by Shubham Mazumdar.
Chelsea
Liverpool
Manchester City
Manchester
Newcastle
Swansea
Wigan are the trolls of
the Premier League. Always seem like they will relegated, but then in the end,
they will somehow escape relegation by winning against team who they, on paper,
don’t even have a chance to get a result out. Roberto Martinez is a good
manager and will once again save Wigan from
getting relegated.
Southampton have won a lot of
admirers in the 3 games they have played, but they are yet get a point in the
Premier League. They played both United and City and almost beat them. They
were leading in both games, but then due to loss of concentration in defending,
they lost out eventually. With a bit more luck, and more concentration while
defending a lead, they can surely avoid relegation.
After the incredible battle at the top of the 2011-12 EPL table
between Manchester United and Manchester
City , followed by Aguero’s last
gasp winner for Manchester
City
With the 2012/13 season already here, I look at each team’s
prospects for the campaign ahead.
Arsenal
While their captain Robin van Persie left for one of their
biggest rivals, the Arsenal fans can still cherish the fact that Wenger was
able to grab Lukas Podolski, Olivier Giroud and Santi Cazorla.
But here is also an obvious question-mark about how quickly they
can adjust to the Premier League.
Arsenal's biggest concern last season was their shabby defence,
which is basically because of the disastrous injury list that almost
derailed their season, but seems like the lesson learned from last season
can work out for them and make the Gunners a sturdier looking unit this time,
conceding no goals in the 3 games they have played so far – the only team in
the Premier League to yet to concede. Steve Bould, new Arsenal assistant manager, effect.
If the new trio is able to gel in time, and if a certain Jack
Wilshere can return back from injury, Arsenal can give the top contenders a run
for their money - and, who knows, even win a title as they have the Spanish talisman Santi Cazorla in their team.
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| Arsenal's Saviour? |
Aston Villa
After a poor season under Alex McLeish, Paul Lambert now
gets his chance to turn the club’s fortunes around. Bent's absence through
injury for much of the second half of last season almost cost Villa their place
in the Premier League. With a fit Darren Bent in the side, the side will look
more confident than ever.
"There's real optimism about the season ahead,"
Darren Bent said after reporting back for pre-season. "We felt it in our
first session when [the manager] came in and told us how he wanted to play. It
was great because he said he wanted us to play with real freedom. He wants us
to be an attacking outfit… he wants us to have a right good go at every single
team. That's how it should be."
A lot will be expected from Charles N’Zogbia and Stephen
Ireland, as well as the impact of new boy Ron Vlaar, signed from Feyernoord. Looks like a top half finish
won't be a tough ask this time.
The champions of Europe and
winners of the FA Cup look much stronger this season after the addition of the
likes of Eden Hazrd, Marko Marin & Oscar. Fernando Torres seems to be
on the rise again, and might even prove his critics wrong if he manages to
bring out the old Nino back.
Defense can be a problem for them – their display against a much
more composed side Athletico Madrid Chelsea
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| Chelsea's Stars |
Will Roberto di Matteo keep his job, come season end? That would
be interesting to see. A top three finish seems probable – but not
winning a title with this team would be a huge disappointment for Chelsea
Everton
Despite the exits of Tim Cahill and Jack Rodwell, Nikica
Jelavic and Marouane Fellaini will still
be the key players for the club, and players like Tim Howard, Phil
Jagielka and Leighton Baines will be crucial for the tough season up
ahead.
Ross Barkley will surely benefit after the departure of Rodwell, who
first burst onto the scene at the beginning of last season with a series of
good match displays.
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| Premier League's Finest |
Although Everton were let down badly by their away form last
season where they managed to win just five games on their travels all season,
they look like a top eight team again - and a lot depends on their best player, Marouane Fellaini - arguably the best box-to-box midfielder in the Premier League after Yaya Toure.
The appointment of Brendan Rodgers seems like a good move, and
with new additions like Joe Allen, Borini and Nuri Sahin to the squad,
they should be a match for anyone.
Inspite of being hampered by injuries, Kop hero and Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard still is the key man. Suarez
is also a key payer, but his poor finishing of late is costing Liverpool points. Raheem Sterling is promising, and
someone to watch out for.
Nuri Sahin is also there to provide Liverpool
with creativity from deep. He might have looked lost in his first game, but
once he settles into the pace of the league; he will do wonders for Liverpool . Also, the injury of Lucas has once again given
Liverpool a huge blow – Lucas was the perfect
partner for Nuri Sahin.
Squad depth can be a problem for the Reds; top four is out of
the question! Maybe?
Title Defenders will be looking for another successful season up
ahead. The richest club in the Premier League, they are possibly the best
club in England now, so the old accusations of players only being lured by
City’s wealth and bulging pay packets would no longer hold true as the appeal
of playing for the champions would now outweigh the financial gains.
If Mancini is able to keep egos in check, the Citizens
can be unparalleled throughout the season. The form and
confidence of Carlos Tevez and Mario Balotelli will be a big influence.
With the addition of Javi Garcia and Rodwell, the team looks
better in their defensive aspect, and it won't be shocking if they
are successful in retaining the title eventually. However,
they still lack a deep-lying playmaker who would give creativity from deep – a
deep-lying playmaker isn’t a necessity to win the Premier League, but a player
like that is needed in the Champions League.
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| Midfield Dynamo |
In this, the 20th season of the Premier League, it is worth
noting that only on three occasions have United finished outside of the top two
and never lower than third, compelling evidence of their enduring class and
title threat.
With the addition of big players like Robin Van Persie and
Bundesliga Player of the Season Shinji Kagawa, they are still the
biggest threat to City's title defending campaign.
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| Already United's Best Player |
Vidic's return is a lift, but there are questions over just about
everyone else in defence. Rio and Evra
are ageing, and Evans and De Gea need to mature. Butner isn't an answer
for the left back position as well.
Towards the end of last season, Rooney reveled in the No.10
role, playing just off Hernandez in a position that allowed him to exert more
influence and dictate the flow of games.
He is likely to play a similar role this season, particularly inEurope , after he
returns from injury. Eleven men take the field, but, more so than
ever, Ferguson
He is likely to play a similar role this season, particularly in
Tottenham Hotspur
The Whites were ignored a champions league spot last season,
after Chelsea
Early summer signings of Gylfi Sigurdsson and Jan Vertonghen
were brilliant piece of business done by the Portuguese, thus
adding depth in defence and midfield, even if they do have worryingly few
options up front. Defoe and Adebayor will be key players, along with high
flying Gareth Bale.
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| Dembele - Spurs' New Key Man |
Luka Modric will be thoroughly missed, Scott Parker is
a long-term injury casualty – and this is where Sandro; a guy with a lot of
talent and huge potential, gets his chance to prove his worth.
After being spoilt in the last few seasons, the fans would love
a trophy, be it the Europa League, The FA Cup or the League Cup. 5 of the
last seven season have seen them finish in the top five of the
Premiership, including finishing fourth twice in the last 3 seasons. Same will
be expected this time around, especially after signing quality players like
Hugo Lloris, Dempsey and Dembele on deadline day.
QPR
Hughes brought in defender Nedum Onuoha as well
as forwards Djibril Cisse and Bobby Zamora during the January transfer window
and all of those players contributed to the club's success at the end of the
season. With players like Esteban Granero, Park Ji Sung, Fabio, and Robert
Green, the squad looks roaring to be the surprise package this season.
Having lost
four key players since his appointment in January 2011 – Joey Barton, Andy
Carroll, Jose Enrique and Kevin Nolan – Pardew did a magnificent job, with the
help of chief scout Graham Carr, to rebuild the side. Cheik Tioté will be
the man to watch out for this season. However, with Chelsea and Spurs strengthening, it will be very hard for Newcastle to repeat their heroics of last season. Newcastle United will enjoy a
top-half finish this season.
Stoke City
They won’t change. They will keep playing
those long-balls, they will keep playing rough and they will keep angering
their opposition teams. Playing Stoke has never been easy for other team. This
year, it will be harder to beat them as they are looking to add creativity
(sort of), signing of Charlie Adam is a signal to that, to their tough style of
play. It is already hard to handle the physical play of Stoke, add a little bit
of creativity to that and they become a stronger team. Top 10 finish is on the
cards.
Laudrup was
considered not just among the best of his generation, but among the best of all
time. A great passer of the ball himself, he will be looking to keep the main
focus on the team's passing. When team's play the possession game, it all
starts with the center midfielders. Britton may be feeling a bit lonely when
the season starts due to Joe Allen and Gylfi Sigurdsson's departures, but Swansea Swansea
West Ham
They have strengthened greatly over the
transfer window by signing players like Matt Jarvis, Yossi Benayoun and Andy
Carroll. Yossi will give them the creative edge they needed since….well…Yossi
left in 2007. Andy Carroll gives them that huge presence in the box and in
Jarvis, Andy gets a great partner as Matt Jarvis is a very good crosser of the
ball. There’s no way that West Ham are getting relegated this season.
Fulham have considerably weakened themselves by
selling 2 of their best players; Dembele and Dempsey. They have, however,
signed Berbatov and if the Bulgarian gets back to his best under Martin Jol –
the man under whom he played of his best Football – and if Bryan Ruiz does what
he is capable of, then Fulham will comfortably finish mid-table. However, there
are no ifs and buts in life, so it will be very hard for Fulham in the Premier
League this season.
West Brom, Sunderland, Reading and Norwich
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