Yes, it took a three-month break for Villa to become defensively solid, to realise they could not go toe-to-toe with every opponent, to open games up and get carved apart, but Dean Smith should be credited for opting for a style of play he is relatively unfamiliar with.
The challenge for Smith is take his learnings into next season, with or without Jack Grealish, and if he gets the chance deep into next season. Smith's future may look stable having achieved his aim of keeping Villa in the division, but don't rule out the club looking elsewhere for a new head coach if they struggle in the first few months of the 2020/21 campaign.
Context is everything and over the course of a season which has lasted almost an entire year, it is worth remembering the expectations on Frank Lampard when he took charge of Chelsea at the start of just his second season as a manager. With Eden Hazard sold, a transfer ban and a remit to work with the club's young talent this was seen as a season of transition.
Along the way there have been slip-ups and big defeats which have underlined the major work required to transform Chelsea back into title contenders. Inconsistent form and repeated errors in defence have highlighted the need for players from outside of the club to be added to what they already have.
But ultimately their two-goal hit just before half-time against Wolves has seen them seal a top-four finish and the bonus of Saturday's FA Cup final with Arsenal makes this a successful season for Lampard and Chelsea. With Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech signed and their Champions League status set to make acquisitions of the required defensive personnel easier, Chelsea now have a strong platform to kick on again.
Although he would never dream of making the narrative about himself, there was a twinkle in the eye of the United boss. This very writer said United had hit a new all-time low when losing 2-0 to Burnley in January - but that seems an age ago now. Solskjaer knew this third-place finish was a vindication of his methods as they head into next season unbeaten in their last 17 Premier League matches.
Bournemouth scored 56 goals last season, but they managed just 40 this time around. A lack of goals, a crippling injury list, contractual issues with Ryan Fraser and an abysmal away record all contributed to their sad demise.
Jamie Carragher told Sky Sports: "From set-pieces, they're the best in the league. Scoring from these scenarios is very innovative and they've been good from set-pieces throughout the five years in the Premier League.
The Premier League title is long gone, Manchester City's abject title defence is at an end, but, while Liverpool were confirmed as the best team in England, the argument that Pep Guardiola's team play the best football remains.
Proving that is the challenge placed in front of Manchester City now, as focus shifts quickly on to the culmination of the Champions League, with four games in August standing between them, that elusive prize and European immortality.
Brendan Rodgers and Jamie Vardy towed the party line in the aftermath of missing out on the Champions League, praising the achievement of the club for their second highest finish in the top flight for 57 years. But deep down they will be cursing.