Premier League Weekend Preview: Round 1

Arsenal v West Brom
 
Last season proved one thing about Arsenal. You cannot write them off. Just like last year, some fans believe that Tottenham will pip the Gunners and make the top four. Well, it takes a lot to break into there and even though Spurs have spent much more money than their North-London rivals, I’m sure Arsenal will remain a top-quality side. For much of last year, Wenger’s side were top of the Premiership and played some of the most outstanding football seen. Expect much more of the same this season!
 
Unfortunately though, that young squad of last year has seen some vital departures. Jens Lehmann for one has finally left the club after being unable to secure the No.1 position in the team. His bitterness towards Manuel Almunia was clearly creating complications. But now, I feel Arsenal need to buy a goalkeeper, because Lehmann was an exceptional number two to have. But, that aside, Arsenal have lost two more top-quality players in Hleb and Flamini. Both were reportedly unhappy at the wage structure of the club. Arsenal could really have done with them this season. Hleb for one was very good at linking the midfield and attack. Thankfully, the Gunners received £12 million from Barcelona for him which, even though was quite cheap, was better than how much they received for Flamini’s move! Mathieu Flamini was an exceptional player for Arsenal. He played the holding role and balanced the team. I would say he was as good as anyone in the defensive midfield role last campaign. Unfortunately, Flamini decided to leave on a free transfer, which was a shame. It would be interesting to see how much the Gunners could have got for him had he still had a year on his contract.
 
As for incoming players, Arsenal have managed to pip the top clubs to the signing of teenage Welshman Aaron Ramsey. Ramsey, 17, a central midfielder, is one of Britain’s best young players and he showed this at Cardiff. His great vision at such a young age is enough to prove he will be a top-notch player in years to come. By far the most exciting signing made by Arsenal though is that of Samir Nasri. The young, French, attacking midfielder, should be a direct replacement for Hleb and he is genuinely a top player. As an added bonus, the boy can also play on the wide left, giving Wenger many options.
 
So, based on the above, it is difficult to say exactly how Arsenal will do this year. I feel the departure of Flamini will have the most impact, but if Wenger manages to find a replacement for him before the transfer window slams shut, the Arsenal do genuinely have a good chance of success in the following campaign.
 
West Brom have strengthened their squad ahead of the new season in the Premier League by bringing in the likes of Scott Carson and Luke Moore. However, they have lost some of their most important players from last campaign. These include Albrechsten and Gera. Curtis Davies has also sealed a permanent move to Aston Villa. Most importantly though is the loss of veteran striker Kevin Phillips who was so important for the Albion last season. Luke Moore will not make up for Phillips!
 
It is getting more and more difficult for promoted teams to stay up and West Brom will find it hard to compete with the other Premier League clubs this year. If they had managed to keep their squad of last season then it would have been interesting to see how they would have coped with top-flight football. Last year, West Brom were an exceptional attacking team and such a team would have made the Premier League good to watch. Nevertheless, although I feel that West Brom will make a good go of it this year, they will be stuck in a relegation battle.
 
This is a good game for Arsenal to start the season of with. They managed to grab a win against FC Twente midweek despite being unable to play at the top of their game. This fixture against West Brom will help them settle and get used to league football once again. Expect Theo Walcott to have a greater impact this season. West Brom will see this as an opportunity to show the rest of the league what their intentions are for this season. They will make it tough for the Gunners, but that won’t be enough.
 
Prediction: 2-0
 
Bolton v Stoke
 
Bolton will be hoping to avoid a relegation battle this season. But in all honesty, I can see the Wanderers finishing in and around the bottom half of the table. They just lack that class and quality of the likes of Aston Villa and Tottenham. Nevertheless, one thing Bolton did show last year was their ability to wear teams out and grind out a result.
 
Bolton have managed to rid themselves of some of their oldest players. Campo, Stelios, Teymourian, Braaten and Diouf have all left the club. Some of the mentioned players used to be very important for Bolton three or four season ago, but seemed to have disappoint recently. Luckily though, Bolton have improved their squad by signing Shittu, Muamba and most importantly, Elmander. The latter cost them £10 million but quite frankly, if he plays half as well as Nicolas Anelka, he’s worth it.
 
From what I saw of Stoke last year, they were a very strong side who gave teams a tough time. They wore their opponents down just like Bolton. Also, Stoke have only let one player leave this season in Broomes. They have signed some quality too in Olofinjana and Kitson. I’d say that one of the most important things a team can do when they come up, is to keep their squad and add to it. West Brom have failed to do that and they will struggle due to it. Stoke may also struggle, but they have a team with a winning mentality.
 
This will be a tough game for Bolton because they face a side who are physically as gritty as themselves. Stoke will want to impress from day one and will not be afraid of Bolton. This game could end in a draw.
 
Prediction: 1-1
 
Everton v Blackburn
 
How many players have Everton signed this summer? ONE! And even that was making loan signing Steven Pienaar permanent, and he has recently been dealt a lengthy injury blow. They have let Carsley, Wessels and Andy Johnson go. Andy Johnson may not have been fully fit last season, but he was certainly a top player. Everton may struggle to finish in the top six this season because they have not improved their squad at all, whereas the likes of Tottenham, Villa and Pompey have all added to their squad. Everton definitely need to make a couple of signings before the end of August. Perhaps another striker as well as a central midfielder should do the trick.
 
Blackburn are currently going through a tough time thanks to the departures of Friedel and Bentley. Losing two of your best players never does help. Paul Robinson has come in as a direct replacement for Friedel and that is a really good signing. Rovers have also signed Villanueva and Danny Simpson. That will not be enough though, to grant them a UEFA Cup spot come the end of the season. With reported unrest in the squad and players unhappy with the management under Paul Ince, it feels as if some Rovers players just don’t want to be there anymore. It shall be interesting to see whether Roque Santa Cruz remains at the club, which I think he will. Paul Ince will find the Premier League tough, and though he has a good squad at his disposal, he will have to learn how to keep them happy.
 
This is a tough game to call, because for me both teams will worsen from last season. It will be a very close match but I think Everton will nick it 1-0.
 
Prediction: 1-0
 
Hull v Fulham
 
Hull have made some good additions to their squad this summer, which really prepares them for the following campaign. Halmosi, Boateng, Geovanni, Fagan, Gardner and Marlon King are some good players with good experience. Due to this, Hull should make a good go at trying to stay in the Premiership this year. Yes, they will be in a relegation battle, but if all their players play to the top of their game, they could avoid the immediate drop. We shall have to wait and see how the Tigers manage to do this year.
 
Fulham really disappointed last year but with countless ins and outs this summer, Hodgson really has shuffled his pack. And with Andy Johnson now on the clubs books, we can now see where the goals could come from. Basically, so long as Fulham can drastically improve their away form this year, we could see a team capable of breaking into the top half of the table. This really is a chance for the Cottagers to prove why they are still in the top-flight.
 
This should be a good game. Coincidentally it is an away game for Fulham and as much as I’d like to see Hull grab a point from the game, I think Fulham should steal a tightly fought win.
 
Prediction: 0-1
 
Middlesbrough v Tottenham
 
It's strange with Middlesbrough, they really are unpredictable. Personally, I don’t think Southgate has much improved the team’s mentality since he took over as manager and as an effect of this, Boro have finished in similar positions for the last few seasons. I don’t expect them to make the step up and challenge for a top six spot either. The signings of Digard and Emnes may improve the squad slightly, but they have lost some good players too. Boro should really be aiming for a top ten finish, but they will be challenged by the likes of Everton, City, Villa, Pompey and Spurs, so that will be tough to break into.
 
Tottenham have by far made the most exciting additions to their squad and they really are testing whether spending lots of money will be enough to break into the top four. Gomes, Modric, Giovani dos Santos and David Bentley have all been scooped up and more signings are still expected with the likes of Arshavin still interested with a move to Tottenham. From the above, Modric showed how good a player he was for Croatia during Euro 2008 and he will definitely improve the Spurs midfield. Gomes looks like a very good goalkeeper and so long as he is consistent, Spurs should be fine. Bentley seems to be the most unneeded signing, as Aaron Lennon, at full fitness, is certainly as good, if not better than Bentley. But Giovani is the most exciting signing. The £5 million asset from Barcelona is a very young forward, who will no doubt improve as the season goes on. Still, we have not mentioned all the departures from White Hart Lane. Most of Spurs’ fringe players have gone, such as Kaboul and Tainio. I feel Malbranque will be missed, as he showed that he was quite a good player last year. And whatever you may say about Robbie Keane, one thing is for certain, Spurs picked up the best price for the player. If Berbatov goes, Spurs will surely fork out a lot more money for another striker.
 
So the question is, will Tottenham break into the top four? Well, they sure have spent up this summer, and they should make a push for it. But the quality of the top four is very high and manager Juande Ramos will have to get his tactics right week in week out if he wants to end up in the Champions League next year.
 
This will be a good start for Tottenham to show their new quality and their ambitions for the following season. Expect Modric to show his quality. Boro will make a fight for it, but I think Tottenham will have far too much for them.
 
Prediction: 0-2
 
West Ham v Wigan
 
West Ham did quite well last year finishing mid-table considering they had a lot of players injured. If they are lucky enough to have fit players this season, they should be challenging for a top six spot. Behrami was a good signing and he should help improve the team but I think that West Ham do need another few signings to help them challenge for the top six. I don’t think they will quite make that position this year, but hopefully they should improve on last year.
 
At the end of it all last year, Wigan did well to remain in the Premier League but it really was down to the team and the manager who did do well to keep the spirit high. This season should see Wigan attempt to break into the top 10, especially with signings like Zaki, Kapo, de Ridder and Cattermole made. These show Wigan’s ambition for next year. They should be fine this year.
 
West Ham will have a tough game on their hands and I think that Wigan will be looking to impress. I see an away win.
 
Prediction: 1-2
 
Sunderland v Liverpool
 
I’m really excited by Sunderland this season. Roy Keane is finally signing some good, experienced players and after raiding the Tottenham bench, he has brought in some good players such as Malbranque, who really will add to the squad. Sunderland were quite good last year and it always seemed like they would avoid relegation. But this season, I expect much more from them and perhaps a challenge at breaking into the top ten. Already, Roy Keane looks like he is made for management and I’m sure his side will match his ambition.
 
Liverpool are always going to challenge for the title at this time of the season, but come January, they’re always fighting to finish fourth! So what makes this year different? Well, the hunger and ambition in the squad for one is clear for all to see. Steven Gerrard is desperate to win the league. And for once, Rafa Benitez seems to be concentrating on the Premier League too, ahead of the European Cup. Also, the winning feeling from Spain’s Euro 2008 heroes will help boost the squads morale. Fernando Torres will want to fire Liverpool to glory this season. The fact that Xabi Alonso will be staying at Anfield is delightful, because he really is a good player. There is also the signings made by Rafa. He clearly wants more attacking full-backs and though we haven’t seen enough of Degen thus far, Dossena has shown enough to make us believe he could be a threat down the flank this year. As for the Gareth Barry situation, well I do not feel the Reds need Barry. Their money would be better spent on a winger, such as Quaresma. And as for Robbie Keane, well, if you just look at the goals he scored last year, you’ll understand how good a technical striker he is. I think the future is bright for the Reds, and perhaps a break into the top two is a real possibility.
 
Liverpool will have a really difficult time here if they play like they did against Standard Liege. But it is the beginning of the Premier League season and the players know how hungry the fans are for them to get off to a good start. I think the passion will lead to a Liverpool win.
 
Prediction: 0-2
 
Chelsea v Portsmouth
 
Chelsea have made some top signings as per usual. The problem for me is the lack of experience in club football from the manager. Big Phil is great, but how will he cope in the Premier League? After all, it is a huge transition from international football. Nevertheless, he is a great manager and tactically he is good. Exciting football can be expected and Chelsea will finish in the top four, probably challenging for top spot. They were really impressive last year and were unlucky to miss out on silverware. Im sure Big Phil will lead Chelsea to some glory.
 
Portsmouth will do well this year especially with the additions of people like Crouch. That shows where they want to go and I think Crouch is a top-notch player who will rack up 20 goals for Pompey. Muntari will be missed, but Pompey’s performance in the Community Shield showed they will be able to hold the top teams for 90 minutes.
 
Chelsea will have a tough test here, but Scolari seems to be fully prepared for this encounter. Deco will impress if played, because he is such a good passer of the ball. And with Ballack and Lampard and Essien, Chelsea really will dominate the midfield. I expect Chelsea to grab a late winner.
 
Prediction: 1-0
 
Aston Villa v Man City
 
Aston Villa have signed well this year and it now looks like they will keep Barry. With players like Luke Young, Cuellar, Sidwell, Shorey and Friedel, mixed in with last years top performers in Ashley Young and Barry, Villa really look like a good prospect. They will challenge for the top four, and I expect them to finish fifth/sixth depending on Tottenham.
 
Man City may fall this season due to the problems there and the lack of strikers. And after all, it really takes a new manager time to settle. Sven should never have gone and I wonder what the clubs owner really expects from Mark Hughes, because if he is looking for a top six finish, he may have to wait a few seasons. The money is available, but City will have to spend it on good players if they want to push for a top six finish,
 
Aston Villa should win this game because they now have such an impressive squad. With Barry probably staying as well, they have a midfielder as good as anyone. This really should be a good game, but I expect Villa to win.
 
Prediction: 2-0
 
Man Utd v Newcastle
 
Man Utd need a striker desperately and that was shown in the Community Shield game last weekend. Tevez is a top player but he is not an out and out striker. I expect Fergie to bring in a forward this week, and it could be Berbatov. Cristiano Ronaldo may be injured for this game, but we will have to wait and see if he does as well as last season. If he does, then United should be champions again come May. If he doesn’t, then that lets in the likes of Chelsea to challenge for top spot. It will be quite a challenge for United to retain both the Premiership and Champions League, but Fergie clearly believes he has a good enough squad to do that.
 
Newcastle will be looking to finish as close to fourth as possible. I think the signing of Guthrie is great and he is one for the future, but they need to sign many more players. Nevertheless, if they play as well as they did toward the end of last season, the Magpies should challenge for a top six spot.
 
It wont be like last season, where Newcastle were thrashed by United, and I expect the Reds to find this tough, but they should win it towards the end.
 
Prediction: 2-1