In this story i am managing all 20 clubs for transfers, tactics etc.
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"As the new Premier League season draws closer, everyone is just starting to get a little bit excited"
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"As the new Premier League season draws closer, everyone is just starting to get a little bit excited"
The long-awaited Premier League season is truly in the mind of everyones mind after Englands dismal display at the World Cup in South Africa and football fans across England will be relieved to see the Premier League again. The 2009/10 season was a rare one-it actually lived up to all the hype and for the first time in a while we went into the final game not knowing who was going to lift the trophy.
Chelsea of course emerged truimphant, taking the title by a single point and, in doing so, stopping Manchester United from winning an unprecedented 4th in a row. Doing the double over the Old Trafford club obviously went a long way to bringing the title back to Stamford Bridge-in fact Chelsea won 6 out of 6 games against the so called top 4.
Chelsea still the team to catch
This time around the Blues haven't tinkered much with their winning formula. Joe Cole, Deco and Julliano Belleti have all gone but they did not feature that much last season. Michael Ballack was the other player to move on but his infulence should be replaced by Michael Essien returning from an injury that kept him out for all of last season.
Another big factor in Chelseas success last season was the form of Florent Malouda. Given the French team's early withdrawal from the World Cup in South Africa he, along with teammate Nicolas Anelka, shouldn't have suffered too much from excursion over the summer and should be fighting fit for the new campaign. The same could be said for England trio John Terry, Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole who will all be happy to reply to the inevitable stick they will get from opposition fans with their performances in the blue of Chelsea.
Man Utd have remained strong
Last seasons runners up United haven't been overly busy in the transfer market either. Mexican Javier Hernandez, unknown Portugese forward Bebe and young defender Chris Smalling have joined the ranks to add more youth to an experienced line up. The perennial contenders have a squad capable to compete on all fronts again this season.
In contrast, United's noisey neighbours City have been splashing the cash once again and have brought in big names in the quest for honours. With signings such as David Silva and Yaya Toure these should be the signings to take City onto that next level and secure Champions League football at Eastlands. They will be expected to overtake Tottenham and stay ahead of Villa and Liverpool so are likely to finish in the top 4. Where in that 4 depends largely on how Arsene Wenger's young guns fare at Arsenal.
Arsenal, Tottenham, Man City and Liverpool compete for the Champions League places
The Gunners will be relieved to get into September with captain Cesc Fabregas still on their books after the transfer saga with Barcelona all summer. If they were to lose their influential skipper they would struggle to stay in the top 4 simple as that. They already look weaker in defense following the departures of Gallas, Silvestre and Campbell so to lose their star man would be a blow they would not overcome. Even though they have brought in Koscienly and Squillaci they may take time to adjust to the pace of the Premier League.
Liverpool will be hoping that new boss Roy Hodgson can bring out the best of their talented players, and that Torres and Gerrard stay fit enough to influence their fortunes. Their squad doesn't really look strong enough to mount a genuine title challenge though their main aim will be to break back into the top 4.
Outisde of Chelsea, United, City and Arsenal, Liverpool's only other competition for the top 4 will be Tottenham. Harry Redknapp has kept his squad together for another shot at bringing a trophy back to White Hart Lane but much will depend on how they cope with the demands of the Champions League. With the signing of exciting Dutch playmaker Rafael Van Der Vaart from Real Madrid for £8 million an another top 4 finish looks on the cards for Spurs.
Big relegation at the bottom of the Premier League
At the other end of the table Blackpool are obvious relegation favourites. Ian Holloway will cerainly be very entertaining in the Premier League and it will be interesting to see how his squad of lower league footballers compete with their millionaire opponents.
Yo-yo club West Brom will hope to stick around longer than their usual one season and they certainly have a chance to do just that with the likes of Wigan,Wolves, West Ham and Birmingham all looking pretty woeful at times last season. Not much has to be said about the other promoted team Newcastle who ran away with the title in the Championship and shouldn't have got relegated 2 seasons ago and they will not get relegated because they have a strong enough squad to gain a mid-table finish with the likes of bad-boys Joey Barton and Andy Carroll and captain Kevin Nolan among the ranks it could turn out to be a good season up at Tyneside.
Predicted table for 2010/11
1. Chelsea
2. Man Utd
3. Man City
4. Arsenal
5. Tottenham
6. Liverpool
7.Aston Villa
8. Everton
9. Newcastle
10.Bolton
11. Sunderland
12. Blackburn
13. Fulham
14. Stoke
15. Birmingham
16. West Brom
17. West Ham
18.Wolves
19. Wigan
20. Blackpool
2. Man Utd
3. Man City
4. Arsenal
5. Tottenham
6. Liverpool
7.Aston Villa
8. Everton
9. Newcastle
10.Bolton
11. Sunderland
12. Blackburn
13. Fulham
14. Stoke
15. Birmingham
16. West Brom
17. West Ham
18.Wolves
19. Wigan
20. Blackpool
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