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.
Stu
Guest
Agree with this. Arsenal finished one point ahead of Spurs last season. They've added nothing, while Spurs have added Soldado, Paulinho, Capoue and Chadli. Arsenal will do extremely well to finish fifth, let alone second!
Kane Cassidy
Roar Guru
And what a surprise, the plastic doesn't recognise my profile picture.
Ted Venom
Guest
Man U finished 11 points ahead of City last season, what championship did you watch?
Doug Graves
Guest
Interesting selections, I think it's basically a race between Chelsea and Man City for the title at this stage, with a slight edge to Chelsea but that could become a three horse race and put Arsenal in the mix if Wenger finally splashes some cash. Man U however, can pretty much forget about a title repeat in Moyes debut season and should focus on staying in Champions League and winning domestic silverware. Tottenham will be flat out making Europa League if Bale stays let alone if he bails and Liverpool and Everton's only way into Europe is by winning the FA Cup or the League Cup.
Raymond Rehayem
Guest
Great article, Spot on with a lot of your predictions however that top four could be a lot different depending on whether or not Bale remains at White Heart Lane and if Soldado performs to his full abilities. Daniel Chatry is gay
pgedeon89
Roar Rookie
Hi All, Thanks for the feedback stay tuned for part 2
AZ_RBB
Guest
oh yeah no doubt there is a lot of sensationalism in the british press. but the fact of the matter is, Rooney for the first time in a long time is probably in a position where he is fighting for his spot in the team. actually i would say aside from RVP and maybe Carrick no one is completely safe. Rooney i guess isn't too comfortable with that. not too sure why he thinks he'll just walk into the squad at Chelsea. as much as i adore Rooney he is against the Three Amigos (Mata, Hazard, Oscar) who have a great reputation at the club and it looks like Lukaku might get a chance to shine as well. Torres and Ba still there as well. Arsenal will only turn to him if they can't secure Suarez. the more i think about it the more i want August to end. if Green Day were football fans they would've written Wake Me Up When August Ends :P
Robbie
Roar Pro
Man to watch - Fernando Torres? Ease off the drugs man. I just can't see Arsenal finishing second. I imagine it would be incredibly frustrating to support them. On another note, don't be surprised if Man United top the league again
DSF
Guest
Arsenal 2nd??? they'll be lucky to make 5th this coming season. Manu, chelsea and maybe city will be fighting it out for 1st then liverpool and spurs challenging for 4th and then arsenal, newcastle, everton, swansea fighting for thursday night football.
Kane Cassidy
Roar Guru
I'm not too convinced the chances are that low, it's always up in the air with Rooney. He's become a symbol of Manchester United, an outstanding performer for them and England, I think the backroom staff will be pulling out all the stops to hold on to him. You have to bear in mind the British press has a tad more creative license than ours and they encourage exaggeration in some tabloids (The Daily Mirror makes Channel 9 look like Al Jazira)
AZ_RBB
Guest
Rooney's presence may not be a crucial as some think. Moyes' biggest test will be getting Kagawa to play at his potential and ideally perform beyond that. Kagawa at his peak will cause havoc in the EPL. of course RVP+Rooney+ Kagawa firing on all cylinders will be a force to reckon with. But the chances of Rooney staying are nearly zero at the moment. Regardless with the young kids stepping up very well (again something Moyes does well) there will be plenty of competition for spots.
Kane Cassidy
Roar Guru
Much longer than what the article on how La Liga's title hopefuls shape up.
Kane Cassidy
Roar Guru
You're suffering from that hate that the newer Chelsea fans seem to have about Man United. I hate to play devil's advocate (Pun not intended) But Man United will always be a strong team, David Moyes is a capable manager with EPL experience and the body of the team is still there, a new brain doesn't change this. RVP is still there, as is Giggs and the vastly improved De Gea, Rooney still has every chance of staying, remember a few seasons back where everyone was sure he was off to Man City? All Moyes needs to do is get Sir Alex on the phone and get him to talk to the boy. Also key is a flood of young talent constantly pushing the senior squad members, which as a Chelsea supporter I can't see too much of in my own camp, sure Bertrand is widely recognised as Cole's successor and Oscar has the potential to become a legend, but then who? I can't see many of our youth squad stepping up, not with our management's insistence on buying superstar players while our youngsters languish in on-loan limbo. Not to say Jose won't be successful in his second stint, just that we're not perfect and you can write teams like Man United off at your own peril.
Towser
Guest
MIght as well be 4 teams. Wouldn't have bothered with part 2, just add Spurs Liverpool to Part 1, no need for Part 2.
Brian
Guest
Exactly Man U finished 20 points ahead of Man C & Chelski last season, they don't need new players to beat those 2. Moyes to be smart enough not to change their style and Man U to win again.
AZ_RBB
Guest
can't believe they sent him to Swindown Town! League One won't know what hit them.
Franko
Guest
Massimo Luongo will make up Bale's goals if he goes. Pft Soldado who????? #massimoisthenewbale
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
Bold prediction to have Arsenal ahead of Man U but I think this season is more open than usual. Liverpool is 6/6 in their pre season friendlies and are due for a good season. Spurs might lose Bale but with the money they get they will be able to 'buy' 3 very good players, so I think they will still do ok if they spend the money wisely. Just read defensive midfielder Etienne Capoue from Toulouse is on his way btw.
AZ_RBB
Guest
This would have to be the 4th or 5th season in a row Man Utd have been written off by most pundits. in that time they've won 2 titles and were seconds away from winning another. of course each time those predictions have been justified. Since the departure of Ronaldo, United haven't fielded teams of all that much quality and that lack of quality was evident on the pitch but with Sir Alex at the helm they were able to produce results well beyond those expected. Sir Alex out of the picture now so who knows what will happen. I find it particularly interesting that a lot of people (looking at you ESPN) who described United's 12/13 team as the worst to ever win the EPL. They had the title all but wrapped up in January! Shows that the other clubs had no choice but to spend like crazy to become half decent. Just like Man Utd are written off every season. I, every year dream of a season where we get to May and there are 3 or 4 teams with a very good chance of claiming the title. In reality, Arsenal start thinking about "next season" around Christmas, Chelsea sack a manager and City capitulate. IMO the true start of the EPL will be when that bloody transfer window closes!
Hawker
Guest
soldaldo will make up bale's goals if bale leaves , look out if bale some how stays. with the money from any sale they will further invest in the squad.