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With the another highly anticipated EPL season around the corner, I’ve created a team by team summary, including preview, tips, predictions and players to watch out for this upcoming campaign.
Chelsea
There was no better way to start the summer as a Chelsea fan than Jose Mourinho being welcomed back to the helm for his second spell. The now proclaimed ‘happy one’ feels right at home.
The Blues have not made a loud noise in the summer transfer window, only bringing in the likes of Andre Schurlle and Dutchman youngster Marco Van Ginkel to their vastly talented squad. They have also decided to finally bring back a couple of their young growing starts from loan.
With the likes of David Luiz, Eden Hazard, Oscar and Juan Mata who can only get better, this youthful squad look fully prepared to bring the trophy back to where the fans think it belongs.
Dominating displays in all their pre-season matches, the West London club is showing signs they already love life under the Portuguese. Let’s hope he lasts the full season.
Jose and his boys look ready to fire to the title for the first time since 2010 and with the likes on Wayne Rooney linked with a 40 million pound move, that would definitely solve the club’s striking problems and swing the odds back to Kings Road.
Prediction: Champions
Player to watch: Fernando Torres – How many chances can this man be given? Surely if he remains in blue this season it will be his final opportunity.
If the Blues don’t move for any striker and fail to bring in Rooney, The number 9 role is all the Spaniard’s to play for.
If Jose can be the one to bring out the best in him, expect fireworks for this club. If not, expect Roman Abramovich to pull out that cheque book once and for all.
Arsenal
Where to start with this football club? If I had a dollar for every time I heard Arsene Wenger say “we will spend this summer”, I would have a new Bentley GT sitting in my driveway.
Plain and simple, what happens with the Gunners this season heavily depends on what they do in the market. They missed out on Gonzalo Higuain, look ready to miss out on Luis Suarez, and many players have come and gone.
On the positive side, they haven’t lost a player and are still playing Champions League football, which will definitely be an attraction.
Wenger is a top class manager and always gets the best out his young squad. A new central midfielder and a top class centre-back are of top priority, this will heavily decide on how well they travel this season.
If they spend, they’ll be safe in the top four, if not; the likes of their North London rivals Tottenham and long-standing rivals Liverpool are waiting in the wings for that European spot.
Prediction: Runners up
Player to watch: Jack Wilshere – Arsenal will need to rely very heavily on this 21 year old. He is the rock of the squad and glimpses of brilliance last season put him in a Three Lions jersey.
Similar playing style to English legend Paul Gascoigne are being touted and his health will be critical.
Manchester City
A disappointing 2012/13 ended in the sacking of manager Roberto Mancini. So in comes Manuel Pellegrini and the Chilean has had an instant impact, bringing in the likes of Stevan Jovetic and Alvaro Nogredo, who have definitely shown some promise in the pre-season friendlies; especially the latter.
This squad definitely has what it takes to be crowned champions for the second time in three seasons; they have refreshed their squad, selling the likes of Carlos Tevez, Kolo Toure and a few others.
Making the right moves in the market, already spending almost 100 million pounds, the blue side of Manchester will be hungry to steal the title back from their closest rivals.
Pellegrini has promised to input a new ‘style’ of football that won’t only be attractive, but also introduce a winning formula which can bring this club back to the top.
Whether he can do this in just his first season might be too much to ask – all this without mentioning the array of talent who would be frustrated if they are not given enough playing time.
Prediction: third
Player to watch: Sergio Aguero – The Argentinean front-man can now feel he is the first choice striker at Pellegrini’s disposal.
This is the season the 25-year old must fill the boots and aim to be the best striker in the land. A line of strikers waiting behind him, if the number 16 doesn’t get it right early on, expect him to be down the pecking order.
Manchester United
Dominant champions last season and looking to do the same for the 21st time, The Red Devils have been quiet in the summer transfer window thus far, the signing of young and impressive Ivorian Wilfred Zaha the sole transfer that will definitely add some spice in attack.
But will this be enough to keep the pendulum swinging for men from Old Trafford?
The loss of Sir Alex Ferguson comes at a massive expense, but this had to happen at some point. How this side can recover from the loss remains to be seen.
Taking nothing away from David Moyes, a man who is known to get the best out of a young squad and blossom a group of kids to large things, this is will definitely take time – let’s not forget a trophy-less decade at Everton.
Manchester United will always be thereabouts but, with the increase of talent from their neighbors and rivals abroad, United surely need to dip in to the market, and the signing of Cesc Fabregas would be ideal, the perfect man for a fading midfield.
Prediction: fourth
Player to watch: Shinji Kagawa – showed glimpses of talent during parts of last season, the Japanese centre forward must now step up his game and take the pressure off the likes of Robin Van Persie.
Definitely a talent and one to watch out for this coming season.
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