Arsenal
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| A happy Arsene seeing a great display from his Arsenal side. |
Prediction: 4th
With the only exciting transfers this Summer for Arsenal being Gervinho and Oxaide Chamberlain there is still an expectancy around The Emirates stadium that Arsene will go and spend some more. With the evident need for players in the Arsenal squad do not be surprised if Arsene forgets the left back area (which only has one player in it, injury prone, Kieran Gibbs). Arsene is in need of a centre back as well with Djourou and Vermaelen also being susceptible to injuries and Gary Cahill or Chris Samba look most likely to be bought in this area. With a tough Summer for Arsenal fans with Fabregas and Nasri regularly being linked away from the club 3 or 4 more signings are really what Arsene needs to lift the club and fans spirits.
Possible Starting XI
Aston Villa
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| A warm welcome for Alex McLeish from the Villa fans. |
Prediction: 10th
Alex McLeish has a tough task ahead with his paper thin Aston Villa squad. The former Birmingham manager's first task is to add to the fantastic signings made in Charles N'Zogbia and Shay Given, the second is to win over the demanding fans who believe 'Scum shall always be scum'. With the loss of Reo Coker, Ashley Young, Stewart Downing, Brad Friedel and possibly Carlos Cuellar, Aston Villa find themselves with a depleted squad being made up by the sheer mass of youngsters they hold. Some of these youngsters are Premier League standard Albrighton, Bannan and Ciaran Clark but there is the not good enough such as Lichaj, Nathan Barker and Weimann. With the addition of 1 or 2 exciting players Alex McLeish could win over the demanding fans whilst adding to the depleted squad.
Possible Starting XI
Blackburn
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| Steve Keane practises his Shadow animal technique on the sideline. |
Prediction: 16th
It has been a long, slow and very boring window for the Blackburn fans who have no right to be happy after last season's performance. The signature of David Goodwillie was a small glimmer of hope for the fans, but the regular linking away of captain and star player Chris Samba has diminished the hope of the fans, who should be waiting for a signing, but are instead, hoping they can retain players. The lack of quality within the squad and the demanding owners of the club, make Steve Kean a probability, in my eyes, to be the first manager sacked in the Premier League.
Possible Starting XI
It has been a long, slow and very boring window for the Blackburn fans who have no right to be happy after last season's performance. The signature of David Goodwillie was a small glimmer of hope for the fans, but the regular linking away of captain and star player Chris Samba has diminished the hope of the fans, who should be waiting for a signing, but are instead, hoping they can retain players. The lack of quality within the squad and the demanding owners of the club, make Steve Kean a probability, in my eyes, to be the first manager sacked in the Premier League.
Possible Starting XI
Bolton
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| Owen Coyle has every reason to be delighted with his start at Bolton having hit the ground running in his 1st full Season. |
Prediction: 13th
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| Villas Boas will always just be the second Mourinho. |
Chelsea enter the new season with a relatively similar squad to the one that ended last season with the addition of Oriol Romeu and the return of the surprise star of last season, Daniel Sturridge who had a very successful loan spell at Bolton. The main change in the Chelsea setup is the departure of the wily old man Carlo Ancelotti, who has been replaced by 'The New Mourinho', Andre Villas Boas. Since the departure of Mourinho there has been 4 managers, all not capable of bringing to the table Mourinho's abilities which left Mourinho as the man with the longest term in charge since Claudio Ranieri. Over the past couple of years it also became evident what Abramovich's aim was and it is the Champions League which Chelsea still haven't won since his arrival in 2003. Europa league holder, Andre Villas Boas will come under pressure should he not deliver the Premier League or the Champions League in his first season.
Possible Starting XI
Everton
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| David Moyes with his best friend Roberto Mancini |
After a disappointing start to the season last year Everton still survived and managed to get a very respectable 7th place. With the addition of Eric Dier and the loss of James Vaughan in the window Everton will enter the season once more with a tiny squad. Captain Phil Neville will be 1 year older than he was last year and Phil Jagielka's head may have been turned by the undoubtable interest from Arsenal. Everton have a task on their hands and that is to keep all of their players whilst adding one or two more players to what I see as a small and weak squad. A right back is necessary to allow Coleman to move into the advanced position on the right side and allow Phil Neville to have less games to play as he ages and slowly gets worse. I think with the lack of a squad and the players in the squad being injury prone a 6th place finish would be fantastic for Everton.
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Fulham
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| Martin Jol makes his long awaited return to London. |
Prediction: 10th
I have always been an admirer of Martin Jol as a manager. Funny, clever and always has time for the media, Martin is a great appointment for Fulham. Martin always spoke of his love for London even whilst out on his adventures at Ajax and Hamburg and Fulham was his perfect chance after Mark Hughes' departure at the start of the Summer. The reasons are unknown why Mark left Fulham who were in the Europa League. Rumours were that he wanted the Aston Villa job as he left, but Mark still sits jobless. But Martin has hit the ground running at his new club by winning Europa League qualifying matches and getting one of the possible coups of the transfer window in bringing back John Arne Risse to the Premier League. The left back known for his rocket shot is a different option for Fulham in their attack. Risse along with Marcel Gecov and Pajtim Kasami a right back and a backup striker will maybe be what it takes to push on a solid Fulham side
Possible Starting XI
Liverpool
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| Kenny making friends when he returns to the Premier League. |
'King Kenny' has made a ludicrous amount of transfers since his return to Anfield in January. Some shrewd pieces of business and some are said to be 'vastly overpriced' English players. With the invention of the 'Home grown' rule, (To qualify as home grown, a player will have had to be registered for at least three seasons at an English or Welsh club between the ages of 16 and 21.) English players are becoming important in the Premier league and with the scarcity of such players means it is like gold to find a good Homegrown player. This means Kenny has been 'robbed' on players such as Jordan Henderson, Andy Carroll and Stewart Downing. Charlie Adam does not count as a homegrown player due to the fact he was at a Scottish club between the ages of 16 to 21 which took away from the price Liverpool had to give to Blackpool. As BBC Merseyside's Mark Hughes said "Liverpool are realistic challengers for honours next season. Top-four finish becomes minimum requirement again." I think Liverpool will just fall short of Champions League due to the amount of English players they have because the last English team to win anything was in 1966.
Possible Starting XI
Manchester City
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| After Qualification for the Champions League and an FA Cup victory Roberto Mancini's job is still not 100% safe. |
Roberto Mancini finds himself posted in one of the most demanding jobs worldwide at the moment. He is at a club with a proud tradition of money spending and manager sacking. After his defeat in the FA Community Shield to bitter rivals Manchester United where they went 2-0 up and lost 3-2 after 90 minutes, Roberto Mancini will be under pressure to be back in Wembley at the same time next year for the Community Shield where he is expected to have won the Premier League to have made it. Mancini placed more pressure on himself to win the league after he pipped Arsenal to 3rd place at the end of last season. Manchester City who are renowned for their great defensive record have added to their defensive options through the addition of Gael Clichy, Stefan Savic and Costel Pantilimon. Clichy and Savic will find it very difficult to break into the City team whilst Pantilimon has no chance of breaking by England no.1 Joe Hart. With the addition of Aguero and the loss of Tevez Manchester City have replaced one Argentinian with another both of equal quality in my view. Dzeko will have adapted better to English football than he had last season and homesick Mario Balotelli will have possibly and I said possibly improved.
Possible Starting XI
Manchester United
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| Sir Alex Ferguson celebrating Manchester United's 19th Premier League title. |
Prediction: 1st
After last season's triumph Manchester United lost a lot of the older players in their squad. The unexpected departures of O'Shea, Brown and Scholes were a real hit to Fergie's army. There were more expected departures also with the likes of Van Der Sar and Hargreaves departing also. This was a necessary list clear out as it allowed for the return and purchases of some younger players. Cleverly, Wellbeck, De Gea, Jones and Ashley Young all made their arrivals on the scene in the Community shield and with Macheda unable to feature Manchester United's future looks bright. Towards the end of the game the oldest player on the pitch was new signing Ashley Young who is only 26 years old. With this lack of experience it is worried Manchester United won't have what it takes to win the league but I completely disagree with that worry as I see Vidic, Ferdinand, Evra, Carrick, Giggs, Nani, Anderson, Rooney and Berbatov who all had a major role in the seeing out of the league only last season. Ferguson had always said he would leave a young squad behind him for the next manager and this is what he is in the process of doing. To me Manchester United are hard to look by for the Premier League again this season and should seal their 20th league in their history.
Possible Starting XI
Newcastle
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| Alan Pardew knows he's lucky to be back in the Premier League |
With the departure of Jose Enrique, Kevin Nolan, Sol Campbell and Wayne Routledge, some players who had a part in the good season which was had by Newcastle last year, Newcastle enter the season with the core of last season's squad depleted. The main man from last season who is still there is Joey Barton, although he may not be for long. The first I heard of Joey Barton over the Summer was a nonsense rumour that Manchester United were preparing a bid for the Englishman's services. This proved to be untrue and Joey posted on twitter he wanted to stay. However, at a later date in the window Joey Barton has and still is one of the most interesting transfer sagas of the Summer. Joey's love for the club is shown but Newcastle have made him train alone, put him up for a free transfer and have brought him back training with the first team. With rumours that he was in talks with Everton Joey may find himself wearing a different shade of blue to that of the Newcastle 3rd strip next season. Newcastle may have purchased his replacement in Cabaye or Marveux but I will believe one would go a long way to replacing somebody of Joey Barton's ability. This to me makes Newcastle a contender to be battling relegaion to the death of the season.
Possible Starting XI
Norwich
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| Paul Lambert has led Norwich to 2 consecutive Promotions, a marvelous achievement. |
I will not lie, Norwich were the hardest starting XI to choose in the league. I haven't really seen a Norwich game since their relegation from the Premier League a few years ago. I know after their relegation they found it hard and sunk to league 1. But then a man who installed belief within the players arrived, Paul Lambert. Lambert was appointed Norwich manager after his Colchester side trashed them early on in the League 1 season. Since then Norwich have been on the rise and with consecutive promotions Norwich fans believe they can retain their Premier League status. Captain Grant Holt is under a lot of pressure this season to score goals. With the purchases of James Vaughan and Steve Morrison Norwich believe goals will be key to their survival.With a good start and with the belief instilled in the players I believe Norwich will be a tough game for every team and this will make them scrape through the season in 17th place.
Possible Starting XI
Queens Park Rangers
Prediction: 18th
It could be a tough season ahead for Q.P.R fans, should my prediction be right. I have always been a fan of Neil Warnock and his mad striker buying. Neil Warnock will be relying on 1 player in particular Adel Taarabt to pull them through this season and after saying 'I want to stay at QPR and play for Neil Warnock. I think as long as he is here I will be here too.' it looks like he'll be there as well for the reliance to continue. With two smart strikers bought in the Summer, Jay Bothroyd (free) and DJ Campbell (1.2m) both very astute signings got for very cheap and good prices. Not only Bothroyd and Campbell were got in at good prices both Gabbidon and Dyer bring to the table Premier League experience whilst being free agents. Q.P.R's season in my view could be a vast contrast if it starts well they could have a fine season but if not they will be in trouble and if they get embroiled I do not see enough fight in that team to avoid the drop.
Possible Starting XI
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| Proving doubters wrong as Neil Warnock holds up the Npower Championship trophy. |
It could be a tough season ahead for Q.P.R fans, should my prediction be right. I have always been a fan of Neil Warnock and his mad striker buying. Neil Warnock will be relying on 1 player in particular Adel Taarabt to pull them through this season and after saying 'I want to stay at QPR and play for Neil Warnock. I think as long as he is here I will be here too.' it looks like he'll be there as well for the reliance to continue. With two smart strikers bought in the Summer, Jay Bothroyd (free) and DJ Campbell (1.2m) both very astute signings got for very cheap and good prices. Not only Bothroyd and Campbell were got in at good prices both Gabbidon and Dyer bring to the table Premier League experience whilst being free agents. Q.P.R's season in my view could be a vast contrast if it starts well they could have a fine season but if not they will be in trouble and if they get embroiled I do not see enough fight in that team to avoid the drop.
Possible Starting XI
Stoke City
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| Tony Pulis will hope for more celebrations next year. |
After a good cup run last season Stoke will enter the new campaign on a high hoping for similar achievements whilst also progressing in Europe. With the additions of unwanted Matthew Upson and injury prone Jonathan Woodgate Tony Pulis has raised eyebrows before the season has begun. He now finds himself with an intriguing choice for centre back when Robert Huth, Ryan Shawcross, Jonathan Woodgate and Matthew Upson are all fit. It is possible Huth may become a right back to accommodate for the partnership of Shawcross and Woodgate in the centre. There is a need for two or three extra players in their side and if they get Bendtner, Barton and Palacios like rumours are suggesting then my prediction of 11th could make me end up with pie on my face. There is a great determination within the squad to succeed and with that determination it makes up for the slight lack of quality within their central midfield so to me Stoke are outsiders for a European push and are extremely safe in the relegation front.
Possible Starting XI
Sunderland
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| A depressed Steve Bruce spent big this Summer. |
Sunderland had a torrid end to last season and found a great start hard to capitalise upon. He has added a vast quantity of players to the squad over the Summer. It had been a depressing January for Sunderland fans last season due to the fact they lost Darren Bent, their best player for a long time. Lifting spirits is one reason Steve bought these players and with a couple of these players having just been relegated last season they have a lot to prove and should be determined to prove that the relegation was just a freak incident. There were some tidy purchases for Sunderland for example John O'Shea, David Vaughan, Craig Gardner and Kieran Westwood who were all bought in at very reasonable prices. But there is an aspect to Steve's spending spree that worries me and that is the possible overpriced purchases of Wes Brown who was bought for £4 million more than John O'Shea and Connor Wickham who is relatively unproven and has never played in a higher standard league than the Championship. Fans will expect no less than what I've predicted and if this is not achieved Niall Quinn may have to borrow one of Santa's equipment, his sack.
Possible Starting XI
Swansea City
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| A long tough season is ahead for this weak Swansea side. |
I see an extremely difficult season ahead for a Swansea team that I will admit I have serious doubts over. Their need for a central midfielder is so obvious to me and they could have benefited from the services of Kieran Dyer or Owen Hargreaves both available on free transfers and both of better quality to the Swansea midfielders that are presently at the club. The purchase of Leroy Lita was abysmal in my opinion as he is a failure of a player who has been given too many chances, a bid for Marlon King would've also been a risk but I could see it paying off better than the risk of Lita. I see a bleak future for Swansea and I see the possibility of the first Welsh team promoted into the English Premier League to be the first Welsh team relegated and I see the possibility of the lowest points total in the history of the Premier League.
Possible Starting XI
Tottenham
Prediction: 6th
After a very frustrating season last year, Harry has disappointed fans by only buying a backup keeper in Brad Friedel and two relatively unknown players in Coulibaly and Ceballos. There is a very demoralised atmosphere around White Hart Lane following the riots and the postponement of their opening day fixture against European rivals Everton. But the signing of a world class striker would lift spirits and lift the standard of the squad, which is bloated but there are very few players of Champions league or title winning standard. There are rumours of a move for Abel Hernandez, Giuseppe Rossi and Fernando Llorente. Any of the 3 would add one of the 3 more world class players that I see absolutely necessary for a title push. If Luka Modric departs the quota of world class players would possibly rise by 2 or 3 and with the amount of financial backing being provided by Daniel Levy this would be incredibly hard to meet. A 6th place is close to the best of what fans could hope for.
Possible Starting XI
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| Could Harry Redknapp be thumbing a lift to Wembley soon? |
After a very frustrating season last year, Harry has disappointed fans by only buying a backup keeper in Brad Friedel and two relatively unknown players in Coulibaly and Ceballos. There is a very demoralised atmosphere around White Hart Lane following the riots and the postponement of their opening day fixture against European rivals Everton. But the signing of a world class striker would lift spirits and lift the standard of the squad, which is bloated but there are very few players of Champions league or title winning standard. There are rumours of a move for Abel Hernandez, Giuseppe Rossi and Fernando Llorente. Any of the 3 would add one of the 3 more world class players that I see absolutely necessary for a title push. If Luka Modric departs the quota of world class players would possibly rise by 2 or 3 and with the amount of financial backing being provided by Daniel Levy this would be incredibly hard to meet. A 6th place is close to the best of what fans could hope for.
Possible Starting XI
West Bromwich Albion
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| Roy Hodgson given his chance again and he did not let down. |
Another solid season in the Premier League is what the 'Boing Boing Baggies' need to finally leave the yo-yo behind them and become similar to Stoke City. A cup run would be a nice addition to a solid finish for the Baggies and they find themselves in a stronger position to last season after flogging England joke keeper Scott Carson to Turkey and replacing him with United reject but stronger Englishman Ben Foster, loaning Boaz Myhill to Birmingham and replacing with free agent Marton Fulop and the purchases of Billy Jones, former Baggie Zoltan Gera, Gareth McAuley and Reading and Ireland star Shane Long. With these purchases West Brom have a great chance of solidifying and maybe pushing further up the table. Although I am not his biggest fan by any stretch of the imagination Roy Hodgson has really set the Baggies on the right track forward and he's brought the belief that they have been longing for for such an extended period of time.
Possible Starting XI
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| Another close escape for lucky Wigan last season. |
Since 2007 Wigan Athletic have had lady luck firmly on their side when avoiding relegation towards the end of the season. I thought I would rarely see worse luck for a team after Sheffield United got relegated by a David Unsworth penalty for Wigan against his former club United that sent Wigan out of the relegation zone and United into the Coca Cola Championship. Not much has changed since then with last season's escape coming close to 2007's in luckiness stakes with Birmingham sinking at the dying moments and Wigan pulling a win that I am still unsure of how. With the loss of Charles N'Zogbia I see the fairytale for Wigan coming to an end. But in their credit they have made tidy signings that have swayed others opinions in their possible roller coaster of a season that will be ahead. Ali Al Habsi (£4million) a fans favourite with real ability and Dave Jones (Free) a player with ability who is worth a gamble when available on a free transfer.
Possible Starting XI
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Wolves
Prediction: 15th
After 3 extremely good signings over the Summer, Roger Johnson (£7 million), Dorius De Vries (free) and Jamie O'Hara (£5 million) Mick McCarthy enters the season with good spirits and high hopes. Whilst doing out the possible starting XI for Wolves I noted the need for a winger within the squad. There is also a slight need for a creator in the centre of midfield. A Darron Gibson like figure would fit the bill for Wolves and a Shaun Wright Phillips like figure would be the small and fast winger that I believe would provide a spark within the Wolves team that is so badly needed. Wolves always start the season looking better than they were last season and likely to push on but somehow they will be dragged into the dogfight that is the Premier League relegation battle.
Possible Starting XI
Wolves
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| With the right players bought in would we see more of Mick like this? |
After 3 extremely good signings over the Summer, Roger Johnson (£7 million), Dorius De Vries (free) and Jamie O'Hara (£5 million) Mick McCarthy enters the season with good spirits and high hopes. Whilst doing out the possible starting XI for Wolves I noted the need for a winger within the squad. There is also a slight need for a creator in the centre of midfield. A Darron Gibson like figure would fit the bill for Wolves and a Shaun Wright Phillips like figure would be the small and fast winger that I believe would provide a spark within the Wolves team that is so badly needed. Wolves always start the season looking better than they were last season and likely to push on but somehow they will be dragged into the dogfight that is the Premier League relegation battle.
Possible Starting XI
So you've made it this far eh??? As a reward you deserve the table done out for you.
1st Manchester United
2nd Chelsea
3rd Manchester City
4th Arsenal
5th Liverpool
6th Spurs
7th Everton
8th Sunderland
9th Aston Villa
10th Fulham
11th Stoke
12th West Brom
13th Bolton
14th Newcastle
15th Wolves
16th Blackburn
17th Norwich
18th QPR
19th Wigan
20th Swansea
I commend your spirit for lasting all 20 clubs. I hope I didn't bore you and I have the pie bought that will be thrown in my face already.
ENJOY THE SEASON!!
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