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EPL Season Preview : Part Three

Published by Ian John on August 9, 2010

Fulham
Manager : Mark Hughes
Players In: Philippe Senderos (Arsenal), Jonathan Greening (West Bromwich Albion)
Players Out: Chris Smalling (Manchester United), Andranik Teymourian (Released), Elliot Omozusi (Leyton Orient), Stefan Payne (Gillingham)

While the players that have left Craven Cottage won’t be greatly missed, even £10m Manchester United man Chris Smalling was only really a squad man last season, it is the loss of manager Roy Hodgson and how Fulham cope with the loss, that will govern their success or failure this season. Mark Hughes now has the reins at Craven Cottage and the Welshman won’t have a great deal of time, or money, to bring in too many of the players he wants. Expect a busy couple of weeks as Sparky tries to bring in a striker (Roque Santa Cruz has been rumoured) and perhaps a defender but without their talismanic manager of last season, I can’t see Fulham having as good a season this time around and while they are too good to go down, this season could be more of a struggle.

+ Points – Mark Hughes is a good appointment for Fulham, Sparky’s never say die spirit and tactical nous will stand them in good stead. The signings of Senderos and Greening while not the most spectacular, are good business for a club that doesn’t have untold millions to spend.

-Points – Hodgson’s loss will be keenly felt at all levels of the club. Sparky already realises I am sure that Zamora needs someone to lighten his workload, hence the rumour of a move for Santa Cruz but it remains to be seen if Fulham have the financial capability to bring in the necessary world class talent they need to make the next step in their Premiership evolution.

Liverpool
Manager : Roy Hodgson
Players In: Jonjo Shelvey (Charlton), Milan Jovanovic (Standard Liege), Danny Wilson (Rangers), Joe Cole (Chelsea)
Players Out: David Martin (MK Dons), Mikel San Jose (Athletic Bilbao), Yossi Benayoun (Chelsea), Albert Riera (Olympiacos), Robbie Threlfall (Bradford)

Roy Hodgson takes on the somewhat unenviable task of following Rafa Benitez at a club where the owners want out, their is little of the promised money available and a new owner is not yet anywhere near a certainty. Despite that, Hodgson has settled into the job well and made all the right noises as far as Liverpool fans are concerned. The signing of Joe Cole, for what amounts to being given £6m and Cole for Yossi Benayoun could be the deal of the season if the England man can find his best form in a red shirt. Jovanovic looks a promising talent too and Shelvey is a player all the top sides wanted to attract from Charlton. The Hodgson era won’t begin with a league title, but if the club can show signs of improvement and a return to the top four, then it will be judged a success, against the backdrop of boardroom level turmoil that continues to fester at the club.

+Points : Hodgson’s made the right noises as far as many Liverpool fans are concerned and the news that Torres and Gerrard have committed their future to the club is a welcome boost. A return to their 2008-2009 form is perhaps too much to hope for, but with Jovanovic and Cole adding some much needed craft in attack they look better set for a good campaign this season.

-Points : The fixture computer has done Hodgson no favours at all with four of their first five games against tough opposition, including Manchester City, Manchester United and Arsenal on the schedule. Mascherano’s departure would hit the club hard in terms of personnel but the money he’d bring in would be most welcome, but only if Hodgson would be allowed to spend it.

Manchester City
Manager : Roberto Mancini
Players In: Yaya Toure (Barcelona), David Silva (Valencia), Jerome Boateng (SV Hamburg), Aleksandr Kolarov (Lazio), Alex Henshall (Swindon Town)
Players Out: Martin Petrov (Bolton), Sylvinho (Released), Benjani Mwaruwaru (Released), Valeri Bojinov (Parma), Paul Marshall (Walsall), David Ball (Swindon-loan), Gunnar Nielsen (Tranmere-loan)

Roberto Mancini continues to build City in his own image. Yaya Toure has arrived, mainly because City only have around 37 defensive midfielders to pick from, and most exciting of all David Silva put pen to paper on a £24m deal before sitting on the bench to earn a World Cup winners medal. Jerome Boateng looks an astute signing, given his assured performances in South Africa for Germany while Alexander Kolarov will be an upgrade over the often injured Wayne Bridge and frequently inept Javier Garrido at left back. Still, City fans may have hoped for more. No Fernando Torres, no Kaka, no Diego Maradona in his pomp and the roads are still not paved with gold around Eastlands. That and Europa League football. Anything less than a top four finish this time around and Mancini will be fighting for his life at Eastlands, rather like some of his squad who may well spend the next five months of the season sat in the stands as they didn’t make the 25 man squad.

+Points – David Silva’s arrival will give City some of the artistry they have lacked at times and Boateng looks a very good signing. They have certainly added depth to their squad and should pose a genuine top four threat this season. But do they have what it takes to become Champions? Only time will tell.

-Points – Well trying to keep the 5-8 international stars who don’t make their 25 man squad happy while sat in the stands each week is going to be an interesting task. For all the money spent, City haven’t yet addressed the glaring problems they suffered in central defence at times and the lack of a genuine foil to work off Adebayor is still a real issue. They are good, but not yet good enough, in my opinion, to be considered a genuine top two contender.

Manchester United
Manager : Sir Alex Ferguson
Players In: Javier Hernandez (Guadalajara), Chris Smalling (Fulham)
Players Out: Ben Foster (Birmingham City), Zoran Tosic (CSKA Moscow), Tom Heaton (Cardiff City), Ron-Robert Zieler (Hannover), Matthew James (Preston-loan)

Sir Alex Ferguson turns 70 this season and as yet, there are no signs that his appetite for the game or United’s continuing success, has diminished. Sir Alex has spent his money prudently and wisely once again this summer. Mexican striker Javier Hernandez, annoyingly labelled Chicharito on his shirt, is already looking a bargain at £6m, Smalling will provide good cover in defence, while the players who have left the club are unlikely to be missed. With several players smarting from disappointing World Cup finals, Wayne Rooney for one, Sir Alex will be hoping the fire in their belly to prove their critics wrong can spur United on to become the most successful English League side ever by winning the league title come May and given their 3-1 demolition of Chelsea in the Charity Shield at the weekend, few would bet against them achieving that come May.

+Points – Hernandez looks a real talent and the kind of striker who offers United something different to their current crop. Nemanja Vidic staying is a huge boost for the club defensively. United look to have made small strides this pre-season while many of their rivals seem to have taken a step backwards.

-Points – The financial situation at the club still is a concern for many. The Red Knights disappeared over the horizon on their steeds as soon as the Glazer’s valuation of the club was made public. The level of debt is a huge concern for all at the club. It hasn’t impacted on the club as yet and probably won’t do for another season or so yet, but unless this issue is resolved one way or another , it will come home to roost at some point.

Image Courtesy of ***prismatico*** on flickr.com

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