It’s part three of our Premier League preview and as we gradually move our way through the teams, today it is the turn of Manchester City, Manchester United, Newcastle United, Stoke City and Sunderland who fall under the spotlight. As ever, let us know you think about the chances of the five sides in the forthcoming season and how accurate you think we’ve been with our prediction.
Manchester City
At a time of widespread financial austerity, Manchester City’s lavish spending has continued unabated this summer, with their £77 million outgoings likely to be increased further with the expected arrivals of Mario Balotelli and James Milner. Many managers would crave the vast wealth at Roberto Mancini’s disposal, yet there is no doubting that the levels of spending have increased the pressure on the Italian to deliver a Champions League place and a trophy, preferably the Premier League. Can he achieve this in his first full season at Eastlands?
The quality of player arriving speaks for itself, and there is little doubt that the likes of David Silva, Jerome Boateng and Yaya Toure will make City more competitive. However, Mancini’s main task is likely to be keeping every member of a large and star studded squad happy all of the time. The goalkeeping situation is just one example: will either Shay Given or Joe Hart be happy to sit on the bench for a whole season? In midfield, how can Toure, Gareth Barry, Nigel de Jong, Patrick Vieira and Vincent Kompany all be effectively utilised?
Elsewhere, Mancini may regret not having invested more in defence, with the jury still very much out on Kolo Toure and Joleon Lescott. You also wonder how much their inability to lure Edin Dzeko or Fernando Torres may come back to haunt them over the season. However, the overall depth and strength of City’s squad should be enough to see them go one better than last season and muscle their way into the top four. The title is likely to be out of reach on this occasion, but don’t bet against them putting some kind of silverware in the trophy cabinet this season for the first time since 1976.
The Football Blog Prediction: 3rd
Manchester United
Whilst their ‘noisy neighbours’ across the city might have been making all the headlines over the summer, Manchester United highlighted on Sunday their very real intentions of wresting the title back from Chelsea in the forthcoming season. Not too much should be read into their 3-1 victory in the Community Shield of course, but it was a statement of intent nonetheless and Sir Alex Ferguson seems hell bent on securing the all important title number nineteen. But with summer signings limited to just Javier Hernandez and Chris Smalling, is it achievable?
In a word, yes. Whilst their summer transfer activity may have been limited, Ferguson can call on a squad of players fully intact from the one that finished just one point behind Chelsea last season and who, for one reason or another, should be more competitive this time out. Antonio Valencia has had a season to settle in, Dimitar Berbatov appears to have had some confidence restored and has been firing in pre-season, Michael Owen is once again fit, as is Wes Brown, whilst Ferguson will hope that Nani can start this season in the form in which he finished the last.
The missing piece to the jigsaw could be Mesut Ozil, and if United prove successful in their bid for the German midfielder then their hand will be significantly strengthened. As demonstrated at Wembley at the weekend, United look fresh, lively and ready for the challenge of regaining their league crown. Whilst this probably isn’t what you would consider a ‘vintage’ United side, the deficiencies they do have shouldn’t hold them back from achieving this aim. It would very unlike Ferguson to let his side slip up twice in a row, and this could be their season.
The Football Blog Prediction: 1st
Newcastle
Having bounced back to the Premier League at the first attempt, Newcastle’s primary goal for this season is likely to be to stay there (and finish above Sunderland of course). In spite of his heroics in guiding the Magpies to last season’s Championship title, Chris Hughton has not been given transfer funds of any substance this summer by Mike Ashley, who seemingly continues to do all in his power to make himself the most hated man on Tyneside. Whilst this lack of spending might hold them back somewhat, they still have a squad capable of competing in the division.
Steve Harper should be as dependable as ever in goal, although there might be some concern as to who will be immediately in front of him when the season kicks off. Steven Taylor is out for three months whilst Sol Campbell is struggling for fitness, as some Newcastle fans were only too happy to point out. Fabricio Coloccini will have to quickly rectify some of his more erratic ways, whilst James Perch could be in for a baptism of fire. In midfield, Hughton will be hoping the Premier League experience of Kevin Nolan and Alan Smith will prove invaluable, along with that of Joey Barton if he can keep himself out of trouble.
The proposed loan acquisition of Hatem Ben Arfa would be welcomed and should provide another line of supply for the likes of Shola Ameobi, Peter Lovenkrands and Andy Carroll, whose form Newcastle fans will hope won’t be affected by an upcoming court appearance in October following an assault charge. So hardly a star studded squad, but one that should have a the right balance of youth and experience in order to keep their heads above water for the next nine months. Anything more will have to wait until Mike Ashley is prepared to open his cheque book.
The Football Blog Prediction: 17th
Stoke City
Stoke not only managed to avoid ‘second season syndrome’ last season, they managed to better their league position by one place, finishing a very respectable 11th whilst also progressing to the FA Cup quarter finals. This has understandably fuelled expectations for a top half finish, although whether they have the potential to push on remains unclear. A limited summer of transfer activity, despite being linked to the likes of Carlton Cole, allied with fellow mid-tables teams showing signs of progression makes you think the Potters could struggle to better their finishes to date.
This is to take nothing away from a very well organised and solid side however, with a number of dependable performers. Thomas Sorensen continues to perform well in goal, with Asmir Begovic more than capable back up, the likes of Abdoulaye Faye, Robert Huth and Ryan Shawcross provide solidity in defence, whilst creativity comes from the like of Matthew Etherington. And then of course, there is always those Rory Delap throw-ins, which defences continue to be caught out by despite knowing exactly what to expect.
They are lacking up front however. James Beattie is no longer in Tony Pulis’s good books, Tuncay has not made the desired impact since his arrival from Middlesbrough, whilst Ricardo Fullerscored just three goals in 35 league appearances last term. So Cole or Roque Santa Cruz, another striker heavily tipped to move to the Britannia Stadium, would be a welcome addition. Failing that, Stoke may again prove too reliant on Delap’s long throws and fail to distinguish themselves from the mid-table pack, although should survive quite comfortably.
The Football Blog Prediction: 15th
Sunderland
It was a curious season for Sunderland last year, with a promising start undone by a three month winless streak before recovering to avoid a relegation scrap. If they can cut out the mid-season slump and do something to address their away form (they recorded just two victories away from the Stadium of Light all year) then they should be expecting to make the top half quite easily. However, these remain big ‘ifs’ and Steve Bruce will know that the jostling for mid-table positions should be tougher than in previous seasons.
Luckily in Darren Bent they have the 20 goal-a-season striker that most clubs crave, with the former Charlton man notching 24 goals last season to keep Sunderland safe. He will be hoping for rather better support from Kenwyne Jones this time around, with both Frazier Campbell and Danny Welbeck also expected to contribute. In midfield, the loss of Lorik Cana may be more keenly felt that many would anticipate, although the likes of Andy Reid, Jordan Henderson, Steed Malbranque and new signing Cristian Riveros should keep things ticking over.
At the back, whilst Bruce doesn’t seem to have a shortage of options in the centre of defence (albeit Titus Bramble was a somewhat controversial addition to the ranks), he is struggling to find a temporary replacement for goalkeeper Craig Gordon, having seen attempts to sign David James and Joe Hart on loan falter. Providing he can overcome this issue, Bruce has the squad and the backing to achieve a top ten finish and perhaps a decent cup run. Should he fail in his attempt to achieve either of these, there will be many Mackems left wondering whether is the man to take the club forward.
The Football Blog Prediction: 10th
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unfortunately the situation in the premiership seams like the one in the spanish football league – two leagues, in the first compete the big teams of the last years: chelsea and MANu and in spain barca and RM … in the second lies the fans hope – may be a surprise from the runner ups … maybe MANc maybe Sevilla? … who knows? let the action begin