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It’s seems like yesterday when Sergio Aguero fired home a Premier League winning goal to give Manchester City their first title in the English Premier League. Well, a lot has happened since that Sunday evening. Euro 2012 happened. The Olympics happened. Now, with the new season of the Barclay’s English Premier League knocking at the door, here’s a preview to some of the teams, their latest signings and how good they look to advance in the tournament.
Starting with the reigning Champions, Manchester City. Roberto Mancini is on a high after winning the title last season. Maybe that’s what has given him the confidence (read: over-confidence) to not sign a new player this year as he seems to be content with his winning squad. But with other teams rebuilding their side, will this be enough for the Manchester giants, or are they missing a trick? Well, we’ll see. As at the beginning of the 2011-12 season, this time too, Manchester City look like the team to beat. Mancini will be looking to keep up the good form not only in the Premier League, but also in the Champions League to save them the humiliating exit like the last year. Big question: Can City keep the crown on the Blue side of Manchester?
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The presence of Roberto Di Matteo helped Chelsea win the FA Cup and the Champions League last year, even though they won by unaesthetically “parking-the-bus”. But their lavish spending, roping in big names like Eden Hazared, Marco Marin and Oscar Dos Santos will surely work in their advantage this season. Certainly, Chelsea will feel rather unfamiliar this time. Gone is the talismanic presence of Didier Drogba as the team’s attacking nucleus. The onus is on Fernando Torres who is ready to take center stage. The single star embroidered on Chelsea’s shirts, together with the tag of ‘Champions of Europe’ will add to the pressure on the players. Pressure is also on RDM to match the Champions League Glory with his fairly new side. Munich is merely a glorious memory. The real challenge lies ahead. Big question: “How much time will the manager be given?”
The big question for Arsenal is ‘Will the new recruits be able to make up for Robin van Persie’s departure?’ Well, the likes of Santi Cazorla, Olivier Giroud and Lukas Podolski are very much capable. The club’s seven-year old trophy drought will ratchet up the pressure still further and it would be good for Wenger to think that he could have better luck with injuries. Even though Arsene Wenger is in a better position than he was this time 12 months ago, this will probably be the weakest team he has had in a while, and they could be in danger of missing out on Champions League next year. With the nucleus of their side leaving the club in the last couple of years and the injury woes, it will be an uphill task for Arsenal to hold their supremacy in the ‘Big 4′.
Boss Brendan Rodgers will lead Liverpool for the 1st time in the League. They have been the most unsettled side among the top flight teams in the recent past. Critics and pundits say they are no more a part of the ‘Big 4′. Barring the League Cup win last year, they don’t have many things to boast about. And the story of their failure is not hidden to anyone. Multiple changes for the post of the manager, flop signings and inconsistent performance from their top players have lead them lose a place in the Champions League for the past three years now. Failing to live up to even the lowest expectations, things are looking up this season with a new manager and a formation that may be better suited to the Reds. The additions of Joe Allen and Fabio Borini are a boost for the squad. Departure of experienced mid-fielders like Dirk Kuyt and Maxi Rodriguez will surely hurt the Merseyside squad. The foremost priority for Brendan Rodgers should be to cement a place for his side in the coveted Champions League.
After a trophy-less season, Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United should put the last day of the previous season behind them. Injury crisis (missing up to 14 players at one stage) has hit the Red Devils real hard in the past two years. But it looks much better this year with Anderson, Tom Cleverly and most importantly, the captain marvel, Nemanja Vidic all back in the side. With the new signings in the form of ‘Premier League Player of the Year’ (Robin Van Persie) and ‘Bundesliga Player of the Year’ (Shinji Kagawa), Manchester United have rebuilt a formidable side to compete against the other giants. Not to forget Nick Powell, a raw but talented mid-fielder. The other challenge for Sir Alex will be to re-assert the team in Europe after their mortified exit last season, dropping into the Europa League. Yet, the priority, will clearly be Premier League. Manchester United have enough know-how and depth to believe that they can win title number 20. It will be a mouth-watering prospect for the fans to see ‘the best striking force’, (Yes, that is what Wayne Rooney and Robin Van Persie are being called) who have a combined total of 71 goals in the last season. But the big question here is, “How will they adopt to playing with each other?”
Tottenham Hotspur have a new manager with a point to prove. It will be Andre Villas Boas’ return to English football after he was sacked last season. The excitement in the Spurs camp is palpable. They have had so much going for them in the last couple of years. But at the back of their mind, there is this fear that it could all go horribly wrong. Their best player last season, Scott Parker will not play until October. Luka Modric, the playmaker is likely to leave. With limited signings in the form of Jan Vertonghen and Gylfi Sigurdsson, they are left with only one senior striker, Jermain Defoe. Gareth Bale and Rafael Van Der Vaart seems to be the only saviours for the club. But the plus for Spurs is the style of play that Villas-Boas implements, which suits their young side. Villas-Boas has the reason to be worried, because Harry Redknapp was axed after overseeing fourth, fifth and fourth place Premier League finishes in the last three years. Big question: ”Will Spurs be able to reach the Champions League after the last season’s heartbreak?”
Only a season after returning to the top flight, Newcastle United relied on some tremendous bargains in the transfer market to propel them to a spot in Europe. Who would have thought the signings of Demba Ba, Yohan Cabaye, David Santon and Pappis Cisse would prove a success. Not to forget the talisman Hatem Ben Arfa. A clever tactician and astute man manager, Alan Pardew thoroughly deserved his manager of the year award. But the bar has been raised. So far, the new signings have been youthful and low key. No significant departure except Danny Guthrie, will ensure the Magpies to play almost the same side as last season. This, after all is a season the Newcastle United are looking forward to with optimism rather than drawing solace from past glories. Big question: “Can they stay near the top of the table with the big guns?”
Besides, there are teams like Everton. Manager David Moyes has been great at bringing Steven Pienaar and Steven Naismith in the squad. If this side, for once can get off to a flyer, the could make Europe. Big question: “Can they finish higher than their Merseyside rivals two years in a row?”
Tony Pulis’ Stoke City have had a incredible form of run at their home ground, Britannia Stadium in the past years. They do not look to change their style of play and the Potters will not be any easier to beat with their strong defence.
Swansea surprised many in the Premier League last year with their fluid play and solid defending and finishing mid-table. There is no telling if they can repeat the feat without their ex-manager Brendan Rodgers and star Gylfi Sigurdsson. Michael Laudrup has a tough job. And for them to stay in the top flight, they would certainly need another super season from their goalkeeper, Michel Vorm.
Last season when City beat United 6-1, critics said that it was a regime shift and United’s dominance was drawing to a close. But Manchester United bounced back up until the last day and the last minute. And for the first time, they were the victims of melodrama. City emerged victorious on goal difference. But will they dominate yet again, or United will be crowned champions, or we will see the likes of Chelsea lift the trophy, remains the biggest question as we await the start of a fresh season of English football.
