Peter Anderson ⚽ And just like that the English Premier League is back! 

Yes indeed, the first EPL game of the season kicks-off this Friday with new boys Brentford facing the steadily sinking Arsenal. 

I've enjoyed the interlude with the Euros, the Olympics, the Tour de France and the Lion's Tour to keep me busy, but it is good to get back to the business of the EPL. And this season sees the welcome return of fans to the stadiums to augment the action. 

The other thing that augments the action in August is the transfer window. My team, Man City, have struck a firm blow with the purchase of Jack Grealish. It is a real statement of intent from the champions and will only improve the team. Sterling had a bad season last time out and will need to raise his game if he wants to keep his preferred wide left channel. Phil Foden will also be under pressure to continue his impressive start from last season. Man City are also trying to pry Harry Kane from Spurs, but Spurs are playing hardball. If they land him and he stays fit, then Grealish and Kane could take City to another level.

Man U also made a statement in the signing of Jadon Sancho for £70 odd million from Dortmund. Whether he can find the form of two seasons ago and light up the EPL remains to be seen. Hopefully not! While the Manc giants seem unwilling to stump up £30 million for the much needed right back Kieran Trippier. They need quality signings desperately if they want to challenge, but they need to do better than they have in the market with Van Der Beek and Dan James being notable expensive flops. They will also have to deal properly with the "difficult" Pogba and Martial. Can they get them out or can Ole get them firing again, time will tell.

Chelsea are in the hunt for £97 million man Rom Lukaku from Inter Milan, reportedly he is doing a medical at the moment. Chelsea are already one of the favourites to lift the EPL after their Champions League victory last season, but with Lukaku on the books that will only increase the likelihood of a successful title challenge. Tuchel's quick turnaround of the club last season was highly impressive, surely they will challenge for the crown this season. Pulisic, Havertz and Werner will surely come good this season as they finished last season well after a slow start.

What of Liverpool? As yet no new signings. The rumour mill has suggested that the Ox and Shaqiri are on the way out and there will be no new incorporations until they go. With big Virgil and Gomez returning they will feel like new signings but I am sure Klopp would love a statement signing like his rivals. They need their centre-halves to stay fit this season and also need Mané to return to form alongside Salah. If that happens and Jota and Bobby F to fight it out for the number 9 position with plenty of goals, then Liverpool will be in the mix again.

So, in my opinion these are the four clubs that will fill the top four spots this season. And I predict a cracker of a season. Will Leicester, Spurs, Arsenal, Everton or West Ham be able to break into the top 4? Leicester again look the most likely. Every season a club surprises the pundits, could it be Aston Villa this time around? They have money from the Grealish sale and have already spent wisely with the purchase of Danny Ings. AVFC in the top 8 wouldn't surprise me at all. But, if the top 4 achieve what they are trying to achieve in terms of their squads, then this race could be close. 

So many ifs and buts at the moment, we will have a clearer picture by the first international break in September. I can't wait, bring it on!

Peter Anderson is a Unionist with a keen interest in sports.

EPL Is Back

Peter Anderson ⚽ And just like that the English Premier League is back! 

Yes indeed, the first EPL game of the season kicks-off this Friday with new boys Brentford facing the steadily sinking Arsenal. 

I've enjoyed the interlude with the Euros, the Olympics, the Tour de France and the Lion's Tour to keep me busy, but it is good to get back to the business of the EPL. And this season sees the welcome return of fans to the stadiums to augment the action. 

The other thing that augments the action in August is the transfer window. My team, Man City, have struck a firm blow with the purchase of Jack Grealish. It is a real statement of intent from the champions and will only improve the team. Sterling had a bad season last time out and will need to raise his game if he wants to keep his preferred wide left channel. Phil Foden will also be under pressure to continue his impressive start from last season. Man City are also trying to pry Harry Kane from Spurs, but Spurs are playing hardball. If they land him and he stays fit, then Grealish and Kane could take City to another level.

Man U also made a statement in the signing of Jadon Sancho for £70 odd million from Dortmund. Whether he can find the form of two seasons ago and light up the EPL remains to be seen. Hopefully not! While the Manc giants seem unwilling to stump up £30 million for the much needed right back Kieran Trippier. They need quality signings desperately if they want to challenge, but they need to do better than they have in the market with Van Der Beek and Dan James being notable expensive flops. They will also have to deal properly with the "difficult" Pogba and Martial. Can they get them out or can Ole get them firing again, time will tell.

Chelsea are in the hunt for £97 million man Rom Lukaku from Inter Milan, reportedly he is doing a medical at the moment. Chelsea are already one of the favourites to lift the EPL after their Champions League victory last season, but with Lukaku on the books that will only increase the likelihood of a successful title challenge. Tuchel's quick turnaround of the club last season was highly impressive, surely they will challenge for the crown this season. Pulisic, Havertz and Werner will surely come good this season as they finished last season well after a slow start.

What of Liverpool? As yet no new signings. The rumour mill has suggested that the Ox and Shaqiri are on the way out and there will be no new incorporations until they go. With big Virgil and Gomez returning they will feel like new signings but I am sure Klopp would love a statement signing like his rivals. They need their centre-halves to stay fit this season and also need Mané to return to form alongside Salah. If that happens and Jota and Bobby F to fight it out for the number 9 position with plenty of goals, then Liverpool will be in the mix again.

So, in my opinion these are the four clubs that will fill the top four spots this season. And I predict a cracker of a season. Will Leicester, Spurs, Arsenal, Everton or West Ham be able to break into the top 4? Leicester again look the most likely. Every season a club surprises the pundits, could it be Aston Villa this time around? They have money from the Grealish sale and have already spent wisely with the purchase of Danny Ings. AVFC in the top 8 wouldn't surprise me at all. But, if the top 4 achieve what they are trying to achieve in terms of their squads, then this race could be close. 

So many ifs and buts at the moment, we will have a clearer picture by the first international break in September. I can't wait, bring it on!

Peter Anderson is a Unionist with a keen interest in sports.

22 comments:

  1. Ox was completely disrupted by that injury against Roma - thought he had a place at the club. I could see him going to the Hammers rather than abroad. Shaqiri - I was never sure why they bought him. I see Robertson has a ligament injury - the season not even started and here we go again

    ReplyDelete
  2. If the tight fisted Yanks bring in ✌ quality players, the Reds are in with a shout of retaking their rightful 👑 # 20
    Ideally, a cm & striker. Not replacing Gini would be crazy. Same top four, different order ?
    City will be distracted by the 🆑, so it will be the Chavs or Lfc in pole position. The Reds have signed two good kids from the Barcodes 🏁 , & have a few more teens knocking on the J K 👓 🚪.
    Leeds & Villa to push Spurs,Arsenal for a Europa spot.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Ox has been unlucky, he really found his form a while back then got a bad injury. Shaq was bought to warm the bench!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Peter

      Would winning the Champions League be your top priority this season? Qualification for it is always a given for City.

      Delete
    2. FFS Barry - what a bad start for your lot: 5-1

      Delete
  4. I got a fancy for 'pool, Peter. All the talk is about you at the minute, 'pool just seem to be going under the radar which is always a good place to be. Not got an epl side, but I am looking forward to this year, fans back, hopefully a genuine tussel get the craic going.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Malmo! we fucking love malmo! Stevie g squanders sevco's chance to play champions League football for the first time. Haha hahaha hahaha, I forgot to say hahahahahahaha

    ReplyDelete
  6. Purely on what I saw in the CL final, Chelsea would be my tips for the Premiership. They defend very well and can break lethally; two essential attributes for Champions.

    I do not expect my lot (LUFC in case you didn't know!) to be in the mix but another top ten finish and a much overdue cup run would make me happy.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Only prediction I am making is that I am making no predictions.

    Still baffled why we went for Lukaku, he just doesn't fit with our style of play but I have been wrong so many times before I'll take TT's word for it.

    Liverpool have been stagnating and once Van Djik was out they were so-so, think it will be an uphill struggle.

    The two scumancs will probably fit it out for the top, us then pool with Leicester an honorable mention. Small clubs like Spurs and Arsenal will fade away. Keeping an eye on Leeds though.

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  8. Barry
    Yes I would take the Champions League over the league this year.

    David
    A victory of sorts for you, but considering a few years ago we were in the 3rd div, youse were winning treble after treble, 10 in a row looked nailed on. Then Brendan abandon youse, popcorn teeth gets run out of the club under threat, 10 in a row up in smoke, now look at youse! Genuinely scared!

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    Replies
    1. I would liked Rangers to have progressed - not only is there an element of Stevie G in it for me but I think it would be seriously good for Scottish football. Same if Celtic had been playing.

      Delete
  9. It's a remarkable achievement for a new club to be the dominant force within a decade, albeit they inherited fifty thousand season ticket holders, facilities etc still a remarkable achievement. Anthony, it would have been good for Scottish football, not for my humour levels though, a week solid at work I have listened to 'we should beat Olympiacos, Ludagrets, no problem, the champions league money will cancel our debt, that's us dominating for a decade' blah blah out! First hurdle hahaha. Their faces today at work was brilliant, I did not shut up, it's was almost worth listening to them gloat for the last six months.

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  10. I would also have liked Rangers to progress in order to boost Scottish football.

    ReplyDelete
  11. AM
    Agreed. Scottish football has fallen far since the 80s and 90s and needs all the help it can get and the UEFA co-efficient is the most obvious. But some people seem to only want a one horse race.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I don't know much about football, but sometimes undeniable geniuses seem to emerge.

    Alex Ferguson being a case in point. His natural psychological brilliance is clear for all to see.

    Also, like me, he isn't too find of the Famous Glasgow Rangers. Unlike me, he actually managed to hurt the club.

    The documentary about him on Amazon Prime is excellent.

    I have a feeling that Stevie G might well be cut from the same cloth.

    I wonder how Southgate would fare managing a club rather than a national team.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Which "Pool" is that you have a fancy for David? Blackpool, Hartlepool or, perhaps swimming pool🏊🍷🍻🍺🏐🏐😁😁😁🏊🏊??

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  14. Even the President of Rwanda had a go at Arsenal they were so poor.

    ReplyDelete
  15. The EPL season had barely started before The Bastards were at it again.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes Anthony it was a horrible start for us today but titles, Euro qualifications and relegations are never decided on the first day.

      That certain idiots mocked Sacho and Rashford for "letting their country" down and resumed the Wars of the Roses added to the hurt.

      Man U were awesome it has to be said, but the absence of Phillips and Llorente contributed to our defensive collapse.

      Delete
  16. Replies
    1. He was. Broke Dutch hearts in 1974 World Cup Final, my heart in the European Cup Final the following year and English hearts in Mexico World Cup 1970. RIP Gerd.

      Delete