EPL Preview Pt. 3
10. Aston Villa
Manager Martin O'Neill will have his side very organized and very prepared to fight for a UEFA Cup spot this season. However, I still think they are a year away from breaking out in that manner. Plus, I do not like the club's close season activity thus far. I think Nigel Reo-Coker is overrated and was the wrong guy to bring in. Perhaps O'Neill sees potential that Alan Pardew and Alan Curbishly failed to recognize or draw out of him at West Ham. I don't see him as one of the top midfielders in England like some have claimed. What were they thinking when they signed Marlon Harewood? Ashley Young and Luke Moore have had their share of brilliant moments in the pre-season. I'm not convinced Moore will be consistent the entire season, but Young could be the offensive spark. John Carew is going to score a lot of goals against bottom half clubs. Gabriel Agbonlahor is one of my favorite players in the EPL. I love his pace and his creativity. Gareth Barry is still the best player on the squad. Olof Mellberg and Wilfred Bouma already look on the decline. Bouma was never really on the rise though... Liam Ridgewell is just okay for me. If I were owner Randy Lerner I would do everything I could to get O'Neill the players he wants most. He's an outstanding manager and while he will have Villa ready to take points off clubs that brushed them aside the past few years there will still be plenty of frustrating moments for his club in 07/08.
9. Newcastle
I was almost tempted to predict a higher finish for Newcastle. But I know that they won't stay healthy, one of their biggest signings is injured and could end up in jail (Joey Barton) and another big signing is a chunky striker past his prime (Mark Viduka). Perhaps Sam Allardyce realized that he cannot count on Michael Owen to get healthy and then stay healthy. And I have to believe that his signing of Alan Smith could mean that Obafemi Martins really is unsettled at the club and will not be around the entire campaign. Which would be a shame for Newcastle fans because Martins had flashes of complete brilliance and a couple of his goals would make many Top 10 Goals of the Year lists. If his strike force falls apart Big Sam will depend heavily on midfielders like James Milner, Damien Duff and Nolberto Solano to pick up the slack. The defense is embarrassing. I don't know that the defenders on the squad would see the pitch for any other club in the top half of the table. Shay Given remains one of the best 'keepers in the EPL but he will get shelled relentlessly. Which further highlights my concern that if the goal scorers break down - I'm telling you, it WILL happen to Newcastle - supporters are going to be wondering how to stop the bleeding (literally and figuratively). If Owen is capable of playing the entire season and Martins is right there with him Newcastle could defy expecations and push hard for a UEFA Cup spot. Those players along with Smith could score enough goals to offset the inevitable deluge that the defense is going to surrender. Considering the talent that has pulled on the Black & White the past few seasons Big Sam will not be allowed much leeway and success will be expected immediately. He has double the talent available to him at Bolton during his time there. He just might be the man to bring trophies to St. James Park.
8. Everton
The news that Tim Cahill will miss the start of the season - possibly 2-3 months - had to crush manager David Moyes and his hopes of getting off to a fast start. Few players have as much influence on their club's success as Cahill has the past couple of seasons. In fact, I think he is one of the most underrated players in the world. Everton were fairly quiet in the transfer market. No real difference maker was brought in. This tells me that Moyes believes the likes of Mikel Arteta, Phil Neville and Andrew Johnson can provide leadership in the face of a several cup competitions and the domestic campaign. It also hints at Moyes' belief James Vaughan and Victor Anichebe will emerge as true stars of the EPL. Vaughan's performances towards the end of last season have me sold. He'll push AJ for the top scorer at the club and we all know how fast AJ is to fall down when pushed. Joleon Lescott shouldn't be content with his recent England call up. Lescott should be in the starting lineup for the national team. He's one of the class defenders in the EPL. Tim Howard was exceptional last season and he might have a chip on his shoulder as US National Team head coach Bob Bradley didn't confirm his position as the new #1 by giving Casey Keller plenty of time in the net during the summer's Gold Cup. Everton just don't have the squad depth to repeat the 6th place finish of last season. A signing like Phil Jagielka isn't going to make that big a difference.
7. Portsmouth
Oh that Harry Rednapp. Does he ever have an interesting pool of players to utilize in 2007/08. Several clubs were as active or more active in the transfer market, but I don't know that any EPL club did as much to improve as Portsmouth have. The first signing that jumps out at me is Sulley Muntari. Anyone that paid attention to Ghana at the World Cup in Germany saw the potential of Muntari. I expected a "big club" in Europe to snatch him up - not Portsmouth! He will be a handful in the midfield. Which just happens to be where the club has an embarrassment of riches. Matthew Taylor is becoming a player that you feel with each touch of the ball will make something great happen. Niko Kranjcar is going to be much improved and if he stops taking shots out of his range and focuses on putting the ball on target or setting up a teammate he will be something special. But Rednapp also held onto the grumpy but always dangerous Kanu, LuaLua and Benjani. Add to that dangerous group David Nugent and Portsmouth suddenly have the chance to be an imposing attacking side. I'll be most interested to see how Nugent fares against Premiership defenses. If he is able to draw defenders Kanu could have a huge year. David James is the best goalkeeper in England. He should the the national team #1 and he will single handedly win games again for the club. Sylvain Distin will prove to be a significant signing and Sol Campbell should continue his revival. Last year when Portsmouth was near the EPL summit I never felt it was a permanent situation. But they hung around all year and finished just short of qualifying for Europe. This season they will believe qualifying is realistic. It might take some getting used to, but Portsmouth are going to be near the top of the table this season and those relegation struggles are a thing of the past.
6. Arsenal
Who is going to provide leadership? Who is going to score the goals? I don't care if Arsenal strings together a hundred pretty passes in a row there is still no one there to put the ball in the back of the net. Robin Van Persie will be back healthy but he will need to form a consistent partnership with Emmanuel Adebayor. Nicklas Bendtner remains an unknown quantity. Theo Walcott has proven he has boatloads of pace but again: will he be able to score the goals? I don't see anyone in the midfield other than Cesc Fabregas that should case other clubs concern. Yes, he's one of the best in the world but one man can only do so much. Captain Gilberto will probably be spending most of his time yelling at the youngsters to get in proper position and focus. Tomas Rosicky and Alexander Hleb have been disappointing. New signing Da Silva has been playing in the Croatian football league. I highly doubt the form he displayed in that league will just transfer over to the EPL. Manager Arsene Wenger doesn't get much wrong, but Da Silva could be a huge bust. I don't know why that decision was made. Thierry Henry's absence won't be noticed too much since he wasn't around much last season either with injury problems. There are still ownership questions that the players are going to be dealing with and Wenger's future is very much in doubt at the club. They are going to struggle this season and if they get eliminated early from the Champions League and qualification for the next competition looks in doubt it could get very ugly at the Emirates.
Manager Martin O'Neill will have his side very organized and very prepared to fight for a UEFA Cup spot this season. However, I still think they are a year away from breaking out in that manner. Plus, I do not like the club's close season activity thus far. I think Nigel Reo-Coker is overrated and was the wrong guy to bring in. Perhaps O'Neill sees potential that Alan Pardew and Alan Curbishly failed to recognize or draw out of him at West Ham. I don't see him as one of the top midfielders in England like some have claimed. What were they thinking when they signed Marlon Harewood? Ashley Young and Luke Moore have had their share of brilliant moments in the pre-season. I'm not convinced Moore will be consistent the entire season, but Young could be the offensive spark. John Carew is going to score a lot of goals against bottom half clubs. Gabriel Agbonlahor is one of my favorite players in the EPL. I love his pace and his creativity. Gareth Barry is still the best player on the squad. Olof Mellberg and Wilfred Bouma already look on the decline. Bouma was never really on the rise though... Liam Ridgewell is just okay for me. If I were owner Randy Lerner I would do everything I could to get O'Neill the players he wants most. He's an outstanding manager and while he will have Villa ready to take points off clubs that brushed them aside the past few years there will still be plenty of frustrating moments for his club in 07/08.
9. Newcastle
I was almost tempted to predict a higher finish for Newcastle. But I know that they won't stay healthy, one of their biggest signings is injured and could end up in jail (Joey Barton) and another big signing is a chunky striker past his prime (Mark Viduka). Perhaps Sam Allardyce realized that he cannot count on Michael Owen to get healthy and then stay healthy. And I have to believe that his signing of Alan Smith could mean that Obafemi Martins really is unsettled at the club and will not be around the entire campaign. Which would be a shame for Newcastle fans because Martins had flashes of complete brilliance and a couple of his goals would make many Top 10 Goals of the Year lists. If his strike force falls apart Big Sam will depend heavily on midfielders like James Milner, Damien Duff and Nolberto Solano to pick up the slack. The defense is embarrassing. I don't know that the defenders on the squad would see the pitch for any other club in the top half of the table. Shay Given remains one of the best 'keepers in the EPL but he will get shelled relentlessly. Which further highlights my concern that if the goal scorers break down - I'm telling you, it WILL happen to Newcastle - supporters are going to be wondering how to stop the bleeding (literally and figuratively). If Owen is capable of playing the entire season and Martins is right there with him Newcastle could defy expecations and push hard for a UEFA Cup spot. Those players along with Smith could score enough goals to offset the inevitable deluge that the defense is going to surrender. Considering the talent that has pulled on the Black & White the past few seasons Big Sam will not be allowed much leeway and success will be expected immediately. He has double the talent available to him at Bolton during his time there. He just might be the man to bring trophies to St. James Park.
8. Everton
The news that Tim Cahill will miss the start of the season - possibly 2-3 months - had to crush manager David Moyes and his hopes of getting off to a fast start. Few players have as much influence on their club's success as Cahill has the past couple of seasons. In fact, I think he is one of the most underrated players in the world. Everton were fairly quiet in the transfer market. No real difference maker was brought in. This tells me that Moyes believes the likes of Mikel Arteta, Phil Neville and Andrew Johnson can provide leadership in the face of a several cup competitions and the domestic campaign. It also hints at Moyes' belief James Vaughan and Victor Anichebe will emerge as true stars of the EPL. Vaughan's performances towards the end of last season have me sold. He'll push AJ for the top scorer at the club and we all know how fast AJ is to fall down when pushed. Joleon Lescott shouldn't be content with his recent England call up. Lescott should be in the starting lineup for the national team. He's one of the class defenders in the EPL. Tim Howard was exceptional last season and he might have a chip on his shoulder as US National Team head coach Bob Bradley didn't confirm his position as the new #1 by giving Casey Keller plenty of time in the net during the summer's Gold Cup. Everton just don't have the squad depth to repeat the 6th place finish of last season. A signing like Phil Jagielka isn't going to make that big a difference.
7. Portsmouth
Oh that Harry Rednapp. Does he ever have an interesting pool of players to utilize in 2007/08. Several clubs were as active or more active in the transfer market, but I don't know that any EPL club did as much to improve as Portsmouth have. The first signing that jumps out at me is Sulley Muntari. Anyone that paid attention to Ghana at the World Cup in Germany saw the potential of Muntari. I expected a "big club" in Europe to snatch him up - not Portsmouth! He will be a handful in the midfield. Which just happens to be where the club has an embarrassment of riches. Matthew Taylor is becoming a player that you feel with each touch of the ball will make something great happen. Niko Kranjcar is going to be much improved and if he stops taking shots out of his range and focuses on putting the ball on target or setting up a teammate he will be something special. But Rednapp also held onto the grumpy but always dangerous Kanu, LuaLua and Benjani. Add to that dangerous group David Nugent and Portsmouth suddenly have the chance to be an imposing attacking side. I'll be most interested to see how Nugent fares against Premiership defenses. If he is able to draw defenders Kanu could have a huge year. David James is the best goalkeeper in England. He should the the national team #1 and he will single handedly win games again for the club. Sylvain Distin will prove to be a significant signing and Sol Campbell should continue his revival. Last year when Portsmouth was near the EPL summit I never felt it was a permanent situation. But they hung around all year and finished just short of qualifying for Europe. This season they will believe qualifying is realistic. It might take some getting used to, but Portsmouth are going to be near the top of the table this season and those relegation struggles are a thing of the past.
6. Arsenal
Who is going to provide leadership? Who is going to score the goals? I don't care if Arsenal strings together a hundred pretty passes in a row there is still no one there to put the ball in the back of the net. Robin Van Persie will be back healthy but he will need to form a consistent partnership with Emmanuel Adebayor. Nicklas Bendtner remains an unknown quantity. Theo Walcott has proven he has boatloads of pace but again: will he be able to score the goals? I don't see anyone in the midfield other than Cesc Fabregas that should case other clubs concern. Yes, he's one of the best in the world but one man can only do so much. Captain Gilberto will probably be spending most of his time yelling at the youngsters to get in proper position and focus. Tomas Rosicky and Alexander Hleb have been disappointing. New signing Da Silva has been playing in the Croatian football league. I highly doubt the form he displayed in that league will just transfer over to the EPL. Manager Arsene Wenger doesn't get much wrong, but Da Silva could be a huge bust. I don't know why that decision was made. Thierry Henry's absence won't be noticed too much since he wasn't around much last season either with injury problems. There are still ownership questions that the players are going to be dealing with and Wenger's future is very much in doubt at the club. They are going to struggle this season and if they get eliminated early from the Champions League and qualification for the next competition looks in doubt it could get very ugly at the Emirates.
posted by Anonymous at 4:51 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home