Arsenal
Last year: 4th
Gunners In: Gervinho, Carl Jenkinson, Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain
Gunners Out: Gael Clichy, Denilson (loan), Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, Mark Randall, Roarie Deacon, Wellington Silva (loan), Kyle Bartley (loan), Cesc Fabregas
6 - The Torah describes the creation of the universe as a six part, six day, process.
6 - The Sixth Commandment is Thou Shalt not Kill
6 - The number of years the Gunners have not won a trophy (no, the Emirates Cup doesn't count).
Ironic, when you consider that perhaps the most iconic number 6 to have graced the Premier League is Tony Adams, Arsenal Legend.
The Wenga Boys have come close to a trophy though,
1. CL final against Barcelona 2006
2. Carling Cup final against Birmingham 2010
There in lies the secret for Arsenal to prompt a return to the glory years. A fruitful cup run. And the Arsenal sides will always have a chance at the FA and Carling Cup, and if they don't face Barcelona the CL (well, if nobody faces the Catalan Giants, they will have a chance at the CL. Except maybe Stoke City :p).
Having said that, doubt Arsenal at your own risk as Premier League contenders. For the last two years, Arsenal have been in the Top 2 until February. If they get over the jinx of that month, Arsenal might just take it.
However, with Nasri and Fabregas gone, the Gunners lack a guy who can break the opposition easily or run the game. It is a huge year for both Ramsey and Wilshere. 7th trophy less year ahead? Yes. But only as far as the Premier League Trophy is concerned. (before you Gunners hate on me, remember the 6th commandment!).
Prediction: 5th.
Aston Villa
Last Year: 9th
Villains In: Shay Given, Charles N'zogbia
Villains Out: Ashley Young, Steward Downing and Brad Friedel, Nigel Reo-Corker, John Carew and Robert Pires (all free)
The Midland club probably had their strangest season in last years Premier League. Martin O'Neill quit. Gerard Houllier was instantly signed on, sparking excitement with the fans. Stephen Ireland came, saw and vanished to Newcastle. The same fans that were loving Houllier for home wins against City and Liverpool, and draws with Chelsea and United, were calling for his head as the Villains openly flirted with relegation.
Cue heart problems, and a slow rise in the absence of their French Manager, they ended up at a respectable 9th position. Having said that, they amassed only 9 points more than Birmingham City, their arch rivals, who finished 18th and were relegated. The season has finished, and you would think the confusion of Villa fans was over.
But Randy Lerner was not to let that happen. In comes Alex Mcleish, who, last year, guided Birmingham City (aka Arch Rivals) to the Championship as well as the Carling Cup. Football, as wierd as it gets!
The fans have booed consistently since Mcleish has arrived, and if pre-season results are anything to go by (2 wins, 2 losses - including one to lowly Derby - and a draw) aren't sitting well with the fans. Added to that, Ashley Young's departure and Stephen Ireland getting the famous No. 7 worn by Young, even though the tricky Charles N'Zogbia was signed and he plays more like a no. 7, the bizarre and the confusing continues at Trinity Road.
Prediction:11th
Blackburn Rovers
Last Year: 15th
Rovers In: David Goodwillie, Myles Anderson, Radosav Petrovic
Rovers Out: Phil Jones, Frank Fielding, Jake Kean, Michael Potts (free), Zurab Khizanishvili (free)
Blackburn can take comfort in the fact that as of now, they are No. 3, because that's the highest they will ever be. Under new owners for their first full season, the Rovers are a club that will do a few peek-a-boos with relegation this year. They were going to be the first Premier League outfit to grace India in the pre-season, however that got derailed, much like their season last year.
However, they couldn't have asked for a better start to the season. Ewood Park was some sort of a fortress a while back and that feel returned to the end of last year. The Lancashire outfit will be content with the fact that they face tough teams like Arsenal, Manchester City and Tottenham at home by the end of October and only travel to Chelsea and Manchester United later on.
If they can tackle these fixtures and win a couple and maybe draw a couple, they might save themselves from relegation by December itself. Blackburn are going to remain in the bottom half of the table. Bottom 3? Maybe not.
Prediction: 16th
Bolton Wanderers
Last Year: 14th
Trotters in: Darren Pratley, Nigel Reo-Coker, Chris Eagles and Tyrone Mears
Trotters out: Ali Al-Habsi, Matt Taylor, Danny Ward , Joey O'Brien (free), Johan Elmander (free), Tamir Cohen (free)
Bolton have been a joy to watch under manager Owen Coyle, quite unlike how they were under predecessors Gary Megson and Sam Allardyce. They are the guaranteed mid-table club, and will be happy with the fact that they were only outscored by 3 teams in the bottom half of the table. One of those teams was relegated of course (Blackpool).
While this stat is not impressive, I point this out because, 18 of Bolton's 52 goals last year were scored by Johan Elmander and Daniel Sturridge, both of whom are not with the club anymore.
And a strike force of Ivan Klasnic (31), Kevin Davies (34), Tope Obadeyi (21 and played only thrice in 2008, out on loan since) and Tom Eaves (19, uncapped) will hardly strike fear into the defenses of any of the other 19 teams in the premier league. Ivan Klasnic didn't start a single game for Bolton in the Premier League last year and all his 4 goals came from his 22 appearances as a substitute.
Added to that, Bolton will play Manchester City (home), Liverpool (away), Manchester United (home), Arsenal (away) and Chelsea (home) in the space of a month - might I add, the first month of the new season.
The lack of a strike force, the tough fixture list, coupled with the fact that outstanding Lee Chung-Yong will be out for up to 9 months means one thing - Bolton will be battling relegation this season, unless Owen Coyle can manage to pull off a stellar signing of a striker they badly need (Daniel Sturridge return anyone?)
Prediction: 17th
Chelsea
Last Year: 2nd
Blues In: Oriol Romeu, Thibaut Courtois, Lucas Piazon (Piazon will join Chelsea in January 2012), Romelu Lukaku
Blues Out: Yuri Zhirkov, Michael Mancienne, Jack Cork, Thibaut Courtois (loan), Jeffrey Bruma (loan), Fabio Borini (Free), Sam Walker (loan)
New season, same old Chelsea? Well, as far as the famous manager merry-go-round at the club is concerned, yes. This will be the 4th new manager for Chelsea (at the start of a season) for the last 5 years and 6th over all. In fact, of the teams that stayed in the Premier League last year, only Fulham and Chelsea - derby rivals - have changed their managers.
Andre Villas-Boas comes in to his post at Stamford Bridge with a lot of promise for a 33 year old manager and a growing reputation. After all, he is the youngest manager to lift a European Cup.
He also comes with the knowledge that no Chelsea manager under Abrahmovic has kept their job for 2 consecutive seasons without delivering a cup. And arguably their most famous Manager and Villas-Boas's former boss Jose Mourinho was not even afforded that luxury when he was sacked in 2007-08.
If Chelsea's transfers this season are anything to go by, Abrahmovic still has a say in the matter. Romelu Lukaku was picked up, finally, after being linked with the club since he burst onto the scene in 2009. This despite the fact that they have a fantastic young striker in Daniel Sturridge on the bench, and the quartet of Salomon Kalou, Nicolas Anelka, Fernando Torres and Didier Drogba up front. Sure, he is one for the future, but it must have a negative effect on the young strikers at the club in Sturridge and the up and coming Gael Kakuta.
Having said that, goals will not be a problem at Stamford Bridge and going by the continuity in midfield and defense, neither will conceding them.
However the ageing legs of Chelsea's stars and the burdens of managing them on the shoulders of a man younger as old as 2 of them (Lampard and Drogba) means they will not reclaim what they lost last year to Manchester United.
Prediction: 4th
Everton
Last Year: 7th
Toffees In: Eric Dier
Transfers Out: James Vaughan
The perennial punchers above their weight. It is hard to imagine how different the trophy cabinet might have been at the blue half of Merseyside, had they had the financial luxuries afforded at City.
David Moyes is probably the best tactician the Premier League has seen bar Sir Alex Ferguson and Jose Mourinho. And his reward is another season where owner Bill Kenwright is without funds to strengthen a squad that is about as deep as a baby's bottom.
Evert year, I fear the worst for Everton, but every year they surprise. The key this year will be to hang on to Phil Jagielka and keep the quartet of Marouane Fellaini, Jack Rodwell, Mikel Arteta, and Louis Saha all fit will be key to Everton's results this season. But keeping Saha injury free is about as easy as getting Kasab to hang.
They will still fight for a top half of the table finish and have a good cup run.
Prediction: 8th
Fulham
Last Year: 8th
Cottagers In:
Fulham had a very good season despite losing manager Roy Hodgson, who guided them to the inaugural UEFA Europa League final in the summer. Mark Hughes was appointed and he went about business guiding Fulham to 8th position.
Somehow, he felt the club's ambition didn't match his, so he surprisingly left Fulham this summer and Mohammed Al-Fayed swiftly appointed former Tottenham manager, Martin Jol.
Jol was instrumental in elevating Spurs' status in the Premier League a few seasons ago, guiding them to their then highest, 5th place finish.
However, he was sacked, ya-di-ya-di-ya-da, and he is back as manager for Fulham, a move that has settled well with the fans. And why not? He broke the 27 year winless streak Tottenham had against Chelsea those many years back and the West London Derby is sure to serve up a spicy recipe when the two meet again.
He has inherited a team that has been playing together for a long time and has bought young in the transfer market.
If Fulham are to make good progress in the Europa League, which I believe they will, it will definitely have an adverse effect on their Premier League campaign. But not so much that Martin Jol can't guide them to a mid-table finish.
Prediction: 10th
Liverpool
Last Year: 6th
Reds In: Stewart Downing, Jordan Henderson, Charlie Adam, Doni (free), Jose Enrique
Reds Out: Paul Konchesky, Milan Jovanovic, Gerardo Bruna, Martin Hansen (loan), Stephen Darby (loan), Tom Ince
It was a tale of two halves for Liverpool last season. The first half was largely forgettable. What with the flirting with relegation, being knocked out of all cup competitions and losing Fernando Torres.
But as the second half of the season would show, Liverpool came out of the dressing room a different team. Galvanised by scouse Legend Kenny Daglish, Torres was substituted by Luis Suarez with the promising Andy Carrol coming in on the bench.
Liverpool have strengthened again in the summer and along with Manchester United are a team that have used the transfer market to buy English. Jordan Henderson is one for the future, while Charlie Adam and Stewart Downing are the perfect duo to aid Suarez and Carrol.
They will be a team everyone will want to avoid in the Europa League and their form at Anfield under Daglish will guide them back to the top 4. The Glory days seem to be on their way back.
Prediction: 3rd
Manchester City
Last Year: 3rd
Citizens In: Sergio Aguero, Gael Clichy, Stefan Savic, Costel Pantilimon
Citizens Out:Shay Given, Jerome Boateng, Jo, Michael Johnson, Kieran Trippier, Ben Mee, Donal, Andrew, Scott Kay (all loan)
The future looks bright at the 'Etihad' Stadium and why wouldn't it?
Endless funds from an owner who could probably buy the City of Manchester itself, Champions League football for the first time in their history, and a team that is worth over a billion pounds at their disposal.
Manchester City have made a mockery of the Financial Fair Play rule that is going to be enforced in 2 years time. They have done this by selling their stadium rights for 400 million pounds - 200 million more than what the club was worth 3 years back when they bought it, to Etihad Airways, which is owned by the Abu Dabhi Royal Family. As is City. But, by then, they will have put together a team together that can challenge in any competition they take part in.
Fergies' era at Manchester United started with the FA Cup and Mancini will be hoping that similar luck rubs off on him sooner than later.
The Sky Blue faithful ambitiously call themselves "England's Barca". Barca has made more history in the last year alone than Manchester City have in their 131 year existence. The world these fanatics live in!
That being said, City will be bettered by only one team this season.
Prediction: 2nd
Manchester United
Last Year: Champions
Mancunians In: Phil Jones, Ashley Young, David de Gea
Mancunians Out: Edwin Van Der Saar (retired), Paul Scholes (retired), Owen Hargreaves (free), Bebe (loan), John O'Shea, Wes Brown, Gabriel Obertan and Ritchie de Laet, Corry Evans, Robert Brady, Ryan Tunnicliffe, Scott Wootton, Nicky Ajose (all loan)
The Premier League will be poorer without Paul Scholes. He was the most gifted midfielder to grace the league and his absence has well and truly left the Premier League a less privileged outfit.
However, like it was when Beckham left, when van Nistelrooy quit and when Ronaldo joined Real Madrid, United just keep March on!
And this aura of invincibility is maintained by the man at the highest echelons of the Old Trafford outfit -Sir Alex Ferguson.
His busiest summer for close to a decade, Fergie has bought and built for the future. The fledgling class of 2011-12 is well and truly here for the world to see and the spending might not be over.
While a bunch of old players have left, Danny Welbeck, Frederico Macheda and Tom Cleverley return from loan spells and in new signings Phil Jones and David de Gea and of course the Da Silva twins, Chris Smalling and Johnny Evans Manchester United has a B-Team that could challenge for European places if they were playing in the league.
Having won all their pre-season games, including a defeat handed out to Barcelona and lifting their first trophy of the year at the expense of arch rivals #2, Manchester City, the Red Devils look like a Juggernaut that cannot be stopped.
Prediction: Champions
Part II Coming Soon.
Until then, bring in the beers.
No comments:
Post a Comment