2011-2012 Premier League Preview

predicted how the top of the Premier League table would look like. Now, I delve into the details of my reasoning, club by club. I’ll start by highlighting some of the main occurrences in the run up to the new season, my thoughts on them, and finally where I expect the team to end up come 13th May 2012.

ARSENAL

 

The Gunners have brought in GERVINHO, Carl JENKINSON(some young centre back), and Alex OXLADE-CHAMBERLAIN. At the time of publishing this post, it looked like Scott DANN will be joining them as well, while Juan MATA is consistently being linked. However, it’s currently rumoured that an agreement has been reached with Barcelona to sell their talismanic {I’m still on the clichés!} captain, Cesc FABREGAS, with Arab Money UK (aka Manchester City) to sell soon to be out-of-contract attacking midfielder Samir NASRI. Already plying hisr trade at Arab Money UK is former first choice left back Gael CLICHY; while BENDTNER and ALMUNIA are looking for new employers, and DENILSON has been sent home – to Santos – on loan.

 

Now, Mata may make up for the loss of Nasri, but for Cesc, nothing short of another world class (proven!) midfielder will do for this already shaky unit to push for honours this season. In my humble opinion (IMHO), I think Arsene WENGER needs to be sacked, and one of the SEVERAL proven winners (the Van Gaals/Rijkaards/Capellos) out there be given the reins – and the purse strings. This team needs maturity, experience, and mettle – especially at the back – in order to keep up with the Uniteds and Chelseas of this league. They don’t look to be getting that this summer, and I suspect that’ll mean they won’t be challenging at the top of the table by about February. Udinese are favourites for their Champions League qualifying tie IMO, and though they do have the talent to make excellent cup runs, they don’t have the right mentality to push themselves over the line and I expect they shall complete a 7th season trophyless.

Prediction: 5th
CHELSEA

 

Team Russian Money have brought in Oriol ROMEU (*hopeful future Xavi), Thibaut COURTOIS (young back up keeper), and Romelu LUKAKU (the ‘next DROGBA’ it’s alleged. I wonder what the real Drog thinks about that!). Surplus to requirements Yury ZHIRKOV has been shipped out to Anzhi Makhachkala (for those wondering who the hell are those, just know their the Russian Chelsea...); and England Under-21 international Michael MANCIENNE has been sold to the Bundesliga to hopefully fulfil his potential. They still hope to convince the Spurs chairman David Levy to let playmaker Luka MODRIC cross the burning city of London to become their marquee signing of the season, and though the loss of Michael ESSIEN will be a big blow, their strength in depth (that footballing ‘unicorn’ that few teams can boast of) should see the position sufficiently covered.

 

Chelsea have a rock-solid defence, the CECH-IVANOVIC-David LUIZ-John TERRY-Ashley COLE 5-some is for my money the best backline in the league, a dizzying array of top-drawer attackers, Drogba-Fernando TORRES-ANELKA-MALOUDA-KALOU-STURRIDGE-LUKAKU, and should they be able to acquire the midfield reinforcements they so publicly are targeting, this team should finish the season as champions; not necessarily because they are the very best team in the competition, but because I expect them to be the most consistent. Andre VILLAS-BOAS (I hear) is a brilliant tactician, and so with the wealth of talent at his disposal, having been schooled by the Special One himself (Jose MOURINHO to us mere mortals), I expect him to either get the best out of £50 million superstar Torres, or courageously bench him when need be.

Prediction: 1st
MANCHESTER UNITED

 

The reigning champs have brought in winger Ashley YOUNG (great buy), Phil JONES (future Rio FERDINAND) and David DE GEA (to replace legend VAN DER SAR) while letting go of super utility man John O'SHEA (their loss) and Wes BROWN (should have been sold last year). Their ‘pursuit’ of Wesley SNEIJDER is one of the big transfer soap operas of this off season, and would be a super buy if they were able to finally conclude a deal for him.

 

I seem to be the only writer on the planet that doesn’t expect the Red Devils to win the league this term. Despite having made the final of the European Champions’ League, and shown many of the qualities expected of champions (their ruthless home record in particular was quite impressive), and their recent Charity Shield win, it was my opinion that last season they were the best of a not so good bunch. We’ve seen better United teams, we all know that. In don’t think they’ve made enough changes to truly up their game another level. I expect CHICHARITO to struggle to keep up his hot streak into season 2, having a prolonged dry spell either at the start or end of the season; their defence will be tested by injuries as I don’t have much faith in their reserves, and I suspect De Gea will take a while to settle into life at the Theatre of Dreams, and given his youthful age, we expect him to have a few costly blunders this (and next) term. Title chasers cannot afford that.. I suspect Rooney will star for them this season, but their midfield just looks good, not world class. Unless that changes between now and May, I suspect them to be a step behind the title race by about end of March/April. Expect them to carry home at least one of the domestic cups, as their ability to raise themselves to a single occasion is second to none; their inconsistency will cost them their 20th championship.

Prediction: 3rd

MANCHESTER CITY

 

TEAM Arab Money have made the signing of the summer bringing in Sergio AGUERO, the son-in-law of the best player to ever play football IMO, Diego MARADONA. They’ve also bolstered their backline by buying Gael CLICHY (despite Pablo ZABALETA’s tireless excellent service down in the midst of prima donna superstars and eye watering salaries all around him), and I’m sure they’re far from finished causing ripples in the transfer market. They’ve also managed to reduce some of their deadwood in the form of reserve keeper Shay GIVEN (who really is a legit #1 had Joe HART not been so brilliant himself), Jerome BOATENG (who was constantly played out of place, striker flop JO, and Michael JOHNSON who never fulfilled the potential people saw in him.

 

The Sky Blues are shaping up to have the best squad in England, the one thing that stands between them and absolute domination is Roberto MANCINI. He is – in my humble opinion – another Roy HODGSON, i.e., a media darling (in Italy anyway) often out of his depth at a large squad. Add to that the special circumstances at Team Arab Money with many of the biggest salaries (and egos!) in professional football, his inability to command his dressing room, foster team spirit, and get all his big (and medium) guns firing will mean they will blow hot and cold this season: beating Arsenal 5-0 one weekend, and then being unable to break down a Wigan or Swansea the next. Should he be replaced by a larger than life character with tactical genius (in the mould of a Fergie/Dalglish/Mourinho/Capello), I can guarantee it’ll take a Barcelona-like level of perfection to stop them from taking over the division. For now, they have to bear with heartache...

Prediction: 4th

LIVERPOOL

 

The pride of Merseyside have splashed the cash in the transfer market, securing the services of long term targets Charlie ADAM (hopeful new Xabi ALONSO), and Stewart DOWNING (solution to 8+ year winger dilemma). Also acquired were young midfielder Jordan HENDERSON (hopeful next Steve GERRARD) and DONI (back up keeper). The greatest transfer fail of recent memory – Paul KONCHESKY – was shipped out; thankfully. So was another transfer flop Milan JOVANOVIC, while buyers are being sought for Joe COLE, David NGOG, Philip DEGEN in a bid to reduce the club’s deadweight.

 

A lot of people are saying it’s over optimistic to expect Liverpool to straight away challenge for the title, and say maybe next year will be their year. A lot of those people are the same ones who said Mourinho couldn’t win the league at his first attempt; we all know how that went (And for those who don’t, he led Chelsea to decimate England at a canter). I say: woe unto those that underestimate Liverpool. In Kenny Dalgish, they have a truly great manager. Like Sir Alex, he’s schooled in the old, yet adapted to the new way of playing football. Look at his tactics with a not so great squad last season and you’ll agree he’s a true genius. Add to that the unwavering support (and blank cheque) given to the club by owners Fenway Sports Group (FSG), the HIGHLY motivated team, quality additions to the bunch and the general feel good factor surrounding Anfield, I suspect when we get to the crunch Christmas period where results are needed the most,