Filed under: Football(Soccer) | Tags: Birmingham, Burnley, Football(Soccer), Hull City, Joe Hart, Portsmouth, Premiership, Premiership Predictions, Stoke City, Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Wolves
(15) Wolves
Wolves scored a lot last season as they took the Championship crown and will probably continue to score a lot with the addition of Kevin Doyle from Reading. The Ireland international scored 18 goals in the championship last year and scored 19 in his two seasons in the premiership. The addition of another Reading man, Goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann will bring premiership experience (he was in net for Reading’s 8th place season in the premiership in 2006/7) and a mentor to their young Goalkeepers. The only major problem is that the Wanderers will also allow a lot of goals with a back line that is not exactly top-notch. Much like Stoke City though, I see Wolves as playing a different kind of football than usually seen from scrappy fighting relegation teams allowing them to stay up this season, their first in the premiership since 2003/2004.
(16) Stoke City
Stoke City reminds me a lot of Reading two seasons ago; they were lucky to have finished so high and are still in the relegation discussion a season later. The so-called “second season syndrome” can definitely be applied to Stoke. That said they are lucky in that the teams that were promoted are not THAT impressive. With basically the same squad save one midfielder out and a younger and better replacement in former Sunderland man Dean Whitehead in, the chemistry will be there and the quality and quantity should be enough to keep them up if no major injuries befall them. The amazing fan support at the Britannia Stadium along with Tony Pulis’ seemingly crafty managerial skill will be tested this year, with the squad no longer able to creep up and surprise anyone and having no significant additions.
(17) Birmingham
Birmingham is back for their sixth Premier League season since 2002. After a run of four years in the league, they have now subjected themselves to being relegated then promoted again. This year I think their luck may change. Although they only got promotion as Championship runners-up on the last day of the season, they have added some pieces to make their fight to stay up easier. The two to look out for are Joe Hart and Christian Benitez. With young English goalkeeper Joe Hart in goal during a World Cup season facing a relegation threat, we will either see the keeper’s best (he showed signs of greatness at the City of Manchester Stadium) or his worst; destroying his confidence and making him question his abilities. Ecuador international striker Christian Benitez is young and speedy and has been impressive thus far for both Santos Laguna and Ecuador. His goal return was 7 goals in 10 games this past year and 10 goals in 21 games the year before for Santos. Though Birmingham’s goal problems in the Championship will more than likely continue in the Premiership, after a month or two of adjusting, do not be surprised to see Benitez on the score sheet. Alex McLeish is also a fairly crafty transfer market manager, and I expect one or two more signings, whether loans or purchases before the market closes. I can see Birmingham fighting tooth and nail for draws against superior teams and surprising some mid-table teams by taking three points from them and ultimately securing another year in the top flight.
(18) Portsmouth
With the relegation last season of Newcastle and Middlesbrough, the stage has been set again for another non-promoted and not recently promoted club being relegated. With Harry Redknapp jumping ship mid-season, a fire sale of players, and a yet to go through takeover by Arab Billionaire Sulaiman Al Fahim, I have no reason to believe this team can stop the imminent. With their strike force completely gone (no more Jermain Defoe, Peter Crouch, Kanu, and after fighting with teammates, David Nugent supposedly), half their defense gone (Sol Campbell and Glen Johnson; if Sylvain Distin leaves as well, they may finish below Burnley and mutiny will ensue at Fratton Park), and their offseason additions in no way addressing the filling of those vacancies, it could get ugly very fast in the southern coastal town. Losing everyone but England’s number 1 isn’t good for anyone hoping to see David James in net for the 2010 World Cup. He is essential to Pompey staying up, but he cannot keep them up all by himself with literally no one to score and few able to stop the other team from scoring. After a year of getting goals poured in on him, his confidence will be shook and Fabio Capello will be hard pressed to bring him to South Africa. Frederic Piquionne, on loan from Lyon, may be the sole bright spot of this relegation bound team should he find the form he has shown at Monaco and St. Etienne. Should the takeover go through soon and the team picks up some players before the transfer market closes and again in the January window, then maybe just maybe this team will stay up.
(19) Hull City
After an unexpected promotion two years ago and a phenomenal start to the season last year, the buzz surrounding football in this predominately Rugby supporting city is waning and fast. Finishing the last 29 games of the season with just two wins saw Hull City stay up by the skin of their teeth. The manager Phil Brown is a character, though his antics are not enjoyed by many, if any. His managerial skills will surely be tested this year. After failing to seal the signings of Frazier Campbell, perennial underachiever Bobby Zamora, and a fairly extensive list of other players, the writing is on the wall; this is a sinking ship. They have brought in a pair of untested forwards in United States international Jozy Altidore and Algerian Kamel Ghilas, as well as former Stoke midfielder Seyi Olofinjana and former Reading defender Stephen Hunt, though that is hardly enough to reassure anyone the Tigers will stay up. Hunt did impress in Reading’s relegation season two years ago and is good at finding the net or teammates making a run (Editor’s note: He scored the first goal of the Premiership season, finding the back of the net in the 28th minute of Hull City’s 2-1 loss to Chelsea). Ghilas is a relative unknown whose strong showings have come in the French, Portuguese, and Spanish second divisions (leagues with very different pace and style than the premiership) and shouldn’t be expected to solve any goal problems. To Phil Brown’s credit though, he did get the player right from under Sam Allardyce and Blackburn, which makes him an intriguing prospect but no savior. The loss of Sam Ricketts, the scrappy defender and Welsh international will surely be felt, especially with no real strong defender brought in to take his place. Holding on to Michael Turner will be key, with much interest surrounding him and his importance to the back line. The walking injury Jimmy Bullard is expected back in October and should he be healthy, it will help Hull City a lot making the chances of staying up higher, though not assured.
(20) Burnley
Small clubs have trouble in the premiership. With less merchandise sold, a smaller fan base, smaller stadiums, little to no real transfer kitty and small academies, they can’t compare or compete with the global brands with international cult followings that are the top 4. They also have trouble comparing or competing with billionaire backed mid-table teams and other teams who have built their fan bases up and continued to reap the benefits that come with being in the best football league in the world. With this in mind, Burnley could play their home games at Wembley and fit the entire population of Burnley while also leaving more than enough room for the away side. Money is very important in the improvement of a squad from the championship into non-relegated premiership sides and it is money that Burnley is lacking. With 38 year old defender Graham Alexander the backbone of this team, starting in all 49 of their games last year; one has to wonder how much he has left in the tank and if he can adjust to the faster and more physical premiership. They have added a fair amount of players to their squad, but not the kind of quality a side looking to stay up needs. Though their heart is not to be questioned; their fifth place finish in the championship and good luck in the playoffs surely will see them sent back from whence they came.
So again, my predictions are as follows:
- Manchester United
- Chelsea
- Arsenal
- Liverpool
- Everton
- Manchester City
- Aston Villa
- Spurs
- Fulham
- Sunderland
- West Ham
- Bolton
- Blackburn
- Wigan
- Wolves
- Stoke City
- Birmingham City
- Portsmouth
- Hull City
- Burnley
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