Are the Memphis Grizzlies the NBA’s dark horses?

The Memphis Grizzlies have for a long time been a team who has been tipped to challenge in the NBA, however they have fallen short come playoff time on each occasion. After the disappointment of last year’s first round sweep at the hands of the San Antonio Spurs, the Grizzlies had a rebuilding job on their hands. However, with some impressive acquisitions in the off-season, the Grizzlies have began to look like a team who can seriously challenge for their first NBA Championship, or at least improve on last season’s disappointments.

Memphis were extremely active in free agency, renewing the contract of star Point Guard Mike Conley, acquiring perimeter threat Chandler Parsons and also the hiring of new Head Coach, David Fizdale. Fizdale’s arrival has bought a change in style for the team, changing the familiar inside-first strategy to one which is more balanced, allowing for greater offensive freedom from behind the three point line. Despite the change in style, the Franchise’s ‘grit and grind’identify still remains, with the Grizzlies ranking 3rd in opponents points per game (97.3).

The start of the Fizdale-era has looked promising, with the Grizzlies finding themselves 11-8, and looking incredibly impressive on the road. Most notably, Memphis knocked off their arch rivals, the LA Clippers at the Staples Center, proving how formidable they can be. This year’s Western Conference is seemingly weaker than last year, and if the Grizzlies can get a high seed and importantly avoid Golden State, there is no reason why they cannot progress into the later rounds.

The playing style isn’t the only thing that has changed, the rotation has too. Zach Randolph, a stalwart in the Grizzlies starting five, has been moved to the bench in order to provide a well needed scoring boost to an inexperienced second unit. Z-Bo’s introduction to the bench has seen an increase in production from the reserves, with players like Troy Daniels, James Ennis and Andrew Harrison all coming up big in recent weeks. Bench production is something which Memphis lacked last season, and could prove pivotal come the end of the season.

Despite things looking rosy in Memphis, injuries are a major concern. With Chandler Parsons and Mike Conley sidelined, the Grizzlies are currently short-handed, and are expected to experience a difficult few weeks in terms of results. Conley, who became the NBA’s highest paid player in the summer, has elevated his game, shown in an increase in points per game from previous best of 17.2 to 19.2 this season. If the Grizzlies fail to keep these players healthy, they will be facing another early playoff exit.

The Grizzlies look well set to forge a serious challenge at the NBA Championship this time around, and if they can keep their key players fit come playoff time, nobody should overlook Memphis on claiming their maiden Championship.

 

Kovalev vs Ward: Does Ward deserve pound for pound status?

Andre Ward (31-0, 15KO) survived a second round knockdown on his way to become the WBO, WBA and IBF Light-Heavyweight Champion by beating Sergey Kovalev (30-1-1, 26 KO) on Saturday night in Vegas by a controversial unanimous points decision.

After a cagey opening round, the previously unbeaten Kovalev dropped Ward for the first time in his career, with well timed counter right hand. Ward recovered and took control of the fight late on, with all three judges scoring the fight 114-113 in favour of the classy American. Many felt that Kovalev had won the fight due to his high pressure style; however the judges clearly sided with Ward’s cleaner work and sharp jab, which was controlling the later rounds.

Not only were there titles on the line on Saturday night, the status of becoming the number pound for pound fighter was up for grabs. This ranking has been changing rapidly since the retirement of Floyd Mayweather. However, Ward will now claim that crown after this latest win, replacing Roman Gonzalez (46-0, 38 KO) atop of the list. Many will feel as if Gonzalez should have retained the number 1 position, following his impressive win vs Carlos Cuadras (35-1-1, 27 KO) in September. Others contenders such as Gennady Golovkin (36-0, 33 KO) will also feel they have a case to be listed as the best fighter on the planet.

However, although this win was not conclusive for Ward, his resumé is much stronger than those around him. A record consisting of wins over Carl Froch, Mikkel Kessler and Arthur Abraham is mightily impressive and it seems unlikely that his unbeaten record will disappear any time soon. If not for his recent inactivity, he would likely have been firmly placed in this position well before this fight.

With a rematch looking increasingly likely, Ward will have another chance to set the record straight, and prove that he is the best fighter in the world. If he goes on to win for a second time, there should no longer be a debate.

How high-profile players have fared in their first managerial jobs

As the speculation around Steven Gerrard’s possible appointment at MK Dons intensifies, we look at how other high-profile players have fared in their job in management

Zinedine Zidane

It was no real surprise when club legend, Zidane, became the manager of Real Madrid Castilla in 2014. However his start in management was far from smooth. After an indifferent first season, reports suggested that Zidane was close to the sack. This didn’t happen and somehow he was promoted to first team manager after 18 months in charge. Zidane has flourished since his promotion, winning a Champions League trophy and equalling the record for consecutive Spanish league wins (16).

James Beattie

A far cry from the glitz and glamour of Madrid, Beattie took the reins of lowly League 2 side, Accrington Stanley in 2012. Beattie guided the club to an impressive 15th in both of his full seasons in charge, operating on one of the smallest budgets in the league. However a poor start to the following season saw him sacked just 6 league games. Despite this failure, Beattie is still regarded as a bright young coach, and is now working under Garry Monk at Leeds United.

Gus Poyet

After brief coaching spells at Swindon and Tottenham, Gus Poyet took his first managerial job at Brighton & Hove Albion in 2009. Poyet immediately spearheaded the clubs promotion to the Championship, with 13 games to spare! Soon after, Brighton became a strong force in the Championship, eventually losing to bitter rivals Crystal Palace in the Play-Off Semi-Finals. A fall out with the board led to Poyet’s sacking at the end of the season. Unfortunately, unsuccessful spells at Sunderland, AEK Athens and Real Betis has seen Poyet’s stock plummet at an extreme rate.

Gary Neville

After impressing in his punditry role on Sky Sports, Neville was unexpectedly appointed as the manager of Valencia in 2015. Performing this role alongside his coaching duties for England, Neville struggled greatly, winning only 10 of 28 games in charge. Fan protests and a 7-0 defeat to FC Barcelona made his sacking inevitable. Soon after, Neville and England were humiliated by Iceland in the European Championship, leading to his exit of this role as well. Since, Neville has stated that he does not envisage a return to coaching for some time.

John Barnes

After an illustrious playing career, John Barnes took over at Scottish giants Celtic in his first job in 1999. However, after an unsuccessful half a season, he was sacked and labelled one of the worst managers in the club’s history. 8 years later, Barnes returned to club management at Tranmere Rovers where he lasted even shorter, just 14 games! It should come as no surprise that Barnes has not managed since.

Injury-Prone Footballers – The Game’s Wasted Talents

As seen with Danny Ings’ injury this past week, injuries really can seem like a never ending cycle for some footballers, potentially ruining careers. This article will look at the top 5 English ‘sicknote’ footballers who frustrated their managers and fans alike with their lengthy spells on the sidelines.

1. Ledley King

Prior to the 2006-2007 season, Ledley King was quickly emerging as one of the finest Central Defenders in the Premier League. However, a horrific injury to his knee cartilage meant his career would never be the same. From then on, King could only play every so often, depending on how quickly his knee would stop swelling after every game. Incredibly, his manager at the time, Harry Redknapp, revealed that King never trained in the week and would still play at the weekend. King retired aged 32, with many feeling barring injuries, he could have been one of the best in the world.

“He is the only guy who doesn’t hold players. He will get the ball off you without you even noticing. For me, that is a good defender.”

Thierry Henry on Ledley King

2. Kieron Dyer

Once considered as the future of English football, Kieron Dyer’s career didn’t hit the heights that many had expected. Hamstring and knee injuries meant Dyer’s playing time became increasingly limited. Remarkably during his time at West Ham United, he cost the club £450,000 per appearance, and he only cost £6 million! Having only managed to make 77 appearances in his last 9 seasons, Dyer eventually ended his career. After showing so much promise at the start of his career, people will always wonder just how good Dyer could have become if his career wasn’t plagued by injury.

3. Francis Jeffers

Prolific for Everton and England youth sides, Jeffers was one of the hottest young properties in English football. He then got his big move in 2001, when Arsene Wenger brought him to Highbury for a then whopping £8 million. Unfortunately for Jeffers the beginning of his spell at Arsenal was ruined by shoulder, ankle and hamstring injuries. Jeffers then failed to ever recover and left Arsenal after just 3 seasons. He then never rediscovered his form from Everton, and niggling injuries left him doing the rounds in the lower leagues of English football, and even Australia!

4. Owen Hargreaves

Hargreaves had established himself as a regular for Bayern Munich in the early 2000’s, however his career soon became one of the game’s biggest cruelties. Countless injuries including adductor, thigh, leg, knee and hamstring problems meant that Hargreaves had quickly become the most injury prone player in the world. After just 5 appearances in his last 4 seasons of league football, Hargreaves retired having only made 173 league appearances in his entire career. This was a sad end for a player who had been named as England’s best player in the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

5. Michael Bridges

As an 18 year old at Sunderland, Bridges saved the club from relegation and was considered to be one of the most promising strikers in the country. He then earned himself a move to Leeds United; where he went on to score 19 league goals in his first season, guiding the club to 3rd in the Premier League. Unfortunately Bridges dislocated his ankle in 2000, which was eventually the end of his career in the top level of the game. Much like Franny Jeffers, Bridges then began to ply his trade in the lower leagues of England and Australia. Unbelievably Bridges is still playing now, for Australian side Jambton Jaffas in the Northern Premier League NSW.

 

Are too many governing bodies and belts holding boxing back?

It seems as if the Anthony Joshua vs Wladimir Klitschko fight is in jeopardy of happening. This is due to the WBA not sanctioning the fight. This shows how many different things are needed in order to make a mega-fight. This article will focus on how different governing bodies and belts have devalued the sport and the meaning of being a world champion.

With 17 weight divisions and over 100 different variations of world championship belts, it seems as if world titles are being handed out more easily than ever. Each of the governing bodies now operate with a minimum of 4 world champions. However the introduction of ‘regular’ and ‘super’ champions has only gone and increased this, making world championships less valuable by the day.

As well as this, there are different belts on offer to secure ranking positions in each governing body. Titles such as the ‘silver’, ‘international’ and ‘interim’ belts have made the standard of world championship champions diminish greatly. There is an argument that it is too easy for fighters to win world championships in this era with many people calling for a return to having one world champion per division.

These ranking based belts give the chance for fighters to work their way up into a ‘mandatory’ position for a world title shot. Although this provides a clear pathway for fighters, it can also lower the standards of mandatory world title defences which used to be a way of forcing exciting fights should boxers opt for easier voluntary title defences. Working in a way where the rankings for each governing body are so different makes it harder to make the most high-profile fights in boxing. For example, the likely fight for the WBA ‘super’ title is to be Lucas Browne vs Klitschko due to Browne’s ranking and affiliation with the WBA, rather than a more attractive fight between Wladimir and Joshua.

With so many political issues surrounding the making of fights in the sport, it is no wonder that so many fights are not being made; much to the dismay of many fans. Other reasons such as the choice of commentators and whose name will appear first on the fight posters have also been cited as reasons for fights falling through, making a promoters job almost impossible at times.

In addition to different rankings between the governing bodies, some bodies also have different rules regarding sanctioning fees and weigh-ins before a fight. The IBF have a 10 pound rule where a fighter cannot put on more than 10 pounds from the weigh-in until they step into the ring. This is a step which was taken for the safety of fighters as it prevents huge weight mismatches when it comes to fight night, meaning if one rehydrates more than his opponent, he has a significant size advantage. This means fighting for an IBF title is a much different experience and is another example of why fighters may not agree to certain fights.

It seems as if the big fights are becoming increasingly difficult to make due to the governance of the sport. Promotional and political disputes are more common than ever due to the numbers of belts and fighters contending for different prizes, meaning there is always a queue of fighters waiting for world title shots through fighting eliminators. This has gone a long way in devaluing the sport and it may take a drastic change to make these world title prestigious once again.

 

Can managers get second-time success by going back to former clubs?

Seventeen months after being sacked for not achieving promotion with the club, Steve McClaren has been appointed as the manager of Derby County yet again.

Returning to manage former clubs is something which has not proved success for a lot of managers and here we will look at five managers who must wish they never returned home:

Kenny Dalglish – Liverpool (1985-1991) (2011-2012)

‘King Kenny’ began his spell as Liverpool manager in 1985, already as a Kop idol due to his legendary playing career at Anfield. His first spell in charge did nothing to change this status. Dalglish won three league titles and two FA Cups in six years; creating a dynasty during this period, making Liverpool the most feared team in England.

Trophies won in first spell: Division One (x3), FA Cup (x2), Charity Shield (x4)

Exactly twenty years since his first spell, Dalglish returned to the club in a time of crisis. Despite his best efforts, Liverpool finished the season in eighth place and he was later relived of his duties. Dalglish did win a League Cup in his second spell; however his tenure was marred with disappointment with poor results and issues surrounding Luis Suarez’s racism case. Kenny must wish he had never returned.

Trophies won in second spell: League Cup (2012)

 Kevin Keegan – Newcastle (1992 – 1997) (2008)

After arriving in one of the clubs most turbulent times, Keegan saved the club from relegation to the Third Division and then went on to take the club back to the Premier League the following year. He then guided the club to a third place finish, securing European qualification. Newcastle began to establish themselves as perennial title contenders and narrowly missed out on the title on more than one occasion. Unfortunately Keegan failed to win a major trophy in this spell, something the club have failed to do since 1955.

Trophies won in first spell: Division One* (1992-93)

*The second tier at the time due to the introduction of the Premier League.

Keegan was unexpectedly brought back to the club in 2008 in an attempt to save the club from relegation to the Championship. After failing to win any of his first eight games in charge, the pressure began to mount on ‘King Kev’. However, a great run towards the end of the season saw the club finish comfortably in mid-table. Despite this relative success, Keegan’s reign was over due to disagreements with club owner Mike Ashley over transfers, leaving fans furious.

Trophies won in second spell: None

Steve McClaren – FC Twente (2008-2010) (2012-2013)

Yes, Steve McClaren has indeed returned to a former club before. After a reputation shattering period in charge of England and Nottingham Forest, McClaren found himself in charge of the fast improving Dutch club FC Twente. McClaren’s astonishingly went on to secure the clubs first league title in their history, in just his second season in charge. Despite having a great rapport with the fans, McClaren left the club to join Wolfsburg in Germany the following year.

Trophies won in first spell: Eredivisie (2009-10)

McClaren returned to Twente in 2012 after a failed spell in Germany. Twente themselves hadn’t faired very well since his departure and his return to the clubs was well received by the clubs supporters. Unfortunately his second spell proved to be a disappointing one and after growing pressure from the supporters for questionable transfers and tactics, McClaren lost his job with the club languishing in sixth place in the Eredivisie.

Trophies won in second spell: None

Jose Mourinho – Chelsea (2004-2007) (2013-2015)

‘The Special One’ entered English football with a glowing reputation following his Champions League triumph with FC Porto. The hype later proved to be worthy. Mourinho ended the clubs fifty year wait for a league title and also broke English records for points won (95) and least amount of goals conceded (15). Chelsea also won the league the following year, making Mourinho the most successful manager in the clubs history. However, failure to win the Champions League and a fractured relationship with owner Roman Abramovich meant that ‘The Special One’ left the club much earlier than anyone anticipated, leaving many fans disillusioned and disgruntled.

Trophies won in first spell: Premier League (x2), FA Cup (2006-07), League Cup (x2), Community Shield (2005)

Mourinho famously returned to Chelsea in 2013 following pressure from the clubs supporters to bring him back. The squad he inherited this time around was much less competitive and Mourinho himself admitted that winning the title in his first season was unrealistic. Chelsea ended the season in third position. However, the following season Mourinho led the club to yet another league and cup double, losing just three games all season. Despite such success, a poor start to the following season saw Mourinho’s relationship with his players became strained and once again, Jose was rushed out through the exit door of Stamford Bridge.

Trophies won in second spell: Premier League (2014-15), League Cup (2014-15)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Ever Diminishing Pool of English Talent

The task facing Roy Hodgson as England manager seems to be a tough one. Only 2 of the 41 summer signings made by the top 7 clubs from last season are eligible to play for England, those players are Gareth Barry, now of Everton and Tiago Illori, the London-born Portuguese under 21 international who made the move from Sporting Lisbon to Liverpool. It’s clear to see that the pool of talent in this country is dwindling and it doesn’t bode well for England considering that the likes of Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole will all need replacing soon after the World Cup next year. The percentage of English players in the Premier League has fallen from 48% to 32% in the last 15 years which just goes to show what a difficult task Roy Hodgson has ahead of him.

A reason for this is that managers in the Premier League are under such high pressure these days that they need instant success and they don’t necessarily have the time to develop young home-grown players as the average job expectancy for Premier League managers is only 10 months. Instead, with the increase of foreign owners, brings in foreign managers who will then buy foreign players who they are familiar with, rather than bringing in English players. For English football to be successful, a change in the rules could be crucial and a quota system which requires a certain number of English players in a match day squad could lead to more English players becoming more accomplished and in turn, help improve our national team. A similar system was employed in Italy after they realised that the money coming in to the country was harming their young players and a quota system is still in place now to ensure that as many Italian players are playing in the top league as possible.

In the transfer window just gone, maybe only Nathan Redmond and Jonjo Shelvey have moved to other Premier League clubs and seen regular first team football. We do have good young English players in the shape of Luke Shaw, Kieran Gibbs, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Jack Wilshere, Ravel Morrison, Ross Barkely etc. but it isn’t enough and some of these players are struggling to find a regular place in their club sides due to the quality their sides now posses. The signing of Mesut Ozil for Arsenal isn’t likely to help Jack Wilshere nail down a regular place and the same applies to Chamberlain when he returns from injury, which will worry Roy Hodgson and make his team selections even tougher, which I’ve mentioned before.

Having just a few good young players playing in the Premier League isn’t enough, we need a squad full of very good players which the likes of Spain do and only when that happens we can go and challenge with those countries in the major tournament. Despite England looking in pole position to qualify for the World Cup finals in Brazil next year the pool of English players is diminishing at a rapid rate and the next few years could be worrying for English football unless the rules in the Premier League change regarding the amount of foreign players allowed in match day squads.

Premier League Summer Transfer Window Review

In total English Premier League clubs spent £630 million during the window, a new record. This total also almost doubles the outlay of Spanish, Italian and French clubs during the same time. It has been a hugely exciting transfer window for the fans of most clubs (unless you’re a Newcastle fan), as many clubs have broken their transfer records and seen their clubs move on to the next level.

Undoubtedly the biggest signing of the window occurred on the final day, with Germany superstar Mesut Ozil moving from Real Madrid to Arsenal in a staggering £42.5 million deal, this deal now makes the Ozil the second most expensive transfer by a Premier League club, behind Fernando Torres. Ozil will be sure to enhance the already exciting attacking options that Arsenal possess and should make them a difficult team to play against, however it could lead to them being more susceptible to counter-attacks as they are still lacking a defensive midfielder to allow for players like Ozil and Cazorla to have the freedom to roam, without having to worry about tracking back. I feel Arsenal’s biggest mistake was not signing Luiz Gustavo from Bayern Munich, good on the ball and in the tackle, the Brazilian international would have been perfect in that role for the Gunners and I am still at a loss as to why they let that deal slip through their fingers. Another defender and striker may have also been required to make them genuine title contenders as if Giroud goes down injured, they will have very limited cover. They still lack any real depth to their squad which may prove costly, however this signing does give them the platform to build on and make a world-class squad.

Another big deadline day signing was Marouane Fellaini to Manchester United for a fee of £27.5 million. Having not made an offer for the player during the time which his release clause was still active this deal does seem a strange one and may have only be done out of desperation and the lack of options left in the window. Having already failed to land Thiago, De Rossi, Fabregas, Herrera, Modric and Sami Khedira during the window, the signing of Fellaini seems like a last resort despite the player being of high quality. It shocks me that a club of United’s size have been bullied in the transfer window as they have; when a club that size goes in publicly for a player like they have numerous times this summer, you would expect them to seal the deal. It also surprises me that massive clubs like Manchester United and Arsenal had to wait until deadline day to seal their deals, rather than doing their business early like Tottenham and Manchester City who bought very well during the window.

Tottenham, Liverpool and Manchester City were the big clubs who did the best business for me, with Spurs quickly realising the imminent departure of Gareth Bale to Real Madrid, they acted quickly and spent over £100 million during the window, including players like Erik Lamela, Roberto Soldado and Paulinho. They seemed to have strengthened in all the key areas and they only thing to sort out for them now is to make those players gel as quickly as possible. It may go unnoticed that although they were the biggest spenders in the Premier League this summer, they still made a profit of £3.05 million which represents a successful window. Liverpool have prioritised the signings of younger players but their key signing of the summer is goalkeeper Simon Mignolet who has made an outstanding start to his time at Anfield. They should go close to the top four this season with more depth and the imminent return of Luis Suarez will only make them a better side. Manchester City were the second biggest spenders this summer, however it felt quite quiet for them as they did their business early, and without much fuss. Jesus Navas resolves a key problem of a lack of width from last season which ultimately saw them fall well short of eventual Champions Manchester United.

Cardiff City broke their transfer window three times and improve the spine of their team greatly, Southampton signed Victor Wanyama, Dejan Lovren and Daniel Osvaldo who are very highly-rated and some think it was a surprise that players of that calibre ended up at Saint Mary’s. Norwich are another club who have done good business, most notably the signings of Leroy Fer, Nathan Redmond, Gary Hooper and Ricky Van Wolfswinkel which should help propel them up the table.

Newcastle United are the team who have had the worst transfer window in my opinion, despite having done the majority of their business in the January window, they have spent nothing this summer and Loic Remy on loan from QPR is their only notable acquisition. Their fans will be wondering what on earth Joe Kinnear was doing this summer as he failed to deliver players to the club. They seem to be a club in disarray despite still having some talented players in the squad, they’ll still be safe this season though.

Premier League 13/14 Season Preview (Part 3 of 3)

Southampton – The hugely controversial decision to sack the popular Nigel Adkins and replace him with Mauricio Pochettino was starting to pay off towards the end of last season, with an identifiable high pressing style of football which saw them dismantle Manchester City 3-1 late in the season. This style of play restricts the time the opposition midfield have on the ball so they can enjoy the majority of possession. This style left them with the highest number of tackles and interceptions in the league last year. A combined total of £20 million has been spent on the highly-rated Kenyan Victor Wanyama and Dejan Lovren from Lyon who had been sought after by some of the bigger clubs in Europe.

• Key Player – Gaston Ramirez, he’s player who performed in patches last season, however he has immense talent and will provide the creative spark that’s needed to take Southampton to the next level. His good performances have seen interest from Italian giants Inter Milan this summer.
• Prediction – 11th, if they carry on where they left of from last season and turn some of their 14 draws into wins then they’ll be around the mid-table mark come the end of the season.

Stoke City – Fitness, power and good organisation has helped Stoke finish around 13th place for the last 5 seasons. However there has been a big change at the Britannia this season, as long-serving manager Tony Pulis has been ousted for former Wales and QPR boss Mark Hughes. Many people are left bewildered by this choice based on his spell at QPR, however he has finished in the top half of the league in 7 of his 9 premier league seasons, a very impressive return. He will be looking to slightly change the playing style, however he’ll want to keep the defensive elements in-tact as it’ll make them typically hard to beat.

• Key Player – Ryan Shawcross, the Stoke skipper has been on the fringes of the England team for the last couple of years and another impressive season could see him keep his team in the league, and snatch a place on the plane to Rio.
• Prediction – 17th, due to not really improving their squad in the transfer window, I see them falling behind their rivals and into another relegation scrap, this time coming closer to the drop, however I think their solid defence will be enough to save them.

Sunderland – Eyebrows were raised after the appointment of the hot-headed Paolo Di Canio who was given the task of keeping troubled Sunderland in the Premier League. After a great start in the job which saw his side beat local rivals Newcastle 3-0, the wheels started to come of at the end of last season and they managed to survive by the skin of their teeth. No matter what anybody says about Paolo, he managed to meet his big target which was to keep Sunderland in the promise land. He’ll be looking to push on this season and finish in a safer mid-table position, he’s shown his intent by bringing in 9 players this summer.

• Key Player – Adam Johnson, he was out of sorts for large parts last season, however he has the quality and creativity that will be needed to fire Sunderland up the league, he can win points on his own when he’s on form.
• Prediction – 15th, a slightly safer finish than last season if Paolo gets his players to believe in his rules and philosophy. I feel he will, however if they don’t respond well to his unorthodox style of management, they could be in for a long, hard season.

Swansea City – When Michael Laudrup took over last season from Brendan Rodgers, many thought they’d struggle to replicate the good football and results of the previous year. However, he finished in the top-half and had them playing a very attractive and effective style of football. Michu was undoubtedly their star man last season and bagged 18 league goals for the Swans, but at times he was carrying the team on his back. They’ve signed Wilfried Bony from Vitesse to easy the workload on the Spaniard and the Ivorians power and ability to score goals could help them battle for European and Domestic glory. They’ve again raided the Spainsh market, the stand-out signing of those being Jordi Amat from Espanyol who is tipped to be one of Spain’s finest defenders in years to come. Keeping hold of Jonathan de Guzman for another year who was hugely impressive in the heart of the Swansea midfield was another boost for the side that looks set to be challenging for a Europa League spot through the league.

• Key Player – Michu, the top scorer from last season may not score as many goals this year with him probably being dropped into his favoured position in behind the striker, but he the classy Spaniard will be key to Swansea’s challenge in Europe and in the league due to his goals and assists.
• Prediction – 7th, a much improved squad should see them finish around this spot for me, the only problem may come with the European campaign and how much that takes out of them. They should have the squad to deal with that now though.

Tottenham Hotspur – They achieved their best points tally for 28 years last term and they still missed out on the top 4. This has sparked an injection of cash from Daniel Levy and they’ve used that wisely to bring in Roberto Soldado, Paulinho, Nacer Chadli and most recently, Etienne Capoue from Toulouse. The signing of Soldado has filled their major gap from last season with a lack of fire-power from the strikers being very evident, seen as a natural goalscorer, Soldado should help Spurs get over the line and qualify for the Champions League. A lot of their season now depends on the future of Gareth Bale, a player who won 24 points by himself last season, and picked up all possible player awards for his scintillating form last year. Strong interest from Real Madrid seems to be fading, however it looks as if Bale now wants out and that may force Spurs to sell their most prized asset.

• Key Player – Gareth Bale, the Premier League’s finest footballer and the most sought after player in World football had to be my choice. His future could make or break Spurs’ season, however if he stays, he’ll be sure to have another great season.
• Prediction – 4th, having bought very good players so far this window I see Spurs ahead of Arsenal in the race for 4th, a good striker and a top quality central midfielder have been signed and without any spending from Arsenal, I see Spurs finishing above them this season.

West Bromwich Albion – They were very impressive last season and an 8th place finish was probably higher than what Steve Clarke could ever have imagined in his first year in management. Romelu Lukaku played a big hand in that success last season, and without him this year will make it much tougher for them to emulate that success. They have signed the experienced French striker Nicolas Anelka and last seasons Championship player of the year, Matej Vydra to provide good competition for Shane Long. I am a big fan of the Mulumbu and Yacob combination deep in the West Brom midfield which makes them extremely hard to break down and after they win the ball they pass it off to start off attacks, they’re the heart of the team. Goals may be a problem next season and I don’t see them finishing as highly as last season, however I feel they won’t be worried about relegation for at least another year.

• Key Player – Jonas Olsson, despite help from Mulumbu and Yacob in front of him, he does a great job in organising the back four and they only had to make one last-man tackle last season, the best out of any Premier League side. He can score a goal too!
• Prediction – 14th, I feel they will struggle to get close to their finish last season due to a lack of investment in the window which leaves them with a pretty small squad to be able to challenge at the top-half again.

West Ham United – A 10th place finish was a great start to life back in the Premier League for Sam Allardyce’s men and their mixture of power and good football made them a tough team to match up against as they can beat you in many ways. The signing of Stewart Downing should really excite the fans as he is an excellent crosser of the ball, and with Matt Jarvis on the other side, Andy Carroll won’t be short of chances and I fancy him to add to his tally of 7 last season. A solid midfield three of Nolan, Noble and Diame was key to their success last season and they each provided goals and steel to guide them to a top-half finish, Big Sam will be looking for the same from them again. Winston Reid impressed me immensely  last season and I felt his exceptional defensive abilities coupled with his leadership qualities made him one of the stand-out central defenders from last season.

• Key Player – Andy Carroll, the big man will be hoping to avoid injuries this season and profit from the service expected from Jarvis and Downing, he could have a big season.
• Prediction – 10th, I feel that there are many more strong teams in the league than last season, and West Ham are another. I see them finishing in 10th position again, which I think would represent another successful season for the Hammers.

 

Thank you for reading and for more football chat and opinions follow me on twitter @thecityopinion.

Daniel May.

 

 

 

 

Premier League 13/14 Season Preview (Part 2 of 3)

• Hull City – As well as Crystal Palace, Hull weren’t among the main favourites to secure promotion to the Premier League last season. However due to a solid defence and a good understanding of the 3-5-2 system they employed throughout the season, they managed to go up on the final day. They’re a good solid team, however they lack a goalscorer which was proven by the fact that midfielder Robert Koren was their top scorer last season, with 9 league goals. They’ve signed Yannick Sagbo and Danny Graham to provide the fire-power they require and the signings of Maynor Figueroa and Tom Huddlestone should put them in good stead for the new season.

• Key Player – Robbie Brady, the tricky Irish winger chipped in with 13 league assists last term and a similar tally this season will be needed to give Hull any chance of survival.
• Prediction – 19th, promotion may have come too soon for Hull and I feel their lack of fire-power will leave them facing relegation straight back down to the Championship.

Liverpool – Liverpool’s inability to convert  good performances into positive results was a big problem for them last season and left them well short of the top 4. With that being said, they improved greatly in the second half of the season with January signings Philippe Coutinho and Daniel Sturridge providing the spark they had been lacking for large parts of the season. With this and the new signings that have been brought in over the summer, their squad now has more depth and striker Iago Aspas’s movement will sure to be a nuisance for defences this coming season.

• Key Player – Philippe Coutinho, the classy Brazilian has the ability to unlock Premier League defences at will and he’ll be ready to pick up from where he left off last season.
• Prediction – 6th, a top 4 finish may be a tall order this season, however if they can begin to win games by the odd goal regularly they’ll be there or thereabouts.

Manchester City – Last seasons runners-up will be looking to regain the title they won back in 2012 and have not wasted any time in recruiting new players, spending £90 million on Stevan Jovetic, Fernandinho and former Sevilla pair Alvaro Negredo and Jesus Navas. The signing of Jesus Navas should give City an extra dimension as they were too predictable at times last season, with a tendency to force the ball through the middle of the park too often. They arguably had the strongest squad in the league last season and they’ve made more improvements than any of their title contenders this year, they’re certainly my favourites at this moment.

• Key Player – Vincent Kompany, a born leader. His world-class defensive abilities and leadership qualities makes the City skipper their most important player next season as they’ll need to be tight at the back again if they want to win the league. 
  
• Prediction – 1st, the arrival of Manuel Pellegrini should bring back some of the team chemistry that was lacking last season. This element mixed with the quality of the squad should see them end the season with the Premier League title once again.

Manchester United – The departure of Sir Alex Ferguson will be sure to leave a huge hole at United and the pressure is on the new boss David Moyes to pick up from where he left off. It will be difficult for him though, with Wilfried Zaha being their only major signings to date, their squad may not be at the level required to win the league, despite winning at a canter last year. Keeping hold of Wayne Rooney will be key, as will signing a top quality central midfielder to play alongside Michael Carrick at the heart of the United midfield.

• Key Player – Robin Van Persie, the Dutch hit-man will again be crucial for United this season and will be looking to improve further on his 26 league goals from last year.
• Prediction – 3rd, with Chelsea and City having spent money already, I feel Moyes’ men will be left behind and fall just short.

Newcastle United – The arrival of Joe Kinnear has brought a lot of negativity back to the club, and that may lead to another tough season for the Magpies. They still have some good players in Yohan Cabaye and Moussa Sissoko but with time left in the window yet, they’ll be looking to keep hold of their best players and improve on last seasons disappointments. Their lack of transfer activity comes a surprise to me as I felt they needed to strengthen heavily again to avoid a repeat of last year. However the signing of Loic Remy does present them with a genuine goal threat and a direct rival to Papiss Cisse, which they lacked last season.

• Key Player – Yohan Cabaye, the creative French midfielder will be looking to stay clear of injuries this year and spearhead Newcastle into a top half finish. If he’s at his best, they should have a relatively stress-free season.
• Prediction – 12th, off-field distractions will ensure another tricky season, however they still have some very good players in their ranks and if they don’t let the off-field antics get to them, they could find themselves in the top of the league.

Norwich City – They may have finished 11th last term, however it was far from comfortable for the Canaries and they only managed to secure their Premier League status in the closing weeks of the season. They have addressed the lack of goals from last season and bought in Ricky Van Wolfswinkel and Gary Hooper who were linked with bigger clubs over the summer, which is sure to make a difference and they may be looking ahead instead of over their shoulders. The signing of Leroy Fer from FC Twente is somewhat of a coup as he looked to be heading to Everton for double the price in January, if it had not been for a failed medical. Young England winger Nathan Redmond has also been signed to inject some well needed flair into the Norwich team to propel them up the league table.

Key Player – Sebastien Bassong, the team captain will be looking to emulate his good form from last season and help guide Norwich to another good league finish

Prediction – 9th, I see this Norwich side as a dark-horse for this season given the good business they’ve done so far in the window. They have addressed the lack of goals and brought in players to bolster the squad and make them a more solid outfit.