EPL: What to expect of your team after the January Transfer Window - Part 1

The winter transfer window is an important window for the clubs, as by this time, the clubs have more realistic ambitions for themselves than what they have at the start of the season. The back-up plans for injured or unhappy players need to be executed in this time too, while for the younger players who could not break into the team since the beginning, it is time to go out on loan and prove their worth.

With the winter transfer window now closed, teams could either look back with satisfaction of implementing their mid-season raid and strengthening their squad, or could be left frustrated of not acquiring the desired players. Here, I analyze what to expect of the PL teams with their final squad in hand for the rest of the season. here are the first 10 teams (in alphabetical order) in part-1 of the article.

Arsenal

While the supporters would love to believe that their team is in the title race, critics and neutral fans are waiting for Arsenal to crumble under pressure and injuries again. They still have to face Liverpool, Chelsea and Man City in the league in the reverse fixtures. And Everton, Tottenham and Man Utd would try their best to put Arsenal out of the title race. The fixture list does not help Arsenal a lot either, they face Man Utd, Liverpool(twice) and Bayern Munich within 2 weeks in February and again face Bayern Munich, Tottenham, Chelsea and Manchester City in quick succession in March.

In case Arsenal qualifies for the next round in the UCL, their fixture list would complicate further. Arsenal no doubt have a talented and young squad but they lack the necessary depth to win the EPL with these many crucial matches lying in wait for them and their main players being injured.

Arsene did bring in Kallstrom in January to help relieve pressure on the midfield players, but he too was injured before he signed and isn’t expected back until March. I would say that they have an outside chance to win the Premier League this time. Their chances would be more clear by the end of March.

Aston Villa

It is all about hanging to that 10th spot for Lambert and his squad, 9th placed Southampton is 8 points above them and there is no way Villa can go above 10th. Benteke is showing signs of his last season form again, and he along with goalie Guzan would be crucial for Villa’s fight for the 10th place. They would need more than 3 clean-sheets that they kept in the first-half of the season to be where they are right now.

Cardiff City

Under the new manager who was appointed on the suggestion of the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson, and with Zaha, Fabio and Kenwyn Jones signing for the club, Cardiff is set to fight till the last match to stay in the Premier League. The comeback recorded against fellow strugglers Norwich is a sign of things to come, especially for a club which has the habit of throwing away matches in the last quarter of the match, conceding 17 of their 41 goals in that period. An in-form Jordan Mutch and new signing Zaha hold the key for the bluebirds in red.

Chelsea

Along with Manchester City, Chelsea are the most genuine contenders for the title this season. Jose Mourinho, always plays to win any competition he enters and no matter what he says in the press, in the team meetings he must have been always motivating and pushing his players to do the same. While the talisman of last year Juan Mata left the club, there is no shortage of talent and depth at Stamford Bridge with two more new signings – Matic and Salah – signing for the club in January.

They will primarily play to push Chelsea’s challenge in the PL as they are unavailable for the Champions League, having played in the competition with their previous club. Of the top 3, Chelsea have the easiest fixtures left in the PL and hence, may just go all the way. But a win against Man City tonight is a must to prove their credentials for the title.

Crystal Palace

A hectic deadline day, with two loan signings in the form of Tom Ince and Joe Ledley and Scott Dann on a permanent transfer would have made Palace’s supporters happy. Palace have been consistently poor performers in the League, though have been on the rise match by match under Tony Pulis.

With new attacking power added in the January, Palace looks set to improve their 0.62 goal/match average but would have to improve their performance on the road (W2, L10), especially when they cannot expect much of their home matches left against the likes of Chelsea, Man Utd, Man City and Liverpool, if they want to stay above the relegation zone at the end of the season.

Everton

Roberto Martinez is proving to be even better than David Moyes for Everton. Not only was he able to convince the likes of Leighton Baines, Phil Jagielka and Osman to stay at the club, he got in players who are making the difference on the field and he is getting the best out of the likes of Mirallas, Coleman and Ross Barkley. Everton have scored about 60% of their total goals in the last quarter, proving that they have the character required to compete in the league.

Competing with Liverpool and Spurs for the fourth spot is tough, and Everton would require their full playing XI in good form to get the results against the biggies that they would face in the coming months. But Everton can take a little motivation from the return of Baines and the fact that they would face 50% of their remaining matches at home, where they have won 8 out of their 12 matches yet.

Fulham

Fulham have conceded most goals in the league till now and the figure is likely going to increase judging from their current form. No number of new signings could save their season it seems, with their lead striker, Barbatov leaving the club to help Monaco in their title quest. Fulham are currently bottom of the table, and are likely to stay their at the end of the season.

Hull

At the beginning of the season, Hull City were the bookies favourite to get relegated at the end of Gameweek 38, as they had virtually scraped through with 1 goal or 2 goal wins in the Championship the season before. But Steve Bruce proved everyone wrong, and though they are only 2 points above the relegation zone, it is only the current form of 4W and 1D in the last 5 that has made their relegation fight complex. With at least 4 winnable matches left(Sunderland, Cardiff, WBA and Fulham) in for them, Hull might scrap through again, this time to stay in the PL.

Liverpool

What a fantastic season Liverpool have had. Suarez and Sturridge have been in super-form, one can only wonder where Liverpool had been, had both of them been available for every match. Mignolet has been in great form for them too keeping 7 clean-sheets so far and making some crucial match saving saves. While they cannot be considered as title contenders anymore, I believe they can hang on to that fourth and final coveted UCL spot.

Surely, this would be a big boost for the club which would convince more big names to join and Suarez to stay at the club. Liverpool are yet to face Arsenal and Manchester City in the reverse fixtures. A win in the two would greatly help them and even Chelsea to achieve their respective goals of the season.

Manchester City

They are my favorite to win the league this time, and it breaks my heart to say it as I support Chelsea. 68 goals already in the Premier League, they may even go-on to break Chelsea’s record of 103 goals in the league. With a 12 match unbeaten run, it would require a mammoth effort in every match and a bit of luck to stop the Manchester City juggernaut.

With captain Vincent Kompany back for the team, Yaya Toure and the defensive unit becoming consistent and players like Jesus Navas and Alvaro Negredo proving their worth with every passing match, City can very well look to score the quadruple this season.