Belated Premier League Preview and Predictions
Any logical person understands that making a prediction is easier when you have a sample size to draw your conclusions from, and we at the Sport Sesh are logical people. This is why we have delayed our Premier League preview by 2 weeks. We wanted to see each team play twice in order to more accurately gauge how we believe their respective seasons will turn out.
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Manchester City: The rich got richer this Summer starting with City's acquisition of legendary manager Pep Guardiola. Their Abu Dhabi-based ownership group didn't stop there, purchasing high profile players John Stones from Everton, Nolito from Celta de Vigo, Ilkay Gundogan from Borussia Dortmund, and Leroy Sane from Schalke 04 to add to their already stacked roster, which includes David Silva, Kevin De Bruyne, and former Golden Boot winner Sergio Aguero. They also bought a pair of South American wunderkinds in Brazilian Gabriel Jesus and Colombian Marlos Moreno who will both remain on loan until at least January of 2017. City's title ambitions are clear as they have spent no less than 180 million Euros this Summer. They are currently negotiating personal terms with Barcelona keeper Claudio Bravo so expect that total to increase before the transfer window closes. Through their first 2 games this season City has earned all 6 points and sit atop the league table. They lead the league in goals, with 6, and via their prolific attacking talent will surely be in the title race come May.
Manchester United: Not to be outdone by their cross-town rivals, United also has a new legendary manager at the helm this season. Since Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement after the 2012-13 season, Man U has failed to live up to the lofty league title expectations that their supporters, and board of directors, have set for them. However, United's ownership believes Jose Mourinho is the man to return them to their former glory. and with good reason. Mourinho has no shortage of Premier League managerial experience, and more importantly he has won the league 3 times during his 2 stints as Chelsea's gaffer. United haven't been shy about spending this Summer either, acquiring Villarreal defender Eric Bailly and Borussia Dortmund attacking midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan for a combined 80 million Euros before shelling out a record 105 million Euros for French star midfielder, and former Red Devil, Paul Pogba. They also picked up megastar striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic on a free transfer after the giant Swede's contract with PSG expired. United certainly doesn't lack star power, and so far their big name signings have been worth the cheddar. Zlatan has kicked off his freshman campaign in the Premier League in stride as he currently sits tied with Sergio Aguero for the league's top scorer and has accounted for 3 of United's 5 goals so far this season. The Red Devil's have looked strong so far this season, taking all 6 available points and have only conceded 1 goal. Under Mourinho's guidance, Man U have the talent and depth to win the league this season.
Chelsea: After a disastrous (by Chelsea standards) 10th place finish last season, in which current United boss Jose Mourinho was sacked mid-season, the Blues look to recapture their position atop the league table. Under the flamboyant direction of freshman manager, and former Italy gaffer, Antonio Conte, Chelsea are 2-0 in league, albeit thanks to late game heroics by divisive Spanish striker Diego Costa. At this point in the season, I believe Chelsea is a step or two behind it's Manchester rivals, but despite their struggles, they still have 6 points. Chelsea have not spent the gaudy numbers on sexy stars like their Northwest England counterpart,s but they did bolster their attack by signing Marseille striker Michy Batshuayi for nearly 40 million Euros, and strengthened their midfield with the addition of N'Golo Kante from league champions Leicester. Willian has looked superb so far this year and Diego Costa looks to be rebounding from his disappointing campaign last year. If Eden Hazard can play up to his potential this team can challenge for trophies. We all know that Chelsea can defend, but the question they will have to answer is whether or not they can generate the goals needed for a title run.
Liverpool: The Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde of the Premier League. The Reds opened Jurgen Klopp's sophomore campaign with an impressive 4 goal performance at Arsenal, but followed it up with a disappointing 2-nill loss at recently promoted Burnley a week later. Jurgen Klopp and the Fenway Sports Group, the club's owner, typically practice a more frugal approach to the transfer market than their big-spending league rivals. That said, Liverpool had a pretty active Summer, securing Steven Gerrard replacement Georginio Wijnaldum from recently relegated Newcastle and acquiring dangerous winger Sadio Mane from Southampton for 41 million Euros. Klopp and co. also focused on addressing the talent and depth of their back line, their Achilles's heel last season, by signing big Estonian Ragnar Klavan from Augsburg and Joel Matip from Schalke 04. The Red's also brought in promising keeper Loris Karius from Mainz to challenge inconsistent Simon Mignolet for the starting job. Liverpool have shown flashes of brilliance in the Arsenal game, and the addition of Mane to their lineup adds a new dynamic to the Reds' attack, but they have also looked woeful on defense, conceding a league-high 5 goals against through their first 2 games. Consistency will be Liverpool's greatest challenge this season, but if they can continue to score goals and plug up their leaky defense, they can challenge for the top spot in May.
TOP 4 CHALLENGERS:
Arsenal: An educated man never writes off Arsenal. The Gunners have finished in the top 4 of the league for 20 consecutive seasons. Most fans would be more than happy with that type of consistency, but after no league titles since the "Invincibles" went undefeated in 2003-04 and with limited Continental success, Arsenal supporters have grown increasingly critical of Arsene Wenger's managerial style. The longest tenured gaffer in the Premier League is on the hot seat and desperately needs to win games to keep his job. However, things have not gone Wenger's way so far this season. Injuries forced him to play a less than 100% lineup against Liverpool, who preyed on the inexperienced Gunners' defense for 4 goals. They followed up that performance with a less than exhilarating 0-0 draw with defending league champions Leicester City, who has also struggled to start the season. Arsenal currently have only 1 point two weeks into Wenger's pivotal 2016-17 campaign and sit 13th in the league. Pressure has been mounting for the Gunners to buy a world-class goal scorer, but Wenger has been hesitant to commit the necessary funds for long-time target Alexandre Lacazette. Arsenal's only notable acquisition this Summer has been talented Swiss midfielder Granit Xhaka from Borussia Monchengladbach for 45 million pounds early in the window. Arsenal's slow start is due in part by strong opposition and, given their talent, it would be shocking for their poor form to continue much longer. I don't think this is Wenger's year to challenge for the title, but fully healthy, and maybe with one or two more additions, this team is more than capable of competing for a top 4 finish.
Tottenham Hotspur: Spurs entered this season seeking to build upon last years semi-surprising 3rd place finish. However, they started their 2016-17 campaign by conceding a Ross Barkley free kick goal just 5 minutes into the new season, and were lucky to escape Everton with a 1-1 draw. In their second match against a struggling Crystal Palace side, Spurs relied on a late Victor Wanyama winner to earn their first win of the season. Spurs' starting 11 remains almost entirely intact from last season with the addition of midfielder Victor Wanyama from Southampton. The North Londoners have had a relatively quiet Summer, with their only other notable acquisition besides Wanyama being Dutch striker Vincent Janssen to add front line depth. Spurs have experience and chemistry and are led by a core of young English stars like Eric Dier, Dele Alli, and perennial 20 goal scoring threat Harry Kane. The biggest unknowns for Mauricio Pochettino's youthful Tottenham squad are how will they manage the added workload of their Champion's League campaign, and how will they handle the pressure of repeating last year's top 4 finish.
Everton: One of the surprising success stories of the young season has been Everton. The Toffees are currently in 5th place after drawing 1-1 with Spurs, without Romelu Lukaku, and a gutsy, come from behind win over an upstart West Brom side. After coming in 11th last season, expectations weren't particularly high for the Merseyside boys, but they have looked sharp through their first 2 matches. Much of the news surrounding Everton this Summer has been about the 50 million Euro departure of center back John Stones and the possible exit of star Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku. On the flip side, the Toffees did some nifty business this transfer window, picking up defender Ashley Williams from Swansea to replace Stones, veteran keeper Maarten Stekelenburg to fill Tim Howard's void, creative attacker Yannick Bolasie from Crystal Palace, and underrated box-to-box midfielder Idrissa Gueye from Aston Villa who may prove to be the best of the lot. If Everton can retain Lukaku's services, and maintain their high level of play, the Toffees may continue to surprise the league and end the season with a spot in Europe.
Leicester City: Usually the defending league champions are under a lot of pressure to repeat, but that is not the case this year. Last year's Cinderella run by the Foxes was nothing short of miraculous, especially in an age where league titles tend to be dominated by the biggest spending clubs. Theoretically, Leicester had no business winning the league last year, and although they undoubtedly deserved their title, it would be unfair and unrealistic to expect them to repeat as champions. However, just because this team is not expected to win the league does not mean that they should not continue their good form into this season. Last year we discovered that the Foxes have legitimate talent. Goal scoring anti-hero Jamie Vardy rejected a move to Arsenal this Summer to stay with the club, and if manager Claudio Ranieri can resist selling Riyadh Mahrez before the deadline, then this team has it's goal scoring nucleus back. They also have dynamic play maker Shinji Okazaki and defensive stalwart, and team leader, Wes Morgan back. Their only significant departure this off-season was N'Golo Kante, who Leicester was quick to replace with promising young French midfielder Nampalys Mendy. Leicester's acquisition of Nigerian attacker Ahmed Musa from CSKA Moscow makes the Foxes' attack even more lethal than last season. Leicester has started slower than expected this season, gaining only 1 point from a draw with Arsenal after a surprising 2-1 defeat to a recently promoted, but hot, Hull City side. I anticipate Leicester will draw upon their title-winning experience and chemistry to make a run at another European birth.
MID-TABLE:
West Brom: Tony Pulis's side currently sit 9th in the league table after earning 3 points from their first 2 matches this season. The Baggies kicked off their campaign with a 1-0 win over a struggling Crystal Palace squad, but then fell 2-1 to Everton on a late Victor Wanyama winner. The Baggies have been extremely quiet during this Summer's transfer window and will continue to be led by their dynamic attacking tandem of Salomon Rondon and Saido Berahino. Pulis is a savvy, veteran manager and I expect West Brom to overachieve this season, and possibly steal a few points en route to a mid-table finish.
Hull City: If you had asked me where I thought Hull City would finish before the season started, I wouldn't have hesitated that they would be relegated. However, recently promoted Hull were quick to make me look foolish as the Tigers defeated defending league champions Leicester 2-1 on match day one, and then blanked Swansea 2-0 to earn all 6 available points to start their season. In what has certainly been the biggest surprise of the young season, Hull currently sit 3rd in the league table, just behind United and City, and just above Chelsea. While Hull won't be able to keep up their hot start for the entirety of the season, if the Tigers can continue to generate multiple-goal performances, and keep their opponents off the score sheet, then they should finish comfortably above the relegation zone.
Middlesbrough: Hull's fellow recent Premier League promotee, Middlesbrough, have also raised eyebrows around the league with their surprisingly hot start to the season. Boro currently sit 6th in the league after nabbing 4 points from their first two matches. They began their season with a 1-1 draw with Stoke City , before earning their first win of the season in a 2-1 win over Sunderland. The Smoggies have been aggressive during this Summer,'s transfer window, loaning in former Manchester City striker Alvaro Negredo, while also acquiring veteran keepers Brad Guzan and Victor Valdes. Boro have made their intentions of staying in England's top flight clear, and I think they will continue to surprise people around the league and finish somewhere in the middle of the table.
West Ham: The giant killers have looked like a shell of their former selves so far this season. The Hammers are currently 10th in the league after gaining 3 points from their first 2 games. They fell to resurgent Chelsea 2-1 on match day 1 one before earning their first win of the season on a late Michail Antonio winner to prevail over Bournemouth 1-0. West Ham were arguably the most exciting team to watch in the Premier League last season. Under the direction of charismatic Croatian manager Slaven Bilic, the Hammer's high intensity, and up-tempo style of attacking soccer has created a unique identity for the team. Led by Diafra Sakho, Andy Carroll, Enner Valencia, and Euro 2016 star Dimitri Payet, the Hammers have the firepower to compete with the Premier League elite, but have lacked last season's offensive cohesiveness that guided them to a 7th place finish. West Ham focused on adding depth to their attack this Summer, bringing in wingers Andre Ayew from Swansea and Sofiane Feghouli from Valencia. The Hammer's have too much talent to not finish outside the top 10, but based on their lackluster performances so far this season, I don't think they will be in the race for a European berth come May.
Swansea City: The lone Welsh team in the Premier League has been a mid-table mainstay since their promotion to the league in 2011. The Swans currently sit 12th in league on 3 out of a possible 6 points this season. Swansea beat newly promoted Burnley 2-0 to snap their 25 match in-league unbeaten streak, which carried over from last year in the Championship, but then fell to an in-form, and also newly promoted, Hull City team 2-0. The Swans have done a bit of interesting business this Summer. After loaning out big French striker Bafetimbi Gomis to Marseille, and selling Euro 2016 champion and Portuguese hero Eder to Lille, Swansea added two giant Spanish strikers in Fernando Llorente and Borja Baston. The Swans have a competent midfield to supply the big Spaniards as Ki Sung-yueng, Gylfi Sigurosson, Jefferson Montero, and Summer acquisition Leroy Fer form a formidable box-to-box unit. Even with a mixed bag of results so far, Swansea has the talent and experience to stay clear of relegation. However, the Swan's still lack the big budget signings to compete for a top 4 spot, and all indicators point to yet another mid-table finish.
Stoke City: The 'island of misfit toys' of the Premier League, Stoke features a who's who of recognizable players cast away by other, bigger, European clubs. Their current roster boasts 3 former Barcelona men, 2 former Reds, a former Bayern boy, and legendary Premier League journeyman Peter Crouch. Even with their plethora of washed up legends and unfulfilled Barcelona academy talent, Stoke have had an underwhelming start to the season. They have managed just a single point through their first 2 matches and are currently 17th in the league table. The Potters drew 1-1 with recently promoted Middlesbrough before getting blitzed 4-1 by a Man City side that seems to get stronger and scarier by the day. Stoke's only notable acquisition this Summer has been industrious Welsh midfielder from Liverpool, who is coming off an impressive showing for Wales at this Summer's European Championship. In recent years, Stoke has identified themselves as a consistent mid-table finisher, and I expect the Potters to improve as the season progresses and finish comfortably ahead of the relegation zone.
Southampton: Southampton has made tremendous strides since the South Coast club was promoted to England's top flight in 2012. The Saints have steadily inched up the final league standings every year and finished in a club record, 6th place last season. What's even more impressive about Southampton's recent run of success is their extreme roster turnover every Summer. The Saints have established themselves as one of the best talent evaluators and developers in England and have embraced their role as a player feeder to bigger English clubs. Southampton has conducted arguably the shrewdest business in the league over the past few Summers, recording a transfer surplus of 72.24 million Euros since August 2014. However, their 2016 additions of young Danish midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg from Bayern and winger Nathan Redmond from Norwich have yet to pay off as the Saints currently sit in 16th place on 1 point. The Saints drew Watford 1-1 in their opener before falling 2-0 to Jose Mourinho's much improved Manchester United side. Southampton are clearly still searching for replacements for attackers Sadio Mane and Graziano Pelle and I would be surprised if the Saints don't try to address their glaring offensive deficiencies before September 1st. While Southampton may still be adjusting to their Summer departures, including former manager Ronald Koeman who left for the Everton job, recent history has shown us that betting against the Saints isn't wise and I expect them to be in the top 12 in May.
RELEGATION BATTLE:
Sunderland: The Black Cats narrowly escaped relegation last season, finish in 17th place. New manager David Moyes has yet to make me believe that this season will be any different. Sunderland are currently in 18th place with zero points after 2-1 defeats to both Manchester City and Middlesbrough. The Black Cats boast several impressive players like Jermain Defoe, Jeremain Lens, and Wahbi Khazri, but depth has a been a serious concern. Moyes loaned in Manchester United youngster Adnan Januzaj and Premier League veteran Steven Pienaar to try and address this issue, but the fact of the matter is that Sunderland just doesn't have enough first team quality players to maintain any sort of success this season. They will continue to struggle and will be battling for their Premier League future come May.
Crystal Palace: Like fellow bottom dwellers Sunderland, Crystal Palace have also failed to earn a point through its first two league matches. The Eagles sit second from bottom in the league table after consecutive 1-0 defeats to West Brom and Spurs, respectively. Palace offloaded play-making forwards Dwight Gayle and Yannick Bolasie this Summer for a combined 40 million Euros and their attack appears lost without them, failing to score so far this season. Alan Pardew has attempted to rectify his offensive woes by bringing in disgruntled Belgian striker Christian Benteke from Liverpool and winger Andros Townsend from newly relegated Newcastle. Unfortunately, Palace have had few bright spots so far this season and, unless they can figure out a way to start putting the ball in the back the net, it's going to be a long season for the South Londoners.
Bournemouth: The South Coasters survived their inaugural campaign, perhaps surprisingly, in England's top flight, finishing 16th last season, edging out perennial first division members Newcastle and Aston Villa. This year, Premier League survival will once again be the ultimate goal. However, Bournemouth are currently the third member of the less than illustrious 'zero points club.' Like Sunderland and Crystal Palace, Bournemouth have yet to earn a point so far this season. The Cherries are currently dead least in the league table and began their sophomore season in the Premier League with a 3-1 defeat to Manchester United and followed it up with a 1-0 loss to West Ham. Bournemouth has scoured lower league English and French teams to build depth as they prepare to weather a potentially long and hard Premier League season. Their marquee signing this transfer window has been winger Jordan Ibe from Liverpool, who they will rely on to ignite their offense and generate scoring opportunities. Bournemouth simply don't have the talent to avoid a relegation battle this season and it will be difficult for them to create any separation from the relegation zone teams. They will need to stay healthy and play up to their competition to have a realistic chance at avoiding relegation this year.Watford: Watford gained promotion to the Premier League in 2015 and probably surprised many when they fished their freshman season 13th. The Hornets are led by prolific Nigerian striker Odion Ighalo, but so far both goals this season have come from defensive midfielder Etienne Capoue. Watford currently sit 14th in the league after a 1-1 draw with Southampton and a 2-1 loss to Chelsea. Watford led 1-0 in both of their first two matches and instead of grabbing all 6 valuable points, have had to settle for only 1. Watford have spent nearly 30 million Euros this Summer on young Nigerian winger Isaac Success from Granada and Argentinian attacking midfielder Roberto Pereyra from Juventus to try and bolster their attack and take the scoring pressure off of Ighalo. They will need all the goals and points they can muster in order to avoid returning to the Championship.
Burnley: The Clarets have bounced between the Premier League and Championship over the past 3 years and I believe this pattern will continue this season. Newly promoted Burnley are currently 8th in the league after dropping their season opener to Swansea 1-0 before shocking the league with a 2-0 upset of Liverpool on match day 2. Despite their stunning victory over the Reds, Burnley will struggle to maintain their spot in the top flight. They were lucky to escape the Liverpool match with 3 points as they were out possessed 80%-20% and outshot 26-3. No team can expect to win many games with those kinds of margins, and even though they won the game, the talent disparity between the teams was clear. Burnley relies heavily on strikers Andre Gray and Sam Vokes to generate their offense and have acquired Belgian international Steven Defour, from Anderlecht, to improve their midfield and provide outlets to their attacking duo. Ultimately, Burnley have some talented players, and play a very organized and structured team-style defense, but they lack the horses on offense to come back in a game where they find themselves down. The long Premier League season will take its toll on the Clarets and I foresee them tumbling down the league table. Burnley will struggle to stay in the Premier League and will need to steal a few more results in order to avoid heading back to the Championship.
5 Quick Takeaways So Far:
1. Zlatan Will be Fine in England
2. Liverpool is still Inconsistent
3. Raheem Sterling has His Confidence Back
4. New Managers Adjusting Well
5. Arsene Wenger Wont be Back Next Year
