2007-08 EPL Preview
| 14
|
by Ea34
We’re less than two days from the kick-off of the 2007-08 English Premier League season, when Sunderland and Tottenham Hotspur will face off at the Stadium of Light. From Liverpool’s spending spree, to Big Sam Allardyce’s immediate impact at Newcastle, to the Carlos Tevez transfer saga, it’s been an intriguing off-season whose results are about to play out on the pitch.
Let’s take a look what the latest season in the Premiership may have in store for us. Some thoughts on how the season will play out:
- Who will represent the Premiership in the Champions League? Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur (In order). Once again, the Premiership is Manchester United’s to win. With additions of Owen Hargreaves (finally!), Nani, Anderson and Carlos Tevez (probably) to last season’s league championship side, United boast the best all-around side on the EPL. Even if Gabriel Heinze moves to Liverpool, and despite some depth issues at the striker position, a healthy ManU is the class of the Premiership. Coming off of a busy transfer season, new-look Liverpool, who bolstered their attack with the additions of Fernando Torres, Yossi Benayoun and Ryan Babel, will have just enough to edge out Chelsea, their only true competition for second place. Sadly, this may be Jose Mourinho’s last dance at Stamford Bridge, with his team competing against a retooled and highly motivated Liverpool squad, and still not having the quality top to bottom to overcome ManU. After a relatively subdued transfer season, midfielders Arjen Robben and Michael Ballack have both been rumored to be out the way out, and Chelsea could make a splash by signing Brazilian fullback Daniel Alves, who may be a difference-maker, from Sevilla. However, there’s just too much uncertainty here to predict a top-two finish. Rounding out the top four is Martin Jol’s Tottenham Hotspur side. A potentially down year for Arsenal coupled with an active transfer season with, among others, Darren Bent and Gareth Bale joining a talented side that already features Robbie Keane, Jermaine Jenas and the ultra talented Dimitar Berbatov, will be enough to put Spurs in the top four.
- Which Premiership clubs will be fighting for the UEFA Cup? Arsenal, Blackburn Rovers, Reading. Let’s be clear. A “down” year for Arsenal is still a more than acceptable season for virtually any other club. Despite the departure of Thierry Henry, Arsenal’s core of Robin Van Persie, Cesc Fabregas and Theo Walcott have the quality to beat anyone on any given day. They will likely need time to adjust to their new roles, but they’ll be competitive all season. With an attack led by Benni McCarthy, David Bentley and Morten Gamst Pederson, as well as Robbie Savage in midfield, Blackburn Rovers are a very talented side that played well last season and could turn heads in the EPL this year. The final Premiership side to get into Europe this season will be Reading. Despite the loss of Steve Sidwell Chelsea, Reading will get quality play in 2007-08 from the like Kevin Doyle, Leroy Lita and Dave Kitson in attack, as well as Nicky Shorey in defense.
- Which clubs should not be getting too comfortable in the Premiership? Derby County, Wigan Athletic, Fulham. Despite each spending some money on new talent in the transfer period, neither Wigan nor Fulham, both of whom narrowly avoided relegation last season, appear to have the quality to survive another year in the top-flight. Joining them in their Spring 2008 trip to the Championship will be one-and-done Derby County.
- Who will be the top player in the Premiership at season’s end? Cristiano Ronaldo. Maybe not the most creative prediction, but it’s the most likely to be correct. Ronaldo is coming off a season that saw him take his already spectacular game to new heights and become the EPL’s best player and one of its top goal-scoring threats. Much like last season, United will need goals from all over the pitch again this season, with or without Carlos Tevez. This could lead to an even larger role in attack for Ronaldo.
- Which player will take his game to another level in 2007-08? Robin Van Persie. Van Persie is one of the most skilled attackers in world football, and he’s now got the opportunity to show it. The only problem in his first three seasons with the club was that as long as Thierry Henry was at Arsenal, there would always be a limit to just how much Van Persie would be showcased. To draw a comparison from the NBA, think of Van Persie as Andre Iguodala to Thierry Henry’s Allen Iverson. As the new centerpiece of the Arsenal attack, look for him to have a fantastic season.
- Which new acquisition will make the biggest positive impact for his club? Yossi Benayoun. Will have a great impact on the Reds’ attack this season. Benayoun will thrive in an attacking midfield role at Liverpool. The combination of Benayoun and fellow-newcomers Fernando Torres and Ryan Babel, along with holdovers Steven Gerrard, Dirk Kuyt and Peter Crouch, should make Liverpool the most improved offensive side in the EPL.
- Which new acquisition is most likely to disappoint his new club? Joey Barton. Aside from being a disappointment to humanity as whole, a broken foot suffered in his Newcastle debut will sideline Joey Barton until September at the earliest. Ignoring his inability to steer clear of trouble, this injury makes it unlikely that Big Sam’s £5.8 million man will be able to make a significant contribution to the club any time soon, given the fact that the schedules of Premiership teams do not provide many opportunities for extended rest.
- Whose departure will be the most damaging to his former club? Alan Smith. This has less to do with Alan Smith than it does the lack of depth in Manchester United’s attacking corps. The delay is Carlos Tevez’s arrival, couple with the departure of Giuseppe Rossi and Smith will have Sir Alex holding his breath every time Wayne Rooney goes to the ground.
- Who could exceed expectations and be a pleasant surprise? Blackburn Rovers. Aside from the Big 4 and Spurs, Blackburn is the most talent team in the Premiership. Their attack features Bentley, McCarthy, Matt Derbyshire and one of the truly talented and underrated wingers in the EPL, Morten Gamst Pederson. The Blackburn midfield is also very capable, with talents like Tugay and Robbie Savage. The team could be slightly hindered by its defense, which is somewhat suspect, having surrendered 54 goals in 2006-07. However, this looks like a side loaded with talented young attackers that can compete within anyone and belongs in the top half of the Premiership table.
- Who will be the EPL’s biggest disappointment? West Ham United. Activity does not necessarily signal accomplishment. While they probably won’t have to fight for their Premiership lives until the season’s closing day again, the Hammers are not likely to find themselves near the top half of the table in 2007-08. The aggregate sum of West Ham’s numerous arrivals and departures this summer is, frankly, a loss. Trading Carlos Tevez, Marlon Harewood, Yossi Benayoun and Nigel Reo-Coker for Scott Parker, Craig Bellamy, Freddie Ljungberg and Julien Faubert, which is effectively what West Ham has done, does not set the stage for significant improvement.
