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[BBC]
The most significant moment of the season - good or bad - was...
Brentford away. After a run of one win in 13 games, head coach Fabian Hurzeler took a more pragmatic tactical approach, utilised more experienced players and switched Jack Hinshelwood to No 10. A run of five wins in six followed.
The season has been a success or failure because...
The club secured a second successive eighth-place finish in the Premier League and a place in Europe for only the second time in their 125-year history. The promise of a first major trophy was only halted by top-quality Premier League sides Arsenal (League Cup) and Liverpool (FA Cup).
The unsung hero of the season is....
Ferdi Kadioglu. Consistency personified, went about his business with no fanfare or strops. The Turkish international showed why the club paid a big fee for him and he was crucial for his country securing a place at the World Cup via the play-offs.
If there's a player or staff member with more to do in future it is.... because...
Jason Ayto. The new Sporting Director will oversee his first summer window. The club has shown its expertise in this area for countless seasons but he, along with technical director Mickey Cave, will need to refresh the squad to compete on four fronts.
The major club issue or talking point lurking is...
The more experienced players in the squad are getting older. The question is how to utilise them as well as allow younger players to mature without letting it affect results. Roberto de Zerbi told me his biggest long-term challenge was how to replace Pascal Gross (35 in June) and Lewis Dunk (35 in November) in the future. The answer is yet to be found. Back-up for Danny Welbeck (36 in November) is also certainly under the spotlight.
The reason for hope going forward is...
The club has an incredible owner with huge expertise, a chief executive and deputy chairman who is one of the best in his role in world sport, a young hungry head coach with lofty ambitions and a squad rooted in hard work and harmony.
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