham United. Surely mid-table mediocrity is just what the Hammers needed after last season's mayhem? Well, Alan Curbishley is certainly the man to deliver it, but can he do better?
Maybe we will find out next season if his array of permanently injured signings turn out to be not permanently injured (did he really expect any different from Kieron Dyer and Craig Bellamy?).
The club spent a fortune last summer and might not get that luxury again this time round, and the West Ham fans are not the most forgiving, so it could get a bit tasty at Upton Park in 2009. Even so, this year has been pretty good considering the treatment room has been busier than Terminal Five. 7/10
11. Tottenham Hotspur. What were the odds on Spurs finishing 11th?
An awful league season for a team with pretensions of fourth place when the season kicked off, but at least they had a cup final win, over Chelsea no less, to ease the pain, as well as laughing at Arsenal's demise and hammering them in a cup semi to boot.
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