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The 2019 British transfer window slammed shut on the 8th of August and like countless previous off-seasons, deadline day indulged in its manic characteristics. Despite the clubs boasting an entire summer to conduct their business, they still left it late as 6 deal sheets were submitted to the Premier League officials, hoping for an extension and further time for finalising the paperwork.
Fortunately, no mishaps were caused and teams were able to officially announce the players they’d acquired, even after the 5pm BST deadline had expired.
The 8th of August, unsurprisingly, provided plenty of excitement and luckily, for the football fanatics, that dose will get multiplied exponentially when Liverpool host Norwich City on the 9th of August. After all, the Premier League, after an 89-day hiatus, is back in town.
Inevitably, the start of a new season brings about an air of expectation among all supporters. Also, the beginning of a new term allows several people to cast their opinion on how the myriad story-lines in the top-flight would pan out.
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Thus, courtesy this article, we will make five bold predictions that might come true during the course of the Premier League season.
Without further ado, here is a look at them:
#5 Norwich to go back down to the Championship
In 2018-19, Norwich City took the Championship landscape by storm when they steamrolled every other club on their way to a title triumph. In the process, they accumulated 94 points and scored 93 goals in 46 games, a figure roughly amounting to a couple of goals scored per match.
However, while they captured everyone’s imagination with their effervescent attacking displays, their defence shipped in 57 goals over the season, meaning that they conceded more than a goal a game on average. To put things into perspective, Norwich had the fourth worst defensive record among teams that finished in the top ten.
Thus, the Canaries might have a tough task on their hands come their Premier League escapade, considering the most minute of defensive lapses get punished in the top flight. And, Norwich only need to look at Fulham in 2018-19 to drive that point home.
Moreover, the recently promoted outfit’s transfer activity (or lack of) could leave them precariously placed. Though they landed Josip Drmic and Patrick Roberts, one feels that they might just have left themselves a lot to do with a squad that is a little short on depth and experience.
#4 West Ham to return to Europe
Back in the summer of 2018, West Ham signalled their intent to return to the upper trenches of the Premier League. The Hammers installed Manuel Pellegrini at the helm and added the likes of Andriy Yarmolenko, Felipe Anderson, Issa Diop, Jack Wilshere and Lukasz Fabianski to further the Chilean’s cause.
However, the new manager took time to bed in his philosophy and that meant the East London club were playing catch-up for a majority of the season. A major chunk of the season saw the Hammers struggling in the bottom half with many even labelling the appointment of Pellegrini as dubious.
Yet, as the term progressed, the former Manchester City manager and his troops found their groove, mustering a decent end to the campaign and finishing 10th.
Moreover, they looked threatening with their offensive combinations and dominated the middle third at times. Thus, indicating that West Ham were only getting stronger under the Chilean.
And, by signing a few exciting players in the 2019 off-season, the East London outfit look primed for a raid on the European spots.
Pablo Fornals would inject a bit of guile in the creative midfield department whereas the French battering ramp, aka Sebastien Haller would provide muscle and strong displays up front.
More importantly though, they’ve managed to keep hold of their key assets. Declan Rice could’ve been the subject of quite a few enquiries but the Hammers ensured that didn’t happen by tying the midfielder down to a long-term contract, which only expires in 2024.
Diop, meanwhile, was also looked upon as a potential defensive answer by numerous clubs yet the Frenchman was convinced to remain in East London.
Additionally, the likes of Anderson, Javier Hernandez and Yarmolenko would be a lot sharper, especially after a season under Pellegrini. And, they have the reliable Mark Noble to call upon whenever things might start getting pear-shaped.
#3 Title race to be a three-horse race
Through much of last season, several pundits and fans tried to convince themselves that the Premier League title race was indeed being participated in by three teams, contrary to common belief.
At the start, many touted Chelsea to be potential contenders while that baton shifted to Tottenham through the winter months. However, neither was able to muster a challenge substantial enough to warrant a place as a genuine title hopeful.
And, that trend seemed set to continue in the upcoming season too, with Tottenham, Arsenal and Manchester United not setting the transfer window ablaze in the first half. Yet, recent events have compelled one to harbour aspirations of a proper three-horse marathon this time round.
Spurs started the off-season slowly but suddenly sprung to life in the latter phases. After not signing a footballer since January 2018, they went out and bought four players in a month and a half, metaphorically similar to those famous London buses.
Giovani Lo Celso, Ryan Sessegnon and Tanguy Ndombele should slot seamlessly into the Lilywhites squad and the acquisition of the trio has accorded much needed depth to a side that was crying out for it last term. In addition, each of those three seems an excellent fit for the Premier League and should create a huge splash in England.
Thus, Tottenham look destined to make a decent fist of their title assault in 2019-20.
As for Liverpool and Manchester City, the other runners in the race, the pair recently showcased that they’re not resting on their laurels and are rather planning another onslaught on the English top flight.
While the Reds banked on stability by not tinkering with a strong squad, the Cityzens moved in the market but only to strengthen an already superlative squad.
#2 Sam Allardyce to return to the Premier League
In 2016, Sam Allardyce was caught up in the eye of an almighty storm that had engulfed English football. A few choice remarks of the Englishman were caught on camera and he subsequently had to resign as the manager of the England national men's team, after just a solitary game.
A year later, he announced his retirement from management. Thus, many believed that he had left the game for good. Yet, a few months later, he was back on the managerial books at Everton.
Though he led the Toffees to a respectable 8th place finish in 2017-18, the Goodison faithful didn’t take too kindly to his style of football. Unsurprisingly, he left the club in May 2018.
Since then, the Englishman hasn’t returned to the dugout and even declined Newcastle’s request in June to do so. However, one feels that Allardyce has one final job left in him. And, when talking about the veteran, one reckons there won’t be a shortage of opportunities, especially during or after the festive period.
Through the course of his career, Allardyce has been casted as a messiah for bottom half clubs with his ability to organise things allowing many a side to emerge unscathed from the annual relegation rubble.
Thus, with clubs often getting stuck in the quicksand around December and January, the English manager could be in line for a shock return. And, the English top-flight would only benefit from the re-introduction of the experienced Allardyce.
Ultimately, the Premier League, for all its heart-stopping action, also needs the legend of Big Sam to rage on.
#1 Frank Lampard and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to get sacked
Chelsea are a club that is slightly in turmoil at the moment. Despite winning the Europa League a couple of months back, the West London outfit couldn’t coax David Luiz and Eden Hazard to remain put, meaning the pair departed for Arsenal and Real Madrid respectively.
More crucially though, they were unable to overturn the transfer ban that they were slapped with, a few months prior. To add to their woes, Maurizio Sarri decided to jump onto an expensively procured yacht in Turin, thereby dumping a creaking boat in West London.
With the new manager unable to bring in fresh faces for another year, the Chelsea hierarchy turned to one of their own, in an attempt to maximise the resources at their disposal. Frank Lampard was brought on board and immediately, all eyes shifted to the Englishman’s managerial pedigree.
In 2018-19, the former Chelsea midfielder took charge of Derby County and led them to the play-off final where they Were defeated by Aston Villa. Thus, Lampard showcased his credentials in his debut season as manager. Yet, managing in the Premier League is a slightly different kettle of fish.
Though the Blues have looked impressive in pre-season, one feels that Lampard’s lack of experience and the threadbare nature of their squad could eventually lead to them missing out on the top four. And, when that happens, very rarely does Roman Abramovich not pull the trigger on the manager.
A few hundred miles north, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is working furiously to assemble a team capable of challenging adroitly for the top four. In his fervent search of the ‘Manchester United DNA’, he landed Daniel James, Aaron Wan-Bissaka. Additionally, he brought Harry Maguire to Old Trafford in order to plug the holes that existed in the United rear-guard.
The pre-season results have been encouraging for the Norwegian so far. Manchester United have enjoyed a spotless pre-season and have been a bundle of energy throughout. Moreover, they’ve bought into the high-pressing idea that Solskjaer is trying to ingrain.
However, having said that, United would still be encountering problems when the season starts proper. In his little time in charge, Solskjaer has fed off the positivity of the fans and has catapulted his reputation accordingly. Yet, the jury is still out on his tactical nous and that he is just not as good some of the other managers in the league.
In addition, the Red Devils might face problems when teams start working out their primary approach. And, with Romelu Lukaku gone, goals could again start becoming a problem in the red half of Manchester.
Though Solskjaer could yet script a Pep Guardiola and Zinedine Zidane-esque managerial CV at one’s previous club, one feels that it could just be a touch out of his reach.
And, when push comes to shove in the Premier League, the Norwegian’s extreme attention to DNA might not save him. Or for that matter, even Lampard.
