In the final part of our Premier League preview, and with the new season now just two days away, we assess the chances of Tottenham Hotspur, West Bromwich Albion, West Ham United, Wigan Athletic and Wolverhampton Wanderers in the nine months ahead. Let us know your thoughts on how these teams will perform and where they can expect to be in the league come May.
Tottenham Hotspur
The first priority for Harry Redknapp this season will be to ensure that his side do not go the same way as Everton back in 2005 and fail to qualify for the group stage of the Champions League, having done the hard part in impressively finishing fourth last season. Repeating that trick in the season ahead could prove somewhat more difficult, with opening day opponents Manchester City having continued their spending over the summer and Liverpool and Everton expected to undergo a revival in fortunes.
It’s been an usually quiet summer in the transfer market for Harry Redknapp, a manager not known for being backwards in coming forwards when it comes to spending money. This is not for the want of trying however, with Spurs linked to a whole host of names. There is still time though and Redknapp will want to focus his attention on securing the signature of a striker to replace the apparently unwanted Robbie Keane, whilst also looking for central defensive cover for the perennially injured Ledley King and Jonathan Woodgate.
Otherwise Spurs appear to have the depth and quality in their squad to maintain a challenge to the top four places, although what impact the added Champions League fixtures (assuming they get past Young Boys) has remains to be seen. The transfer business that Redknapp does for the rest of the month, with Ashley Young one of his key targets, may have a big impact on their season. Ultimately however, with the competition around them last year in a healthier state this time round, it may not quite be enough to secure another top four finish.
The Football Blog Prediction: 6th
West Bromwich Albion
Having escaped The Championship after it looked for a while like Nottingham Forest might take the second automatic promotion spot, West Brom will be eager to prove that they can stay in the Premier League after several seasons of going between the two. This is the Baggies’ fourth promotion to the top tier since 2002 and on each occasion they have refused to jeopardise the club’s financial stability by lavishing large amounts on new players in an attempt to stay up. It looks to be a similar scenario this time round, so do they have enough to hold their own?
Like his predecessor Tony Mowbray, Roberto Di Matteo encourages his side to play an attractive brand of football, although he is likely to be pragmatic enough to realise that there may be limits to this against superior opposition. Whilst there may have been a lack of additions to the squad, Di Matteo will be please to have fended off the advances of Graham Dorrans’ suitors, whilst he has added Premier League experience at the back in Nicky Shorey, and in midfield after having made Stephen Reid’s loan move permanent.
Elsewhere, Chris Brunt and Dorrans should pack a punch from midfield although here might be some concern as to where the goals will come, with much of the responsibility likely to fall on the shoulders of Roman Bednar. Unfortunately it is difficult to see how West Brom will avoid getting sucked into the relegation mire, especially considering the bottom of the table looks stronger than it did last season. So another return to The Championship is on the cards, with stabilisation in the Premier League not quite yet within their reach.
The Football Blog Prediction: 19th
West Ham United
West Ham managed to stay up last season on just 35 points, a total unlikely to keep them in the league this time round. However, they will be hoping they will be nowhere near those murky waters after the arrival of Avram Grant over the summer. It was clear that Gianfranco Zola never had the backing of the incoming owners, David Gold and David Sullivan, last season and his exit was inevitable. Now they have their own man in charge they are likely to prove more supportive, although funds remain virtually non-existent.
Grant will have been pleased to retain the services of Scott Parker for the beginning of the season despite intense speculation, as well as Carlton Cole, whilst the retention of Robert Green should also be welcomed in spite of his summer blunder. Mark Noble, the club’s longest serving player, should prove as reliable as ever in midfield, whilst elsewhere the emphasis would appear to be on youth, with the likes of Zavon Hines, James Tomkins and Frank Nouble all ready to stake their claim for a first team place again.
The additions to the side this summer have been limited by finances, although Thomas Hitzlsperger and Pablo Barrera look to be decent albeit unspectacular additions. Which neatly sums up how West Ham’s season is likely to look. Given the right time and funds, Grant could turn the club into Europa League contenders, although a mid-table finish and cup run is probably the limit for them this year. However, after the nail biting that took place last season, you are unlike to find too many Hammers fans complaining about that.
The Football Blog Prediction: 13th
Wigan Athletic
Wigan were another side last season who were beneficiaries of the hopelessness of Portsmouth, Hull and, latterly, Burnley. Roberto Martinez’s debut managerial season in the Premier League was hardly an unqualified success, with the Latics’ form horribly erratic: they beat Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal, but shipped nine goals against Spurs and eight at Stamford Bridge on the final day of the season. The key to survival (and that is all they are likely to be aiming for) this season is some increased consistency against the teams around them.
How well placed they are to do this remains to be seen. The loss of both Titus Bramble and Paul Scharner should not be underestimated and threatens to weaken an already susceptible back line. Martinez may also struggle to hold onto the influential Charles N’Zogbia before the season ends, with Birmingham the front runners for this signatures. The Argentine striker Mauro Boselli looks like a good addition up front, but it was more than called for when you consider how little impact the likes of Jason Scotland and Marcelo Moreno made last season.
The likes of Hugo Rodellaga, Chris Kirkland, James McCarthy and Emmerson Boyce should give the side some continuity, although Martinez’s style of play may be found wanting in the season ahead. The Spaniard is wedded to an attractive style of football which many of the better teams are likely to cut through far too easily in the coming months. Whilst the Latics won’t disgrace themselves this season, the bottom of the table is likely to be quite tightly bunched and somebody has to lose out. It could well be them.
The Football Blog Prediction: 18th
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolves defied the odds last season to retain their Premier League place last season and finish in a very credible 15th place. ‘Consolidation’ is likely to be the watch word for the season ahead, and they have every chance of achieving it following a relatively busy summer of transfer activity which has seen the arrival of Stephen Fletcher, Stephen Mouyokolo and Stephen Hunt (all from clubs who did drop out of the division), as well Jelle Van Damme from Anderlecht, all of whom should improve an already solid side.
Mick McCarthy’s team hardly set the league alight with their style of play last season, scoring just 32 goals on their way to survival through a series of close victories and hard fought draws. This was mainly thanks to their defensive foundation, with Marcus Hahnemann featuring in many people’s Premier League team of the year and Jody Craddock proving evergreen in the centre of defence. The arrival of Fletcher and Hunt should help to increase the goal tally, although the style of play is unlikely to change very much.
McCarthy came under fire last season for putting out what was effectively a reserve side against Manchester United, although he was vindicated when his side went on to take all three points in their following game against Burnley. There is no doubting he has the nous to keep this side in the division for another season and avoid ‘second season syndrome’, although doing much better will take a lot of doing. So a finish in and around the same position as last season should keep the supporters happy, just as long as they beat West Brom.
The Football Blog Prediction: 16th
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Mostly agree with this. It is important that Spurs qualify for the group stages but their tie looks a tough one