2019-20 Premier League Preview
Thousands and thousands of hours of football, each more climactic than the last! Constant, dizzying, twenty-four hour, yearlong, endless football! Every kick of it massively mattering to someone, presumably. It will never stop, the football is officially going on forever! It will never be finally decided who has won the football! There is still everything to play for, and forever to play it in! So that's the football! Watch it! Watch the football! Watch it! Watch it! It's gonna move... Watch the football! It's football!
(Credit: That Mitchell and Webb Look)
Arsenal FC
Ins
Dani Ceballos (Real Madrid - loan)
Gabriel Martinelli (Ituano)
William Saliba (Saint-Etienne)
Nicolas Pepe (Lille)
Kieran Tierney (Celtic)
David Luiz (Chelsea)
Notable Outs
Krystian Bielik
David Ospina
Aaron Ramsey
Petr Cech
Stephan Lichtsteiner
Danny Welbeck
Laurent Koscielny
Carl Jenkinson
Eddie Nketiah
Alex Iwobi
Last season was another case of what might have been for Arsenal. Due to the indifferent form of Tottenham, Chelsea and Manchester United, Arsenal sat in 4th place with five games to go. However, a run of three defeats and only one win from their final five matches saw the Gunners miss out on that cherished Champions League spot by a single point. To add insult to injury, Unai Emery suffered a blemish on his Europa League record as Chelsea inflicted a heavy defeat on Arsenal in the final. This all means that Arsenal go into their third consecutive season now without Champions League football.
It feels as if Arsenal's problems have been well documented for the last ten to fifteen years now. The lack of defensive leaders and dominant midfielders has hampered their quest for Premier League success for far too long. If anything, the midfield has been weakened by the departure of Aaron Ramsay to Juventus. Emery has moved to address that void immediately with the acquisition of Dani Ceballos on-loan. The Real Madrid man is comfortable sitting deeper and joining attacks just like Ramsay. However, it may be that he is deployed as the furthest forward of three central midfielders instead of Mezut Ozil and the emerging Joe Willock.
Arsenal's big purchase of the summer saw them break their club record with the signing of Nicholas Pepe. 35 league goals in the last two seasons represents an impressive return for the left footed right winger. Like the recently retired Arjen Robben, Pepe loves to cut inside and work goal-scoring opportunities on his left foot. His pace and 1v1 ability makes Arsenal an ideal club for him to join with their fluid style of play. Deadline Day proved to be a rare success for the club as they looked to address their long standing defensive issues. Kieran Tierney was persuaded to make the move south from Celtic. The versatile defender can play all across the back line although he will likely take up the left back spot in this team. In one of the more unexpected deals, David Luiz was reunited with former manager Unai Emery as he looks to solve the club's problems at centre back. The Brazilian is a divisive figure who can shift from brilliant to disastrous in a flash. It is important that Arsenal get the good version of Luiz whilst highly rated youngster William Saliba is learning his trade out on loan.
Elsewhere, the rest of the side is much the same. Bernd Leno will continue in goal whilst the trio of Xhaka, Guendouzi and Torreira will be competing for the two central midfield spots. The latter, following his impressive debut season, has just returned from the Copa America so may not be quite ready to play in the season opener. Captain Laurent Koscielny has departed to Bordeaux meaning that the Gunners will probably partner Luiz with Sokratis or with the much maligned Mustafi. Ainsley Matland-Niles will have to perform well to keep out Hector Bellerin when he returns from injury whilst new signing Tierney will hope to hold off the likes of Sead Kolasinac and Nacho Monreal.
So will it be much of the same again for Arsenal? A trio of Pepe, Aubameyang and Lazazette will be very difficult to stop when in full flow. There are similarities between this team and the dynamic Liverpool one from two to three seasons ago where the Reds were lethal in attack but would throw away games with defensive calamities. It is inevitable that Arsenal will lose silly games but an extra cog to their attacking wheel could prove a subtle difference between narrowly missing out and narrowly achieving their goals.
Prediction: Arsenal's unpredictability has become very predictable over the years. However, due to others in transition around them, it may be the year to nab a Champions League spot. 4th.
Aston Villa FC
Ins
Anwar El-Ghazi (Lille)
Kortney Hause (Wolves)
Wesley (Club Brugge)
Tyrone Mings (Bournemouth)
Douglas Luiz (Manchester City)
Matt Targett (Southampton)
Ezri Konsa (Brentford)
Marvelous Nakamba (Club Brugge)
Trezuguet (Kasimpasa)
Tom Heaton (Burnley)
Bjorn Engels (Reims)
Jota (Birmingham)
Notable Outs
Alan Hutton
Glenn Whelan
Mile Jedinak
Ross McCormack
Gary Gardner
Albert Adomah
Tommy Elphick
Ritchie de Laat
Scott Hogan
Aston Villa's nosedive into the Championship didn't last for long as they returned to the Premier League after just two seasons away with a Play Off final victory over Derby County. It was goodbye to unpopular manager Steve Bruce following an indifferent start to last season as boyhood fan Dean Smith took charge. It wasn't smooth sailing straight away for Smith but ten consecutive wins at the back end of the campaign saw them hit the play offs with enormous momentum. On-loan Anwar El-Ghazi and tricky Scottish winger John McGinn hit the crucial goals that sent Villa back amongst the elite.
The club have been quite ruthless with their summer dealings with goodbyes to those not deemed strong enough for the Premier League. Whilst El-Ghazi, Kortney Hause and Tyrone Mings have made their loans permanent, nine other new faces have been bought to give Villa the best chance of competing. Noticably Ezri Konsa and Jota have been acquired from the Championship. Smith worked with both at Brentford and will be confident that they possess the attributes to succeed at this level. Bjorn Engels, Matt Targett and experienced goalkeeper Tom Heaton bring Villa's defensive signings up to six for the summer. This is an area that Smith has clearly identified as a necessity following the team's leaky nature last season. Heaton, in particular, looks to be an excellent, commanding signing which can only help some of the lesser experienced names in front of him.
The Villain's big gamble of the summer appears to be the signing of Brazilian striker Wesley from Club Brugge. The towering front man has been acquired to replace Tammy Abraham although he has not previously shown the prolific nature of the Chelsea man. Nevertheless, Wesley is a target man comfortable in playing as a lone striker and it will be his job to feed the likes of star winger Jack Grealish, Jota and fellow new signing Trezuguet. Central midfield has also been beefed up with young Brazilian Douglas Luiz anchoring in front of the defence and the brilliantly named Marvelous Nakamba offering a tough tackling option. Both will likely sit, enforce and look to release Villa's wide men as often as possible.
Bar a few lazy comparisons with Fulham's spending spree, many assume that Villa won't be in any real relegation danger this season. This seems to be a fair assumption although much will depend on whether new striker Wesley is a success or not. The squad does not currently contain any other Premier League experience up front and this may be an area that they choose to strengthen in the January transfer window. Jack Grealish also carries a large amount of expectation on his young shoulders and he will be expected to regularly provide the killer passes that can open teams up. It is also worth mentioning the work of Dean Smith too. The former Walsall and Brentford boss is known for getting the best out of players and his teams tend to be attractive on the eye. Will Villa be solid enough at the back though? This must be an area that Smith regularly drills or Villa may be on the wrong end of a few heavy defeats.
Prediction: Villa ideally need a good start, like Wolves of last season, to keep the momentum going. There may be a few iffy runs in there but Villa should largely have enough to survive the drop. 15th
AFC Bournemouth
Ins
Jack Stacey (Luton)
Lloyd Kelly (Bristol City)
Philip Billing (Huddersfield)
Arnaut Danjuma (Club Brugge)
Harry Wilson (Liverpool - Loan)
Notable Outs
Marc Pugh
Lys Mousset
Tyrone Mings
Harry Arter
There was a time where Bournemouth in the Premier League would have sounded bizarre and out of place. Not anymore though. The Cherries are about to embark on their fifth consecutive season in the top division under Eddie Howe. Bournemouth have punched well above their weight for many years now with young exciting talents being given the chance to excel down at Dean Court. However, there were signs last season that they just needed to be a little careful of predictability setting in as a mid-season slump of nine defeats in twelve threatened to embark them into a relegation battle. Despite some better results occurring in the second half of the season, including victories over Chelsea and Tottenham, there will be some cause for concern that Bournemouth achieved almost half of their wins in the first ten games of last season.
It is clear that the problem does not lie in attack. The quartet of Callum Wilson, Josh King, David Brooks and Ryan Fraser shone when all fit. It is a worry that the team struggled when Wilson and Brooks were out with injuries mind you meaning that others will need to step up this coming season. With Brooks already out for a few months with a new injury, young attacking wide-men Arnaut Danjuma and Harry Wilson will need to make an instant impact. Injuries appear to be the theme at Bournemouth currently with Lloyd Kelly and Dan Gosling joining Junior Stanislas, Simon Francis and Lewis Cook on the treatment table.
As a result of all these injuries, Bournemouth's squad has got rather large and will need to be trimmed somewhat over the next twelve months. This has already started with the departures of Lys Mousset, Tyrone Mings and Harry Arter. The latter has been an excellent servant to the club but the beginning of the end was perhaps signalled with a loan spell at Cardiff last season. Those on the periphery like Jordan Ibe, Dominic Solanke and Diego Rico will need to show an improvement in form or they may find themselves on their way out in January.
Eddie Howe's main aim this season will be to steady a back-line that let in 70 goals last season; the third highest in the league. The goalkeeping situation was a mess last season with Asmir Begovic and Artur Boruc both up their with the worst performing keepers in the league. Irishman Mark Travers will be pressing both for a starting spot this season. New defensive signings Lloyd Kelly and Jack Stacey are both promising youngsters who have excelled below the Premier League. The key for Bournemouth though will be to keep a settled defence. In 2018/19, the team used 28 different defensive combinations across 43 games in all competitions due to injuries. With Kelly sidelined and Cook having a disrupted pre-season, Bournemouth will hope last season's constant injury woes don't surface again.
Prediction: Their attacking power means that, barring injuries to key men, Bournemouth will likely win enough games to stay out of genuine trouble. It could be the same old story defensively though. 13th
Brighton & Hove Albion FC
Ins
Matt Clarke (Portsmouth)
Leandro Trossard (Genk)
Adam Webster (Bristol City)
Neil Maupay (Brentford)
Romaric Yapi (Paris Saint Germain)
Aaron Mooy (Hudderfield)
Notable Outs
Anthony Knockaert
Markus Suttner
Bruno
Beram Kayal
After an excellent first season in the Premier League, Brighton almost bowed out of the top division in their second year after a poor campaign that heralded only 36 points. Despite reaching an FA Cup semi-final, Chris Hughton paid for the poor run of form with his job. In truth, Brighton were saved by the failures of others as the team looked to be playing for 0-0 draws in the final part of the season. Hughton is known for hard-working, disciplined teams but it looked as if the players were terrified to express themselves by the very end.
Graham Potter, fresh from a quietly impressive debut season in the Championship with Swansea, was appointed as Hughton's replacement. Potter is known for being more than just a manager as he regularly speaks about creating a culture of success with his teams. This was true at Ostersunds where he infamously reached the knockout stages of the Europa League, in a run which saw the Swedes defeat Arsenal despite losing on aggregate. Potter will be looking to overhaul the club's style of play to a more passing based, attacking approach. In terms of formation, the coach is known to be flexible. At Swansea, a 4-2-3-1 was most common but Potter is not afraid of deploying wing backs and a back three either.
One of the club's main signings this summer has been Belgian winger Leandro Trossard. The wide-man scored over 20 goals in all competitions last season for Genk and will likely be deployed on the left of midfield. Aaron Mooy has also arrived on loan from Huddersfield for a year. The midfielder was arguably the Terriers' best player and should comfortably slot into Potter's ball playing style. Elsewhere, centre backs Aaron Webster and Matt Clarke have been purchased to challenge the established pair of Duffy and Dunk. It does appear that Potter is being trusted to develop Hughton's more unsuccessful signings in the form of Jurgen Locadia, Alireza Jahanbakhsh and Florin Andone. The manager is also known for developing youth which means a few prospects from the U23 team such as free-scoring Aaron Connolly and Romanian international Tudor Baluta may be given opportunities. The latter performed well in the U21 European Championships during the summer.
One man who Potter will be hoping to get the most out of is Pascal Gross. Gross struggled last year with injuries and also playing as part of a three man midfield instead of where he previously achieved success as a number ten. All signs currently point towards Potter deploying the German behind the striker this season though. This front man looks like being new signing Neal Maupay who has joined from Brentford for around 20 million. The Frenchman is deceptively quick with two good feet. His goal record is outstanding and he is just as adept at dropping in to link the play when required. If any of Brighton's summer signings highlights the upcoming change in style, it's this one.
Prediction: It is unlikely that Brighton will be in anything other than a bottom half battle as they undergo a transition. Such transitions are normally either spectacular successes or disasters. There may be a few stumbles this season as players old and new adapt to Potter's methods. If the Brighton board and supporters can remain patient though, this might be the dawning of a bright new era. 16th
Burnley FC
Ins
Jay Rodriguez (West Brom)
Bailey Peacock-Farrell (Leeds)
Erik Pieters (Stoke)
Danny Drinkwater (Chelsea - Loan)
Notable Outs
Peter Crouch
Stephen Ward
Tom Heaton
Nakhi Wells
Following an outstanding 2017/18 season for Burnley, which saw them clinch European qualification for the first time in 51 years, the team inevitably struggled with the extra workload last season. It is fair to say that the team were streaky with numerous defeats in a row followed by numerous victories in a row. Injuries were felt in what was an already tight squad and for the first time in his reign, questions were asked of Sean Dyche at times. Nevertheless, the sign of a good manager is one who can emerge from the other side of a difficult period and the 48-year-old was able to do this.
The biggest departure of the summer for Burnley is ever reliable goalkeeper Tom Heaton. It was no coincidence that Dyche's men tightened up at the back when Heaton returned midway through the campaign. However, eight million for a 33 year old represents good business when replacements are already in place. Young, promising keeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell has been brought in from Leeds which leaves some doubt over the long-term future of former England number one Joe Hart. With Nick Pope seemingly winning the race to be the Clarets number one shot stopper, it would seem strange for Hart to settle as a number two at this stage of his career when they now have a young able deputy on board.
Elsewhere, Jay Rodriguez returns to the club where he made his name following an excellent season in the Championship for West Brom. Stoke outcast Erik Pieters also joins to replace Stephen Ward as competition for young left back Charlie Taylor. Danny Drinkwater also signed on loan at the very end of the transfer window. The former Leicester title winner played his best football in a 'backs to the wall' type team and will have a point to prove to those who have written him off. It does appear that Burnley have adopted the 'If it ain't broke, don't fix it' mantra as they ended up comfortably surviving last season despite that dreadful first few months. Dyche has become one of the most reliable managers in the division with his side very difficult to beat at Turf Moor. The manager deserves a lot of credit for the seamless transition of older players out for fresh faces as Charlie Taylor and Dwight McNeil both excelled down the left, especially towards the back end of last season.
Going into the new season, there will be optimism that some players returning from injury can add a fresh spark to Burnley. Steven Defour, the talented little Belgian, only made six appearances in midfield due to injury last season whilst Robbie Brady had similar luck. Dyche will be hoping both add a creative edge that was often missing in games last season. With Ashley Barnes, Chris Wood and the returning Rodriguez, the firepower is there.
Prediction: Burnley should have few worries this season. The squad know their roles in this set up and do not have to juggle extra games in the opening months this time. After keeping hold of star defender James Tarkowski, following interest from Leicester, I can only see Burnley continuing their trend of being very solid at home. 14th
Chelsea FC
Ins
Mateo Kovacic (Real Madrid)
Christian Pulisic (Borussia Dortmund)
Notable Outs
Eden Hazard
Tomas Kalas
Gary Cahill
Danny Drinkwater
David Luiz
Despite a transfer ban lasting until next summer, it has been a summer of changes for Chelsea. Largely unpopular manager Maurizio Sarri left for Juventus after delivering the Europa League title and Champions League football back to Stamford Bridge. Club legend Frank Lampard was persuaded to take over after an impressive first season in management at Derby County; a move that is not without risk from owner Roman Abramovich. Star winger Eden Hazard also left for pastures new at Real Madrid which leaves a gaping hole in the Blue's attack.
Although they are not able to make any new signings, Chelsea do welcome back Mateo Kovacic after they exercised a clause in the loan agreement to buy him for around 40 million. Christian Pulisic also joins following a deal done back in January and he will attempt to fill that Hazard shaped chasm. However, what may in the Blue's favour is that they have a breadth of talent coming through their academy which they are likely going to be forced to dip into. Lampard showed at Derby that he is not afraid to give youth a chance meaning that the likes of Mason Mount, Tammy Abraham and Callum Hudson-Odoi will play their part this season.
Abraham in particular looks like getting a run in the first team. The manager likes his strikers pressing and on the front foot which does not suit the way veteran Oliver Giroud likes to play. Michy Batshuayi is also another option although realistically he is unlikely to start many games. It does look as if Chelsea are going to move away from the 4-3-3 that saw N'Golo Kante played further forward last year with the Frenchman and either Jorginho or Kovacic deployed together in a 4-2-3-1. There has been an all English battle for the number 10 spot in pre-season with Ross Barkley and Mason Mount both in electric form whilst Pulisic, Pedro and Willian will fight it out for the wide berths. Callum Hudson-Odoi unfortunately misses the first few months of the season due to injury. At the back, David Luiz and Gary Cahill have departed leaving Antonio Rudiger, Andreas Christensen and the previously on loan Kurt Zouma and Fikayo Tomori as the club's centre back options. It is up to Lampard to decide the combinations that he feels are best fit to stifle opposition attacks.
Chelsea are tricky to predict this season as so much has changed even though the personnel largely remains the same. Frank Lampard always comes across with an air of intelligence and I don't think he'll have any problems managing in the Premier League with his cool, calm demeanour. It just depends whether or not he has the tools at his disposal to match the expectations of the owner. Top four will likely be the aim from Abramovich and this achievement will likely be down to whether the likes of Hudson-Odoi, Mount and Abraham can have stellar seasons in front of goal. If they don't, it is hard to see how they can compete with the fire power of their rivals' front lines.
Prediction: Chelsea still have a wealth of talent and experience in their squad. Azpilicueta and Kante would walk into most top six teams. They just look a little light in the forward areas compared to the other contenders which may be their undoing. However, this could act as a real breakthrough season for some and possibly be the start of an exciting new era. 5th
Crystal Palace FC
Ins
Jordan Ayew (Swansea)
Stephen Henderson (Nottingham Forest)
Gary Cahill (Chelsea)
James McCarthy (Everton)
Victor Camarasa (Real Betis)
Notable Outs
Bakary Sako
Alexander Sorloth
Aaron Wan Bissaka
Jason Puncheon
Papa Soure
It's been a very uncharacteristically quiet year for Crystal Palace. Not since the furore of Frank De Boer's disastrous short tenure and the club's seven straight defeats to open the 2017/18 season has there been much attention directed at them. Roy Hodgson was appointed soon after and did what Roy Hodgson does in stabilising the team to an excellent 11th place finish. Last season was meant to be the year in which Palace kicked on and there was perhaps some disappointment that they didn't. Perhaps there was the image of Hodgson's progressive Fulham side in the minds of some but Palace stumbled to a 12th place finish in a year that had them looking over their shoulders after a very poor first half to the season.
It's difficult to pinpoint exactly where the blame lies for that mediocre year. Firstly, you would have to say that the club's failure to sign a new striker was a major fault, especially once Christian Benteke became injured. Wilifred Zaha often deputised up front which robbed Palace of their best player playing in his best position. A lack of goals probably explains the awful home form at Selhurst Park which had previously been a fortress for Palace. Hodgson will be thankful that his side had one of the better away records or else they may have been dragged into a relegation battle. The manager will probably also point to a lack of major signings as well. There is a feeling that the club stood still whilst others pushed on ahead of them.
Unfortunately, it looks like being much of the same this season. Breakout star full back Aaron Wan-Bissaka has departed to Manchester United for around 50 million freeing up funds for the manager to bring in new players. Jordan Ayew has signed on a permanent and Gary Cahill has joined to add competition to Mamadou Sakho and James Tompkins at centre back. James McCarthy and Victor Camarasa have also joined. The latter was one of Cardiff's best players last season but it does feel like the bulk of Palace's signings appear to be quite desperate. With many of the international transfer windows rumbling on until the beginning of September, it is imperative that the club keeps Wilifred Zaha. The Ivory Coast international has been linked with several clubs this transfer window and appears to want a move away. His departure would be a sizeable blow for Palace who would not be able to purchase a replacement until January. Luka Milivojevic top scored last season with 12, largely down to his excellent penalty record, but this will not bail the team out forever.
It's a dangerous time for Crystal Palace. With Roy Hodgson in charge, you would not expect Palace to finish in the bottom three. But I just wonder if the blame will be passed onto the manager if there is another season where Palace appears to be taking steps backwards. The club's squad looks very uninspiring and they look to be a right back and a striker short of where they would like to be.
Prediction: Crystal Palace look to be treading water, which is a very dangerous thing to do in this league. It could be a season of flirting with the drop for the London side. If Zaha departs, either in this window or in the January window, I wouldn't rule a bottom three finish. 17th
Everton FC
Ins
Jonas Lossl (Huddersfield)
Fabian Delph (Manchester City)
Jean-Philippe Gbamin (FSV Mainz)
Andre Gomes (Barcelona)
Moise Kean (Juventus)
Djibril Sidibe (Monaco)
Alex Iwobi (Arsenal)
Notable Outs
Ashley Williams
Phil Jagielka
Nikola Vlasic
Ademola Lookman
Idrissa Gueye
Muhamed Besic
Marco Silva's first season in charge of Everton was up and down to say the least. A solid start and strong finish book-ended an awful winter period in which the manager's job was reportedly under threat. Nevertheless, an end to the season which included victories over Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and draws against Liverpool and Tottenham has left supporters excited for the new season. Of this great run though, two key members of the team have now departed. Midfield enforcer Idrissa Gueye has left for Paris Saint Germain whilst on-loan Kurt Zouma was wanted by Frank Lampard at Chelsea. Both represent huge losses to the spine of Everton's team.
Since Romelu Lukaku's departure, the club have been desperate for a 20 goal striker. Last season saw Richarlison filling in, although this often robs the Brazilian of his ability to come in off the wing. Cenk Tosun was also given some opportunities to impress but generally did not look up to the standard. The season ended with Dominic Calvert-Lewin getting a run in the team and doing pretty well. The young-forward is incredibly hard-working and leads the line well but does suffer from a lack of end product too often. However, in one of the deals of the summer, Everton stunned the footballing world with the transfer of Juventus' 19-year-old Moise Kean for just under 30 million. Whilst this deal represents great intrigue and promise, the Italian international must be given time to settle in. He will certainly have talent around him in the likes of Richarlison and Gylfi Sigurdsson.
Elsewhere, the Toffees have been active in trying to fill the hole left by Gueye with the signings of Fabian Delph and Jean-Philippe Gbamin. Gbamin, in particular, is only 23 and regarded highly. The Ivorian is tall, rangy and not afraid to carry the ball forward. Whilst Gueye's statistics in terms of breaking up possession are up there with the best, he did not offer much with the ball. Alongside this, Everton have also confirmed a permanent deal with Andre Gomes. The former Barcelona man is an excellent footballer and appears to be enjoying his time at Everton.
Deadline Day proved to be frantic for the club as they got the winger they wanted with a last ditch bid for Arsenal's Alex Iwobi. Realistically, this was a second choice signing as interest in Wilifred Zaha had been public all summer. Iwobi, despite the criticism he receives from Arsenal fans, is a solid Premier League performer and whilst he probably won't set the world alight, he will provide good competition for Richarlison and Bernard. If that wasn't enough, the Toffees also added a World Cup winner to their ranks. Djibril Sidibe joined to compete with Seamus Coleman for the right back spot following the Irishman's injury problems over the past few years.
Everton could probably still do with 1-2 more signings. In particular, another centre back will be key in January with Zouma's departure leaving only Yerry Mina, Michael Keane and Mason Holgate. The club also have players that they have bought in years gone by rotting in the reserves on sizeable wages which they may need to unload first. The likes of Yannick Bolasie, Kevin Mirallas, Oumar Niasse and Cenk Tosun are not going to be easy to shift. These failures are often the reason why Everton's bench is not as strong as those above them. Whilst last season was one of transition, the club now need to push on and show progress or else the manager could be in the firing line.
Prediction: Everton are full of promise and potential this season. Their starting line up is strong enough to push for the top six but their squad just lacks the depth of the clubs above them. If they can cut out the defeats against the smaller sides, there is no reason why Everton can't achieve European football. 7th
Leicester City FC
Ins
James Justin (Luton)
Ayoze Perez (Newcastle)
Youri Tielemans (Monaco)
Dennis Praet (Sampdoria)
Notable Outs
Danny Simpson
Shinji Okazaki
Harry Maguire
2018/19 was a traumatic season for Leicester City. In October, billionaire owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha tragically passed away in an awful helicopter crash that took place just outside the stadium. The football world came together to mourn the man who just over a year earlier had been celebrating one of the most unlikely Premier League triumphs of all time. Vichai's son Aiyawatt has since taken over as the club Chairman. A few months later, under-performing manager Claude Puel was sacked and Brendan Rodgers was tempted to the Midlands from Celtic. An emotionally draining campaign ended with the Foxes finishing in 9th.
On the pitch, there were many good signs for Leicester last season. For all Puel's tactical faults, he had put a promising young squad together after signing the likes of James Maddison, Ricardo Pereira, Caglar Soyuncu and Filip Benkovic. The latter two were signed with the future in mind but it may just be that Rodgers is the one who benefits. Elsewhere, Harvey Barnes was recalled from an impressive loan spell at West Brom. The young winger soon made a first team spot his own with a number of threatening performances. With the experience of Kasper Schmeichel, Jonny Evans and Jamie Vardy invaluable, the Foxes head into the new season with a lot of hope.
However, just days before the season starts, the club have been dealt a blow with the news that Harry Maguire has moved to Manchester United for 80 million. Although disappointing, it will give young defenders Soyuncu and Benkovic the opportunity to prove that they are good enough. If not, I envisage that Rodgers may spend some money at centre back come January. Elsewhere, the club has been relatively quiet on the transfer front although a permanent deal for Youri Tielemanns looks to be very good business after the creative midfielder struck up an instant understanding with Vardy last season. Ayoze Perez has also joined from Newcastle. The versatile Spaniard can play anywhere across the front line although his best performances have come from when he is stationed in the number ten position. Finally, the club signed Belgian midfielder Dennis Praet from Sampdoria in what appears to be a bargain 18 million fee.
Elsewhere, there are some Leicester players who are facing make or break seasons. Demarai Gray has promised so much but has been hampered by his own inconsistency. 8 goals in three Premier League seasons is not good enough for a player with so much talent. Rachid Ghezzal was signed as Riyad Mahrez's replacement but has not adapted to the physical demands of the Premier League. Finally, Kelechi Iheanacho arrived at Leicester with a good reputation and was probably brought in to eventually replace Jamie Vardy. Nevertheless, the Nigerian has struggled when given opportunities and does not seem able to lead a strike-force by himself like Vardy does. Add to these three other young players like Soyuncu, Benkovic, Daniel Amartey and Hamza Choudhury and it is clear that, whilst Leicester possess a lot of promise, they need a few more of their squad players to step up to the mark if they really want to go places.
Prediction: Leicester are a lot of people's dark horses to gatecrash the top six. Part of me thinks it is a little early for them to be doing that but then another part of me thinks that they may not get a better chance to do so. The club has a lot of young but experienced players and most importantly they have a goal-scorer in Vardy. You can throw a blanket over 6th to 10th but I'm going to say that Leicester look the most stable of these clubs. 6th
Liverpool FC
Ins
Sepp Van den Berg (PEC Zwolle)
Adrian (West Ham)
Harvey Elliott (Fulham)
Notable Outs
Daniel Sturridge
Alberto Moreno
Simon Mignolet
Danny Ings
Harry Wilson (Loan)
Champions League Winners and 97 points in the Premier League. 2018/19 has to go down as one of Liverpool's best ever seasons. The only real downside is that unbelievably they did not win the Premier League with that tally. Being pipped to the post by Manchester City will have hurt the team from Merseyside as they gear up for another monumental effort this season. However, their task is tougher than ever with an ill timed Club World Cup appearance just before the busy Christmas period. Plus it's fair to say that the likes of Salah, Mane and Firmino have had very little rest this summer. The effects of that may be seen in the second half of this campaign.
Jurgen Klopp has looked to trim his squad slightly this summer. A few of the old pros have departed with Moreno, Sturridge, Ings and Mignolet moving on to pastures new. With his current squad largely at a very good age, Klopp has looked to invest in the future. It's a wise move which has paid off in the past with the likes of Joe Gomez coming through after being bought from Charlton. This summer, 16-year-old prodigy Harvey Elliott has been brought in as has 17-year-old Sepp Van den Berg. Neither will likely feature much but will be eased into the first team picture over the coming seasons.
Expect Liverpool's approach to not change too much. Andrew Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold will continue to bomb forward in search of assists whilst Virgil Van Dijk and either Gomez or Joel Matip will continue to occupy the centre back positions. Fabinho looks to have secured the holding role as his own with the likes of Jordan Henderson, Naby Keita, James Milner, Georgio Wijnaldum and Adam Lallana all after one of two remaining central midfield positions. In particular, the pressure will be on big money signing Keita to add more end product to his game after an inconsistent first season. The front three positions speak for themselves with Salah, Mane and Firmino as devastating as any other trio in world football. Divock Origi and Xherden Shaqiri provide the back up. One player who will feel like a new signing for Klopp is Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. The England international spent most of last season injured but will add a different option from the bench whether that is at the tip of the midfield or coming in from a wide position.
The Champions League triumph finally broke Jurgen Klopp's trophy-less reign as Liverpool manager. The boss will be keen to add more trophies this season. Whilst retaining the Champions League will be very tough, another title challenge will be at the forefront of their mind along with success in a domestic cup. To ensure continued progress, Liverpool must get their hands on some silverware again this season.
Prediction: It feels like last season should have been Liverpool's year to win the Premier League. This season feels tougher with the club having less time to prepare and a busier calendar. They will still go well but I'd be surprised if they got anywhere near 97 points again. 2nd
Manchester City FC
Ins
Rodri (Atletico Madrid)
Angelino (PSV Eindhoven)
Joao Cancelo (Juventus)
Scott Carson (Derby)
Notable Outs
Douglas Luiz
Fabian Delph
Vincent Kompany
Danilo
How do you top a domestic double? With a domestic treble of course! If the Premier League and League Cup weren't enough for Manchester City in 2017-18, the team went one better in 2018-19 and added the FA Cup to their trophy haul. The season encapsulated the high standards of manager Pep Guardiola who aims for nothing less than perfection from his players. The going wasn't always smooth though as long-term injuries to Kevin de Bruyne and Benjamin Mendy robbed the manager of two key men whilst results did wobble over the Christmas period. However, a near perfect second half of the season saw the title return to the Etihad stadium with an outstanding 98 points.
In terms of transfers, Guardiola is more about evolution than revolution. He strategically identifies areas of the team that will need enhancing in the short-term future and looks to buy the right player for that position. It has been well known for over a year that City require a new defensive midfielder. Fernandinho has been one of the Premier League's outstanding players for the last five years but the Brazilian is now 34 and can not be expected to play in every game. Therefore, young Spaniard Rodri has been acquired from Atletico Madrid. The 23-year-old, dubbed 'the next Busquets' showed glimpses of his talent in the Community Shield against Liverpool with a neat and tidy performance. Expect to see him and Fernandinho rotate during the season, especially if the latter ends up filling in more at centre back next to Aymeric Laporte as speculated.
In terms of departures, versatile Fabian Delph has departed as has young defensive midfielder Douglas Luiz. Vincent Kompany leaves the biggest hole though as the Belgian ventures into management. Kompany's influence can not be underestimated. Arguably, City would not have won the title last season without his performances in the final few games and memorable wonder goal against Leicester. Guardiola has explained that his squad will choose the new club captain before the season begins. Whoever it is will have big shoes to fill.
Another City legend who will be saying goodbye in the near future is David Silva. The Spaniard has announced that this season will be his last before departing for a final challenge elsewhere. It is a good time for Silva to bow out as he will be 34 come May. In a similar way to Rodri and Fernandinho, it is likely that Phil Foden will be given more minutes this season to ready him for a future regular starting berth. Elsewhere, City have pulled off a impressive looking swap deal that sees fringe player Danilo head to Juventus with Portuguese full back Joao Cancelo coming in. Also, the club have also activated a buy back clause on left back Angelino following an impressive season at PSV Eindhoven. With regular injury concerns over Benjamin Mendy, City now have good cover in that area with the versatile Oleksandr Zinchenko staking his own claim for the position.
It is hard to find any real argument against City winning another title. The only query may be that Guardiola has not yet won the Champions League with the club and may prioritise this. However, this near obsession did not stop them from performing to near perfection in the league at the back end of last season. The performances of John Stones is another small concern. The England man had a mediocre year which was capped off with a terrible performance for England in the Nations League semi-finals against Holland. However, it is likely that Guardiola will take him out of the firing line if performances do not improve.
Prediction: Guardiola will have one eye on the Champions League without a doubt. However, the manager is a perfectionist and will ensure that City do not take their eye off winning a third consecutive title. 1st
Manchester United FC
Ins
Daniel James
Aaron Wan Bissaka
Harry Maguire
Notable Outs
Ander Herrera
Antonio Valencia
Romelu Lukaku
It was around a year ago where the writing really was on the wall for Jose Mourinho. Complaints about the club's tour of USA, lack of transfers and the lack of commitment from particular members of his squad. It didn't get much better once the season started and 'The Special One' was sacked just before Christmas. Club legend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was the intriguing interim appointment and the clamour to make this a permanent relationship was soon unavoidable following a great run in the Premier League and a memorable two legged Champions League victory over Paris Saint Germain. Solskjaer was appointed and typically results plummeted. The Norwegian now presides over an important summer as he looks to make the squad his own.
United have looked to youth with their dealings at Solskjaer looks to tap into the approach of his former mentor Sir Alex Ferguson. Rapid winger Daniel James has been purchased from Swansea. The Welshman will be one of the quickest players in the division but it will be up to the coaching staff to help him improve his end product. Also acquired following a stellar breakthrough campaign is right back Aaron Wan-Bissaka. The 21-year-old was voted as Crystal Palace's Player of the Season and is a superb defender who is capable of getting forward. The headlines though have gone to Harry Maguire who had been linked with a move all summer. United finally got their man in a deal that makes him the most expensive defensive signing in the world. Maguire will provide solidity for a previously leaky defence and is capable of bringing the ball out from the back too.
What makes United an intriguing prospect this season is that nobody quite knows how they are going to line up come Sunday's first match with Chelsea. The back line looks most predictable with David De Gea in goal behind a back four of Wan-Bissaka, Maguire, Victor Lindelof and Luke Shaw. You would assume that Paul Pogba will be deployed next to either Scott McTominay or Nemanja Matic following the departure of Ander Herrera over the summer. The front four places are quite interesting. With Romelu Lukaku leaving to join Inter Milan, Marcus Rashford will surely command one of them although quite where he plays depends on whether Mason Greenwood is selected. The 17-year-old has shone in pre-season and Solskjaer would not be afraid to choose him if necessary. Such a selection could see Rashford move to the left although better odds may be on Anthony Martial being deployed out there with the England international leading the line. Alternatively Greenwood could start further right although Daniel James has impressed in pre-season and looks likely to be trusted with a start. It also looks to be a battle between Jesse Lingard, Juan Mata and Alexis Sanchez for the final position behind the striker. Lingard appears the current favourite there.
Make no mistake, this is going to be a tough season for United. Whilst the defence is looking a little more secure, there is a lack of experience and uncertainty in key areas. Selling Romelu Lukaku on the final day of the transfer window and not getting in a replacement could well be a disastrous move. Although he may not have fit United's style of play, the Belgian has hit 10 goals or more for the last seven seasons. There are no guarantees that anybody in the current squad will be as prolific as Lukaku was. Alongside this, the club also have to deal with Thursday night Europa League football which will be a very unwanted distraction. Solskjaer is going to have to channel the positivity that surrounded the early part of his reign in charge as there will likely be a few shock defeats along the way. It could be that United have to take a few steps backwards before they go forwards again.
Prediction: Despite some promising signings for the future, this United squad is nowhere near ready for a top four challenge Too many bad influences on inflated wages remain and there looks to be a lack of goals compared to their main rivals. The big question will be whether United choose to back the manager's long-term project or hit the panic button when there is a tough patch. If ever there is going to be a year where they fall outside the top six, this could be it. 8th
Newcastle United FC
Ins
Jetro Willems (Frankfurt)
Allan Saint-Maximin (Nice)
Joelinton (Hoffenheim)
Emil Krafth (Amiens)
Andy Carroll (West Ham)
Notable Outs
Mohamed Diame
Joselu
Ayoze Perez
Jacob Murphy
There's a distinct feeling of Deja Vu enveloping Tyneside at the moment. Popular manager Rafael Benitez left the club in June at the end of his contract after failing to agree terms with owner Mike Ashley. We've seen this before at Newcastle under Ashley's ownership: turmoil that is soon followed by relegation. In 2008, Kevin Keegan resigned in September following a lack of control over transfers. Joe Kinnear and Alan Shearer couldn't save the club who were relegated with an 18th place finish. In 2015, once the Alan Pardew reign had gone stale, Newcastle had the opportunity to start an exciting new era but went for Steve McClaren whose stock had largely fallen by this time. McClaren lasted less than a year and Rafa Benitez ran out of games in which to save them from a 2nd relegation to the Championship.
Steve Bruce has been revealed as the new manager this season in a move that has left fans exasperated at the ambitions of Ashley. Bruce, a boyhood Newcastle fan who previously managed arch rivals Sunderland, has had his own fair share of fury directed at him in his first month at the club. The ex Manchester United defender has managed several clubs at Premier League level before and is renowned as a calm, experienced head. There have been moments of excellence such as reaching the FA Cup final with Hull City and leading unfancied Sunderland, Wigan and Birmingham to strong mid table seasons. However, Bruce's tenures in charge of these clubs often ended with the club suffering Premier League relegation or battling against the drop.
So far, Newcastle's new signings all appear to be gambles. Striker Joelinton arrived from Hoffenheim for a club record fee whilst tricky winger Allan Saint-Maximin arrives from Nice. Saint-Maximin is an interesting case. An excellent talent who combines pace and trickery with the ball but who has been criticised in the past by former manager Patrick Vieira for not sacrificing himself for the team. It is notable that Saint-Maximin has only managed nine goals in his last two seasons and it is said that his exciting dribbles often lack end product. Steve Bruce has managed a few mavericks in his time, including Christophe Dugarry at Birmingham. If Saint-Maximin can follow the example that his fellow countryman set during his time in England, Newcastle will have a player on their hands. As for Joelinton, he is not the most prolific but is regarded as being able to lead the line well. His movement may bring the best out of Miguel Almiron who excels when he has space to dribble into. However, it's fair to say that Joelinton has big shoes to fill after Salomon Rondon hit double figures last season for the club. Maybe Andy Carroll is the answer following the striker's move on the final day of the transfer window? Keeping the striker fit will be Bruce's priority. All things considered, it does have the feel of a slightly desperate gamble from a club who know that they're lacking overall quality. Nevertheless, if all of Newcastle's components click this season, then they may have an attacking unit that will keep them out of trouble.
However, the big concern is over the current negativity at St James Park. Only a quick start will keep the doom mongers off Bruce's back. If the team appear to be struggling, then a toxic atmosphere will immediately surround the club which will inevitably have an impact on the pitch too. What everyone must remember is that this Newcastle squad is not blessed with talent. It took every ounce of Benitez's managerial abilities to keep Newcastle's head above water and there were many barren runs throughout the season. This was all in a largely positive environment as well. For this reason, I worry for Newcastle. It's one things looking at squads and comparing players but the general atmosphere at a club can set the tone for the season just as it did at Manchester United last season and at other clubs such as Aston Villa and Leeds when they were relegated from this level.
Prediction: I think most supporters can sense that this isn't going to be a good season for Newcastle United. The atmosphere is already simmering and the team will have losing runs due to not possessing a good enough squad. Whereas other sides near the bottom will pick themselves up and go again, I'm not sure Newcastle will be able to get out of the rut they may find themselves in. 20th
Norwich FC
Ins
Patrick Roberts (Man City)
Josip Drmic (Borussia Monchengladbach)
Sam Byram (West Ham)
Ralf Fahrmann (Schalke 04)
Ibrahim Amadou (Sevilla)
Notable Outs
Nelson Oliveira
Steven Naismith
Yanic Wildschut
Ivo Pinto
Marcel Franke
Going into the beginning of last season, even the most optimistic of Norwich City supporters wouldn't have expected the eventual outcome. Daniel Farke was a man under pressure following an indifferent first campaign and other clubs had made more noise before the first ball was kicked. Nevertheless, a season that heralded 94 points and 93 goals will live long in the memory. Farke was deservedly credited with putting together a side that was good on the ball and had pace/trickery out wide. Not just that, but they also unearthed a genuine goal poacher. Teemu Pukki has played in various countries across Europe but his 29 goals last season caught everybody by surprise. The big question that most supporters are asking is whether he can even score half that amount this season. If he does, it will give Norwich a real foundation to build from.
Norwich's dealings this summer appears to follow the trend of rebuilding unwanted, yet talented, players from other clubs. Former Leeds starlet Sam Byram has been signed to provide competition at left back whilst Ralf Fahrmann will be in a battle for the number one shirt with Tim Krul. The signing of Patrick Roberts is an interesting one. The winger was tipped to become the next big thing when he signed for Manchester City from Fulham but he has struggled at times when loaned out to other clubs. Striker Josip Drmic was once on Arsenal's radar but fast forward a few years, numerous injuries and not many goals and you have another player with potential who needs a good home. One player who breaks this trend is Ibrahim Amadou. The defensive midfielder from Sevilla will look to add some bite and energy to the Canarie's midfield and looks ready made for the Premier League.
Whilst not many will tip Norwich to stay up, Farke has worked wonders with what he has over the past year. Emi Buendia was a raw talent that needed guidance. The number ten has been moulded into an excellent, hard working play-maker who found the killer pass on many occasions last season. Marco Stiepermann, signed in 2017 as a left back, was converted by Farke into a powerful attacking midfielder whilst the virtually unknown Tom Trybull was an absolute rock sitting in front of the defence. Then you have the two full backs. Max Aarons and Jamal Lewis. Both contain bags of pace and energy and are ever present up and down the line. Both were named in the Championship Team of the Year and, at 19 and 21 respectively, have bright futures in the game.
So how can Norwich survive this season? Previous ventures into the Premier League have proved short ones. One area in which they will need to improve upon is at the back. Despite cantering to the title, Norwich's goals at times masked the fact that they only had the 8th best defence and conceded 17 goals from set pieces. This is an area in which they will have to work on relentlessly as a unit throughout the season. The club will also need to make Carrow Road a fortress and prioritise their home form. Last season, Farke's men lost two more games at home than they did on the road and conceded 11 more goals. There were also some memorable high-scoring victories with crazy last minute goals that, whilst showing great belief and spirit, possibly point to a lack of control. If Norwich want control over their own fate this season, they will need to be more compact and ruthless.
Prediction: Some teams, like Fulham, will look to completely reshape a squad when promoted. Norwich have chosen to go the opposite route and largely stuck with what got them here. I admire their approach but I think an experienced centre back and a proven striker to take the pressure off Pukki would have gone a long way. It could be that they give it a right good go but just fall short with talented players who just lack a little bit of know how. 19th
Sheffield United FC
Ins
Ben Osborn (Nottingham Forest)
Phil Jagielka (Everton)
Ravel Morrison (Ostersund)
Luke Freeman (QPR)
Callum Robinson (Preston)
Lys Mousset (Bournemouth)
Oliver McBurnie (Swansea)
Dean Henderson (Manchester United)
Michael Verrips (Unattached)
Muhamed Besic (Everton - Loan)
Notable Outs
Ched Evans
Danny Laferty
Martin Cranie
Conor Washington
Paul Coutts
It has been 12 long years of ups and downs but Sheffield United are finally returning to the Premier League. Under manager/supporter Chris Wilder, the Blades were underdogs to Leeds in the battle for 2nd place but boasting the Championship's joint meanest defence they held their nerve to get over the line. However, it would be wrong to say that Sheffield United's success was as basic as being tough to break down and good on the counter attack. Chris Wilder set his team up to control games, often pushing his defenders very high and crowding the central area with bodies when the ball was lost. Billy Sharp was the main beneficiary of this with a frequent supply of deliveries into the box where he was able to poach 22 goals.
United's transfer dealings this summer point to a slight change in style. It is unrealistic to expect that they will be able to base themselves as high up the pitch as they did last season. Therefore, Wilder has looked to add more power and mobility to the final third as the Blades inevitably drop a bit deeper. Prolific winger Callum Robinson and the mercurial Ravel Morrison join in the hope that they can conjure up pieces of magic that prove to be the difference after 38 games. Lys Mousset, a live-wire forward who struggled for minutes at Bournemouth, and Oli McBurnie, an unorthodox handful of a striker, have also both joined. McBurnie, in particular, was one of the stand out players in the Championship last season and his ungainly approach may not always be pleasing on the eye but it has proved deeply effective in unsettling defenders as he has begun to add more goals to his game.
One player who will be keen to prove himself this season is Oliver Norwood. The central midfielder has long been the nearly man of the Premier League after helping Brighton and then Fulham to promotion but not being retained by either. It appears Chris Wilder picked up on this trend of Norwood securing promotion as the Northern Irish man was a key figure with and without the ball. Billy Sharp is another one who will be desperate to impress. With just two Premier League appearances for Southampton 7 years ago, Sharp has long been prolific in the Football League but has never been seen as rounded enough to play at the elite level. Although it will probably be more from the bench this season, expect Wilder to throw him on later in games if a goal is needed.
Just like with all the promoted sides, there will be days where Wilder's men will be outclassed and it is vital that they maintain their enthusiasm throughout the season. The likelihood is that they will be in a battle with several other teams to avoid the drop and the club will need to draw on their spirit and determination from last season to make a fist of it. Sheffield United's fate could come down to how well they work the January transfer window. By then, they will be aware of who can and can't cope with the level they are at and Wilder will have to address any weaknesses or else it is unlikely that they will be strong enough over the 38 games.
Prediction: Sheffield United will be full of hunger and determination. The squad reflects their manager in wearing their heart on their sleeve and they will make Bramall Lane a difficult place to visit. For me, the key lies with Oli McBurnie. If he can score on a regular basis, I think the Blades grit across the pitch will help to secure enough points for survival. It will go to the wire. 18th
Southampton FC
Ins
Moussa Djenepo (Standard Liege)
Che Adams (Birmingham)
Danny Ings (Liverpool)
Kevin Danso (Augsburg - Loan)
Notable Outs
Jordy Clasie
Steven Davis
Matt Targett
Charlie Austin
Harrison Reed
Following a period of success in the Premier League, it all started to go wrong for Southampton with the appointments of Mauricio Pellegrino and Mark Hughes. The club appeared to move away from the ethos that had seen them sell a large chunk of their squad to bigger teams. The fact that Hughes was given a long-term contract after mustering 8 points from the final 8 games the season before was questionable to say the least. Come December with the Saints in the relegation zone, the board admitted their mistake and sacked Hughes. Austrian Ralph Hasenhuttl was appointed and performances markedly improved with survival secured relatively comfortably in the end.
Having had a first pre-season with the club, Hasenhuttl will be keen to avoid the mistakes of recent years. Early signs are positive. The man dubbed 'The Alpine Klopp' is known tactically for his teams exerting high energy and aggressive pressing on the opposition. His exuberant personality endears him to supporters in a similar way to the Liverpool boss. Hasenhuttl's arrival sparked a revival in the form of several players last season. Nathan Redmond was the main beneficiary scoring 6 goals and making 4 assists. For a player who had previously struggled with his end product, this was a big breakthrough and much was owed to the manager playing him in a more central role alongside main striker Danny Ings. Jan Bednarek was another to profit as Hassenhuttl adopted a back 5 with three commanding centre backs and the athleticism of Ryan Bertrand and Yan Valery bombing up and down the wing. The central midfield area was patrolled by the no-nonsense Oriel Romeu, captain Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and technically gifted James Ward-Prowse. The latter two, in particular, hit a patch of form in the final third of the season with Hojbjerg's relentless running suited to a high press and Ward-Prowse's end product greatly improving.
Transfer dealings have been restrained over the summer. Most would admit that Southampton have a good base that just needs adding to. Despite injury troubles, the club made Danny Ings' signing permanent. They have also added Birmingham forward Che Adams to the squad after a standout season with 22 goals. Moussa Djenepo has also joined and statistics show that dribbling is his main attribute. Adapting to the Premier League will be his first job though to ensure that he does not go the same way as other talents like Soufiane Boufal. It appears that the board are entrusting Hassehuttl to develop young players after the manager gave four young players their debuts last season. Michael Obafemi may be one to watch out for with the 19-year-old making a few cameos towards the end of matches.
One area that Southampton need to address is the amount of senior pros that they have sitting in the reserves. The club did manage to unload Jordy Clasie this summer but still have Fraser Forster, Wesley Hoedt, Mohammed Elyounoussi, Sofiane Boufal and Guido Carillo within the club. Hassenhuttl will be trying to unload the majority of them to make space for more signings in January that can take the club to the next level.
Prediction: Southampton have a capable squad who have real potential to finish in the top ten. However, they lack depth and have too many unwanted players rotting in the reserves. This season should be a year to consolidate with a European push the aim the season after. 11th
Tottenham Hotspur FC
Ins
Jack Clarke (Leeds)
Tanguy Ndombele (Lyon)
Ryan Sessegnon (Fulham)
Giovani Lo Celso (Real Betis)
Notable Outs
Fernando Llorente
Michel Vorm
Vincent Janssen
Kieran Trippier
Josh Onomah
Cameron Carter-Vickers
How do you top a Champions League final and your new stadium opening? 2018/19 will be a season that lives long in the memory for Tottenham Hotspur. The club found themselves on Europe's grandest stage following gutsy displays against Manchester City and Ajax in the quarter and semi finals. On the night, they found Liverpool too clinical in front of goal but it can not be underestimated what an excellent achievement reaching the Champions League final was, especially since they had needed to win their final 3 group stage games to reach the knockout stages in the first place.
Nevertheless, it's fair to say that the club's league form was very up and down. Mauricio Pochettino's men won 23 times yet lost 13 times in a topsy-turvy campaign that at one point saw them right behind City and Liverpool in the chase for the title. Once this hope was dented and Spurs decided to focus on their Champions League efforts, the league form fell off a cliff with seven defeats from the final twelve games. Despite this, a 4th place finish meant more Champions League football for this upcoming season.
Following far too long without a meaningful signing, it was vital that Pochettino was allowed to freshen up the squad this summer. Perhaps wisely, Spurs have cleared out some of their older backup players and also let the out of form Kieran Trippier move abroad to Atletico Madrid. From listening to the manager, he sees Juan Foyth and Kyle Walker Peters as ideal for the right back position. In terms of signings, powerful box to box midfielder Tanguy Ndombele signed from Lyon and will provide the team with energy and the quality on the ball that they have missed in this area since Moussa Dembele departed. Long-term targets Ryan Sessegnon and Giovani Lo Celso also finally signed from Fulham and Real Betis respectively. Sessegnon will be in a battle with Ben Davies and the unsettled Danny Rose for the left back position although don't be surprised if there are occasional substitute cameos in a more advanced position. Lo Celso has been pursued all summer and speculation was rife that he was going to become Christian Eriksen's replacement as the Dane was rumoured to be leaving for Real Madrid. This may still happen due to the extended transfer windows abroad. Lo Celso has played his best football in the number ten role behind the striker which is where it appears he will be deployed at Tottenham.
This is an important league campaign for Tottenham. The last three years have seen the club's final standing drop from 86 points (2nd) in 2017, 77 points (3rd) in 2018 and 71 points (4th) in 2019. This squad have been together for a long time now and need to put a realistic title challenge together. They have the key components to do so with a World Cup winning goalkeeper, two outstanding centre backs, one of the best strikers in the world and flair players behind him. Nevertheless, it is the creativity behind Harry Kane that needs to step up this year. Last season, the club struck 26 and 32 goals fewer than Liverpool and Manchester City. The likes of Dele Alli and Eriksen/Lo Celso need to be aiming for double figures whilst there needs to be more goal contributions from defenders on set pieces.
Mauricio Pochettino has been a tremendous manager for Spurs but his comments in the media over the past year suggest that he may be coming to the end of his tenure in charge unless he sees real willingness from Chairman Daniel Levy to allow the club to compete regularly at the very pinnacle of the game. Pochettino's players can give their manager a reason to stay with more consistent performances and fewer slip ups against the smaller sides in the league. However, with the same faces largely remaining, it could be more of the same frustration this season.
Prediction: The goals of Harry Kane and genuine quality that Tottenham have around the pitch should ensure another top four finish. They are still a long way away from the clinical nature that Liverpool and Manchester City have displayed in recent times though. 80 points should be the minimum that Spurs aim for this year. 3rd
Watford FC
Ins
Craig Dawson (West Brom)
Joao Pedro (Fluminense)
Danny Welbeck (Arsenal)
Ismalia Sarr (Rennes)
Notable Outs
Miguel Britos
Jerome Sinclair
Obbi Oulare
Dodi Lukebakio
For the first time in nearly six years, Watford have kept a manager for longer than a season. Since promotion to the Premier League, Quique Sanchez-Flores, Walter Mazzarri and Marco Silva have come and been swiftly dispensed with after results took a downward turn. Javi Gracia was appointed in January 2018 to little fanfare. The remainder of the season was underwhelming but 2018/19 proved to be a fruitful year for the Hornets. An 11th place finish should well have been higher due to results tailing off towards the end of the season. However, this was largely due to an outstanding run to the FA Cup final for the first time since 1984. Just like then, they were defeated at the final hurdle; this time by an unstoppable Manchester City treble winning side.
Despite a disappointing end, Gracia's men had a strong league campaign which saw them impress with duo Etienne Capoue and Abdoulaye Doucoure providing the enormous foundation from which they build upon. Doucoure's athleticism and ability to get up and down the pitch has not gone unnoticed by bigger sides whilst Capoue won the club's Player of the Season award with his tackling and interceptions a key part of the club's success. Club captain Troy Deeney was ever present in his talismanic role of leading the line with the creativity of Gerard Deulofeu and Roberto Pereyra opening up defences. Deulofeu, in particular, had one of his best seasons to date and the talented winger appears to be finding some consistency in his career at last. At the back, Ben Foster proved to be an upgrade on Heurelho Gomes although Watford's defence did prove to be a little leakier than some clubs around them in the table. This will be an area that the club need to improve this coming season.
It was a largely quiet transfer market for Watford. Craig Dawson was bought early in the window to add competition for Craig Cathcart, Christian Kabasele and Adrian Mariappa at the back. Danny Welbeck was also acquired on a free transfer which could prove to be an excellent piece of business if he can remain fit. The England striker will provide a good alternative to Deeney and is just as comfortable operating on the left of a front three. The club finally sprung into life with a club record signing on 'Deadline Day' as winger Ismalia Sarr joined from Rennes. 13 goals in 50 games at the age of just 21 is an impressive record and Watford fans will hope that he can adapt to the Premier League.
It appears that for the first time in a while, Watford appear happy with continuity. It will be tough for Gracia to top last season's excitement. Most mid table sides target a cup run since survival is often all but guaranteed with a few months of the season to go. Watford will ideally need to go deep again in a cup competition as it is unlikely that they will be operating near either end of the table. Nevertheless, the manager will have aspirations of winning their own mini league against those aiming for 7th place and a likely spot in the Europa League. However, Gracia's men possibly lack some of the star names of those around them and will need to call on all of their team spirit to force their way to a top 10 Premier League finish for the first time.
Prediction: Much of the same for Watford, I think. Last season was excellent but ended in a disappointing way. The club needed to be a little more active in the transfer window to bolster their defence but they appear to have largely stuck with what they have. They won't be in any danger but may just fall a little bit further away from where they aim to be. 12th
West Ham United FC
Ins
David Martin (Millwall)
Roberto (Espanyol)
Goncalo Cardoso (Boavista)
Pablo Fornals (Villarreal)
Sebastien Haller (Frankfurt)
Albian Ajeti (Basel)
Notable Outs
Andy Carroll
Jordan Hugill
Adrian
Samir Nasri
Sam Byram
Reece Oxford
Lucas Perez
Edimilson Fernandes
Pedro Obiang
Marko Arnautovic
Grady Diangana
With inconsistent performances and no notable cup run, the 2018/19 campaign is unlikely to live long in the memory of West Ham supporters. Having the season may just go down as the moment that things started to turn for the better. The club replaced David Moyes with former Manchester City title winner Manuel Pellegrini and the experienced Chilean was immediately active in the transfer market. Fabian Balbuena and Issa Diop ensured that supporters did not miss the injured Winston Reid after striking up an excellent partnership in defence. They were supported by Lukasz Fabianski who once again excelled in the shot stopping department. The real excitement though was with the club's dealings further forward as Jack Wilshere, Andriy Yarmolenko and Felipe Anderson all joined the Hammers' project. Of course, it's never simple at West Ham as Wilshere and Yarmolenko both spent lengthy periods on the treatment table. However, with the emergence of Declan Rice in the holding midfield role and the resurgence of Michail Antonio in the latter part of the season, the Hammers look to have the remnants of a squad that could achieve something.
Pellegrini has been active once again this summer and has acted quickly to capture some of Europe's talents whilst also releasing the bad apples from within the club. Marko Arnaotovic, a game-changer on his day, clearly did not want to be at the club last season. This was a big problem for the Hammers as it left them with few other options up front. The wantaway striker has been binned with the club signing Sebastien Haller as his replacement. The tall, athletic Frenchman looks an exciting prospect with a good record in front of goal and attributes that help bring others into play. Pablo Fornals is one of these players who will be looking to benefit from Haller's link play. The Spaniard is typical of the cultured attacking midfielders that the country often produce with incisive passing, superb close control and the ability to score excellent goals. With the creativity of Manuel Lanzani returning from injury and the aforementioned Anderson, Antonio and Yarmolenko patrolling the wide areas, West Ham's attacking play could well be the envy of other clubs.
One area that could be interesting to keep an eye on is the battle for the two central midfield spots. Jack Wilshere's injury problems opened the door for academy graduate Declan Rice to play regularly last season and the young 19-year-old grabbed the opportunity with both hands. Rice had an excellent year in the holding role and received many plaudits for his performances which culminated in Gareth Southgate calling him up and playing him in key games for England. It is expected that Rice will keep his spot leaving Wilshere and club captain Mark Noble to battle for the remaining position. Arguably, Wilshere is the better footballer but Noble is the driving heartbeat of the club and has remained one of the first names in the team for a long time now. However, at the age of 31, the inevitable transition to a squad player is beginning to loom and one wonders if this season may be the beginning of that. Of course there may be occasions where all three midfielders play together but on occasions where West Ham want to be more expressive, it may be that the captain has to make do with a place on the bench.
If the club want a season to remember however, the team will need to tighten up defensively. The full back areas have often been an area of concern with Pablo Zabaleta not getting any younger and the likes of Ryan Fredericks, Aaron Cresswell and Arthur Masuaku impressing more with their forward play than their defending. Pre-season saw the Hammers concede just as many goals as they scored and this will have to be an area that they improve if they are to take the next step as a club.
Prediction: If you look at West Ham from the midfield onward, they are just as strong as many of the clubs chasing a top 5/6 position. Unfortunately, I just foresee them conceding too many goals to realistically break the usual monopoly of teams in the top 6. A season of entertainment could be on the cards though. 9th
Wolverhampton Wanderers FC
Ins
Jesus Vallejo (Real Madrid)
Bruno Jordao (Lazio)
Leander Dendoncker (Anderlecht)
Patrick Cutrone (AC Milan)
Pedro Neto (Lazio)
Raul Jiminez (Benfica)
Meritan Shabani (Bayern Munich)
Notable Outs
Ivan Cavaleiro
Helder Costa
Kortney Hause
Since the appointment of Nuno Espirito Santo in 2017, Wolverhampton Wanderers have skyrocketed. The takeover from Chinese company Fosun International just three years ago signalled that good times may be around the corner but they did not happen immediately. Walter Zenga's reign was short and Paul Lambert wasn't viewed as the inspirational figure that the club needed. Santo's hiring in 2017 catapulted Wolves to the Championship title before an outstanding 7th place finish last season, which secured the club their first qualification for European football in nearly 40 years.
Converting Raul Jiminez and Leander Dendoncker's loans into permanent deals were essential business that the club completed early this summer. Santo has also added a few extra faces to his squad in preparation for playing every few days, such is the demand of European football. Promising Italian striker Patrick Cutrone has joined from AC Milan. His statistics in the last year are not the best but neither were Jiminez's before the Portuguese man joined Wolves. Like Jiminez, Cutrone is a typical number 9 built strongly and with good mobility. The Italian is probably a bigger threat in the air and his experience even at the young age of 21 will be invaluable on European nights. Centre back Jesus Vallejo, who was on loan at Frankfurt last season, has joined on loan for the season whilst Wolves' other business has largely been investing in exciting youngsters with real promise. The likes of Bruno Jordao and Petro Neto will not be regulars but may make cameos and gain valuable experience if the club can qualify for the group stage of the Europa League.
Although Jiminez and Diego Jota will get the highlights for their forward play last season, Santo deserves praise for an unorthodox tactical set up that stifled the best teams in the league. A back five with two midfielders sitting in front proved a sturdy base for Wolves to build from initially. Matt Doherty became known for his trademark late runs into the box whilst Ruben Neves and Joao Moutinho provided the quality passes needed to get Jiminez and Jota running at, and beyond, defenders. It was a plan that worked exceptionally well against the better sides in the league who committed more men forward. However, Wolves struggled against fellow sides who, like themselves, decided to sit in. How Santo's team combat this, along with the tiredness that midweek travelling and playing brings, will largely decide how they fare this season.
Prediction: Wolves look set to have another good season. I fancy the club to go quite deep in the Europa League which will have an inevitable impact on their league form. The fact that others around them have strengthened also makes it likely that there will be a small drop off domestically this season. 10th.
My predicted table
1) Manchester City
2) Liverpool
3) Tottenham
4) Arsenal
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5) Chelsea
6) Leicester City
7) Everton
8) Manchester United
9) West Ham
10) Wolverhampton Wanderers
11) Southampton
12) Watford
13) AFC Bournemouth
14) Burnley
15) Aston Villa
16) Brighton & Hove Albion
17) Crystal Palace
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18) Sheffield United
19) Norwich City
20) Newcastle United
Thank you for reading!
