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| Who will lift the trophy come May? |
Having said all this, it seems a bit ridiculous to now say I am going to attempt to predict what will happen come May next year. It is academic really, hypothetical guesses made on what I have seen in recent seasons and over the summer, yet since when did where you finished last season mean anything in the intense, merciless Premier league of today in which past glories mean little and every point must be earned?
Obviously at the time of publishing this blog there remains over two weeks of the transfer window, a period in which the majority of the transfer moves are made. Yet as it stands, this is what I think will happen this season, and how the teams are shaping up in the transfer market.
ARSENAL
Last season: 4th
Captain: Cesc Fabregas (for the next day or two)
It is troubled times at the Emirates stadium at the moment, 6 years and counting without silverware and patience is growing ever thin among the terraces. Despite the lack of success on the field the board have also decided on a 6% rise in season ticket prices, a decision met with disgust from the fans. Wenger is under intense pressure to spend money and regain former glories but so far remains stubborn and has only made one major signing in Gervinho whilst looking set to lose the influential Fabregas and Nasri. It is certainly the worst point of Wenger's Gunners career and if a trophy isn't in the Emirates stadium cabinet come May, it looks unlikely he would continue.
Prediction: 4th Arguably a weaker team than last season, and major signings must be made with the money from the Fabregas and Nasri deals. With a couple of defensive signings and a flair player to replace Fabregas Arsenal should seal another champions' league place as Wenger so reliably does. The question is are the fans just happy to settle for 4th every year whilst watching their rivals win anything? Anyone?
ASTON VILLA
Last season: 9th
Captain: Stiliyan Petrov
It is safe to say there won't be a statue of Alex McCleish erected in Birmingham anytime soon after his acrimonious move across the city. After relegating Villa's fierce rivals; Birmingham City last season despite winning a Carling cup it is fair to say he has been met with scepticism at Villa Park. He needs to make a good start to the season as the fans are already against him, make a bad one and it could become an unobtainable position. It will be especially tough on the field as well after losing their best two players from last season, Ashley Young and Stewart Downing to Manchester United and Liverpool respectively.
Prediction: 7th The signing of Charles N'Zogbia was a good piece of business by McCleish and he could be a pivotal supplier of goals for £24 million striker Darren Bent. If the England forward is firing and the squad can stay relatively free from injury, it could, on paper be a fruitful season for the Villans. With a big six now formed including City, United, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Spurs it is safe to say that Villa are the best of the rest.
BLACKBURN ROVERS
Last season: 15th
Captain: Ryan Nelsen
It is safe to say the Blackburn fans are not a happy bunch. After having seen Sam Allardyce sacked out of the blue last season and replaced with a rookie in Steve Kean, they saw their team narrowly avoid relegation and not really inspire much excitement. The new Indian chairman, owners of the Venky chicken group came full of delightful promises of stellar, world class signings, putting Blackburn on the map and even pulling a transparent PR stunt claiming to have acquired Ronaldinho's services. Instead hardly any moves have been made and their signature signing is Goodwillie from the SPL, not exactly what the fans had in mine.
Prediction: 17th I believe they will survive by the skin of their teeth merely because there are three worse teams in the division. The squad needs major strengthening and the voices of discontent from the Ewood park terraces are creeping up ever so steadily in volume.
BOLTON WANDERERS
Last season: 14th
Captain: Kevin Davies
Wanderers came flying out of the tracks last season with a blistering start to the campaign. Owen Coyle has brought an attractive style of football to the Reebok stadium and his team were right in contention for a European place until dwindling in the final few months and eventually falling away down the table. Fatigue caught up with a limited squad and a horrific injury to key player Holden suffered at Old Trafford last term was a huge loss.
Prediction: 10th With a few decent signings made this summer including Reo-Coker, Eagles and Mears it could be a decent year for the Trotters. They have an excellent manager in Owen Coyle and with a bit of luck and not too many injuries they should be fairly comfortable bang in the middle of the table. It is vital they hang onto the influential Gary Cahill who really commands their defence.
CHELSEA
Last season: 2nd
Captain: John Terry
Abramovich wielded his axe again last season, dismissing Carlo Ancelotti for the 'ignominy' of a trophyless season just a year after delivering the club's first ever double. It is fair to say the Russian is an impatient man, knows what he wants and if he doesn't get it is in no way afraid of making a change, his fascination with the Champions league many managers' downfall. Ancelotti's replacement at Stamford Bridge is Andre Villas-Boas, a young, handsome, talented manager who joined Chelsea on the back of incredible success at Porto, sounds familiar right? There is incredible pressure on Villas-Boas who was in fact Mourinho's assistant during his trophy laden stint at the west London outfit and he will have to rejuvenate an ageing side who looked a shadow of their former selves last season.
Prediction: 3rd It is a very tough ask of the Portuguese to deliver immediate success, and although he is no doubt talented it will be interesting to see how the dressing room respond to a man who at 33 is actually younger than some of the playing staff. It has been a relatively quiet transfer period for the club with only one real major signing taking place in the teen Belgian sensation, Romelu Lukaku. The squad is definitely strong enough to mount a title challenge but a lot of it will depend on Torres, Drogba and Lampard's form after all having disappointing campaigns last year. If Torres re-discovers the form that lit up Anfield then it could be a glorious year for the Blues, if not I just can't see them competing with the incredible strength in depth that lies in both halves of Manchester.
EVERTON
Last season: 7th
Captain: Phil Neville
Credit has to go to David Moyes for consistently providing top half, respectable finishes year upon year with a shoestring budget. The Toffees have somewhat of a reputation for starting a season terribly and improving rapidly as the months progress and last season was no different with City, Spurs, Liverpool and Chelsea all leaving Goodison Park with 'nil poi' at the business end of the season.
Prediction: 8th Once again Moyes has had no transfer funds, the Toffees' being the least active team in the marketplace. Although no one of real quality has come in, the crucial point would be no major departures. If Moyes can hold onto Arsenal target Jagielka, whilst retaining the services of Fellaini, Cahill, Arteta, Neville and Saha I expect Everton to continue their consistent performances in the Premier league and perhaps even have a decent cup run. They have a deeply talented squad with a mix of experience and promising youth players such as Coleman, Rodwell and Barkley. The only flaw with the squad would be its strength in depth yet they have enough about them to ensure Goodison park will still remain one of the toughest away fixtures for any team this season.
FULHAM
Last season: 8th
Captain: Danny Murphy
Last season was a consistent one for the Cottagers, finishing a very respectable 8th position and playing an aesthetically pleasing brand of football under Mark Hughes. Unfortunately they were rocked by the news when Hughes handed in a shock resignation at the end of the campaign. The board made swift moves to install Martin Jol, a manager who has previously enjoyed Premiership success with Fulham's London neighbours, Tottenham. It is a like for like switch with both managers talented and having similar visions on how the game should be played.
Prediction: 9th Jol has managed to retain the services of the core of his squad that gained a respectable finish last time around and with Hangeland, Murphy, Dempsey, Zamora and Duff all firing there is no reason to say they will not enjoy similar success this season. The signing of vastly experienced full back Jon Arne Riise looks to be a great signing and if the nucleus of the squad remain injury free it is not beyond the imagination to see a high mid table finish and a decent cup run. In Al Fayed, Fulham have a rare breed amongst modern football; a supportive chairman who seeks stability rather than trigger finger reactions and I can see Jol settling nicely at the Cottage.
LIVERPOOL
Last season: 6th
Captain: Steven Gerrard
Once again, Anfield is awash with blind optimism, an unerring quest and belief that this is our year, that King Kenny is finally going to bring back the glory days and it is a feeling not completely unfounded. Having spent near enough £50 million this summer on Charlie Adam, Stewart Downing, Jordan Henderson, Doni and Jose Enrique, there is little doubt that the Reds are a much stronger outfit than last term. The presence of Andy Carroll will also be like a new signing for Dalglish after the Geordie striker missed most of last season with injury. There are many Kopites deliriously claiming they are finally prepared for a title assault though this is out of optimism rather than expectancy. One thing that I think is guaranteed is a charge for 4th place and that lucrative Champions league slot and I would expect to see them challenging the likes of Spurs and Arsenal all the way for it.
Prediction: 5th I think they will fall narrowly short of 4th position, they missed Gerrard's influence last season and he is going to have to remain fit for Liverpool to have a good season, such is the impact of the man. Dalglish has made some good signings in key areas and the strength in depth is greater than that of any Liverpool team of the past few seasons. Without the distractions of the Europa League I can also see a possible domestic cup win as the players will have less distractions and remain fresh. It is certainly going to be an interesting campaign for Dalglish's men and it will be fascinating to see the fans' reaction if their 'King' struggles to get the results they strive for.
MANCHESTER CITY
Last season: 3rd
Captain: Carlos Tevez
The new kids on the block, the 'noisy neighbours' as Alex Ferguson refers to them broke into the top four last season and look set to hang around for the foreseeable future. With Mancini having unlimited funds at his disposal he is under intense pressure to deliver silverware and was no doubt the most relieved man in Manchester after last season's FA Cup victory at Wembley. This summer has been no different to the last few with millions and millions being spent and now with the the added attraction of Champions league football, the very best stars are realistic targets. The big story is where their influential captain Carlos Tevez will be playing his football come September the 1st. After repeatedly claiming his desire to leave it seems the Argentine may have to suffer the ignominy of staying due to no concrete interest from other clubs.
Prediction: 2nd The signing of Sergio Aguero from Atletico Madrid was a fantastic one for the club and they have a genuine superstar in the making with the Argentine striker. A partnership of Tevez and Aguero upfront with the craft and guile of David Silva in behind makes for a mouthwatering prospect at Eastlands and the strength in depth is phenomenal with the likes of Dzeko and Milner being perennial bench warmers. There is no doubting that the squad has enough talent to win the league however the team chemistry and togetherness is just as crucial in a 38 game marathon and I feel this is ultimately what will cost them. A debut Champions league campaign is also another exciting prospect and one thing's for certain , they will never be far from the limelight.
MANCHESTER UNITED
Last season: 1st
Captain: Nemanja Vidic
United ended last season with mixed emotions, there was the euphoria of finally 'knocking Liverpool off their perch' , usurping their 18 league titles and in turn becoming the most successful domestic team in England followed by the utter dismantlement received at the hands of Barcelona's geniuses. There is of course no shame in losing to arguably the greatest side of all time and Ferguson , well aware of this has spent the summer rebuilding a new generation of players in an attempt to match the all conquering Catalans. After the retirements of intstrumental figures such as Van Der Sar and Scholes, Ferguson has been active in the transfer market picking up David De Gea, the young goalkeeper from Atletico Madrid, Ashley Young and promising Blackburn defender Phil Jones.
Prediction: 1st As ever with an Alex Ferguson team they will be right up there challenging for honours at the business end of the season. Traditionally slow starters before putting their foot on the pedal after Christmas I would expect the same this year. They have strengthened in key areas and with Rooney looking back to his imperious best and the ever reliable impenetrable force that is Vidic and Ferdinand at the back I would be surprised if the Ferguson's men weren't the team to beat.
NEWCASTLE UNITED
Last Season: 12th
Captain: Fabricio Coloccini
After assuring fans that every penny of the £35million received from the Andy Carroll sale would be re-invested in players, Mike Ashley hasn't really stuck to his word. With less than £10million being invested in the squad plus the departures of key players such as Kevin Nolan and Jose Enrique you could forgive the Newcastle fans for feeling a little despondent. Hatem Ben Arfa will be a key player when fully fit and the spark he provides was missing last season after that horrific injury he received. Of course they have the ever popular Joey Barton whom for all his trials and tribulations is a solid, reliable premier league performer and the signing of Demba Ba who looked West Ham's only quality player last season, Scott Parker aside. Gabriel Obertan also looks like a decent signing for the Toon and could provide much needed pace upfront.
Prediction: 12th More of the same for the Toon as I see them finishing comfortably if not spectacularly mid table. Alan Pardew is a decent manager at this level and I feel there is enough ability in the squad to make every game competitive, Demba Ba and Obertan will provide some much needed flair and pace up front. Having said all this, if results start to go against the Magpies, voices of discontent will be headed Ashley's direction and not for the first time.
NORWICH CITY
Last season: 2nd (Championship)
Captain: Grant Holt
If you told Norwich City supporters two years ago that they would be about to begin a season in the Premier league they would have thought you as mad as Delia's infamous pep talk such is the meteoric rise that the Canaries have experienced under Paul Lambert. Back to back promotions later and its a reality, after a 6 year absence they are back in the big time, it is stories such as these which make football so enticing. There is no doubting the talent and experience of manager Paul Lambert , a Champions league winner himself as a player and the determination and vigour of a squad whom have won successive advancements up the football league.
Prediction: 16th Heavily reliant on the powerful and influential Holt and the skilful Irishman Wes Hoolahan I back Norwich to have enough in the tank to stay afloat this year. I think Lambert is a brilliant manager and it is ultimately his level head and know-how which will prevail over a survival for the Canaries. There have been a few good signings also this summer with Premier league minutes under their belt, Kyle Naughton from Spurs being a fine example.
QUEENS PARK RANGERS
Last season: 1st (Championship)
Captain: Adel Taraabt
Neil Warnock is very good at gaining promotion, problem is he hasn't quite worked out how to stay up once you're there. After walking the Championship last season and emphatically securing promotion many QPR fans thought they would be here to stay, that the billionaire owners, Briatore and company would invest heavily ensuring survival. 2 weeks left in the transfer market and the ever injured Kieron Dyer , DJ Campbell and Jay Bothroyd are all they have to show, decent signings but nevertheless not big names that get the pulses racing. There is a division forming at Loftus road in which supporters feel the chairman is completely out of touch with the common fan, charging as much as £50 per away ticket and £80 to see Chelsea come to town. I can see QPR remaining competitive and certainly not doing a Derby but unfortunately I just feel with the lack of investment to the squad it will be a step to far for them to stay up. One thing's for sure, for them to have any chance of survival Adel Taraabt must stand up and reproduce his scintillating form from last season yet question marks definitely remain about whether he has the attitude and commitment to succeed at the highest level.
Prediction: 19th
STOKE CITY
Last season: 13th
Captain: Ryan Shawcross
Ever since Stoke gained promotion in 2008 they have looked every bit the Premier league team and credit has to go to Tony Pulis for the incredible job he has done. Not only did they secure their third successive mid table finish last season but they reached their first ever FA Cup final, narrowly missing out 1-0 to the billionaires of Manchester City. They certainly aren't no Barcelona but what they do is play to their strengths and are extremely efficient as a result, every player is of similar ilk and they all put their head on the line for eachother and of course no Stoke summary would be complete without mention of the infamous Rory Delap throw which proves so effective time and time again. The capture of Woodgate and Upson, two internationally capped defenders can only strengthen an already solid team and I would expect to see more of the same from the Potters this season with another cup run and a European adventure to look forward to. One thing is for certain, the Britannia stadium will be a daunting place for visiting teams this season.
Prediction: 13th
SUNDERLAND
Last season: 10th
Captain: Lee Cattermole
After a great start to last season including a magnificent destruction of Chelsea at Stamford Bridge things stuttered in the second half. After seemingly being contenders for a European position, the Black Cats never really recovered from losing star striker Darren Bent in a £24 million deal to Aston Villa. The Wearsiders stumbled across the finishing line to a respectable 10th position yet the fans knew it could have been so much more. The sale of Jordan Henderson to Liverpool for over £20million has left Bruce with a significant war chest and the aim this season will no doubt be to challenge for a European place and of course finish above their fierce rivals Newcastle. A major coup was persuading promising talent Connor Wickham that his future lied at the Stadium of Light and along with other experienced Premier league signings Wes Brown, John O'Shea, Seb Larsson and Craig Gardner it is fair to say that a European place is not all that unrealistic. Asamoah Gyan will also be crucial to the team's hopes and if he can forge a partnership with Wickham then you never know, personally I see them finishing mid table. They won't be far off a Europa league spot but the Premier league is incredibly competitive.
Prediction: 11th
SWANSEA CITY
Last season: 3rd (Play-off winners)
Captain: Garry Monk
Brendan Rodgers has done a superb job in ensuring Swansea are the first Welsh team to play in the English Premier league and he has done it the right way with an exciting brand of football. They remind me of Blackpool and although the Tangerines won many fans last season with their great attacking play, they ultimately paid the price with relegation. I can foresee a similar, roller-coaster of a season for the Swans, and players such as Lita, Graham and Sinclair are going to have to stand up and play to their potential for Swansea to have a chance of avoiding the drop. Arguably, an even more crucial aspect will be keeping hold of Rodgers who has a burgeoning reputation within the game and could be on a lot of club's radars.
Prediction: 20th
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Last season: 5th
Captain: Ledley King
It was a mixed season for Redknapp's men last year, the euphoria of the incredible European run that saw the likes of AC and Inter Milan being put to the sword, crossed with the disappointment of finishing 5th and thus missing out on another opportunity to take on the continent's finest. The emergence of Gareth Bale as a world class winger was one of the major talking points and he will need to be firing all season if Spurs are to rejoin Europe's elite. Keeping hold of Luka Modric is paramount to the club's ambitions and if he, Van De Vaart and Bale remain fit and firing then 4th could be an achievable goal. There has been little transfer activity at White Hart Lane but the capture of Brad Friedel will be a welcome one from the fans who must worry for their health when watching the ever erratic Heurelho Gomes behind the sticks. Friedel will provide stability and much needed experience at the back and although I believe 4th is a stretch too far personally, I wouldn't bet against a cup success.
Prediction: 6th
WEST BROMWICH ALBION
Last season: 11th
Captain: Chris Brunt
Roy Hodgson done a phenomenal job of steering the Baggies away from relegation last season after replacing Roberto Di Matteo during the campaign. The signings of Ben Foster and Shane Long look very good business for the club and retaining the services of Odemwingie and Brunt can only be positive. It is Roy's first full season in charge of the club and with a pre-season under his belt I expect the Baggies to be sitting fairly comfortable come the season's climax
Prediction: 15th
WIGAN ATHLETIC
Last season: 16th
Captain: Gary Caldwell
After having flirted with relegation for the past few seasons and narrowly surviving mainly due to other team's incompetence rather than their own merits I fear this could be the season the Latics go down. Roberto Martinez is a talented young manager who likes to play football the right way yet he has a thin squad and with the departure of N'Zogbia to Aston Villa they look desperately lacking upfront. They are a betting man's nightmare as they are as likely to beat the top teams as they are to capitulate to the lesser ones, the most inconsistent team in the league. Cleverly's return to Man Utd is a blow and young midfielders Watson and McCarthy will have to have good seasons for the team to stand a chance.
Prediction: 18th
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS
Last season: 17th
Captain: Roger Johnson
Wolves were unlucky last season and should have secured their premier league status well before Stephen Hunt's late goal on the last day of the campaign. They have a good nucleus with new signing and captain, Roger Johnson, the capture of Jamie O'Hara on a permanent deal, Matt Jarvis, Kevin Doyle and Steven Fletcher and should have enough about them to be fairly comfortable. It was the Wanderers form against the lesser opposition that cost them last time around having beaten United, City, Liverpool , Chelsea and Spurs at Molineux and it is definitely something Mick McCarthy will be looking to address. The manager has vast experience and seems to have a close knit squad with a grit and determination about them, I think they should be safe with games to spare this season.
Prediction: 14th
My final Premier league table 2011/12:
1) Manchester United
2) Manchester City
3) Chelsea
4) Arsenal
5) Liverpool
6) Tottenham
7) Aston Villa
8) Everton
9) Fulham
10) Bolton
11) Sunderland
12) Newcastle
13) Stoke
14) Wolves
15) West Brom
16) Norwich
17) Blackburn
18) Wigan
19) Swansea
20) QPR
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