ENJOY! I will stagger these out until the first day of the season! Please comment all you want.
16. Bolton (7)
The Wanderers are due for a bad year, although their consistency keeps proving everyone wrong. Yet ever season they prove a middle of the table stalwart, but with Nicolas Anelka in transfer limbo, El-Hadji Diouf always in some sort of a limbo, and a less than productive offseason, we could see some problems. Sammy Lee's first full year at the helm will either be a resounding success or a threatening flirtation with relegation. The club has done well to hang on to Kevin Nolan while recruiting the services of Gavin McCann and J'Lloyd Samuel from Aston Villa and big striker Heidar Helguson from Fulham. The loss of Tal Ben-Haim in the back is crucial but Nicky Hunt looks to captain the modified back four to trusty service which now consists of one new face, Gerald Cid. Danny Guthrie joined on loan from Liverpool to inject even more youth into a roster that includes Cid, Dzemaili, and now Guthrie. The midfield looks to be Bolton's strength as veteran Gary Speed leads Iranian Andranik Teymourian, Idan Tal, and Mikel Alonso joins on loan from Real Sociedad, If Anelka stays, another signing for the back reveals itself, and Sammy Lee can keep the ship afloat - Bolton can hit the middle of the table. I don't think they'll be 7th or above though.
Because I Think...'s Player to Watch: Kevin Nolan, the 25-year old that has been the driving force behind the Wanderer's for years, is due for a spot of attention. Look for a breakout year as his crunching tackles start to balance out with opportunities at goal.
Predicted Line-up (4-4-2)
GK: Jussi Jaskaleinen
LB: J'Lloyd Samuel
CB: Adboulaye Meite
CB: Fitz Hall
RB: Nicky Hunt
LM: Ricardo Vaz Te (as Stelio Giannakopoulos is out until mid Sept)
CM: Gavin McCann
CM: Gary Speed
RM: Kevin Nolan
ST: Nicolas Anelka
ST: El-Hadji Diouf
17. Middlesbrough (12)
Gareth Southgate could not be any happier with how his offseason as gone (well of course he could, but in the financial terms that were given to him, he has done well). Former Real Madrid defender Jonathan Woodgate has decided to stay permanently, while crafty playmaker Sanli Tuncay has joined from Turkey. Those two alone could warrant a raise, but he also added little-used Arsenal forward Jeremie Aliadiere and dependable Charlton right-back and English international Luke Young. Why the murky outlook then? The loss of Mark Viduka to Newcastle is worse than you think, as it has unsettled fellow striker Yakubu and robbed Middlesbrough of a strong presence and target in the penalty box. Together, the two produced 26 goals - 14 for Viduka. If Sanli Tuncay starts at striker with Yakubu, who could just as well attack from the midfield, another partnership could form but Southgate could still just opt for a 4-5-1. Look for Lee Cattermole to keep developing and demand a spot in Southgate's starting line-up.
Because I Think...'s Player to Watch: Yakubu, how he responds will set the tone for the whole squad. Both extremes are possible: the Nigerian could find away to settle himself and hit for 20 or he could bail out and ask for a transfer come January. Either way, I don't think Aliadiere will have much effect.
Predicted Line-up (4-4-2)
GK: Mark Schwarzer
LB: Emmanuel Pogatetz
CB: Ronald Huth
CB: Jonathan Woodgate
RB: Luke Young
LM: Stuart Downing
CM: Lee Cattermole
CM: Fabio Rochemback
RM: Julio Arca
ST: Yakubu
ST: Sanli Tuncay
18. Wigan (17)
Wigan missed relegation by a hair last year and nothing has been done in the offseason to change the fact that it is a great possibility this year. They have managed to shake off some attention towards fullback Leighton Baines, but little has been done to match his ambitions. Big French target man Antoine Sibierski and Titus Bramble have joined up from Newcastle, Jason Koumas from West Brom, Michael Brown from midfield-rich Fulham, but there is very little in the way of goal production, unless one thinks that the aging Sibierski, Henri Camara, and Emile Heskey can still score at least 30 together. Doubt it. The only other hopes are that the midfield can help produce enough chances to grab a few and then sit back and defend. Ecuadorian Antonio Valencia is a lock to start that can attack and tackle, while Andreas Granqvist, who served a decent loan spell with Wigan last season, has joined permanently. Wigan Athletic and relatively new manager Chris Hutchings will join Sheff United (whom they squeaked by last year by 1 goal) down in the Championship.Because I Think...'s Player to Watch: Jason Koumas has been the attacking midfielder of the English Championship the past several years. He was finally joined a Premiership team and will be itching to prove himself. With 31 goals over the past 3 full seasons (as he sat one out with injury), Koumas could provide that attacking spark needed to support their striker contingent.
Predicted Line-up (4-4-2)
GK: Chris Kirkland
LB: Leighton Baines
CB: Andreas Granqvist
CB: Titus Bramble
RB: Mario Melchiot (as Ryan Taylor is out until October)
LM: Antonio Valencia
CM: Denny Landzaat
CM: Paul Scharner
RM: Jason Koumas
ST: Emile Heskey
ST: Henri Camara
19. Sunderland (-)
Roy Keane's Premiership managerial debut looks to be a tumultuous one though survival is certainly not out of the question. Keane has used his transfer budget wisely and brought in the likes of Dickson Etuhu from Norwich City, Paul McShane from West Brom, Scottish starlet Russell Anderson from Aberdeen, and Greg Halford from Reading. These signings could boom or bust but the true transfer expectations are attached to former Red Devil Kieran Richardson and Championship leading scorer Michael Chopra. Keane's selections are formidable but the real test is how those promoted respond to Premiership action. Sunderland has been to known to be a one up-one down kind of team, but Roy Keane aims to change that. He will be depending upon the play of former Arsenal youth product Anthony Stokes (who was lights out for Falkirk on loan last season), former Ranger Ross Wallace, and most importantly young'un Grant Leadbitter who had a breakout year in Championship last season notching 7 goals and 3 assists. For all we know, another Reading awaits as Stokes could equal Lita, Chopra could equal Kitson, but the defense does not have the physical presence that an Ibrahima Sonko, Andre Bikey, or Ingimarsson has.Because I Think...'s Player to Watch: Anthony Stokes, see the Next Generation tag over to the right for why.
Predicted Line-up (4-4-2)
GK: Marton Fulop
LB: Paul McShane
CB: Nyron Nosworthy
CB: Carlos Edwards
RB: Greg Halford
LM: Kieran Richardson
CM: Dickson Etuhu
CM: Liam Miller
RM: Grant Leadbitter
ST: Michael Chopra
ST: David Connolly or Anthony Stokes
20. Derby County (-)
They have tried furiously to strengthen their squad and they truly have, but is it enough? Robbie Earnshaw is a great signing and, in turn, could be the Rams' saving grace if he produces as he has in the Championship. This is doubled if Steve Howard can do the same. The captures of Tyrone Mears from WHU and Andy Griffin from Portsmouth aren't going to win you survival, although Claude Davis coming in from relegated Sheff Utd should help the backfield a bit. An inspiration to the Rams will be coveted starlet, Giles Barnes who if meshed well with Man Utd cast-off David Jones and jettisoned former Celtic winger Stephen Pearson, they could push Derby into contention. Unfortunately, this year seems to be the year of the relegation battle for the Rams and there's nothing you or Eddie Johnson can do about it.
Because I Think...'s Player to Watch: Robbie Earnshaw, the 26 year old Welshman and a club record transfer, has the Premiership experience to propel a team, albeit in a relegation-mired season. Earnshaw scored 11 goals in a West Brom's short stint at the top. He was transferred the next year to Norwich City where he excelled. That experience will be vital as both of Derby's other stars, Steve Howard and Giles Barnes will look to him for guidance by example.
Predicted Line-up (4-4-2)
GK: Stephen Bywater
LB: Andy Griffin
CB: Claude Davis
CB: Andy Todd
RB: Tyrone Mears
LM: Matt Oakley
CM: Stephen Pearson
CM: Giles Barnes
RM: David Jones
ST: Robert Earnshaw
ST: Steve Howard
2 comments:
I'm rooting for Derby County this year.
Should there be a Salary Cap in Soccer?
Personally I think there should be! It’s just getting to be stupid money in soccer at the top of the premiership!
It’s always the same teams at the top proving that soccer success is based purely on money which ruins the idea of it being a sport! They’ve done it in rugby, basketball, hockey and American football and it makes the sports more competitive and better to watch!
I do a little Soccer Spread Betting from time to time and most matches don’t hold much surprise who is going to win, its boring! I want to see a team at the bottom pulling off an amazing season beating last seasons winners in a close fought battle!
Make things fair! It shouldn’t be about money!
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