August 19, 2009

EPL Season Preview


It's the start of a new and exciting season in the Premier League (OK, we're 16 games into the season already. Pardon me...I've been out of town). It's been a bizarre transfer window, one that has been influenced by the global economic recession that has lowered the number of transfers that clubs are making (excluding Manchester City of course, but more on that later on). What impact will this all have on the Premier League? Will the promoted clubs have a chance? Who will win the title?

None of these predictions have been heavily influenced by the first few games of the season. After all, one game won't determine what a team does through next May. It has only shown us that it's never as easy as it looks to predict what will happen over the course of a long season.

Champions: Manchester United. Yes, they lost Ronaldo, but look at their fellow challengers for the title. If we ignore Manchester City for the moment, nobody has bought anyone who can really change the league. Liverpool sold Xabi Alonso, who I feel is just as valuable (if not more so) as Ronaldo was to United. Chelsea have the same team that they've had for the past few seasons. Lampard, Terry, Cech...they aren't getting any younger. Carlo Ancelotti will be their fifth manager in about two seasons. I just can't see them doing it this year. Arsenal are a scary prospect once all their players are healthy, but they sold Kolo Toure, the last of the invincibles. Nobody on their squad (besides Arshavin with Zenit and the UEFA Cup perhaps) has won a significant trophy. Can they deal with the pressure? I think not.
Manchester City...? They will finish 5th and will have to be content with a Europa League spot. This will probably get Mark Hughes fired at some point. There are too many new faces and big egos for this team to jell right away. Can Hughes keep them all happy? How much of a defense do they have? Even though this squad is very good, there are too many question marks dangling overhead - I think they'll narrowly miss a top 4 finish.
Relegation: Burnley, Portsmouth and Hull/Wolves. Portsmouth already seem doomed. They haven't bought anyone, their takeover, at the rate it's going at now will stretch beyond the end of the transfer window, and they are rumored to be near administration. Burnley will probably be in for a tough season as the playoff champion team. I can't for the life of me determine whether Hull City or Wolves will go down. Hull were so bad at the end of last year and haven't bought much of anyone (Jozy Altidore will be their wild card...he could be brilliant as a strong and tall targetman, or he could flop due to his inexperience). Mick McCarthy doesn't have a strong track record of coaching in the EPL, and it's now his job to keep Wolves up this season. I think it's a coin flip.

It's already turning into a brilliant season. Let's all sit back and enjoy (and c'mon Fulham!).

No comments:

Post a Comment