Barclays Premier League 2012-13: An Insight

The Barclays Premier league kicks off in about two weeks, and the thought of weekend football returning after, two long months, gets the football fan inside me excited. If the season that commences is half as gripping as the previous one, we are in for a gala time.

With each of the 20 teams entering the Barclays Premier League season with their own transfer preparations and their own small or big personal motivations, the season promises to be an absolute cracker. It is when expectations clash, that competition to overcome the others begins. And this same high competitiveness of the Barclays Premier league distinguishes it from the rest. Not only is it the toughest league in the world, it is also the most viewer-friendly league in the world because of its lucid analysis, and vivid commentary, and top imaginative broadcasting. That perhaps is the stand out reason, as to why it is the most loved and the most watched league in the word

The transfer market does bobble up with surprises many a times. This one has not shied off surprising us either. With Brazilian masterclass Lucas Moura joining PSG with a wealthy package, dumping Manchester United, the last 20 days of the transfer market promise to thrill. Arsenal, most convincingly, have looked major investors in the transfer market, most of which looks to be an outcome of a resolute Arsene Wenger, who is either trying his best to keep talismanic Dutch striker Robin Van Persie at the Emirates Stadium, or doing his best to strengthen the squad in a measure to replace the aura of the Dutchman. From the way the Van Persie saga has unfolded in the last 2 weeks, with rumors of Sir Alex and his Manchester United having agreed a fee for Van Persie, the latter seems more believable.

Inspite of the signing of Oliver Giroud as a possible replacement for Van Persie, Lukas Podolski from Germany and SantiCazorla from Spain have been signed, each of which cost Arsenal around 10-15 million pounds. Arsenal still continue to be the second heaviest spenders this transfer window; second, only to a certain Chelsea.

Chelsea on the back of a pathetic first half and a historic second half of the season, have made it a point to cover every possible position on the football pitch with quality players.Having won the champions league by defeating Bayern Munich and the FA cup against Liverpool, Chelsea are high on motivation. Having spent more than 30 million pounds on the world’s most ominous prospect, Eden Hazard, 25 odd million on one of the most spoken of midfielders, Oscar, and 6 odd million on Marco Marin from Germany, Chelsea have made their intentions pretty clear. After a rebuilding process and a process of buying the very best in the world, Chelsea are now a formidable force once again.

Manchester City, in contradiction to their high spending reputation, are yet to spend in the transfer market, though one can only believe that it is merely the lack of necessity of new signings that has restricted Italian master tactician Roberto Mancini from entering the transfer market. With a squad that can challenge any team in the world in any given competition without new enforcements , Manchester City are always going to be a force to reckon unless they decide to throw it away themselves.Though one would not bet against them going in favorites for the title, they could find themselves a defender short, as the legs start to tire come March. Manchester City is clearly the No.1 contender for the title, at this point in time.

Manchester United, for whom last season was a case of being ‘so close yet so far’ are clearly in the running, just like every season for a title bid. With the signing of highly talented Japanese central midfielder Shinji Kagawa from German club Borussia Dortmund, Manchester United find themselves a leftback and a defensive midfielder short of being a complete title challenging side. But Sir Alex Ferguson has his plan set, and not much can be said against Sir Alex Ferguson’s understanding of the game. One thing though that can be said, as has been a recurrent feature of Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson, a title challenge will be there in the offering.

Tottenham Hotspurs and Liverpool have done their share of transfers, with Spurs signing prolific Dutch defender Jan Vertonghen from Ajax, and Gylfi Sigurdsson from Swansea. Spurs have made themselves competent for a place in the top 4, though the task at hand could be made rather difficult by the departure of Luka Modric to Real Madrid. Luka Modric has been the creator-in-chief for Tottenham and will be too big a gap to fill up.

Liverpool, on the other hand, has made just two signings where most would have predicted a rather busy transfer period. Fabio Borini from Roma and Joe Allen from Swansea being the two, while Alberto Aquilani, Dirk Kuyt and Maximilano Rodriguez are three main team players Liverpool have sold; two of whom need to be replaced, besides strengthening the squad. Liverpool will be hoping to up their tempo in the transfer market if they are to stand any chance of even challenging the top4, come next season.

Having had a fabulous Barclays Premier League season last season, this one promises only to get better0 as the season progresses. With a bag full of new talents shipping into England, it only could get better. Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea look to make the title race a three-way affair, in contrast to a two-way affair that it was last season. Arsenal and Tottenham will make it a North London affair when it comes to challenging for the fourth and final Champion League spot; Liverpool and Newcastle United could be in with an outside chance, though highly unlikely.

With the opening day of the season only 7 days away, a football fans’ excitement knows no bounds, as each fan hopes that his club endeavors to begin the next season with a positive start. Looking at it from a football fans’ perspective, it promises much more than it did 12 months ago. As we enter the most exciting time of the year, we are in for an absolute cracker.