Premier League Preview 1/5

With just under 25 days to go before the new Barclays Premier League season kicks off, I for one can't wait for it to get started again! Between now and the 17th of August I will be reviewing all 20 teams and their chances of succeeding in 5 instalments of my blog.

I seem to hear most Arsenal fans bang on every summer that this season will be 'their season'. They get linked with many world class players but tend not to get the deals done. Last summer saw the arrival of Giroud, Podolski and Cazorla and they looked to be finally getting somewhere but they lost their main man RVP as well as a very underrated Alex Song. Wenger is known to be a very shrewd businessman but it doesn't help Arsenal in their pursuit for trophies or their struggles for a top four finish.


It looks as if this year will be fairly similar. With only one signing to show for so far, Yaya Sanogo, I feel the young 20 year old won't have a major effect on their chances; at least not this season anyway. Wenger needs to mix the youth with established quality players, something the fans have been calling for for months! 

It's all good and well being linked with the likes of Suarez and putting in a substantial bid but securing the player is a whole new thing, something which Arsenal appear to struggle with. Even if Arsenal were to persuade him to stay in England, I believe they'll still be a few years away from any sort of title challenge. With this being the case, them losing that crucial Champions League spot is a possibility if they're not careful.

Prediction: 5th

After last seasons lucky escape from the drop I would have thought Paul Lambert would have put his 'youth is best' plan behind him. It seems not with the arrival of 6 new players all under the age of 23. Then again, Villa don't really have the money for any other plan. I suppose the good thing about these group of players is the fact they've all gained a years worth of Premier League experience as a team and that can be vitally important in such a tough league. 

Another positive is that Benteke singing a new four year deal with the club. If they are to improve on last years finish, it was imperative they kept hold of him. I'm sure the fans will be able to put his transfer request earlier this month behind them once he starts popping goals away. With wages of £40,000+ a week now, there will be a lot of expectations and criticism surrounding him and his goal-scoring record but I'm sure he's capable of such. Why else would Tottenham be linked with him?

It wasn't just the goals from Benteke that kept Villa in the top flight mind you. Brad Guzan won many plaudits with some outstanding performances last season which in the end saw him earn Aston Villa player of the year award. He's made that number one spot his own and has since signed a new four year deal, keeping him at the club until 2017.

I still think Villa will struggle again this year as it's difficult to see a side change so suddenly in this league without many new additions, as you need a good blend of experience and youth to be successful. However, unlike other sides I'm yet to discuss, I think they have enough to keep them up.

Prediction: 16th

After three failed attempts in the Championship playoffs, the Bluebirds fielded weak sides in both cup competitions to finally get over the promotion line. Their next aim has to obviously be to stay in the division but to do that they're going to need to adapt and strengthen their squad else they will only be relegation contenders. With only one signing so far, albeit a record club fee, believed to be around the region of £8million, they seem to be far from ready for the battle ahead which starts with a tricky away tie at West Ham.

Manager Malky Mackay has a great vision at the club and is just starting to build something which could see Cardiff through many seasons in the top flight. This relatively new manager not only wants the club to benefit now but for the future too and he wants to bring in players that are in it for the long run and will be here in years to come, helping to build this structure needed for the league. However, this means having an increasingly young team which can have it's benefits in the long term but has the overhanging threat of failure. 

As Aston Villa demonstrated last season, pure youth doesn't work and they nearly paid the heavy price of relegation. This will teach teams like Cardiff that they will have to be wise with youth and not let it have the same detrimental effect to not only the position of a team but the morale of the fans and players. If they don't bring in some sort of experience then I can see Cardiff falling straight back down at the cost of rebranding and failure to prepare.

Prediction: 20th

It's what everyone (Chelsea fans) has been waiting for! The return of José Mourinho. Chelsea fans will be delighted with the fact 'The Special One' or the newly named 'Happy One' has rejoined for his second stint at the Premier League club. They'll be hoping he can be the one to bring the title back to Stamford Bridge after 4 seasons.

Mourinho has been very clever with his summer dealings so far. With a couple of additions and a total spent of only £18million, it takes an enormous amount of pressure off the team to succeed and the Blues will certainly be aiming to better last seasons 3rd place finish, competing even fiercer for the number one spot, which they should be capable of obtaining.

After saying a few weeks back that Lukaku will stay and fight for his place, the gaffer has many striking options available to him to aid this seasons campaign. He also has Mark Schwarzer, who is probably regarded as the best back-up goalkeeper the Premier League has to offer, at his disposal.

Last season this newly built squad took the league head on and will have only helped them prepare for an even bigger triumph for the coming season. Looking at the players Mourinho has available to him, I think they will mount a serious title challenge this time around.

Prediction: 2nd