Premier League Preview: Fulham-ManCity

Fulham

Roy Hodgson was one of the managers of the season last year. Getting Fulham into Europe is no easy task, en route Fulham beat Manchester United again no easy task. With a limited transfer budget it is tough to see Fulham matching their exploits of last season but with such a solid squad atmosphere and very proffesional players who knows?

Having signed Bjorn Helge Riise for 1.5 million and Stephen Kelly for an undisclosed fee and no key departures this summer it it is not easy to make a case for Fulham improving as a side. However, continuity would be more than enough for Hodgson this season.

Prediction 9th

Hull City

Wow, what a season Hull had last year. Their first season in the Premier League was less a roller coaster and more a large mountain. After a wonderful start, winning at Arsenal in the process there was even talk of European qualification for the ‘Tigers’, however, after a mauling by Manchester City and that infamous half time team talk on the pitch Hull fell dramatically perhaps a little fortunate to stay up on the last day of the season.

Having signed Steven Mouyokolo and more importantly Stoke’s Seyl Olofinjana, Hull will hope they have enough to survive again. The reality, though, is that if they do not significantly strengthen further they can only go one way…down. Manager Phil Brown has complained that players do not seem to want to sign for Hull and this could ultimately be their downfall.

They have kept the nucleaus of their squad but this does not seem enough to rectify the fact that during the last half of the season Hull were the worst team in the division.

Prediciton 19th

Liverpool

This is a massive season for Liverpool. If they fail to capitalise on last season and do not improve to take the league title then you have to wonder how long Torres and Gerrard will put up with it. The two stars seem to be carrying the team and with the loss of Xavi Alonso a huge blow, Alberto Aquilani will have to be one hell of a replacement to help improve the side.

The signing of Glen Johnson should provide a boost to the attacking elements of Liverpool, however, he is yet to convince defensively and at £17 million he could prove another costly mistake a la Craig Bellamy and Jermaine Pennant.

With apparent financial worries this may be the last year Liverpool can hold their players together and you have to think that if the season does not go to plan players will leave in the summer. Also Benitez may buckle under the pressure and decide to move on should a top job in Spain beckon.

Keeping Gerrard and Torres fit will be the key, if they do this they could make a real title challenge, if not they will most likely be well off the pace.

Prediction 3rd

Manchester City

A year on from the Dubai big money take over, it is still a shock to many to see Mark Hughes as manager. Hardly known for his elegant teams Hughes has somehow kept his job despite a disappointing first season in charge. He will have to deliver the goods this season to keep his job and if he fails to do this transfer budgets cannot be the excuse.

The talk of the off-season (bar Real Madrid), Manchester City have spent big and have got everyone talking. Not least by their signing of former Manchester United player Carlos Tevez, it is strange to see City have the financial advantage over their fierce rivals but they fought off apparent interest from Chelsea and Liverpool also to secure Tevez’s signature.

Arsenal also seem to have given in to City selling two of their best players in Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Adebayor. City will now feel they have a chance of taking the ‘Gunners’ expected last Champions League place.

Another coup is the signing of Gareth Barry who last season said he would only leave Aston Villa for Champions League football, however, it turns out that money is more of a factor and after rejecting Liverpool last year. £12 million could look a bargain come the end of the season.

The most expected transfer of the summer also happened as Roque Santa Cruz’s sulking finally won through and Blackburn let him go for a cool £18 million.

With so many forwards it is hard to see where they will all fit in. Tevez and Adebayor are unlikely to accept anything other than starting roles and Robinho and Santa Cruz won’t be expecting to miss out either.

Reinforcements at the back are still needed and should City sign Lescott then they could possibly challenge for Europe. However, missing out on John Terry, Samuel Eto’o and Kaka could prove their undoing as most of their signings will not be majorly feared by the top clubs. Adebayor, Toure and Santa Cruz had poor seasons last year and Tevez was mainly a substitute at United.

Prediction: 6th

Premier League Preview: Arsenal-Blackburn

Arsenal

Arsenal football club have been one of Europe’s best for some time now. This is greatly thanks to Arsene Wenger who has really established his policy of bringing through the world’s best youth talent. Wenger also has the great managerial gift of being able to get the best out of under-performing players, remember Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira were nothing more than averagely good players at their previous clubs.

However, a worrying trend is beginning to emerge. Arsenal are starting to sell off their best players leading many to believe they are becoming a selling club. This all started with the sale of Henry and Vieira, admittedly when they were believed to be declining players. More worrying though is the recent sale of Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Adebayor, again two players who have prospered greatly under Wenger, to their main rivals for the fourth Champions League place Manchester City. There is a feeling aroung the Emirates that this may come back to haunt them in later weeks.

Arsenal have not really strengthened in the off season, the £10 million signing of relative unknown Thomas Vermaelen is hardly likely to have inspired the fans but Wenger has been known to do well in the transfer market so only time will tell.

Two major pluses, however, are the return of Tomas Rosicky and the first full season for Andrei Arshavin. Both of these players are world class and whilst they are injury prone if they can be kept fit Arsenal could challenge for honours this season. After holding onto Cesc Fabregas, Arsenal with their great youth system are still well placed to make a challenge. Defensively, though, they are still weaker than the rest of the top four and this could ultimately prove to be their downfall. Arsene really needs a solid centre-back in before the end of September.

Prediction: 4th

Aston Villa

Martin O’Neill will always play down Villa’s chances. He seems content to settle for European qualification, which given Villa’s budget is still an achievement. However, a part of every Villa fan would love to see them playing Champions League football and for a while last season it looked as if they would. If not for a major downturn in results after Christmas O’Neill’s men could have been playing Europe’s finest.

It certainly looks tougher for Villa this year, with Manchester City spending millions to try and claim that elusive Champions League place you have to wonder where Villa will fit into the mix.

A thin squad at the best of times it is probably a little disappointing to the fans to see more more exits this summer than arrivals. The loss of Martin Laursen is huge, Gareth Barry likewise and Zat Knight not pleasing.

Stewart Downing and Fabian Delph will have huge holes to fill but could prove good signings in time. However, their youth factor has to cast a shadow of doubt over whether they can be stand out performers this season.

Another team that really needs some central defensive cover before the end of September, which is not easy to come by in the modern day over-inflated market.

Villa will still probably be one of the best of the also rans.

Prediction: 7th

Birmingham City

Newly promoted Birmingham have made a habit of flip-flopping between the Championship and the Premier League. Whilst this season looks like it will be a struggle Birmingham have spent a bit of cash and will hope that they have invested enough to stay up. After watching the heroics of Hull and Stoke last season they know that anything is possible.

With many players coming in Birmingham seem to be going from strength to strength, although one of the key factors of their season will be how expensive £9.2 million striker Christian Benitez performs on unknown European soil. Relative unknowns Roger Johnson and Scott Dann will have to step up a gear to play in the Premier League but Barry Ferguson could be a wise acquisition at only £1.25 million. Lee Bowyer on a free is worth a gamble and the experienced midfielder could help his new side side to survival. That said it looks like a tough season ahead which may well end in failure.

Prediction: 18th

Blackburn

Blessed with one of the best low-budget mangers in the league in Sam Allardyce, Blackburn escaped almost certain relegation. When Allardyce took over Blackburn last season they were in dire straits but the ‘grinder’ big Sam got the team playing again and they survived comfortably in the end.

There is no real reason to expect anything else this season. The loss of Roque Santa Cruz is a huge blow but many Blackburn fans would argue that he was not really playing for the team last season anyway. The want-away striker making it clear he did not want to stay. Somewhat more surprising is the sale of Matt Derbyshire, the young talented English forward had impressed in his limited appearances for the first team often popping up with vital goals.

A few usual low-key signings will probably turn out to be good enough. It will be interesting to see how highly rated Gael Givet and Nikola Kalinic perform in the Premier League. Though it is hard to see anything other than relatively easy safety for Blackburn this season.

Prediction: 14th