Top 4
This season's race for the Champions League places will be arguably the tightest yet, never mind the race for the title! I think it'll be a four horse race for the title in the end, which also shows who I think will get those important Champions League positions. The two favourites for the title being Chelsea and Manchester City, I think these teams will finish 1st and 2nd. With Arsenal and Manchester United close behind in 3rd and 4th, all four sides I think will last the race and possibly all still be in with a chance of the title come game week 34. Chelsea have the best team going into the season, with the signings they've made this summer I think this could be Mourinho's 3rd Premier League title. Thibart Courtois will finally get his chance in goal for Chelsea this season I expect, with Filipe Luis, Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas following from La Liga, Chelsea look a very strong unit. Despite the departures of Ashley Cole and Frank Lampard, they have the talent to more than replace them and win their first league title since 2010. The men from Manchester will prove very tough competition. City, as defending champions, will try and do a better job of defending a title than they did in the 2012/2013 campaign. As financial fair play rules have hit City, acquisitions have been controlled and limited with free agent Bacary Sagna joining from Arsenal and Fernando arriving from Porto. Although, it's not like they need many new players with the exceptional squad they posses, especially up front with Sergio Aguero, Stefan Jovetic, Alvaro Negredo and Edin Dzeko. City emerged late from the pack to take the Premier League title, winning it with a record low of 14 days at the top. Those two will be the leaders of the pack.
Arsenal I believe will provide a tougher fight for the title than last season. I won't be biased, but I do believe they will be a better side next season. The traumatic experiences last season at Stamford Bridge, The Etihad and Anfield will have had a strong and damaging effect on the side. Yet, May's FA Cup triumph, a first trophy in 9 years, will have shown the players they can win things. They had a tough road to Wembley and were even 2-0 down after 10 minutes in the final, yet prevailed. This needed to be followed up by Arsenal and strengthen a squad highly tested last campaign due to injuries. New medical staff have been brought in and four new signings in before August began. The departure of Lukasz Fabianski left way for the arrival of David Ospina from Nice. Defenders Mathieu Debuchy and Calum Chambers were also welcomed to the Emirates, Debuchy a like for like replacement for Sagna. But, the big name signing was the first done. Alexis Sanchez, a year after Arsenal's last La Liga swoop of Mesut Ozil, joined from FC Barcelona for around £35 million. Sanchez was Chile's star man at the World Cup and often impressive at Barcelona but was overlooked with the presence of Lionel Messi and Neymar. He is bound to be the focal point of Arsene Wenger's side and adds much needed pace and power in attack which was found wanting with Olivier Giroud. I do not expect them to go all the way as I think in the games that count, we can still get caught out and over powered, 3rd place for me. The return of Manchester United will see them return to Europe's elite stage and finish 4th. Louis Van Gaal has a very privileged pedigree. As seen in Brazil, he is a shrewd tactician and excellent man manager. United are a team needing a pick me up and no doubt will be woken up by the Dutchman and any slacking will result in a shove out of the Old Trafford exit door. Despite the new coach's arrival, experienced faces have departed Carrington in Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand and Patrice Evra, the ever-presents in the last Sir Alex period of success. Van Gaal has brought in Luke Shaw to replace Evra and will implement a back 3 system, as seen with Holland. Central defence is an area which still needs strengthening I think as well as a dominating central midfielder to sit back whilst the latest in La Liga imports Ander Herrera accompanies Juan Mata, Wayne Rooney and co. in attack. Pre-season has been confident and accomplished from United with 5 wins in 5 games, but this means nothing as now the question will be as to whether Van Gaal can bring the arrogance and intimidating manner back to Old Trafford?
Chasing Pack
As these four will slowly pull away from the rest, it will be a very tight call from 5th down to 10th next season. Let's start with the two just short of Champions League football, Liverpool and Everton. I think the Merseyside teams will have good campaigns, but probably not as successful as the extremely high standards of the last campaign. Roberto Martinez's first season instilled at Goodison went just short of perfectly, whilst Liverpool out did themselves entirely with a valiant title challenge. At Anfield, a once hailed Uruguayan has sailed his ship to sunny Spain. Luis Suarez, despite being under a 4 month ban from football activity has joined FC Barcelona for £75 million. Liverpool, therefore, have spent this money widely. Southampton trio Dejan Lovren, Adam Lallana and Rickie Lambert signed on for a total fee of £49 million. Winger Lazar Markovic followed in from Benfica after a successful treble campaign in Portugal. Divock Origi was next after a breakthrough World Cup with Belgium, he was though loaned back to Lille for next season. Liverpool have a strong team, whether they can compete in Europe is one question, whether they can fill the void of the irreplaceable Luis Suarez is another. Daniel Sturridge can be the main answer for goals, yet other than him, there are not many convincing candidates. Adam Lallana is a talented player clearly, can he deliver at a high stage, at a top team with high expectations, maybe. Phillipe Coutinho is also a player with immense quality, but goals is not his forte. You can always count on Steven Gerrard to come up with a few goals but as he sits back into a deep lying midfield role, will he get as many opportunities to make those trademark late runs to the penalty area? Possibly not. So I'll say 5th this year for Rodgers' side, yet a big name forward to replace Suarez brought in can change this. Everton also have European football again, which may strain the squad. It was important they got Gareth Barry after a superb season on loan, likewise Romelu Lukaku. A club record £28 million forked out for the Chelsea striker. With his proven record in England in loan spells at West Brom and Everton, it could be a top buy from Martinez. A few more players will be needed at Goodison though with a demanding Europa League campaign ahead. A top 4 push could be on the cards but I think it will be just beyond them again, 6th.
7th to 10th will be close. Spurs will have a settled season with Mauricio Pocchetino as his system is implemented at White Hart Lane, whether he will last the season, is the real question however. A couple of signings have already joined up from Wales in Ben Davies and Michel Vorm. Not high profile names, but players who are improving and prospects. As is Eric Dier. The England U21 signed from Sporting Lisbon, ex-Everton is one for the future. Deadwood is needed to be cleared, but give Pocchetino time and he can drive Spurs up the table in a couple of seasons. Swansea City and Newcastle United are next. Newcastle are a very unpredictable side. 6th come the new year, but they drifted to an appalling finish to the season and finished 11th. The goals of Loic Remy will need replacing and new faces have arrived in numbers up north. Emmanuel Riviere joined up from Monaco to fill the void, yet another Ligue 1 addition to St James, likewise Remy Cabella, a long time target from Montpellier. The needed replacement for Yohan Cabaye could guide the Geordies to a successful campaign, a cup run could be on the cards. Swansea, under Garry Monk, will look to emulate the form in their first couple of seasons and avoid a repeated relegation battle. The additions of Bafetimbi Gomis and welcome return of Gylfi Sigurdsson are ones which promise a good season ahead. The retention of Wilfried Bony will be crucial, as Michu has departed on loan, a strike-force of Bony and Gomis with Jonjo Shelvey feeding from midfield is a trio full of talent. Monk is a man who knows the club inside-out and know how he wants his club to play and be portrayed as, Swansea will be a tough side again next season. Finally, middle of the pack, West Ham United. West Ham were in dire trouble last season, but escaped with the know-how and experience of Sam Allardyce. They have strengthened with World Cup standout Enner Valencia, forward Mauro Zarate and midfielder Diego Poyet. I think West Ham are a side you never quite know what you're going to see from them, week from week. They may be towards trouble again come the New Year, but will guide themselves away again. Whether Allardyce lasts the season, who knows, but it would be a big mistake to sack him if their start is not what they expect.
That's the top half done, next I will review the bottom half and strugglers for the next Premier League season as well the possible winners of the FA Cup and Capital One Cup.
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