2013/2014 Season Preview

With three of the top four clubs hiring new managers, the 2013/2014 promises to be an exciting season. Each week, I will predict all 10 games, plus match my scores with Mark Lawrenson (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23667286). Let’s start.

Table Predictions

Winners: Chelsea

Runner-ups: Manchester United

Champions League: Manchester City, Arsenal

Europa League: Liverpool

Additional potential Europa League: Tottenham, Everton

Relegation: Sunderland, Hull City Tigers, Crystal Palace

1 Chelsea

Chelsea’s biggest signing of the summer could prove to be crucial this year. And, oddly enough, it’s not a superstar player that they have signed, but a superstar manager.

Strengths:

Chelsea and Mourinho. That’s a combination you can not go wrong with. Owner Roman Abramovich put aside his ego (as did Mourinho) to bring back the manager he had sacked just under six years ago. Already a legend at Stamford Bridge, Mourinho has nothing to prove to anyone. His comeback will prove to be Chelsea’s biggest strength. If Wayne Rooney goes to Chelsea, the title will be pretty much done and dusted by the end of the transfer window.

Weaknesses:

The core of the team aka John Terry and Frank Lampard is aging. However, I feel that Mourinho will continue to play both players just out of a sense of loyalty. This could hurt the team. There is also talk that Mourinho does not rate Juan Mata very highly, something that is dumbfounding since Mata was Chelsea’s best player last season.

Conclusion:

Mourinho’s arrival and the managerial changes at the two Manchester clubs means that Chelsea should win their fourth Premier League title.

2 Manchester United

Life without Fergie could be off to a rocky start.

Strengths:

Manchester United possess the best striker in the Premier League and this will make sure that they score a lot of goals this season. The only other thing that could work in their favor is that they’ve been there, done that, several times over the years.

Weaknesses:

Where to start? The biggest challenger for United this season is that Sir Alex Ferguson is no longer at the helm and those are some tough shoes to fill. Wayne Rooney is unhappy and it will be interesting to see how that transfer saga plays out. Plus, the lack of any real major signing by the club means they will find it hard this season. The club’s top two transfer targets decided against moving to Manchester and that’s something that could be a worry for the future.

Conclusion:

Overall, the quality of the team should be enough to help them finish above Manchester City, but is not enough to win the title, unless they sign a couple of midfield players.

3 Manchester City

Another change in manager could mean a tougher season in the league for City.

Strengths:

Man City have done well to get rid of players who were causing too much trouble at the club, namely Carlos Tevez and Mario Balotelli. As well, the club have replaced their strikeforce with four new signings, which means they will create a lot of chances and score a lot of goals.

Weaknesses:

Roberto Mancini’s sacking only adds instability to the club and new manager Manuel Pelligrini will basically have to build from the ground up. That could take some time. In addition, the club have not made a single defensive signing which could prove fatal in the end.

Conclusion:

City will do well to get that last automatic Champions League spot. Maybe a cup win will also mitigate the displeasure of their fans.

4 Arsenal

Arsenal have not sold their club captain for the first time in three years and this could help with their bid to finish fourth.

Strengths:

Arsenal have kept hold of their new talisman (Santi Cazorla), something that they haven’t been able to do so in the last few years. Although the club have failed to make a big signing so far, their bid of 40m of Luis Suarez definitely signals their intention of bringing a big name in. There is still time in the transfer window and I expect a couple of players to arrive.

Weaknesses:

Despite what Arsene Wenger says about mounting a challenge for the title, Arsenal will start the transfer season to finish fourth. There is pretty evident by the lack of signing they have made thus far. With so much wealth at their disposal, Wenger could do wonders in the transfer window, but how many world-class players would actually want to join a club that does not challenge for the title?

Conclusion:

Having said all that, I somehow feel that after 8 long years, Arsenal might be able to finally win some silverware this season.

5 Tottenham Hotspur

This could be the second season in a row that Spurs sell their best player to Real Madrid.

Strengths:

Spurs have been very impressive in the transfer market this season. To strengthen their midfield, the club have signed Paulinho, who got the Bronze Ball in this year’s Confederations Cup. In addition, the signing over Roberto Soldado has been a major coup. Soldado had an extremely productive spell in Spain and scored 30 goals in all competitions in La Liga last season.

Weaknesses:

The future of Gareth Bale hangs in the balance, but I would expect him to depart before the end of the transfer window. It’s seldom that the world’s richest club misses out on their targets, so this should merely be a formality. Spurs need to strengthen their defense if they’re serious contenders for that last Champions League spot.

Conclusion:

I am predicting Spurs to finish above Liverpool even without Bale. If, however, Bale decides to stay, Arsenal will be looking over their shoulder all season.

6 Liverpool

Holding on to Luis Suarez will be critical for Liverpool if they want to finish in the top 6 this season.

Strengths:
Luis Suarez is one of the top strikers in the league so the fact that he’s staying at Liverpool will do wonders for the club. An unhappy Suarez will still get you goals, provided he stays away from any controversy. As well, the club have sold players like Stewart Downing who were nothing but a liability in the team, and brought in much more decent replacements.

Weaknesses:

Liverpool still lack a world class defense and midfield. They need at least one big player in each position to really strengthen the team. An aging Steven Gerrard doesn’t instill enough confidence in the team. The signings that Liverpool have made this season will not necessarily get them goals.

Conclusion:

With David Moyes departing Everton, Liverpool have a chance of finishing above their local rivals.

7 Everton

Like United, Everton have lost their best manager and this could hurt them.

Strengths:

So far, Everton have kept hold of all their big players in the transfer window. In addition, manager Roberto Martinez has gone back to his previous club and signed a couple of players that will add weight to the squad. Martinez worked on a shoestring budget at Wigan, and this ability could work in his favour.

Weaknesses:

Any team would usually struggle with a change in manager and Everton could be one of those teams. With the exception of Leighton Baines, they do not have a world-class defender and this means that they will leak in vital goals.

Conclusion:

Everton could have another successful season, provided that Baines and Marouane Fellaini do not hop off to Manchester United.