Last season was a case of what might have been for Everton. Blighted by injuries early on in the season, they struggled to get any momentum going until after January, by which point it was too late to mount a serious challenge for European places. That being said, they had a great run of form in the New Year, with key wins against Manchester United and Chelsea. They have already suffered a setback this summer, with the loss of Dan Gosling to Newcastle on a free transfer under odd circumstances. Still, they possess quality in all areas of the pitch when the first team is fit; Cahill, Pienaar looked great at the World Cup while Arteta and Fellaini will be firing on all cylinders again. They have also signed Jermaine Beckford from Leeds which is a welcome boost upfront; expect a top ten finish from the blue half of Merseyside.
What now is the question for Fulham FC. Their influential manager Roy Hodgson who almost performed a minor miracle last season has been plucked by Liverpool. He was the master tactician; the glue that kept the team together and it will be hard to replace him. Whoever takes over has a well-balanced squad that can compete in the league, especially if they can hang onto Mark Schwarzer in goal. They also have the likes of Danny Murphy and the influential Clint Dempsey in midfield so a top half question is well within reach; I can’t see Europe being a major distraction for them this term. They need to hire a quality manager and soon so that they can get started on the right foot.
Alex Mcleish did a stellar job with his team last season. It wasn’t pretty at times, but it was effective enough to help the promoted boys to a top half finish. Barry Ferguson and Lee Bowyer revived their careers with some gutsy performances.With new money from the East in the form of Carson Yeung, they have already invested in Ben Foster to replace Joe Hart in goal and have boosted their attacking qualities with Nikola Zigic (signed from Valencia CF) upfront. Their squad is talented enough to achieve 9th place again which would delight the St. Andrews faithful. However they may fall prey to the second season slump.
I really do feel for Villa, they seem to be the biggest losers from Manchester City’s influx of capital. Last season they took Gareth Barry off their hands. Now James Milner's protracted departure for Eastlands is all but inevitable. Filling the void in midfield will be a tough ask, but they will need more than that to break into the top four. They have a solid backline and midfield that were formidable last season. Not to mention a host of former England Under 21 internationals at their disposal. We should also not forget Fabian Delph, the young midfielder signed from Leeds last season; this could be his chance to prove his worth. Their forwards need to live up to their potential and ability to give them a fighting chance. However, in Martin O’Neill they have a quality manager, and with a few shrewd signings from the sale of Milner, I could see them being the dark horse of the season if they start well.
People, we have 20 days left until all is right with the world once more. The Premier League is set to kickoff on Saturday, August 14th. Let’s take a quick look at each team’s chances before the start of the season.
Arsenal
Arsene’s young guns will be back at it again attempting to break their trophy drought this season. At this point, they seem to have retained the services of captain Cesc Fabregas for at least one more year. The arrival of Laurent Koscielny will be a welcome boost at the back, while Marouane Chamakh will allow for greater output upfront. The Gunners will do well to better their position from last year, but may need a few more signings to truly challenge for the title and compete in Europe. I alse see them playing stronger teams in the domestic cups as they search for silverware; to do this they need greater depth in squad or they may compromise their league chances.
Signings to make: A new goal keeper (Mark Schwarzer, Igor Akinfeev) and more cover in defence (Brede Hageland) to replace William Gallas who is probably on his way out.
If you ever hope to be a quality journalist, here's what not to do when interviewing Thierry Henry. Notice how they continue to play the most acrimonious clip of his career (his handball against Ireland) in the background and interview him like a child. Well done Fox NY.
Anfield, Liverpool, January 6th 2007. 83rd minute. An FA Cup third round match sees Arsenal visit the home of league rivals Liverpool on a cold, blistery night. Two goals from Thomas Rosicky and one in reply from Dirk Kuyt have given the gunners a slim lead. Suddenly he has the ball in the centre circle and plays it into the wide expanse of field on the left. Jamie Carragher tries to shield it but the he bustles him off the ball and bursts into the box. He cuts past Agger and slots home past Pepe Reina to seal a memorable 3 – 1 victory.
As a lifetime supporter of Manchester United, this was my guilty pleasure. Without a doubt he is the best striker, if not the best player that has ever graced the Premier League. Regardless of who you supported, it was a treat to see the number 14 glide away with his silky cool running celebration after strikes that would often be goals of the week. We bought his boots, we emulated his moves. We all wanted to be Henry.
Thierry Henry’s recent move to the New York Red Bulls may not be an appropriate way to conclude his illustrious career, after a mediocre spell by his standards at Barcelona. Hopefully we will be able to see some more magic from the Frenchman on the east coast. But at 32 years of age, it will probably be his last move. Unsurprisingly many commentators have called the MLS a retirement home for former stars, a warm and cozy place to settle down as their limelight fades.
But is this a good way for the MLS to improve their standing on the world stage? There are several former European stars that ply their trade here these days; Freddie Ljunberg (Seattle), Juan Pablo Angel (New York) and of course David Beckham of Los Angeles.
These and other players coupled with the successes of the US National team and some clever marketing have seen a rise in the popularity of the league since its inception in 1993. To its credit, the MLS has grown rapidly in tough conditions, the limited avenues for commercialization that US sports thrive on and indifference to ‘soccer’ the two main culprits.
However this policy does not seem sustainable. The quality of play is still an issue. Sure, you can have beautiful stadia, decent young players and brilliant marketing. But if there is no craft to match the graft MLS will struggle to attract quality players that aren’t looking to wind down their careers from abroad.
To fully exploit the talent that North America has, MLS clubs should embrace the youth model that almost all other clubs follow, nurturing talent from an early age. The college system is a great outlet for players, but more work is required to improve the home grown players outside this avenue. This also serves to better the national team. Once the quality of players increases, the rest won’t necessarily fall into place, but it will certainly make it a lot easier to grow.
As I write this, I am watching a friendly between San Jos Quakes and Tottenham Hotspur. During the half time break, there will be a special report of Henry’s upcoming MLS debut. The iconic number 14 has already brought welcome interest to the sport in the states. His va-va-voom will assist the league’s popularity but more will be required from the clubs’ before it can reach its goal.
