Before it all kicks off again, here’s how the JOE lads reckon the Premier League will go this season. Settle in, it’s a big read.
Last season, we put one of these together and we got more wrong than right. We were shocked also.
Okay, we still got some stuff right, like Man City’s title prospects, Chelsea’s solidity under Jose and the sheer awfulness of Jozy Altidore and Dwight Gayle but very few of us predicted the sheer ‘one-man wrecking ball’ that was David Moyes at Old Trafford.
So, with the defiant iron-willed nature of a team chasing a 1-0 deficit driving us on, here’s how we reckon the 2014-15 season will go.
Paul Moore:
Champs: Chelsea
The players have all had a year to understand Mourinho’s methods and they have already proven that they can win the big matches. Their problem last season was that they threw away some vital points against poorer teams, losing to Newcastle, Stoke and drawing with West Brom.
All of these results occurred before the January signing of their midfield monster, Nemanja Matic, whose impact on the team cannot be underestimated. Combine that with the potential goals of Costa/Drogba, the guile of Fabregas, solidity of Luis and the all round brilliance of Courtois and you have the champions elect. The little horses have grown up and are now the team to catch.
Ominously for the rest of the Premier League, Mourinho’s teams always peak in their 2nd season. At Porto he won the Champions League and domestic league, Inter Milan the treble, Chelsea the league and at Real Madrid he managed to wrestle La Liga away from the mighty Barcelona.
Top 4:
Man City: It’s hard to see an area where City could really improve on. Sagna was one of the best right-backs in the league last season but he is competing for a starting spot with the leagues best.
Mangala has boosted their defensive options while Fernando will provide cover for Yaya Toure and Fernandinho.
The main questions are 1) can they keep Sergio Aguero for the majority of the season and 2) is the brilliant Yaya Toure 100% committed to the club.
The last time City won the league title the defence of their crown was laughable, we don’t expect the same mistakes to be repeated.
Arsenal: A fit Aaron Ramsey is the key to their title credentials as his injury caused the team to go into a complete tailspin last year.
The trophy monkey is now off Wenger’s back while Alexis and Debuchy offer genuine class, goals and experience while Ozil will be a better player after experiencing his first year of English football.
Manchester United: The pre-season signs have been encouraging and it seems that the anti-football era of Moyes is being washed away. Most realistic United fans know that the club are in a re-building process but a good season for them would be their return amongst Europe’s elite and a marked improvement in style and results on the pitch
One to watch: Stoke City
Mark Hughes quietly and impressively went about the very hard task of making Stoke’s style of football more aesthetically pleasing while also maintaining their hard to beat, defensively sound and tough tackling reputation.
Their squad is brimming with Premier League and international experience while the arrival of Bojan could be the catalyst to ignite their misfiring strikers.
Flop: Jack Rodwell (Sunderland)
Part of me feels for Jack Rodwell. He had awesome potential at Everton and it looked like he was on the brink of becoming an England regular. However, I feel that he is going to be lost to that group of ‘decent English footballers who had a few excellent games, but jumped too soon at the first chance to join a bigger club only to see their career drift into mediocrity.’
Relegated:
West Brom: I don’t know exactly what happened with Steve Clarke but it strikes me as the club having aspirations of being Real Madrid and sacking a manager who did an exceptionally good job at the Hawthorns. They hired Pepe Mel and results quickly deteriorated. Alan Irvine should be afraid.
West Ham: We all know what happens when managers are undermined from above. Hammers fans should be careful what they wish for if Sam is gone… just ask Blackburn Rovers. If Big Sam is removed, are his players driven and good enough to play for another manager with a different style? Don’t forget that West Ham are one of the prime yo-yo clubs after all.
Burnley: They still look like a Championship team and it’s likely that they will really struggle to score goals.
Conor Heneghan
Champs: Chelsea
José never got tired of telling everyone that his Chelsea side weren’t ready to win the league in his first season back at Stamford Bridge and while those statements smacked of typical José mind games, he’ll have some brass neck on him if he tries to say something similar this time around.
In getting rid of Romelu Lukaku and before him Juan Mata, Mourinho got huge money for players he didn’t really want and used it to invest in three high-quality recruits from La Liga, while also benefitting from the belated return of Thibaut Courtois from Atletico Madrid.
The very impressive Nemanja Matic is likely to get even better and if Eden Hazard can replicate or even improve on last season’s form then another strong campaign awaits. With the new arrivals, Chelsea are capable of playing attractive football but with José in charge, they’re likely to assume the mantle of flat-track bullies in the months ahead. As long as it reaps rewards, Jose won’t care and Blues fans won’t be that bothered either.
Top 4:
Man City:
Having strengthened the squad sufficiently there is little to suggest why City won’t win the league for the third time in four years; I just feel that Chelsea’s new boys might make the difference this time around. It’s going to be mighty close, mind.
Arsenal:
I was really close to choosing Liverpool for third place but I think the absence of a player as good as Suarez might have more of an impact than Reds fans might think. The arrival of Alexis Sanchez has persuaded me to plump for the Gunners for third spot.
For the second time in as many seasons, Arsene Wenger has invested in a bona-fide world class player and the Chilean is likely to be a huge fillip for Ozil, who will love having someone like Sanchez to get on the end of those delicate through balls. Arsenal’s season could still depend on the health of Aaron Ramsey and of the first choice central defensive pairing of Koscielny and Mertesacker and if they can stay fit for the majority of campaign, a top three finish may well await.
Manchester United: A fan base used to unprecedented success will be expecting miracles from Louis Van Gaal in his first season in charge, but most sane United supporters will be more than happy if the Dutchman has secured a return to Champions League football by the end of the campaign.
A friendly-looking run of fixtures at the start will definitely help Van Gaal and, though pre-season form is no barometer of what will happen when the real stuff starts, the new manager definitely appears to have impressed the players and restored the confidence of some who were badly in need of a morale boost.
One to watch: Crystal Palace
New signings Brede Hangeland, Frazier Campbell and Martin Kelly are reliable Premier League performers and if Wilfried Zaha does arrive from Manchester United, a return to his old stomping ground might inspire a new lease of life in a clearly talented player.
A top-half finish should be well within Palace’s reach.
(Note: Conor wrote this piece before Tony Pulis left Crystal Palace, then promptly headed off on holidays, the pup. We’re not quite sure what he think of Palace’s chances now.)
Flop: Aston Villa
Last season I thought that Villa would build on what was promising end to the previous campaign under Paul Lambert, who appeared to have gradually implemented a style of play to suit a promising batch of youngsters.
That never materialised and despite the arrival of Roy Keane, I’m not sure if they’ll emerge from last year’s funk this time around. Their new signings, though experienced, don’t exactly capture the imagination and while they’ll probably stay up, a season of struggle awaits. Knowing my past record of predictions, they’ll probably end up in the top six.
Relegated:
Leicester City: The Foxes deserve serious credit for the way they romped to the Championship title last season and with the likes of Matthew Upson, Marc Albrighton and Paul Konchesky, they have plenty of Premier League experience in their ranks. I think they’ll be hanging on until the very end, but a return to the second tier awaits.
West Brom: The Baggies were perilously close to going down last season and have brought in a new manager – Alan Irvine – with no experience of managing in the top flight.
Roberto di Matteo and Steve Clarke had a far higher profile than the Scot and both of those were shown the door with little hesitation in the past, so I’d fear for Irvine if things don’t go West Brom’s way early on.
Burnley: Sean Dyche has done a magnificent job to get Burnley this far but they’re going to be a small fish in a very large pond this season.
Sean Nolan
Champs: Chelsea
While you can ty to make a case for at least four teams to win the title, for me it always comes back to Chelsea.
Their summer business has been top class, with the departure of David Luiz being almost as good for the team as the new arrivals. Diego Costa, Cesc Fabregas and Filipe Luis improve an already quality squad and Didier Drogba is a handy fella to have on the bench if needed for the final 20 minutes of a big game.
Jose Mourinho’s version of ‘second-season syndrome’ is very different to the one usually associated with that phrase. The Special One’s second terms at all his clubs have resulted in titles as he shapes a squad into one he really wants and believes in. He started that process last summer and his January business, Nemanja Matic and Mohamed Salah, were also solid additions to the team, especially the former.
Chelsea had the best defence in the league last year (conceding just 27 goals) and they have a good chance of beating that total last year. If Costa can prove more potent than Torres (a low bar we know) then Chelsea will be close to unstoppable in my eyes.
Top 4:
Manchester City
City were very, very good last term, finishing with an impressive plus 65 goal difference and that was without Sergio Aguero for long stretches. Their recruitment this summer hasn’t been as impressive as that of their rivals but they have still done decent business, especially bringing in Eliaquim Mangala as a defensive upgrade.
But winning titles back-to-back is really hard to do and with an added focus on Europe, the league may just be beyond them this time.
Arsenal
Arsene Wenger’s side are surely going to be better than last year but will they be good enough to win the title? I don’t think so, though they will challenge right to the end. If they go relatively injury free they could be serious contenders but the real problem lies in their defensive midfield cover.
Mathieu Flamini can’t do it all on his own and Mikel Arteta was knackered by February. Jack Wilshere may not have the discipline, or skills, to play that position properly and there is no sign that Wenger is bringing in any help in that area. Top four should be no problem but top two seems unlikely.
Everton
Yes, I think both Liverpool and Manchester United will fall short this time and that Everton will slip into the top four. Roberto Martinez is really building something special at Goodison and with the retention of Lukaka, Barry and the signing of the beast that is Muhamed Bešić, the Toffees will be even stronger this year.
Only for a late wobble they would have been fourth last year, and I think they will learn from that and get the job done this time.
One to watch:
Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal)
The Chilean was really productive in a Barcelona team designed around Messi that he didn’t often get a fair shake in. Now, plugged into an Arsenal team filled with players that will love slipping passes into his path, he will have a field day.
Flop:
Ideye Brown (West Brom)
The record of players coming to the Premier League from Russia is best described as mixed. Defenders such as Skrtel and Vidic did well but the likes of Arshavin, Bilyaletdinov and Zhirkov really didn’t, and we fear that the newest Baggie will fall into the latter category.
Thirty-three goals in 74 games for Dynamo Kiev sounds impressive but we have our doubts that the Nigerian international will be a star in a team that looks pretty poor.
Relegated
West Brom
See above, and a few other problems besides. New manager and little investment in proven quality spells trouble for us.
Burnley
Expansive football got them up from the Championship but I can see them bouncing straight back down.
West Ham
We have a sneaky feeling that at the first sign of trouble, Big Sam is getting the chop. That would be very bad news as Allardyce has that team overperforming at present. If West ham replace their manager with a left field choice (fingers crossed for Paolo di Canio, they are doomed).
Eric Lalor
Champs: Manchester City
Chelsea have significantly improved their squad, but City’s title-winning squad is still there and they’ve a very settled look about them.
Manuel Pellegrini has taken to the Premier League like a duck to water and his calm demeanour is a refreshing change from the manic, almost farcical reign of Roberto Mancini.
If anything, City could get even better this season and they’ll be boosted by the acquisition of the highly rated Eliaquim Mangala from Porto. Sergio Aguero missed long periods of last season and they still had a plus 65 goal difference. If he plays injury-free this season the rest of the Premier League, I fear, will be eating City’s dust.
Top 4:
Chelsea
Chelsea are tipped in many quarters as potential champions, but I think they’ll just fall short.
Despite brilliant transfer business in brining in Costa, Fabregas and Filipe Luis, I feel they’ll push City all the way, but will have to settle for the runners-up spot.
Arsenal
Arsenal look a stronger outfit this season. The signing of Alexis Sanchez could be a master stroke by Wenger and the Chilean will be expected to bang in a few goals for the men from the Emirates.
If they manage to sign a player like Khedira, I can see them launching a sustained title assault, but without him or someone of his ilk, I think they’ll have to settle for third place.
Manchester United
Louis van Gaal has been impressive in his short tenure so far reminding us of a certain Glaswegian with his authoritative demeanour and I feel he will make United a much more formidable outfit this season and they will be much harder to beat. If, somehow, they do manage to land some of their many alleged transfer targets, they could challenge Arsenal for third place.
One to watch:
Ander Herrera (Manchester United)
He’s not one for scoring goals, but he’s not afraid of a tackle, has a bit of bite about him and is always looking to play it forward. Under the guidance of the vastly experienced Van Gaal, he could be a really significant player for Manchester United this season.
Flop:
Phillipe Senderos (Aston Villa)
Paul Lambert must be in severe panic mode if he thinks that Senderos is going to prevent Villa from having another mare of a season.
Relegated
Burnley
They played a very open brand of football in the Championship last season, but they will be murdered in the Premier League if they continue in that vein.
Aston Villa
Villa were lucky last season that they avoided the drop and despite Paul Lambert’s admirable attempts to give youth it’s chance, the mere fact that they’ve brought in Senderos to shore up the defence should be enough to ring the alarm bells amongst the Villa faithful.
West Brom
Bad decision after bad decision is being made and it seems such a long time ago when Steve Clarke had them playing great football and on the fringes of European football. I think the time has come for their demise.
Joe Harrington
Champs:
Manchester City
The reigning Premier League champions just tick all the boxes for me. They have the best squad in the league with back up options of the calibre of Bacary Sagna, Matija Nastasic, Fernando, James Milner, Frank Lampard and Alvaro Negrado.
They have two players for every position.
The depth is one major positive but you also have to remember that it’s Manuel Pellegrini’s second season in charge so his philosophy and ideas are on board and pre-season will have gone smoother considering his familiarity with the players.
They have the best attack and the addition of Eliaquim Mangala and Sagna will shore up the defence so adding it all up, I think they’ll retain the title next May.
Top 4:
Chelsea
The reason I don’t think they’ll win the league is because of their firepower. Sure, Diego Costa will probably bag closer to 20 goals and Eden Hazard will chip in with 10+, but outside that I’m not seeing a consistent goalscorer which I think will cost them come the end of the season.
Liverpool
Brendan Rodgers needs a number of his players to take their game to the next level. Daniel Sturridge has to prove that he can be the main man, Raheen Sterling is the most exciting player in the league but he needs more end product, Philippe Coutinho and Jordan Henderson need to add goals to their game and the defence needs to tighten up and the signing of Dejan Lovren should help do that.
The added Champions League games will be a headache but this is Rodgers’ third season in charge and it’s evident that the players are totally clear about their roles and the game plan so adapting to new tactics more frequently shouldn’t be a big issue.
Arsenal
The signing of Alexis Sanchez is a massive statement of intent by Arsenal, he was one of the stars of the World Cup and he instantly adds speed, work rate and a goal threat to their front line. The attacking options are frightening with Sanchez, Ozil, Ramsey, Walcott, Giroud, Oxlade Chamberlain and Cazorla all at Arsene Wenger’s beck and call.
The worry I have about Arsenal is the centre midfield and the defence. In terms of midfield, Flamini picks up too many bookings, Jack Wilshire seems too undisciplined for the role and Mikael Arteta’s best days are behind him so that’s an obvious weakness that needs addressing.
Debuchy, Mertesacker, Koscielny and Gibbs will form the back four which is pretty solid but with a clear lack of protection in front, I can see them getting caught out over the course of the season but they will finish top four.
One to watch:
Jordan Ibe
18-year-old Jordan Ibe has been tipped for big things since Liverpool signed him from Wycombe Wanderers in 2011. The player he is most compared to is his teammate Raheem Sterling because Ibe has frightening pace and technical ability but his final ball isn’t quite to Sterling’s level just yet.
He spent the second half of last season on loan at Birmingham and that experiences of week-in, week-out senior football will have done him the world of good. Brendan Rodgers is a big fan so expect Ibe to break into the first team squad and team this season.
Flop:
Enner Valencia
The 24-year-old was one of the revelations of the World Cup and scored 18 goals for Mexican side Pachuca last season but we think it’s a massive risk.
Valencia has to hit the ground running as perma-injured Andy Carroll has been ruled out for a few months so it’ll be interesting to see how he settles. Looking into my crystal ball, I can see him being shipped out in January. For the sake of Hammers’ fans, I hope I’m wrong.
Relegated:
Burnley
Danny Ings is the main goal threat and manager Sean Dyche has added experienced players in the shape of Steven Reid, Matt Taylor and Michael Kightly, so the squad balance is decent. They know themselves that avoiding relegation would be a massive achievement. I don’t think they’ll achieve it but it’s going to be entertaining watching them try.
Swansea
Swansea seem to have lost the momentum they had built up over the past few seasons. Garry Monk took over in February and it was a steady enough but he goes into this campaign without Jonathon De Guzman, Chico Flores, Pablo Hernandez, Ben Davies and Michu which a club like Swansea can’t afford to do.
The have quality in the squad but just not enough to stay up especially with the likelihood that Wilfried Bony will leave before the transfer window closes. It’ll be a difficult season for the Swans.
Leicester
Nigel Pearson will have them well drilled and we’ve seen teams coming up from the Championship carrying momentum on, like Swansea, but I just can’t see Leicester doing it and I feel they are heading straight back down, they don’t have enough quality.
Tony Cuddihy
Champs:
Arsenal
Even a stopped clock tells the right time twice a day, right?
Expect the usual mix of sublimity and ridiculousness from the Gunners but surely, SURELY, there’s another Premier League trophy in Arsene Wenger to justify the last five years of thrilling football mixed with rancid capitulation.
Thomas Vermaelen will not be missed as long as Koscielny and Mertersacker stay fit and well, while Debuchy, Chambers and Ospina all have proven quality.
Arsenal are still a striker short but Wenger could well address that in the next fortnight, while Sami Khedira will be an excellent signing if he stops doing the dance and heads to London.
Top 4:
Liverpool
Yes, they need another attacking player and, arguably, a defensive midfielder but they still have cash to spend. Samuel Eto’o will do as a short term replacement for Luis Suarez but, ideally, Brendan Rodgers should be moving heaven and earth to get either Marco Reus or Edinson Cavani to Anfield.
Neither seems likely, but even as things stand they’ll surprise a lot of people by proving that last year was no fluke.
Chelsea
One can but dream of Jose Mourinho’s comeuppance, of Diego Costa lumbering his way down the path marked ‘Fernando Torres,’ of John Terry’s tears flowing freely
OK, it’s far fetched and Cesc Fabregas will probably turn out to be the Player of the Year, but let us dream of a massive, Portuguese ego-shaped hole in the Stamford Bridge foundations.
Manchester City
The bigger they come, the harder they fall. City were so reliant on Yaya Touré on their way to the title last season that it wasn’t funny, and if he throws his toys out of the pram again then it’s hard to see any other player having the same effect on a squad that’s full of window dressing.
One to watch:
Bojan Krkic
If the young Spaniard can gel with Mark Hughes – who has a reputation for getting the best out of latent talents – and the new, more aesthetically pleasing Stoke style, he could fly.
Flop:
Luke Shaw
His fitness has been called into question by Louis van Gaal and now he’s out for the first month with a hamstring injury.
If, and it’s admittedly a big ‘if,’ Ashley Young continues to impress as a left wing-back or Daley Blind comes into the club, Shaw could find himself marginalised and out of the England squad.
Relegated:
Burnley
Much like their last stint in the Premier League, expect the odd plucky victory and possibly a decent start to life in the Premier League, but aside from Danny Ings they don’t have enough players with quality at this level.
West Brom
A nothing manager in Alan Irvine, who looks as ill-fitting stepping up from the shadows as Sammy Lee did at Bolton, and a squad begging for some quality (Brown Ideye, for the love of…???). It really does not look good for the Baggies.
Leicester City
You can’t have a squad containing Paul Konchesky and not expect to struggle.
