So the 2016/17 English Premier League Season has finally kicked off! Manchester United and Jose Mourinho have drawn the first blood in a Wembley encounter that just emphasised most of what we already know.
The Super Cup or Charity Shield, as we call it here in England kick started the season today.
Leicester’s success in keeping their team meant that we saw again an organised team, with the injection of even more frightening pace in the shape of Ahmed Musa and a more matured Demarai Gray. They were more than a match for Mourinho’s men and with the speed racers Musa-Vardy- Gray-Mahraz-Shlupp, I don’t think any manager would be looking forward to coming up against the league champions this season. The only saving grace for most this season would be the fact that Leicester would be involved in four competitions, which include the UEFA Champions League. Mental and physical fatigue could affect Leicester, but Ranieri has once again set a target of 40 points for the season. The trouble is that the last time he did so, Leicester went on to win the league, so can lightning strike twice?
United on the other hand continue to pass the ball and keep possession – a lot has been said about this fact already so I would skip it –as they did last season under LVG. Wayne Rooney looked like he couldn’t process the brain as fast as the ball was coming at him. When you’ve played possession football with little transition to explosive play, the brain becomes automated in a predictive manner, emulating predictive texting and auto-correction as it happens on smart phones.
Pogba will come in and bring creativity and energy in midfield, pushing the team high up and linking with Mikhytarian and other wingers and strikers.
Honestly, keeping players happy and match fit for when they would be called upon, would be the main challenge Jose would encounter this season. How the board sanctioned the purchase of so many players is still beyond me.
Anyways, with the first title already in the trophy room, the players and especially Jose Mourinho, would feel a huge weight off their shoulders.
With League titles in Spain, Italy, England and Portugal, two Champions league titles with two different teams and in my opinion the most complete team in the EPL (in terms of personnel and positions) United have landed a manager who has experience and titles to take them to the next level and it appears that the hierarchy (Both past and present players and coaches) are behind him.
Antonio Conte, Jurgen Klopp, Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho, Mauricio Pochettino, Messrs Wenger and Claudio Ranieri, this is all Hollywood box office stuff!
I know there’ll be plenty of fireworks and excitement at both ends of the table, with the gap closing even further between the big clubs and the stable mid-table teams.
CHELSEA
At the Bridge, a hat-trick of titles in Italy and a reformation of the Azzuris give credence to a workaholic boss, who would need all wisdom to understand the Premier League and make his mark, with a group of wounded lions who disappointed last season. Antonio Conte has brought in Ngolo Kante to do the dirty work Cesc and Matic couldn’t do between them last season and with John Terry set to lead from the back again with experience and no distraction of the Tuesday and Wednesday European nights, Chelsea would be there to mount a serious challenge for the EPL this season. Hopefully Conte would quickly realise the differences between the Serie A and the EPL. I suspect Conte would create an organised unit that would know how to get out of jail from the back and with the likes of Hazard, Willian, Cesc and Cuadrado (Conte is an admirer) upfront, Chelsea would be looking to put the disaster of last season behind them.
MANCHESTER CITY
A hat-trick of titles in Spain, a hat-trick of titles in Germany, two Champions League titles and a fantastic squad of talent at the blue end of Manchester makes Pep Guardiola the envy of many in a season that promises to deliver so much. Sane, Gundogan, Nolito will add to a pool of players that are in the best time of their careers – Aguero, Kompany, Fernandinho, Silva, Hart, Zabaleta, Yaya Toure – and the talented youths –Sterling, DeBruyne, Clichy, Mangala and Delph.
I have watched some of Pep’s training sessions and seen his signature on FC Bayern Munich and the German maanschaaft. If he can produce that style of football that plays from the back (and believe me, it’s on purpose and no fluke) Manchester City can go on to challenge for domination in the English playing fields. My only concern is the tempo, high pressing game and talent of opposition in England may force a lot of errors at the back for City. Would he change if that happens? Can’t wait for the season to start and see his work with the players.
LIVERPOOL
With two Bundesliga titles under his belt and half a season in the Premiership, Jurgen Klopp has served his apprenticeship in the EPL. Recent signings this year means that he has put his seal on Liverpool transfer department, bringing in players with pace, ability and purpose.
Forget the 4-0 demolition of Barcelona, I have watched them press high and play at such a tempo that would scare opposing spectators, talk less of opposing coaches and players.
Klopp has brought back the type of football he played in Dortmund that took the town onto the pinnacle of German football and made them such feared opposition on European nights.
The only concern was/is still injuries that happen to hamstrings and other muscles when you play at such a tempo in the EPL. (Sturridge is in the treatment room again now) Klopp has now had a full pre-season with his team and I hope injuries would not hamper all the good work he has done thus far.
ARSENAL
Arsene Wenger would probably accept now that it is not going to be enough to finish second with Arsenal this year. With three Premier League titles – last one coming 13 years ago – and a last year of his contract, he would probably feel that time is running out for him to go out with a bang.
The dressing room is never the same when a manager’s contract is running out and the club don’t extend. Likewise, an announcement, or no announcement, that a manager is leaving at the end of the season also puts the dressing room in disarray.
Arsenal FC have not done much in the market and they have also handed Mikel Arteta over to Pep Guardiola as an addition to his backroom staff.
To be fair to Mr Wenger, he always finds a way to get the team into the Champions league, but then that was before the arrival of the box office managers. I think a world class defender and striker would still be needed at the Emirates if Arsenal would mount any serious challenge this year.
TOTTENHAM
Mauricio Pochettino can draw strength from the Tottenham exploits of last season, just before they capitulated at Stamford Bridge. The questions he needs to ask though are; is his squad still a boys club or has the tail end of last season turned his boys to men? Can they retain their focus in the Premier League after the glory nights of Champions league in midweek? (Against the best in the world) and my biggest question and worry, what happens when Harry stops scoring? Wanyama is a super buy and not new to the EPL, so should give steel in the middle. Team looks good on paper and Pochettino’s personality is too big to accept failure, so I think Spurs would be there again this season
EVERTON
Finally, if Ronald Koeman can keep and norture Lukaku, if he can keep and polish Stones, if he can develop Ross Barkley, if he can find a way to play Mirallas constantly….
You get the gist by now isn’t it? Ronald Koeman has a lot of work to do if he is to fulfil his managerial ambitions at Everton. Once Everton decide the direction they are going (we would know in the next few weeks) then we can safely predict which half of the table the team would finish in.
I can’t wait for the fun to begin. This year, squeaky bum starts next week and not in March.