Boy have I missed it! The World Cup ebbed and flowed, went in and out, up and down, whatever you say - but it just wasn't quite the same as what we have from August until May each season. If you're looking for the best footballing talent in the world, sadly, I feel you have to look largely towards the Premier League - week-in, week-out, it just doesn't get any better.
So, onto 2010/2011, the nineteenth season of the top divison of English football as we know it today. Immediately the rules differ slightly - a squad cap has been imposed on all clubs, allowing a maximum of 25 players over the age of 21 to be chosen for selection in the Premier League. In addition, eight of these players must be "home-grown" i.e. domestically registered to any club for three seasons prior to their 21st birthday.
All very interesting - it may lead to perhaps the emergence of some young talent on the big stage for clubs who struggle for money and whose range will be restricted in the transfer market consequently. Plus it means clubs like greedy-guts on the blue side of Manchester will in all likelihood have to ask players to leave in order to help trim down; contrast that with Liverpool who are currently struggling to get to 25 as it is (that may change however, if transfer funds are injected into the club as a result of a change in ownership).
Now, baring in mind I am a Manchester United supporter, perhaps this season preview will be a tad biased. I'll do my best, but I make no promises.
I’ll start by highlighting Aston Villa, Tottenham and Everton as the outsiders for a top five place - they all have squads that have been built on over the summer and managers whose heads are screwed on the correct way around. Put them down for 6th, 7th and 8th. Fulham should be okay again, and along with Blackburn I reckon they’ll complete the top 10. Who to go down? Well, that’s anyone’s guess, it’s usually two of the promoted clubs that go back where they came from plus one existing Premier League side, and on that basis, it’s West Brom, Blackpool and Wigan for the drop. Newcastle United should squeak back in for 2011/2012, with many of their squad having had previous top-flight experience, which should be enough to see them through. I’m sure that the safety zone of 15th-17th will be extremely hard-fought for, though, as always.
Now let’s take a look at the realistic title contenders, of which I think there are five:
ARSENAL - Last Season: 3rd, 10/11 Prediction: 3rd
At some point every season, the press go ape over Arsenal's style of play; their apparent sexy football so superior in every single way to any other team who have ever played the game. Now that's all very well as we know, but as the last six years have proved, that wins you next to nothing. I don't think this season will be any different. They may smash a few teams before Christmas and look like they might be onto something, then pick up a few injuries or setbacks and slip into dropping lots of points away from home because they don't have the experience to deal with the demands of the title run-in. Wenger's a fantastic manager but that can only get you so far; the players have to stand up for themselves. Marouane Chamakh and Laurent Koscielny could prove to be excellent signings, Chamakh in particular is one to watch with van Persie up front. They'll look promising, before slowly fading away. Sound familiar?
So, onto 2010/2011, the nineteenth season of the top divison of English football as we know it today. Immediately the rules differ slightly - a squad cap has been imposed on all clubs, allowing a maximum of 25 players over the age of 21 to be chosen for selection in the Premier League. In addition, eight of these players must be "home-grown" i.e. domestically registered to any club for three seasons prior to their 21st birthday.
All very interesting - it may lead to perhaps the emergence of some young talent on the big stage for clubs who struggle for money and whose range will be restricted in the transfer market consequently. Plus it means clubs like greedy-guts on the blue side of Manchester will in all likelihood have to ask players to leave in order to help trim down; contrast that with Liverpool who are currently struggling to get to 25 as it is (that may change however, if transfer funds are injected into the club as a result of a change in ownership).
Now, baring in mind I am a Manchester United supporter, perhaps this season preview will be a tad biased. I'll do my best, but I make no promises.
I’ll start by highlighting Aston Villa, Tottenham and Everton as the outsiders for a top five place - they all have squads that have been built on over the summer and managers whose heads are screwed on the correct way around. Put them down for 6th, 7th and 8th. Fulham should be okay again, and along with Blackburn I reckon they’ll complete the top 10. Who to go down? Well, that’s anyone’s guess, it’s usually two of the promoted clubs that go back where they came from plus one existing Premier League side, and on that basis, it’s West Brom, Blackpool and Wigan for the drop. Newcastle United should squeak back in for 2011/2012, with many of their squad having had previous top-flight experience, which should be enough to see them through. I’m sure that the safety zone of 15th-17th will be extremely hard-fought for, though, as always.
Now let’s take a look at the realistic title contenders, of which I think there are five:
ARSENAL - Last Season: 3rd, 10/11 Prediction: 3rd
At some point every season, the press go ape over Arsenal's style of play; their apparent sexy football so superior in every single way to any other team who have ever played the game. Now that's all very well as we know, but as the last six years have proved, that wins you next to nothing. I don't think this season will be any different. They may smash a few teams before Christmas and look like they might be onto something, then pick up a few injuries or setbacks and slip into dropping lots of points away from home because they don't have the experience to deal with the demands of the title run-in. Wenger's a fantastic manager but that can only get you so far; the players have to stand up for themselves. Marouane Chamakh and Laurent Koscielny could prove to be excellent signings, Chamakh in particular is one to watch with van Persie up front. They'll look promising, before slowly fading away. Sound familiar?
CHELSEA - Last Season: Champions, 10/11 Prediction: 2nd
On the face of it they certainly deserved the title last year. I'm not bitter. They were just that little bit better - that's all it takes - and didn't drop points in as many stupid games like United and Arsenal did. Having lost Juliano Belletti, Joe Cole and Michael Ballack, who in particular had a poor season last time around, Carlo Ancelotti has brought in Yossi Benayoun and Ramires who should prove solid if unspectacular replacements. They're in about the same state as last season for me, with the returns of Michael Essien and Jose Bosingwa after injury also a boost. The key to their success may well lie in goal - in the most part, treating Petr Cech with kid gloves. While I don't think he has been exactly the same man since his accident in 2006 (in all honesty, who would be?), he still remains an integral and essential part to Chelsea's backline. Ross Turnbull looked shaky last year in the few first team chances he got, and in pre-season, plus we all know Hilario is prone to the hilarious for all the wrong reasons. Expect Drogba and Lampard to bang in the goals throughout the year, firing them extremely close to two in a row once again.
On the face of it they certainly deserved the title last year. I'm not bitter. They were just that little bit better - that's all it takes - and didn't drop points in as many stupid games like United and Arsenal did. Having lost Juliano Belletti, Joe Cole and Michael Ballack, who in particular had a poor season last time around, Carlo Ancelotti has brought in Yossi Benayoun and Ramires who should prove solid if unspectacular replacements. They're in about the same state as last season for me, with the returns of Michael Essien and Jose Bosingwa after injury also a boost. The key to their success may well lie in goal - in the most part, treating Petr Cech with kid gloves. While I don't think he has been exactly the same man since his accident in 2006 (in all honesty, who would be?), he still remains an integral and essential part to Chelsea's backline. Ross Turnbull looked shaky last year in the few first team chances he got, and in pre-season, plus we all know Hilario is prone to the hilarious for all the wrong reasons. Expect Drogba and Lampard to bang in the goals throughout the year, firing them extremely close to two in a row once again.
LIVERPOOL - Last Season: 7th, 10/11 Prediction: 4th
The fact that Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres have both committed their (short-term) futures to Liverpool will give fans and players alike a welcome psychological boost ahead of a season that should end in a much better fashion than 2009/2010. The arrival of Roy Hodgson can surely only propel them close to European glory once again and they may be an outside bet for the FA Cup too. There’s no doubt either that Joe Cole is a fantastic signing and he should provide some creativity in tough situations that is evidently much-needed. I feel that Maxi Rodriguez may be one to look out for as well; a summer playing alongside Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Higuain, Juan Sebastian Veron and Carlos Tevez can have done him no harm whatsoever. Their starting XI looks, on paper, the strongest it has been in possibly the last four or five years, but it’s the squad that wins trophies and this is undoubtedly where Liverpool will fall short again. If Torres, Gerrard, or both, get injured - it’s not looking good to say the least. Having said that, David Ngog can’t get too much worse.
The fact that Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres have both committed their (short-term) futures to Liverpool will give fans and players alike a welcome psychological boost ahead of a season that should end in a much better fashion than 2009/2010. The arrival of Roy Hodgson can surely only propel them close to European glory once again and they may be an outside bet for the FA Cup too. There’s no doubt either that Joe Cole is a fantastic signing and he should provide some creativity in tough situations that is evidently much-needed. I feel that Maxi Rodriguez may be one to look out for as well; a summer playing alongside Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Higuain, Juan Sebastian Veron and Carlos Tevez can have done him no harm whatsoever. Their starting XI looks, on paper, the strongest it has been in possibly the last four or five years, but it’s the squad that wins trophies and this is undoubtedly where Liverpool will fall short again. If Torres, Gerrard, or both, get injured - it’s not looking good to say the least. Having said that, David Ngog can’t get too much worse.
MANCHESTER CITY - Last Season: 5th, 10/11 Prediction: 5th
The Massives. With the transfer market at their finger-tips. And do you know what? They’ll only balls it up. David Silva, Jerome Boateng, Yaya Toure and Aleksandar Kolarov, the most impressive transfer “in” list in the Premier League. And it’s down to Roberto Mancini to fit them in with Richards, Bridge, Zabaleta, Johnson, Wright-Phillips, Ireland, Adebayor, Santa Cruz, Barry, Lescott, Vieira, Tevez, de Jong... you get the picture. There are essentially too many players - the quality is there, undoubtedly. Last year, their home form was usually good but their away fixtures always let them down, a trend you’d expect to see I suppose, with 48,000 lunatics with their heads in the clouds cheering them on at Eastlands. But it’s Mancini’s head on the chopping block if he cannot pull it off. How do you cope with over-paid prima donnas who begin to get restless if they’re not playing every week? I’m sure at some point this season, he’ll find out.
The Massives. With the transfer market at their finger-tips. And do you know what? They’ll only balls it up. David Silva, Jerome Boateng, Yaya Toure and Aleksandar Kolarov, the most impressive transfer “in” list in the Premier League. And it’s down to Roberto Mancini to fit them in with Richards, Bridge, Zabaleta, Johnson, Wright-Phillips, Ireland, Adebayor, Santa Cruz, Barry, Lescott, Vieira, Tevez, de Jong... you get the picture. There are essentially too many players - the quality is there, undoubtedly. Last year, their home form was usually good but their away fixtures always let them down, a trend you’d expect to see I suppose, with 48,000 lunatics with their heads in the clouds cheering them on at Eastlands. But it’s Mancini’s head on the chopping block if he cannot pull it off. How do you cope with over-paid prima donnas who begin to get restless if they’re not playing every week? I’m sure at some point this season, he’ll find out.
MANCHESTER UNITED - Last Season: 2nd, 10/11 Prediction: Champions
I think Sir Alex has just about got the squad balance right this year, with the youth talent as strong as ever whilst the golden oldies are still going but are in all likelihood about to begin a final farewell. Admittedly it would be better if such things existed as an Owen Hargreaves who could stand up and a Rio Ferdinand who can run quickly without bandages on his body, and sadly I do fear both those things are going to be lacking in 2010/2011. Having said that, Anderson is due to return from injury in early September, Nemanja Vidic has signed a new contract and a hideously expensive Chris Smalling is going to get some lessons from the very best - so it’s not all bad news. Plus there’s a certain Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez in town who, put simply, is a 22 year-old fit Michael Owen who scores goals, on the back of a promising World Cup. And of course there’s everyone’s favourite Bulgarian, Dimitar Berbatov, who I hope manages to shut up the critics for once and bag his first 20-goal season haul for the club. If Wayne Rooney stops smoking and dirtying the streets at 3am, and pisses all over the 19 other Premier League teams instead (and there’s no dropped points to promoted sides), the trophy will be back where it belongs, for the 12th time. But it will certainly be no walk in the park.
I think Sir Alex has just about got the squad balance right this year, with the youth talent as strong as ever whilst the golden oldies are still going but are in all likelihood about to begin a final farewell. Admittedly it would be better if such things existed as an Owen Hargreaves who could stand up and a Rio Ferdinand who can run quickly without bandages on his body, and sadly I do fear both those things are going to be lacking in 2010/2011. Having said that, Anderson is due to return from injury in early September, Nemanja Vidic has signed a new contract and a hideously expensive Chris Smalling is going to get some lessons from the very best - so it’s not all bad news. Plus there’s a certain Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez in town who, put simply, is a 22 year-old fit Michael Owen who scores goals, on the back of a promising World Cup. And of course there’s everyone’s favourite Bulgarian, Dimitar Berbatov, who I hope manages to shut up the critics for once and bag his first 20-goal season haul for the club. If Wayne Rooney stops smoking and dirtying the streets at 3am, and pisses all over the 19 other Premier League teams instead (and there’s no dropped points to promoted sides), the trophy will be back where it belongs, for the 12th time. But it will certainly be no walk in the park.
