August 29, 2009

The Challengers

Aston Villa FC


Manager: Martin O’Neill

Ground: Villa Park (Capacity: 42,640)

Last season: 6th


Key Player: Ashley Young

Star-in-waiting: Fabian Delph


MAJOR TRANSFERS:

INs: Stewart Downing (Middlesbrough, £10 million), Fabian Delph (Leeds United, undisclosed), Habib Beye (Newcastle United, undisclosed)

OUTs: Gareth Barry (Manchester City, £12 million), Zat Knight (Bolton, undisclosed)


Under Martin O’Neill, Aston Villa have been slowly but steadily building up into a team that can challenge the top teams consistently. Here, I must add that Villa are still a work-in-progress and it will take them another 3-4 years before they can be considered bonafide title contenders, if they continue on this path.

Having managed to keep star winger Ashley Young at Villa Park, Martin O’Neill is looking to strengthening the defence. With captain Gareth Barry no longer cleaning up in front of them, the Villa defence will be put to the test this season. How they come out of it, will define how Villa perform this season.


Final Verdict: Habib Beye being the only defender to have signed for Villa this season, the squad still seems thin on defensive options. This could prove their downfall in the long run. O’Neill needs to strengthen his squad. Villa to finish 8th.


Everton FC


Manager: David Moyes

Ground: Goodison Park (Capacity: 40,157)

Last season: 5th


Key Player: Mikel Arteta

Star-in-waiting: Jack Rodwell


MAJOR TRANSFERS:

INs: Jo (Manchester City, loan), Diniyar Bilyaletdinov (Lokomotiv Moscow, undisclosed),

OUTs: Joleon Lescott (Manchester City, £24 million)


The Merseysiders have been involved in a long, tortuous transfer saga over Joleon Lescott with Manchester City, ultimately failing to keep their star defender. This leaves Moyes’ men with very few defensive options, and a deal to sign Sylvain Distin from Portsmouth can only be good news.

Everton so far have managed to mount challenges to break the hegemony of the big 4 at the top of the table. But with Manchester City coming in fast, and teams like Tottenham, Aston Villa and Sunderland looming on the horizon as well, Goodison Park could well be in line to losing out.


Final Verdict: Tight budgets, less signings, injuries: all will collude to prevent Moyes from repeating last season’s efforts. Everton’s final finish: 9th.


Fulham FC


Manager: Roy Hodgson

Ground: Craven Cottage (Capacity: 25, 678)

Last season: 7th


Key Player: Danny Murphy

Star-in-waiting: Brede Hangeland


MAJOR TRANSFERS:


INs: Stephen Kelly (Birmingham City, undisclosed), Bjorn Helge Riise (Lillestrom, £2 million), Damien Duff (Newcastle United, undisclosed), Jonathan Greening (West Bromwich Albion, loan)

OUTs: Moritz Voltz (released), Collins John (released)


Roy Hodgson has brought in his vast experience to Craven Cottage, and living within meager means, Fulham have developed into a hard-to-beat team. Solid defending at the back, led by Brede Hangeland, coupled with incisive breakaways, has contributed majorly to the success of the London outfit.

Participation in the Europa league will be an added incentive for the Cottagers’ squad, but this could hamper their chances of success domestically. The added pressure of Europe requires a bigger squad, and currently Fulham do not have as many back up players as is needed.


Final Verdict: Fulham shall continue to perform as well as they did last season, with an odd upset thrown in the midst. But the emergence of other teams, will see them slipping from last year’s position into 10th spot.


Sunderland AFC


Manager: Steve Bruce

Ground: Stadium of Light (Capacity: 49,000)

Last season: 16th


Key Player: Darren Bent

Star-in-waiting: Fraizer Campbell


MAJOR TRANSFERS:


INs: Fraizer Campbell (Manchester United, £3.5 million rising up to £6 million), Paulo Da Silva (Toluca, undisclosed), Lorik Cana (Marseille, £5 million), Darren Bent (Tottenham Hotspur, up to £16.5 million), Lee Cattermole (Wigan, £6 million)

OUTs: Greg Halford (Wolverhampton Wanderers, undisclosed), Michael Chopra (Cardiff City, undisclosed), Dean Whitehead (Stoke City, undisclosed)


Sunderland have spent, and spent well, in the off-season. Strengthening their midfield, and attack, they are looking a much more threatening force than last season.

With new boss Steve Bruce in charge at the Stadium of Light, Chairman Niall O’Quinn can be assured that strong, confident performances will be delivered from team that barely escaped relegation last season. In fact, it is testimony to the shrewd buys, and renewed confidence in the team that most pundits are looking to Sunderland to be the most improved team for this season.


Final Verdict: With all the new talent at his disposal, I am going with a 7th place finish for Bruce’s men.


Tottenham Hotspurs FC


Manager: Harry Redknapp

Ground: White Hart Lane (Capacity: 36,236)

Last season: 8th


Key Player: Luka Modric

Star-in-waiting: Giovani Dos Santos


MAJOR TRANSFERS:

INs: Kyle Naughton (Sheffield United, undisclosed), Kyle Walker (Sheffield United, undisclosed), Peter Crouch (Portsmouth, undisclosed), Sebastien Bassong (Newcastle United, £8 million)

OUTs: Didier Zokora (Sevilla, undisclosed), Darren Bent (Sunderland, up to £16.5 million), Kyle Walker (Sheffield United, loan back)


When Harry Redknapp took over last season, Spurs were in utter shambles. Not only were they in the relegation zone, but the morale in the squad was pretty low as well. Redknapp worked wonders though, taking the team to the top half of the table, bringing in players like Jermaine Defoe, Robbie Keane among others.

This season, Harry will look to continuing the good work he had set the foundations for last season. The squad is strong with a great attacking lineup, and with only minor kinks left in the defence, Spurs look set to fight it out in the top half of the table.


Final Verdict: The defence not being as strong as needed, Spurs won’t be able to break into the Champions league spots. But a 6th place seems well within their reach.

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