Same old, same old! (Premier League 2000 - 2001)

Member Name: dididave

Product:	Premier League 2000 - 2001
Date:	02/08/07 (480 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Man City should provide amusement value!

Disadvantages: Is anything else likely to change?

With the beginning of a new Premiership season merely weeks away it is difficult not to see it as a case of “business as usual”. Now do not get me wrong, a lot has happened close season in terms of transfer wheelings and dealings, changes of management and even ownerships of clubs but has anything really changed?

In terms of the title race for the coming season it must surely be a two horse race of Manchester United and Chelsea again. Manchester United have not made any earth shattering signings during the summer but they really have no need to as they already have strength in depth. In fact, they are more likely to be selling at present with the departure of fringe players such as Kieran Richardson to Sunderland and the possible sale of Alan Smith. United are very much a well oiled machine and I cannot see any major dips in their form in the future. In my opinion this makes them title favourites.

Chelsea have also been relatively dormant in the transfer market during the summer but in contrast to United, I think this may prove to hamper their title challenge this season. The same defensive shortcomings of last season will once again be apparent in this and if they end up having to use Essien, a world class midfielder as a makeshift, average defender again at any point during the season, it could be their undoing. I also feel that a lot rides on Drogba's form and whether big buys such as Schevchenko and Ballack finally perform. If this happens then they will give United a genuine run for their money otherwise the title race could be over as early as Christmas.

So, what of last seasons also rans Arsenal and Liverpool? Arsenal are in danger of slipping away from the title race into the relative obscurity of a fringe top six team unless Arsene Wenger's young side matures quickly. Arsenal are a team severely lacking in experience and leadership and the departure of influential and longstanding players like Freddie Ljungberg and of course, Thierry Henry coupled with the slow and now total loss of Reyes gives them little strength in depth. This may well turn out to be a make or break season for Arsenal and fans will be rightly expecting the players to step up to the plate and show them what they are made of. Players such as Adebayor and Walcott may finally have a chance to step out of Henry's shadow but whether they can take that chance will determine whether they become Wenger's legacy or his undoing.

Liverpool are perhaps, the only team of the top four to spend big and with ambition thanks to the financial clout of their American owners. This is summed up by the signing of Torres who has a World Class ability. However, as ever with Liverpool they often appear to have the players to make a genuine title bid but it is whether they all perform consistently. Too often there is an over reliance on the home grown talent of Carragher and Gerrard to lead the way and flashes of genius from the likes of Alonso and Garcia will not win a title. Furthermore, Liverpool have never really replaced Michael Owen with a genuine, natural goalscorer and it is yet to be seen whether they have one. Bellamy looks like he is on his way out and never looked like performing and Kuyt does not look like he is a natural goalscorer. This leaves Crouch and Torres which could be the oddest forward line in Liverpool's history. However, can anyone actually argue with Crouch's goalscoring record? If Benitez can settle on a side and provide a little consistency then Liverpool could challenge this season and I certainly expect them to be serious challengers in the next.

The above mentioned teams will more than likely make the top four with perhaps only Everton and Tottenham being able to push once again for fourth spot. Both teams are very similar and will continue to push into the top six for one reason only, consistency. Neither team have spent big over the summer although it could be said Tottenham have bigger named players but both teams have a strong work ethic and some excellent young talent that can push them into European places. However, both teams also lack depth in their squads and have been fortunate to avoid a number of serious injuries. Injuries to key players for Tottenham such as Keane, Defoe or King and Everton's Arteta, Cahill or Yobo would be disastrous to their respective seasons as these players are the spine of the teams. If either team stays injury free, it is likely they will win the race to the European spots and are the most likely to push either Liverpool or Arsenal for fourth spot.

Many may say I have been quite dismissive of several of last years good performers such as Portsmouth, Reading and Bolton. However, I honestly do not think they have done anything over the summer to give their squads sustainability. I can see Reading fighting into mid table respectability but nothing further and although Portsmouth have gone for big names, many of the players have peaked and are simply after the big pay cheque. I have no doubt they will have some big wins but likewise they will have some big losses too. There defence remains fragile and I think any team with a cutting edge will destroy them. Bolton are still reeling from the departure of Sam Allardyce and I can see them languishing towards the relegation zone next season. Big game players such as Campo, Giannopolis and Speed will likely not stand for this and will start to leave and it may only be the weakness of other teams such as a floundering, depleted Wigan and newly promoted Birmingham and Derby that saves them. Regardless I can see Sammy Lee being the first casualty of the Premiership campaign.

A special mention has to go to the “yo-yoing” teams of the division. For me these are Aston Villa, Newcastle and Manchester City. Villa will seek top half security and in O'Neill they have a good manager who will aim for stability. Without any big signings I can see them struggling for results against the bigger teams and bouncing around the middle of the table throughout the season. Newcastle will likewise make no progress and continue to flatter to deceive. I can see them having an early good run and then fading fast. However, Manchester City will be the most entertaining of the three to watch as they struggle to understand each other, gel in any way and run around aimlessly banging heads. What City needed was consistency and a goalscorer, what they got was a whole new squad, an eccentric owner and an unreliable Manager. They will either get battered or score ten depending on each players mood and I fully expect to see Eriksson playing a 1-2-3-5 formation one game followed by a 7-3-1 the next.

So, as you can see for me it looks like business as usual this coming season. Hopefully, Liverpool and Arsenal will come good to add some interest to the title race but I do not see much else changing. Ah well, at least I get a pie and a pint at half time!

Summary: Another predictable season in my view.