Last season gave us one of the most thrilling competitions both at the top of the table and bottom, and gave us something to look forward to as this season kicked off.
But to project, we must reflect – and last season illustrated a couple of key trends:
1. The traditional ‘Top Four’ mythos no longer exists:
In recent years, model of the premier league top teams seemed somewhat static and whilst the footballing world enjoyed the development of English football and the excitement it brought, there has always been fear that the Premier League could follow the path blazed by other European leagues. In Germany, bar three seasons where Stuggart, Werder Bremen and Wolfsburg, the Bundesliga has been won by either current champions Bayern Munich or rivals Borrusia Dortmund since 1998. Similarly, in the La Liga, only three other teams (Atletico Madrid, Deportiva La Coruna and Athletico Bilbao) have lifted the Spanish crown since 1984.
Last season saw arguably the toughest competition in recent history, with the revival of Liverpool, England’s most successful team in the 1970s who claimed both the 1st and 2nd top goalscorers in Sturridge and Suarez. And then there was the challenge for fourth from Martinez’s Everton, who mounted serious pressure on the likes of FA Cup winners Arsenal and local rivals Spurs.
Meanwhile, the battle at the top of table with Chelsea and Man City, with Liverpool in the mix made for a great war, and the footballing world remained at the edge of their seats at every 90-minute battle. Even the battle for relegation was impressive in its own right, with Gus Poyet’s Sunderland displaying the fight of their lives to survive another season, with only 8 points separating bottom position to 14th.
The premier league has proved to be not as cutthroat as its European counterparts and you should again expect epic battles across the whole table in a league that proved in recent years that anything can happen.
2. All teams are willing to spend and the World Cup meant that the traditional influx of players into the League was inevitable for players who shone in Brazil:
Former Barcelona star Bojan Krkic recently completed his move to Stoke, their second player from Barcelona after the transfer of Muniesa, who gained first team experience at the Nou Camp. Manchester United’s acquisition of Luke Shaw for £27m illustrated the English team’s willingness to pay the price to ward off competition from Europe and from rivals.
Fabregas’ return and the introduction of world stars such as Diego Costa, Alexis Sanchez and Ander Herrera illustrated that the Premier League were willing to compete with the world’s top leagues to land the world’s best. Leicester City, Everton, Hull, West Ham have all broken their transfer records this season already in hope to strengthen their squads.
So what are the odds?
Favourites: Chelsea
Tactical Mourinho has made it a point of duty to ensure his squad consists of at at least two players in each position that can compete at the top level. He has also demonstrated his thirst for glory. With Diego Costa and the return to the Premier League for Courtois and Fabregas, Mourinho’s empire is pretty much complete. Not the best pre-season record, but there’s now 38 fixtures for the likes of Oscar, Hazard and Diego Costa to highlight the strength and depth of the squad.
2nd Place: Manchester City
Last season’s champions will not be refuted as strong challengers to this season’s crown and although they didn’t play the same football as Liverpool or Chelsea, they illustrated the greatest depth and stability to handle the remaining games of last season. Pellegrini has also brought in the likes Fernando and Mangala from Porto to offer assurances in positions he believed required a few tweaks. If the likes of Yaya Toure and Aguero, who opened his season goal-scoring account over the weekend, escape injury, City definitely have the depth, experience and longevity to retain their title.
3rd Place: Arsenal
Wenger starts his 19th season in the Premier League after guiding his team to FA Cup glory last season, Arsenal’s first domestic cup in over 8 years. Coupled with their Community shield trophy after beating Man City 3-0 means if there is any team entering this season’s campaign on a high, it’s Arsenal. This has been helped by the world class addition of Alexis Sanchez as Wenger has opted for the right players to strengthen his squad. Arsenal have knack of running of out steam towards the second half of the season, so Wenger must prove a certain degree of depth and defensive resilience to match the sort of football played at the Emirates.
4th Place: Manchester United
Pre-season saw the beginnings of Old Trafford under the era of accomplished manager Louis Van Gaal, who has demanded the sort of respect Moyes couldn’t in the whole ten-month tenure as manager at Old Trafford. And this has worked wonders in pre-season in the way LVG has mirrored the rule with fear which Ferguson created as manager, but in his own way – with wins against Real Madrid, Liverpool and AC Milan.
If LVG can emulate the same in the Premier League this season, Manchester United will find themselves back in the Champions League next year. A push for title may be a too much expect for United, who have lost the likes of Evra, Vidic and Ferdinand.
Problems at the back were exposed in their opening game against Swansea, but let’s look on the bright side; if they won, the obvious problems in the squad may be overlooked. The blueprint is there though for the most decorated English team of the past two decades. It is safe to say that there will be questions answered this season and if there is any team with a point to prove, it’s United – another season without Champion’s League is unthinkable for United and could spell the end of a colourful era.
But this is speculation, and it is at this point I feel the need to remind you all of the overflowing surprises the Premier League throws out every week. This is not to take anything away from Liverpool, Everton and Spurs, who will all strongly contest for Champion’s League football this season.
So what can we expect? Well, if previous seasons are to go by, ‘the unexpected’…
Premier League, welcome back – we have missed you!