Barclays Premier League Thread 2011/2012

This year is shaping up to be the most competitive Premiership since its inception in 1992. Last year’s top 4 (Manchester United, Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal) all have very realistic title ambitions, while Spurs and Liverpool will also be chasing Champions League spots. With 6 teams vying for 4 spots competition will be tight, and below them Aston Villa, Everton and Sunderland will all be looking for places in the Europa League, via either one of the (potential) 3 league spots or a cup final. Most other teams will most likely settle for remaining in the top flight, but some such as the now re-established Newcastle and Roy Hodgson’s improving West Brom may have higher ambitions than that, and will be acutely aware that every league spot gained brings just under £1 million with it. The battle to beat the drop will be as tight as last year, with clubs such as Fulham, Stoke and Bolton knowing that they are certainly not safe despite having squads that would have comfortably made mid-table in seasons gone by. Blackburn, Wigan and Wolves all beat the drop on the last day of the 2010-11 season, and will surely be there or thereabouts again. Finally the three newly promoted clubs – QPR, Norwich and Swansea – will be looking to overhaul their squads, but many give them little hope of surviving the rigours of a full Premiership season.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United were widely hailed as the best team in England last season, but defending their Barclay’s Premier League Trophy will be harder than ever, despite multiple new additions to the squad over the summer. Chelsea’s new manager has an impressive (if short) track record and will look to revitalise and aging squad, while Manchester City will see the new season as their time to finally topple their neighbours and capture the Premiership after over £1 billion investment. Many see Arsenal entering a downward spiral with the loss of Clichy and possible failure to retain both Fabregas and Nasri, but Wenger will certainly be looking to prove them wrong and will no doubt claim that this is “our year”. Spurs will be missing Champions League football and Redknapp has made no secret of his disdain towards its red-headed ugly cousin, also known as the Europa League. As such, many see them as a dark horse for the fourth Champions League spot, with European Competition unlikely to be a main priority, unlike for last year’s top 4. Another dark horse is Kenny Daglish’s Liverpool, who have spent more than any club in 2011 in overhauling their squad with mostly young, British talent such as Andy Carroll and Jordan Henderson and will want to see them step up to the plate.

Everton have consistently started slow in the past few seasons, and this has cost them major success – in the 2009-10 season they were the second best team in the second half of the season (behind Manchester United), and if they can start strong for once they could realistically aim for Champions League football. Aston Villa had a season to forget in 2010-11, and they will expect to do better despite the loss of talisman Ashley Young to the reigning champions. Sunderland had the opposite problem to Everton last term, having a fantastic opening but struggling in the second half of the season, going 10 games without a win. On paper their squad is good enough to get a European place, and Steve Bruce’s extensive investment (with more additions to his squad than any other team so far this window) will hopefully lead to an improved final position. Their fierce rivals Newcastle will look to overtake them after finishing one place behind them last term, and after firmly re-establishing themselves in the top flight Pardew will look to improve on last year’s 11th place finish, despite limited investment from controversial owner Mike Ashley. Roy Hodgson went a long way to restoring his reputation by greatly improving West Bromwich Albion after his disastrous tenure at Liverpool, and he will look to take West Brom to similar heights that he reached with Fulham. The Cottagers fared reasonably well under Mark Hughes, but his shocking departure and subsequent replacement by Martin Jol may well have upset the balance of the club. Despite this, they will look to return to the Europa League by the end of the season, although avoiding relegation may be a more realistic target.

Tony Pulis’ Stoke have firmly established themselves as a mid-table Premier League side over the past few seasons, and despite their brand of football often being described as dull they have often been a thorn in the side of big clubs in the Premiership. However, with increasing competition in the league this year they will be under pressure to up their level of performance. Bolton Wanderers will also be looking to up their level of performance under Owen Coyle, but less investment and tougher opponents may mean they stagnate this season. Blackburn Rovers’ owners have talked about investment, even citing aging stars such as Ronaldinho as potential transfer targets, but so far little money has been spent, and their final day escape last season suggests that this will need to change. Wigan’s Roberto Martinez chose to stay with them despite an offer from Aston Villa, and the up-and-coming manager may be crucial in again surviving the drop despite the seemingly inevitable loss of star winger Charles N’Zogbia. Wolves had a strange season last term, beating the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea but struggling when facing opposition of a similar level, and this will have to improve if they want to stay in the Premiership for another year.

Queens Park Rangers won the Championship last season with relative ease (despite some difficulties with the FA towards the end of the season), but survival will be a much tougher prospect. Limited strengthening has occurred, and the potential loss of talisman Adel Taarbat could be the difference between survival and relegation. Norwich City gained automatic promotion last season under the watchful gaze of manager Paul Lambert, but few give them hope of staying in the top flight, with transfer dealings so far adding Championship-level players to a Championship-level squad, suggesting that they are preparing for a short stay at the top. Swansea City gained promotion via the Play-Offs, and are favourites to go straight back down to the Championship. Limited funds and limited belief could be a potent combination, and with the high level of competition they could be struggling by Christmas.

Preview written by Mike Giggs