Part One of a Series of Articles
Premier League And Norwich City 2014/15 Analysis And Predictions.
It's almost that time again, cross Saturdays off your diary and prepare your excuses for midweek work sickies because the English football season is back once again. Long gone is the hangover of the World Cup and Gerrard's fatal slide is now but a faint memory in Man Cities new trophy cabinet, so get ready to strap up your shinnies for this thrilling ride. This season we've got new managers at club helms, big ballers trotting in from all around the globe and the birth of a shaving foam like spray that refs will curess the grass with; it goes without doubt that the soccer stage will errupt this nation once more. From the Nothern border to the South, be ready for kick off and support your team when the first whistles blown; let's pray for another cracker and that the drama never stops... Just one more classic footballing year.
Looking Up... The Top 5...
Well to say last season was different to what we've seen in previous years would be a massive understatement. Not only did we have a three horse race for the title (one of which was Mourinho's 'mule') but we also witnessed Manchester United's demise under Moyse in a year where they failed to qualify for any European football. The 2013/14 season also saw Liverpool almost having their name scrawled on the trophy and many English youngsters breaking into the lime light for all the right reasons.
Taking a peak at the top four for this year and I foreshadow a little shakeup come the seasons end. Preseason is but a mere hint at what teams have to offer for the year ahead but that hint is enough to make a statement. Manchester United have been impressive to date and now that Van Gaal is having his wicked way with the Red Devils, I can certainly guarantee them locking up last years demons and finishing in the top four. It seems to me that Rooney just needed a world class manager to whip him up and bring out the competitive passion we once saw in him, so I expect massive movements from this man. Van Gaal has that distinct playing style that just seems to click in the team and they are really resembling the United of old.
On the other hand I'm not getting any excitement at the thought of Liverpool. After selling Suarez they had an awful lot of money to play with but they just haven't spent wisely at all. Many people are dubbing the scouser's as a better version of Southampton or Southampton version 2 and it's no wonder at it how much business they've done with The Saints. The massive hole that Suarez has bitten out up front hasn't been filled; big Rickie Lambert can't cut the mustard in the premier league let alone the champions league and if Dan Sturridge were to get injured it's spelling trouble. Let's just hope Gerrard has the drive for a few more seasons and can maybe clinch a title, but sadly I don't think it'll happen in his career. Unlikely champions but worthy of a top four place.
My final two notes for top champions league places have to go down to the blue boys from London and the boys in blue from Manchester. City haven't spent mega bucks this summer but with a premier league winning squad there isn't much room for improvement however this being said teams around them are severly improving; watch on as I predict them getting knocked off their podium. Mourinho, being the mastermind behind the money bags he is, has made it rain on some super signings this transfer window. He's snatched a well seasoned Cesc off of Arsenal and finally popped a decent striker in the squad in the form of Costa and let us not forget the resigning of club hero Didier Drogba. After settling some top quality business, Chelsea's season is looking promising and it just may be that John Terry can lift the premier league title one more time.
And what of Arsenal I hear you cry? Well, another year, another tear. Last season they could dust out the empty cabinet and were able to put in an FA Cup but I can't say the same for 2014/15. More of the same on the repeatitive Rollercoaster at the Emirates with a solid start to get the fans excited, a flat mid-season and finally a poor, limp ending where they only finish in a forgettable fourth without a trophy, only this year it's fifth. Sanchez seems a star of a signing but the squad around him is as inconsistent as the waves and let's be honest, Giroud struggles to score in a game of naughts and crosses. Nothing against Arsenal as they aren't bad, it's just the teams around them are abit better.
Final Top 5 Prediction...
1. Chelsea FC
2. Manchester United FC
3. Manchester City FC
4. Liverpool FC
5. Arsenal FC
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