The Premier League is upon us this weekend and after a long wait of no club football in the top flight of England and poor international performances from some of our youth levels, we are ready and excited! Change is all around us though managerial wise.
No more Sir Alex and I can say as a Newcastle fan, he will be missed! David Moyes leaves Everton and takes the reigns at Manchester United. The Special One returns to Stamford Bridge from sunny Spain and is likely to cause an uprising in the title dominance of Manchester the last few years and some other switch around have occurred during the off-season including Manuel Pellegrini joining City to try to win more silverware at the club. Roberto Martinez takes over Everton after his Wigan were relegated.
The title race has become even more interesting now Jose, Manuel and David have all joined new clubs. Jose Mourinho will be revved up and ready to go to try to win the title on his return and it will be dangerous to stand in the way of the him.
Manuel Pellegrini leaves Malaga to take over the 2011/12 EPL title winners, Manchester City and has brought in just under £100m of new talent to strengthen his squad and will challenge for the title this season. With Sir Alex leaving, the title race has become wide open.
David Moyes takes the reigns but might not be as influential on the team as SAF was. The change in managers at Old Trafford could either be a bad thing or a good thing. United haven’t bought many players this window and United fans are calling for him to spend money on new players such as Cesc, Baines and others. Even Ronaldo!
The relegation has still been hot since the end of the season a number of teams are in contention for the drop. Some of the most significant ones are the Prem new boys in Hull, Cardiff and Crystal Palace who could end up going straight back down this season.
It is unlikely that all of the them will go down but a prediction for one of them to go down wouldn’t be far wrong. Cardiff seem the strongest out the lot because of their domination in the Championship last season and surely can stay up. Norwich, Sunderland and Stoke are all in danger to go down. West Ham, Aston Villa and Fulham are all up for the drop. Newcastle had a poor campaign last season and could also have a relegation battle on their hands if they don’t turn things around but with the appointment of Joe Kinnear, an uproar at the club as came about from the fans and the club is currently in a state.
Players have been switching around, moving from club to club this window and clubs have been spending mega bucks to strengthen and improve their teams. Talent from oversea’s have joined some of the big boys.
Jovetic, Fernandinho, Negredo, and Navas have all left their clubs abroad to join City and have added a bit of dynamite to the City attack and midfield. Pellegrini has surely improved his team and with these players at his disposal he can challenge for titles this season.
Chelsea have brought in Andre Schurrle and Liverpool have brought in Iago Aspas and Simon Mignolet. Arsenal have only signed Yaya Sanogo. Manchester United haven’t brought in anyone massive to make their team any stronger but have the arrival of Zaha back from loan to boost their performances. Tottenham have managed to grab the signature of Roberto Soldado from Valencia and Brazilian star Paulinho.
The big boys aren’t the only one to be spending. Norwich grabbed Ricky van Wolfswinkel, Gary Hooper and Nathan Redmond which will surely manage to enhance their relegation fight. Southampton will join them in that relegation battle but with the help of Victor Wanyama. Sunderland have bought 9 new stars to benefit their survival chances including Giaccherini who had an actual campaign in the Confederations Cup for Italy.
Predictions:
Top 4 – Champions and Champions League
1st – Chelsea
2nd – Man City
3th – Man Utd
4th – Tottenham
Europa League spots –
5th – Arsenal
6th – Liverpool
Relegation –
18th – Stoke
19th – Sunderland
20th – Hull City