In part two of our Premier League preview, we consider the chances of Bolton Wanderers, Chelsea, Everton, Fulham and Liverpool in the forthcoming season and attempt a prediction at their final league position. Do you agree with our assessment? As ever, feel free to let us know your thoughts on how the teams under the spotlight today will fare over the next nine months.
Bolton Wanderers
Having guided Bolton to Premier League safety last season after his arrival from Burnley, the real work begins for Owen Coyle and expectations are growing. Chairman Phil Gartside has openly spoken about his wish to see a more attractive brand of football at the Reebok Stadium, a sentiment likely to be shared by supporters who had to put up with some dire fair served up by Coyle’s immediate predecessors, Gary Megson and Sammy Lee.
Coyle has been relatively reserved in the transfer market, although the business he has done appears to be typically shrewd. Whilst Robbie Blake is unlikely to set the league alight with goals, he is a reliable figure Coyle has been able to count on in the past. The signing of Croatian striker Ivan Klasnic, on loan last season, has now been confirmed, but is probably the arrival of Martin Petrov that has created the most interest. Manchester City’s unwanted midfielder looks like an astute signing.
With a strong existing spine to the team comprising Jussi Jaaskelainen, Gary Cahill, Matt Taylor and Kevin Davies, and last season’s player of the year Lee Chung-Yong returning following an impressive World Cup, Wanderers should easily avoid the relegation mire in which they found themselves last season and even push for upper mid-table should they stay clear of injuries. With Coyle in charge, doing so whilst playing the style of football Gartside wants is not out of the question.
The Football Blog Prediction: 11th
Chelsea
In many ways, Carlo Ancelotti made life difficult for himself by winning the league and FA Cup double in his first season. This is the standard by which he will now be judged and which he has to try to emulate in the forthcoming campaign. The absence of the Champions League trophy in the Stamford Bridge cabinet is also becoming a pressing issue for Roman Ibramovich. So how well placed are his side to live up to last season’s title winning ways?
Transfer activity has been thin on the ground this summer, with Yossi Benayoun the only arrival of significance thus far. Unsurprisingly, this has hardly got them dancing in the streets of west London, although the imminent arrival of Ramires should help to raise the excitement levels. The best bit of business that Ancelotti is in fact likely to do however, is to keep hold of Ashley Cole and Didier Drogba, who have been courted by Real Madrid and Manchester City respectively.
With Frank Lampard consistently outstanding in midfield and Michael Essien returning from injury, Chelsea will be expecting to retain their crown. However, the pre-season form has been poor, there are question marks as to how badly a number of players have been affected by a dire World Cup, and they are starting the season with some injury doubts at the back. They are unlikely to have it all their own way in the coming months, and may just miss out this time round.
The Football Blog Prediction: 2nd
Everton
Everton shot themselves in the foot last season with some terrible results in their opening run of games, epitomised by their 1-6 opening day loss to Arsenal. They recovered to lose just two of their final 24 games and finish in eighth position. The aim this season will surely be to once again challenge for the European places, and despite a quiet summer in the transfer market, they should have the means with which to do that with the squad that they have.
Having Mikel Arteta fit to start the season will be a significant boost to David Moyes, although he likely to be wary of attempts to prise the Spaniard, along with Steven Pienaar and Phil Jagielka, away from Goodison Park before the transfer window shuts. Moyes has admitted that bringing back Landon Donovan on a permanent basis was out of the question financially, so he will be relying on Jermaine Beckford to make the huge leap up from League One and find the back of the net on a regular basis.
The new contracts signed by Tim Cahill, Jack Rodwell and Leighton Baines give cause for optimism, Diniyar Bilyaletdinov should prove to be even more of an attacking threat having had a season to settle in English football, whilst Phil Neville remains captain dependable. So all things considered, if they can avoid the kind of start that they endured last season, they should be in and around the Europa League spots with a cup run not out of the question.
The Football Blog Prediction: 7th
Fulham
Fulham haven’t had the ideal preparation for the new season, with Mark Hughes only being announced as Roy Hodgson’s successor last week. With Ray Lewington in temporary charge, this meant nothing in the way of transfer activity (other than what was concluded before the end of last season) and a squad of players unsure as to what to expect for the coming season, many of whom were being eyed by other clubs ready to take advantage.
Hughes appointment then was a huge relief, especially given Martin Jol’s decision to remain at Ajax. He has a short time in which to familiarise himself with the squad and ready them for the new season as he would like, but this should not be too disadvantageous. He has also been linked with a host of names since his arrival, with Craig Bellamy and Roque Santa Cruz, players with whom Hughes is familiar, topping the shortlist of potential acquisitions.
By Roy Hodgson’s own admission, Fulham’s league form last season was severely hampered by their extended run in the Europa League. Hughes has no such excuse to hide behind, and the Mohamed Al Fayed and the Fulham fans are likely to be expecting a top half finish. This should just about be within their reach, although anything more may have to wait until Hughes has had a season to properly get his feet under the desk.
The Football Blog Prediction: 9th
Liverpool
Putting aside the soap opera surrounding their takeover and concentrating on events on the pitch, it is difficult to know what to expect in Roy Hodgson’s first season in charge at Anfield. The news surrounding Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard’s decision to stay at the club was always going to dominate the headlines this summer, but elsewhere has had a busy couple of months clearing out the deadwood from Rafa Benitez’s reign and recruiting as best that he can.
Any further arrivals are likely to be dependent on the resolution of the ownership situation, although a replacement for the soon to be departed Javier Mascherano looks like being a priority. Some additional back up for Fernando Torres is also of paramount importance, some added balance on the wings would also be welcome, as would some further options at left back, in spite of the resigning of Fabio Aurelio following his departure earlier in the summer.
However, much will depend on Hodgson’s ability to get the best out of the players currently at his disposal. Can he succeed where Benitez failed with the likes of Ryan Babel and David Ngog? Nobody is expecting the title to be delivered, although a Champions League spot does appear to be a minimum requirement from the new manager. With the top four likely to be more closely contested than last season, Liverpool find that they just miss out, although they would do well to keep faith with Hodgson beyond the next nine months.
The Football Blog Prediction: 5th
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