Liverpool vs Arsenal Betting Preview

02/08/2012

Kick off: 13:30 Anfield, Sky Sports 1

Sunday lunchtime sees Arsenal travel to Anfield to take on Liverpool, with both sides still looking for their first win of the season. Liverpool will be hoping to build on a hugely encouraging performance against Manchester City last Sunday, whilst Arsenal will be looking for a repeat of their victory at Anfield last March. Nuri Sahin, the Turkish international recently signed from Real Madrid, may well make his Premier League debut against the Gunners, the team who had fought Liverpool for his signature.

Liverpool, best odds to win- 23/20 Blue Square

Liverpool go into Sunday’s game as slight favourites and the best price for the Reds can be found at Blue Square, who value them at 23/20. This fixture last season saw Liverpool totally dominate Arsenal, only for a stunning late winner from Robin Van Persie that enabled Arsenal to steal all 3 points. Both sides have enjoyed uncertain starts to the season with Liverpool conceding 5 goals in 2 games whilst the Gunners have yet to find the net this season. Luis Suarez was the Reds top scorer last season with 17 goals, although were it not for a combination of poor finishing and bad luck that figure would have been considerably larger. At 6/1 with Coral to be the first goalscorer and with his confidence boosted after scoring a superb free kick against Manchester City, the controversial Uruguayan is a decent bet for punters. Despite their poor home form last season, Liverpool conceded only 16 goals at Anfield, the third fewest in the division. Therefore a bet for only Liverpool to score at 12/5 with Bet365 looks tempting. Lastly if you fancy new boy Nuri Sahin to score on his debut, then you can get him to score at anytime at 6/1 with SkyBet.

Arsenal, best odds to win- 56/19 Pinnacle

The Gunners face another tough away fixture after last weekend’s goalless draw at Stoke. Although they are yet to concede this season, Arsenal are still waiting for their first goal of the season. The departure of Robin Van Persie has hit the club hard and his replacements; Olivier Giroud and Lukas Podolksi, are still acclimatising to English football. Arsenal should be able to welcome back first choice goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, who missed the game at Stoke with a shoulder problem. Szczesny saved a penalty in the corresponding fixture last season and Liverpool have missed 7 out of their last 10 penalties in all competitions and so a bet for a Liverpool missed penalty at 12/1 with Stan James is worth a punt. As has been said the Gunners are yet to concede this season so odds of 5/1 for only Arsenal to score could be worthwhile. Whilst if you think that Arsenal are going to record their third consecutive 0-0 draw you can get 11/1 on this at Sportingbet.

Do Real Madrid need Luka Modric?

Real Madrid are as synonymous with big summer signings as English batsman are to sudden collapses. Simply put, a summer without Real Madrid splashing the cash and hosting garish, cringe-inducing welcome ceremonies, just doesn't feel right.

Yet at the time of writing Real Madrid have acquired precisely zero new players for the 2012/2013 campaign, which they hope will culminate in the club lifting a record tenth European Cup at Wembley in May. Although Los Blancos have yet to unveil any new Galacticos, they have been a key player in this summers longest running transfer saga.

Depending  on who you believe Luka Modric has wanted to leave Tottenham for the last one, two or even three years. Whatever the case, the Croatian has made it abundantly clear that he wishes to leave White Hart Lane for the Bernabeu as soon as humanly possible. The question is, do Real Madrid and Jose Mourinho actually need Modric?

In a football world increasingly dominated by statistics there is an argument to say that last season Real Madrid were one of the best teams we have seen in the last 20 years. They broke the Spanish record for goals in a single season, scoring a staggering 121 goals and amassing a record 100 points. Cristiano Ronaldo, Gonzalo Higuain and Karim Benzema alone contributed more than 100 goals between them in all competitions. There are obvious caveats to these numbers such as the relative might of Madrid financially in a La Liga which they are and Barcelona dominate on and off the pitch.

However this is unquestionably a special team and they have reached the semi finals of the Champions League in the past two seasons, being denied a place in the final first by two moments of brilliance by Leo Messi before crashing out to Bayern Munich on penalties last year. They are many peoples favorites for the Champions League this year as Jose Mourinho looks to become only the second coach to win 3 European Cups and the first to do so with 3 different clubs.

This summer Madrid have made Luka Modric there number one target, with Mourinho otherwise seemingly content with the squad at his disposal, and have spent most of the summer locked in negotiations with Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy. Madrid have just over a week to agree a fee with Spurs before the transfer window closes, however were Madrid to fail to acquire Modric it would arguably spell just as many problems for Tottenham as it would for Real.

For one thing it would mean that Spurs are stuck with a player who, although as good as any midfielder in the country, clearly does not want to be at the club. Whilst many will say that the exact same thing occurred last summer and Modric managed to put it behind him and have another excellent season, many Spurs fans have had enough of Modric and would happily see him leave. It would also deprive Tottenham of much needed transfer funds which new manager Andre Villas-Boas wishes to use to strengthen a squad that has some worrying gaps.

It seems likely that the Modric saga will run and run, but below are some possible roles for the Croatian were he to succeed and get his dream move to Spain.

1. A replacement for Xabi Alonso.

Although it seems strange to talk about replacing a man who has won everything there is to win in club and international football, Alonso will turn 31 this November and negotiations over extending his contract at Madrid are rumored to have stalled in recent weeks, with the club unwilling to commit long-term to the brilliant Basque. With this in mind, Modric could well be seen as a replacement for Alonso. The Spurs man is only 26 and offers many of the abilities that Alonso possesses. His passing is equally as tidy, although he lacks Alonso's propensity for pinging  the ball 70 yards, which has become something of a trademark for the Spaniard. He does not provide the strength in the air or in the tackle that Alonso has either although Modric's strength and defensive play has improved dramatically since arriving England.




2. Alongside Xabi.

Another possible role for Modric would be to partner Alonso at the base of Real Madrid's 4-2-3-1 formation. With Madrid dominating the vast majority of their games, especially at home where last season they only dropped 5 points, it is not always necessary for Mourinho to field one of his more defensively minded midfielders i.e. Sami Khedira, Lassana Diarra or Fabio Coentrao. With Modric   in the squad, Mourinho would be able deploy two outstanding passers in midfield thus further monopolising Madrid's control of possession. The counter to this argument is that Mourinho has always based his teams first and foremost on defensive stability and whether he would be prepared to risk this for the sake of an extra passer is questionable.

Another argument to this is the figure of Nuri Sahin, who arrived at the Bernabeu last season after a simply brilliant season in Germany where he was the key figure in Borussia Dortmund's unexpected Bundesliga triumph. Not wholly dissimilar to Modric in appearance or style of play, Mourinho has barely given Sahin a chance and the Turkish midfielder is now on his way to either Arsenal or Liverpool on loan.

Although this position for Modric would not guarantee him too many starts, especially in Europe where the defensive midfielder is king, it does give Mourinho an option which he does not currently have.

                 

                                                    3. In the front three.

The last possible role for Luka Modric is as an addition to Madrid's potent front 3, of which the first choice players are Mesut Ozil, Angel Di Maria and of course Cristiano Ronaldo. At times last season, Harry Redknapp shifted Modric out wide, and whilst it is far from his best position, Modric showed that he can play there. If Mourinho was looking for a slightly more conservative approach he could feasibly deploy Modric instead of Angel Di Maria and although Modric lacks the Argentine's electric speed and goal threat, he would again provide Real with another option for recycling and maintaining possession.

It is a similar role to the one which Andres Iniesta often performs for Barcelona and Spain, where he starts on the left or right but has a freedom to drift inside and therefore providing a presence both out wide and as an extra midfielder.

Equally Modric could provide cover for Mesut Ozil, although with Kaka still at Madrid (although he could be set to return to Milan any day now), Modric would seem to be third choice for this position. 



Comments? Views? Please add them below.
Please follow Game Ramble Weekly on Twitter @gamerambleweekly 

Premier League Previews: #20 Wigan Athletic

Last Season:

In: Arouna Kone (£3.3m, Levante), Ryo Miyaichi (loan), Ivan Ramis (£5.2m, Mallorca), Fraser Fyvie (£500,000, Aberdeen)

Out: Hugo Rodallega (free transfer, Fulham), Chris Kirkland (free transfer, Sheffield Wednesday), Hendry Thomas (released), Mohamed Diame (free transfer, West Ham United), Steve Gohouri (released)

If they were an Olympian: Christine Ohuruogu. Very unimpressive for large portions of the season, yet consistently produces best performances when they are most required.

Just how close Roberto Martinez was to taking over at Liverpool this summer remains unclear. Some claim that he was offered the job, others argue he was merely on the shortlist. Either way, for the second summer in succession, Martinez has remained at Wigan when many fancied him to leave. The question on everybody's lips is whether Wigan can continue to overachieve and stay in a league in which they are comfortably the lowest spenders?

For the majority of last season, Wigan's results were horrific. They lost 8 games in a row and at one stage there were even whispers that owner and chairman Dave Whelan was contemplating sacking Martinez. However, as has been discussed on Game Ramble Weekly, the club suddenly began picking up form, and despite having one of the toughest run-ins of any team in the relegation battle, Wigan survived comfortably, finishing 15th and 7 points clear of the drop.

One of the key parts of that remarkable survival was Victor Moses, whose powerful running and skillful dribbles offered Wigan a spark and penetration they had so often lacked. Unfortunately Moses looks increasingly likely to move and join Chelsea's ever growing stockpile of attacking players. If Moses does depart it will be a hammer blow for Wigan but the club has grown accustomed over the years to seeing their best players depart, and if Chelsea are willing to pay £10m for the 21 year old it is pretty good business.

Martinez will hope that loan signing Ryo Miyaichi can replace Moses should he leave, and the Japanese will be a better player this season having spent last year on loan at Bolton. Aside from Moses, the majority of last seasons team look set to remain at the club. Hugo Rodallega and Mohamed Diame have both left but neither were fixtures in the side last year and will not be unduly missed. The signing of Ivan Ramis from Mallorca, gives Martinez more cover at the back, especially if he chooses to continue with the three man defence that served him so well at the back-end of last season.

By all logic Wigan should have been relegated a long time ago. They spend the least money on transfers, they have the lowest wage bill and they have the smallest attendances in the Premier League. However all these factors seem to have helped foster a siege mentality at the club and through shrewd acquisitions and a succession of good managerial appointments, the club retain their  unique position of being the only club never to have been relegated from the top division.

Having said all that, I do fear for Wigan this year. The expected departure of Moses will be a major blow and you wonder whether the team can reproduce last seasons finish on a consistent basis. As always with Wigan it is hard to see where the goals are going to come from and despite the arrival of Arouna Kone from Mallorca, Wigan's strike force still looks comparatively light weight with their rivals.


Predicted Finish: 20th

Key Man: James McCarthy. Although not as flashy as Moses, McCarthy has probably been Wigan's most consistent performer in recent seasons. A very highly rated midfielder, who would have gone to the European Championships with Ireland were it not for a family bereavement, McCarthy is very much the fulcrum of Wigan's side. Diligent defensively and always looking to move forward with the ball, McCarthy could well be the next player to depart the DW stadium for a bigger club.

Underrated: James McArthur. The other half of the Premier League's most confusing midfield partnership, McArthur was every bit as effective as McCarthy in last seasons success. Although less skilful than his midfield partner, the arrival of McArthur into the starting XI made a tangible difference to Wigan as it provided them with a second midfield "passer" instead of the more destructive nature of Mohamed Diame's game.

Watch out for: Ryo Miyaichi. The Japanese youngster possesses excellent skills and is very fast across the ground. Although the club may not admit it, the arrival of the Arsenal man was partly conditioned by the expected departure of Moses to Chelsea and if it does occur, then Miyaichi has some big shoes to fill as Moses provided Wigan with a penetration they had consistently lacked. Whilst lacking Moses' strength, Miyaichi is a very intelligent footballer and should suit Martinez's philosophy of a style of play based on possession.


Comments? Views? Please add them below.
Please follow Game Ramble Weekly on Twitter @gamerambleweekly 
 

Premier League Previews: #19 West Ham

Last Season: 3rd (Championship, Play-off winners)

In: Alou Diarra (£2.2m, Olympique Marseille), James Collins (£2.8m, Aston Villa), Modibo Maiga (£5.2m, Sochaux), Mohamed Diame (free transfer, Wigan), Jussi Jaaskelainen (free transfer, Bolton), George McCartney (free transfer, Sunderland)

Out: 13 players have left West Ham this summer. For a full list see here.

If they were an Olympian: The Olympic Stadium. An area of great history, once again catapulted into world wide attention, serious questions still remain over long term future. 

The sight of Sam Allardyce once again prowling the dug-outs of Premier League grounds is unlikely to cause much cheer for opposing fans. Compared with many of the likeable managers of promoted clubs in recent years, i.e. Ian Holloway, Paul Lambert and Brendan Rogers, the return of Allardyce to the league is not being relished.

This, as much as anything, is a sign of the grudging respect that people retain for "Big Sam". Whilst he is never going to win a popularity contest, his achievements with Bolton were nothing short of remarkable and Blackburn fans would happily have him back at Ewood Park.

Allardyce is no more popular with the West Ham fans, calling them "deluded" at one stage last year. However theirs is very much a marriage of convenience; Allardyce wanted to be back in the Premier League where he feels his talents belong and West Ham desperately needed to get back in the top division for financial reasons.

With promotion clinched, Allardyce has begun reshaping a squad that was still suffering from the inconsistent years of Gianfranco Zola and Avram Grant's management. 13 players have left including Rob Green and Abdoulaye Faye and 9 players have come in. The players that Allardyce has signed are what one might term typical Allardyce signings and in James Collins, Mohamed Diame and Jussi Jaaskkelainen, there is no shortage of Premier League experience. The signing of Alou Diarra and Modibo Maiga are shrewd and both should suit West Ham down to the ground.

The major question that West Ham face is that if results are not going well, how long will owners David Gold and David Sullivan persist with a man who retains little affection with the supporters. Allardyce's style of football is unlikely to provide him with much leeway.

West Ham have been granted a fairly reasonable opening set of fixtures, with their first six games against Aston Villa, Fulham, Swansea, Norwich, Sunderland and QPR which are all games that Allardyce will be quietly confident of getting points out of.

I expect West Ham to stay up fairly comfortably this year, although they may well start 2013 in the relegation zone as they have a horrifically tough run of games in the lead up to Christmas. Goal scoring should not be an issue as they have a decent selection of strikers to choose from and Kevin Nolan can always be relied upon to chip in with a few goals. The concern will be the defence which has a distinct lack of pace and contains a goalkeeper who has barely played in a year.

As I say West Ham will stay up but it will not be particularly easy nor pleasing on the eye. But then again, "Big Sam" would not have it any other way.

Predicted Finish: 14th

Key Man: James Tomkins. Like many other players who have been relegated, a year away from the Premier League has done wonders for James Tomkins. Often exposed during his time in the Premier League, Tomkins has rebuilt his confidence and it showed last year as he was immense for the Hammers as they clinched promotion. Tomkins will take inspiration from Newcastle captain Fabricio Coloccini, who returned to the Premier League after a year in the Championship a far better player.

Underrated: Mark Noble. Local lad Mark Noble has spent his entire career with the Hammers and is held in the highest regard by the Upton Park faithful. A tenacious competitor, Noble is an excellent passer of the ball and will run and fight all day for the West Ham cause. His delivery from set pieces is vital as one thing we all know about Sam Allardyce teams is that they will be dangerous from dead ball situations.

Watch out for: Ricardo Vaz Te. West Ham were struggling for form and goals at times last year and it was the arrival of Vaz Te from Barnsley that really kick started their drive for promotion after Christmas. Capable of providing moments of brilliance and lunacy in the space of a few minutes, the Portugese winger chipped in with a number of important goals last season. None more so than when he slammed the ball past Matt Gilks at Wembley in May to secure West Ham's return to the top flight.


Comments? Views? Please add them below.
Please follow Game Ramble Weekly on Twitter @gamerambleweekly 

Premier League Previews: #18 West Bromwich Albion

Last Season: 10th

In: Romelu Lukaku (loan, Chelsea), Markus Rosenberg (free transfer, Werder Bremen), Caludio Yacob (free transfer, Racing Club de Avellaneda), Yassine El Ghanassy (loan ,KAA Gent), Ben Foster (£4.4m, Birmingham City)

Out: Simon Cox (£2.2m, Nottingham Forest), Paul Scharner (free transfer, Hamburg), Martin Fulop (free transfer, Asteras Tripolis), Nicky Shorey (free transfer, Reading), Keith Andrews (free transfer, Bolton Wanderers)

If they were an Olympian: Nesta Carter and Michael Frater. The first two parts of Jamaica's all conquering 4x100m relay team. Not bad, actually pretty good, but really no one tunes in to watch them.

As Roy Hodgson walked off into the sunset at the end of last season, he left having guided the Baggies to their best ever Premier League finish. Following in the footsteps of the hugely experienced Hodgson is Steve Clarke, in what is his first managerial post.

Clarke is a very well credentialed and widely respected coach, who has worked at Chelsea, West Ham and most recently Liverpool. His impact at Liverpool was clear and his arrival at the club in January 2011 was every bit as key as the return of Kenny Dalglish. It is widely believed that the majority of the work on the training ground was done by Clarke and as such the massive improvements in Liverpool's defensive record last season is heavily due to Clarke's work.

In many ways the Scott is an ideal replacement for Roy Hodgson. Much of West Brom's success was built around the organisation and defensive solidity that Hodgson instilled and Clarke seems like a good choice to continue that work. The more pressing issues will  be whether Clarke can continue to get the best out of a squad that probably overachieved last term and whether he can provide an attacking platform for a side that at times struggled for goals.

Clarke has already made use of his footballing contacts by bringing in Romelu Lukaku on loan from Chelsea. Lukaku's career has stagnated from the days when he was optimistically talked about as the "new Drogba". Given very few first team opportunities last season, the Belgian will want to start rebuilding his confidence at West Brom this year and it should be remembered that he is still only 19 years old. Physically Lukaku is a beast and if he was to get a couple of quick goals it is easy to imagine him going on a roll.

The club face three tough opening fixtures, with Clarke facing former employers Liverpool on the first day of the season, before taking on Tottenham and Everton, but after that they have four eminently winnable games. West Brom will probably lose their first two games but should pick up points afterwards.

This season will be probably be one of consolidation for WBA and Clarke. Repeating last seasons 10th place finish is probably beyond them as teams such as QPR, Villa and Sunderland have all strengthened and will be looking for a top half finish.

The squad should probably have enough to keep them safe but it will be tense and their battle to survive may go down to the last few weeks of the season.




Predicted Finish: 15th

Key Man: Ben Foster. Foster made his loan from Birmingham City permanent this summer and he will be hoping to continue his good form from last season which saw him achieve the level of consistency that had often held him back. With old boss Roy Hodgson in charge of the national team and goalkeeping coach Dave Watson also part of the set up, a recall for Foster cannot be ruled out.

Underrated: Youssuf Mulumbu. Everytime I see Mulumbu play I'm impressed and the Congolese midfielder is a vital part of the Baggies' midfield. His major attributes are his tackling and unwavering energy levels. Does tend to get himself booked a lot.

Watch out for: Chris Wood. Retuning to the Hawthorns this season after a loan spell at Birmingham where he chipped in with a respectable 9 goals in 23 games, the New Zealand international will hope to have a chance to show he is worthy of a regular place in the side.


Comments? Views? Please add them below.
Please follow Game Ramble Weekly on Twitter @gamerambleweekly 
 

Premier League Previews: #17 Tottenham

Last Season: 4th

In: Jan Vertonghen (£11m, Ajax), Gylfi Sigurdsson (£8.8m, Hoffenheim)

Out: Steven Pienaar (£5m, Everton), Ledley King (retired), Niko Kranjcar (£6m, Dynamo Kiev), Vedran Corluka (£6m, Lokomotiv Moscow), Louis Saha (released), Ryan Nelsen (free transfer, QPR)

If they were an Olympian: Louis Smith. Did everything required to win the gold medal in the men's pommel horse final, however he lost out to rival Krisztian Berki who won the gold medal due to a complicated technicality. Similarly, Spurs achieved what they set out to do last year and finish top 4 only to be denied Champions League football by Chelsea.

A young up and coming manager has replaced a hugely experienced and well respected manager at one of England's biggest clubs. The previous sentence could have been lifted from articles reporting on Andre Villas-Boas' arrival at Stamford Bridge last year. Again Villas-Boas steps into the shoes of a manager who was vastly more experienced than he and had provided some of the club's greatest recent memories.

However unlike at Chelsea, where there is still almost unanimous agreement that the sacking of Carlo Ancelotti was folly, there has been a quiet acceptance that Harry Redknapp may well have acheived all that he was going to and many Tottenham fans had grown tired of Redknapp and the collapse that he oversaw last term was the final straw.

Like Brendan Rogers, AVB is consistently compared and likened to Jose Mourinho. Unlike Brendan Rogers, AVB is always quick to play down comments of comparison with his fellow Portugese. The general consensus is that AVB will be a far better manager having experienced what he did at Chelsea, where he was too quick to judge players and too regimented in his approach to man management. Whether you believe this or not, there are noticeable differences with the squad he inherits at Tottenham to the one he had at Chelsea.

For one thing, there is not the huge trophy winning experience at White Hart Lane as there was at Chelsea. Ironically the only two players in the Spurs squad to have won the Premier League are Carlo Cudicini and William Gallas, both of whom won it with Chelsea. Secondly there is a youth to the Tottenham squad that AVB did not have at Chelsea.

The Tottenham squad is a slightly curious one; there are a number of good centre backs and plenty of central midfielders, however there are only two wingers and one centre forward. The lack of forwards is an ongoing issue and the club have been negotiating with Emmanuel Adebayor for months but there are serious financial obstacles to his arrival and surely the club must be thinking that given the wages he will command, that money could be used to attract a younger player who has a more proven track record than Adebayor, whose second seasons are rarely as good his first.

The club have acquired Jan Vertonghen and Gylfi Sigurdsson, both of whom are young and talented as more than adequate replacements for those whom they have replaced. The striker conundrum is a difficult one as it is not yet clear how Villas-Boas will line his team up. Redknapp's favored formation last year was 4-5-1 but it remains to be seen if Villas-Boas fancies Jermain Defoe as a lone forward. Width was vital to all that was good for Spurs last year and so expect to see Gareth Bale and Aaron Lennon remain fixtures in the side, and so the question is whether Villas-Boas wants two or three central midfielders.

The elephant in the room is of course Luka Modric, whose prospective move to Real Madrid has been even more tiresome than Robin Van Persie's on the basis that Van Persie has not had an endless list of international teammates lining up to discuss the cruelty of his situation. Yet Modric has had an constant stream of fellow Croatians pronouncing the cruelty and selfish nature of Tottenham which has become an unpleasant sideshow to the Modric transfer.

Spurs chairman Daniel Levy wants £40m for the Croat and Madrid are unwilling to pay such a fee, Madrid's argument is that there are similar players out there for less. The question is whether Levy will blink and whether Tottenham reckon they can coax another season out a player who clearly does not want to be at the club.

It still seems more probable that Modric will go rather than stay, but every day that passes makes his move less and less likely. There was talk of both Chelsea and Manchester United retaining an interest but Levy's reluctance to sell to a direct rival, as well as neither club's willingness to match the huge fee, makes it look as though it's Madrid or nothing for Modric.

Assuming that Modric departs, it still leaves Spurs with midfield options with Rafael Van der Vaart, Sigurdsson and maybe even Giovanni Dos Santos as likely replacements. However the major benefit of Modric was his willingness to play as an orthodox central midfielder whilst the other names mentioned prefer to play much higher up the pitch.

The answer to the Modric question may actually lie with Tom Huddlestone, who has finally returned to fitness after a succession of long term injuries. Technically Huddlestone is one of the most gifted players in the league and there are few players who can hit a ball as sweetly as the man Tottenham fans affectionately refer to as "Thud". Huddlestone has a passing range to rival Modric's and is a superior physical presence but lacks the Croatian's deft movement and ability to drift past players. Nevertheless it would be an intriguing prospect if Villas-Boas did deploy Huddlestone as Modric's replacement and it would be of major benefit to Roy Hodgson if Huddlestone was to succeed in such a position.

Tottenham are in some aspects the reverse to Liverpool this season, whilst this blog has discussed that the spine of Liverpool's side as being fairly strong; Tottenham's core is where most of their issues lie. Brad Friedel is still an excellent keeper although how many more years he has left is debatable and Tottenham have been heavily linked with Hugo Lloris of Lyon. It is unclear what AVB's preferred defensive pairing but it seems likely that whichever partnership will require an adjustment period.
The midfield problems have already been discussed and at the moment the club only have one striker,  and he has been second choice for the past 2 seasons.

Apart from Chelsea fans, most neutrals would probably like to see Villas-Boas succeed at Spurs as many were sympathetic to his time at Stamford Bridge. Tottenham in many ways are a far better fit for Villas-Boas than Chelsea ever was. He has a far younger squad to work with and players who are hungry for their first major pieces of silverware, rather than the trophy laden squad he worked with at Chelsea. Spurs fans will be far more receptive to the Portugese as he has replaced a man that many were growing tired of, rather than at Chelsea where Villas-Boas succeeded a man who was universally liked and respected inside and outside the club.

There is a clear gap in the depth of the Spurs squad in comparison to the Manchester sides and it is unlikely that Tottenham will be able to bridge that gap this season. However the club should be quietly confident that they can repeat last season's top four finish as well as enjoying successful cup runs.


Predicted Finish: 4th (FA Cup winners, Europa League winners)

Key Man: Rafael Van der Vaart. With the expected departure of Luka Modric and the continued absence of strikers, much responsibility will rest on the shoulders of the Van der Vaart. In two seasons with the club the Dutchman has scored 24 goals in 61 games, a very impressive return. He will be required to create and score again this season as Tottenham look to get back in the Champions League.

Underrated: Younes Kaboul. Heavily criticised during his first spell with the club, Kaboul's development in the past 18 months has been tremendous. Once a liability, he was the first name on the team-sheet for Spurs last year. Dominant in the air and with tremendous pace and power to recover for the few mistakes he does make, the Frenchman should form an excellent partnership with new signing Jan Vertonghen.

Watch out for: Tom Huddlestone. A personal favorite of this blogs. As outlined above, if the Englishman can put his injury woes behind him then he could be a key figure for Spurs this year.

Comments? Views? Please add them below.
Please follow Game Ramble Weekly on Twitter @gamerambleweekly 
 

Premier League Previews: #16 Swansea

Last Season: 11th

In: Michu (£2.2m, Rayo Vallecano), Chico (£2.2m, Genoa CFC), Jonathan de Guzman (loan, Villarreal)

Out: Joe Allen (£15m, Liverpool)

If they were an Olympian: Jade Jones. The new Women's -57kg Taekwondo champion exceeded all expectations. Hugely impressive and pleasant on the eye.

"No man is bigger than the club", an age old footballing mantra that Swansea will desperately hope is proved right this season as the club begins life without Brendan Rogers. Rogers' masterminded the club's recent success and few teams were as representative of their managers values and beliefs as Swansea. With Rodgers now in charge at Anfield, and Joe Allen gone with him, this season represents a massive challenge for the club to avoid seeing all the clubs good work undone.

New manager Michael Laudrup, has quietly established an impressive managerial record on the continent and has experience of managing clubs in big leagues with fairly low expectations. He did well with Getafe, taking them on good runs in both European and domestic cups, and he managed to keep Mallorca in La Liga despite serious off field problems. At both clubs Laudrup won plaudits for his attacking style of play and so in many respects Swansea he is a perfect fit for Denmark's greatest footballer.

The loss of Allen is a blow but one that you could sense Laudrup was prepared for almost as soon as his arrival was confirmed. He had spoken of the difficulty in keeping players wanted by bigger teams and he already seemed resigned to loosing at least one player to Anfield. The last minute switch by Gylfi Sigurdsson to sign for Tottenham was also a blow but again Laudrup had sensed which way the wind was blowing.

Regardless of how well Laudrup has come across over the departure of these key players, the loss of 2/3rds of Swansea's midfield is certainly a cause for concern. However Laudrup has brought shrewdly and he has not even got his teeth into the £15m that Liverpool paid for Allen yet.

Attacking midfielder Michu has arrived from Rayo Vallecano and the Spaniard was one of the most impressive players in La Liga last term, finishing as the highest scoring midfielder in Spain with 15 goals. Michu will be used as the most advanced midfielder in a like for like switch with Sigurdsson and Laudrup has already lavished praise on the prospective partnership between Michu and last seasons top scored Danny Graham.

Swansea have also signed Jonathan de Guzman, an enterprising attacking midfielder from relegated Villarreal. De Guzman can play slightly deeper and is a likely to step in to replace Joe Allen, although Laudrup has also been linked with another loan move for Josh McEachran, who failed to get in the team last year but would be an ideal replacement for the departed Allen.

Laudrup's most successful period as a player came at Barcelona and the Camp Nou philosophy of possession football and 4-3-3 are deeply ingrained in his coaching ideology which was surely a deciding factor in the club's decision to hire the Dane.

The major concern for Swansea is the same as that at Norwich. To avoid being a one season wonder and instead being able to build on the excellent work instituted by a now departed manager. The core of the side from last term is still at Swansea, although the loss of Steven Caulker who has returned to Spurs is certainly a loss. Laudrup has sought to fill the gap in central defence by signing defender Spaniard Flores, more commonly known as Chico, from Italian side Genoa. Chico seems like an ideal fit for Swansea, for whom ball playing defenders are absolutely essential. Chico has played in both La Liga and Serie A, although the more frantic and uncontrolled pace of the league may take a little while to get used to.

Elsewhere Laudrup will be hoping that midfield metronome Leon Britton and quicksilver wingers Nathan Dyer and Scott Sinclair can replicate last seasons performances. Danny Graham's fitness will be important as the other centre forwards at Swansea are not in the same class as the former Watford man.

Given that it will take time for the club to adjust to the departures of Rodgers and Allen and the arrival of Laudrup, the club's opening fixtures are good. 7 of their first 8 opening fixtures are either against teams who finished in the bottom half last season or have been newly promoted. Swansea's home form last term was excellent with the Swans taking points off Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham and Liverpool at the Liberty stadium. The away form was more of a concern but did improve as the season went on.

Many neutrals will be hoping that Swansea can repeat last season's successes or at least survive another season. Whether they can or not will depend heavily on the club getting off to a good start as otherwise pressure will very quickly begin to mount on Laudrup and his new signings.

Predicted Finish: 12th

Key Man: Michu. Gylfi Sigurdsson really kick started Swansea after he arrived last January and new signing Michu will be hoping for a similar impact. Michu's finishing can be wayward at times, as he has only recently been converted into a goal scoring midfielder. The Spaniard is hard working and deceptively strong which should aid his adaption to English football.

Underrated: Neil Taylor. Whilst not possessing the electric pace of Gael Clichy, nor the set piece expertise of Leighton Baines, left back Neil Taylor was one of the league's best full backs last year. Very important to how Swansea pass their way out the back, Taylor is a willing runner and is always keen to push high up the pitch which not only provides the Swans with width but also creates space for winger Scott Sinclair to drift infield.

Watch out for: Jonathan de Guzman. The Canadian born Dutchman was excellent for Villarreal last term, impressing in the Champions League against Manchester City in particular. A set piece specialist, de Guzman could turn out to be one of the bargains of the season.

Comments? Views? Please add them below.
Please follow Game Ramble Weekly on Twitter @gamerambleweekly 
 

Premier League Previews: #15 Sunderland

Last Season: 13th

In: Carlos Cuellar (free transfer, Aston Villa)

Out: Michael Turner (£1.6m, Norwich City), Asamoah Gyan (£6.6m, Al-Ain), Craig Gordan (released), George McCartney (free transfer, West Ham United), Cristian Riveros (£264,000, Kayserispor)

If they were an Olympian: Mark Cavendish. Has everything in place to be a real Olympic force yet for any number of reasons it has never quite happened, still has time to prove the doubters wrong.

You can basically break last season down into 3 separate campaigns for Sunderland; the first ended when Steve Bruce was sacked for dragging the club into a relegation battle, in came Martin O'Neill and when Sebastian Larsson curled in a fine free kick in the last minute to beat Blackburn in O'Neill's first game the second part had begun, the third stage of the season commenced when it became clear that Sunderland were perfectly safe from the threat of relegation and were not going to challenge for a top 8 position and the players promptly went on holiday, ending the season pretty poorly.

If Sunderland can replicate the middle part of last season then the club could be in for a really special season. After O'Neill came in he managed to galvanise a squad that had been drifting under Steve Bruce and the Northern Irishman took them on a fantastic run of results. There was nothing particularly revolutionary about what O'Neill did once he took over, he simply seemed to be able to get more out of an under-performing squad. He did bring in James McClean who turned out to be an absolute revelation and made use of players that Bruce had rather bizarrely signed and then chosen not to use. Both Craig Gardner and David Vaughan were examples of this, and they offered goals and energy in midfield, something that Bruce's team had certainly lacked.

Up-front O'Neill relied heavily on Stephane Sessegnon, who reveled in a lone striker role. Whether the previously inconsistent Beninese can produce over the course of a season is a massive question as Sunderland are not blessed with fantastic striking options. Nicklas Bendtner has returned to Arsenal and O'Neill showed no great desire to keep the temperamental Dane, whilst Connor Wickham, Frazier Campbell and Ji Dong-Wang are far from proven quality. Unless O'Neill brings in another striker, it seems likely that Sunderland will line up with a five man midfield looking to support Sessegnon. The club are continuing their pursuit of Steven Fletcher and are rumored to have made a bid in excess of £12m which is extortionate in the extreme, but this in itself shows the relative weakness of the Sunderland squad.

The fixture computer has not been too harsh on Sunderland, despite traveling to Arsenal on the first day of the season. O'Neill has a pretty good record against Arsenal and few would back against Sunderland getting a result at the Emirates. After that they face Reading, Swansea, Liverpool, West Ham and Wigan. These are all eminently winnable games and a good start to the season would give the squad huge confidence as they go into a very difficult autumnal period. The depth of the squad is certainly a concern but at Villa O'Neill often demonstrated his unwillingness to rotate his squad too much, relying heavily on a core of 13-14 players.

It is difficult to predict what Sunderland will do this season, such was their inconsistency last term. Some will feel that O'Neill will not be able to sustain the initial burst his arrival induced, whilst others will feel that he could lead Sunderland to a top 8 finish. Realistically the most logical answer lies somewhere in between and although this blog has Sunderland finishing 13th, really it could be anywhere in mid table.




Predicted Finish: 13th

Key Man: Stephane Sessegnon. As illustrated above the Black Cats relied heavily on the man from Benin for goals and creativity. Were he to depart or get injured then it would place a heavy strain on the squad.

Underrated: David Vaughan. After impressing with Blackpool, Steve Bruce signed the Welsh international on a free but barely used him. After scoring in O'Neill's first game in charge, Vaughan remained a key presence and his tough tackling and range of passing make him an important cog in Sunderland's midfield. Has a fantastic left foot as well.

Watch out for: Jack Colback. Whilst James McClean was the centre of attention last term for his rapid rise to prominence, local lad Jack Colback quietly went about his business and was equally impressive. Nominally a central midfielder, Colback performed well in a variety of positions and his tidy passing and hard work will see him remain a key man for Martin O'Neill.

Comments? Views? Please add them below.
Please follow Game Ramble Weekly on Twitter @gamerambleweekly 
 

Premier League Previews: #14 Stoke

Last Season: 14th

In: Goran Popov (season loan, Dynamo Kyiv), Michael Kightly (£3m, Wolverhampton Wanderers), Geoff Cameron (£1.8m, Houston Dynamo), Jamie Ness (free transfer, Rangers)

Out: Danny Collins (£500,000, Nottingham Forest), Jonathan Woodgate (free transfer, Middlesbrough), Andrew Davies (free transfer, Bradford City), Ricardo Fuller (released), Salif Diao (released)

If they were an Olympian: Justin Gatlin. Not loved by many but achievements are impressive, has used questionable methods to achieve success. Unlikely to be most neutrals choice.

Whisper it, but Stoke may actually be getting worse rather than better, as they enter their fifth consecutive season in the top flight, which in itself is a fantastic achievement for manager Tony Pulis. After finishing 12th and 11th in their first two seasons in the league, the Potters have finished 13th and 14th in their previous two. This can partly be explained by the club going far in the F.A. Cup and Europa League but it is still a trend that the club will want to redress.

Much of Stoke's success was based on making the Britannia stadium as inhospitable a ground as there is in the Premier League and their record against the top sides there is incredible. Last season saw them beat Liverpool and Tottenham at home whilst Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea could only manage draws. The club would like to turn some of the 8 home draws into wins and had they, for the sake of argument, won 2 more games at home last year, instead of finishing 14th with 45 points they would have finished 10th with 51. Their record of 8 home draws is only bettered by Liverpool with 9.

That said it was the 11 away defeats that really prevented Stoke from climbing further up the table and their away form was one of the poorest in the league. It shows how far Stoke have come in such a short space of time that finishing 14th is considered a slight under achievement and they certainly deserve to be recognised for quietly establishing themselves in the league, so much so, that hardly anyone has tipped them to be relegated.

There has been a significant turnover at the club this summer with many of the clubs older players who had served the club well, being moved out and younger players like Michael Kightly, Geoff Cameron and Jamie Ness arriving. Pulis has spoken of his plans to reinvigorate the club saying that "It's important that we introduce some young blood in strenghtening the squad."

Goals are the major concern for Stoke as they were the division's lowest scorers with a paltry 36 goals. When you consider that Peter Crouch and Jonathan Walters contributed 17 of those goals, Pulis badly needs some other players to step up. Kightly is a decent player and injuries deprived him of the chance to make a sustained impact on the league but will hope to do just that at Stoke.

The goalscoring problem cannot entirely be apportioned to the failure of the club's forwards and in fact Crouch's return of 14 goals overall is respectable given that Stoke really struggle for midfield creativity. Whilst wingers Matthew Etherington and Jermaine Pennant can usually be relied upon for a steady supply of crosses when on the pitch, the team creates little centrally.

Whilst the club's central midfielders are incredibly hard working and solid players they typically lack the ability to open teams up, partly as Stoke look to play nominally from wide. The signing of Ness from Rangers, a promising, but fairly unproven 21 year old, indicates that Pulis too is aware of this problem.

The position that Stoke are in is a precarious one. On one hand they will want to continue to develop the club's squad and style of play to be more flexible and become less reliant on their set pieces, the best in Europe, and more comfortable in possession. On the other hand the club have been very successful with their current philosophy and if they were to move too quickly in changing they could find themselves dragged into a relegation battle.

It is a very similar situation to that which occurred at Bolton when Sam Allardyce left and Sammy Lee took over. Lee tried to change the philosophy of the club and Bolton promptly saw themselves dragged into the position of perennial relegation candidates.

Ultimately the club will be fine this year but it could be a difficult season. Pulis deserves more credit than he and the club gets, but his attempts to move the club in a more modern direction will have to be carefully managed to avoid undoing all the good work he and Stoke have done in recent years.



Predicted Finish: 16th.

Key Man: Peter Crouch. With 14 goals last term, Stoke will be looking for the former England international to deliver again. Whilst his England careers is probably finished, Crouch will still believe he can earn a recall now that Roy Hodgson has taken the reigns. A repeat of his wonder strike against Manchester City would do nicely as well.

Underrated: Glenn Whelan. Few players can match the Irishman for work rate and he combines this industrious approach with a solid range of passing and a decent shot from distance. Slightly hampered by the club's approach, if Pulis does want to progress the club's style of play Whelan can play a key role.

Watch out for: Jamie Ness. Signed in slightly controversial circumstances, 21 year old Ness, could end up being one of Pulis' bett signings. Comfortable with either foot, he will probably be eased into action as he has not had much experience of first team football but he could turn out to be a fixture in the Stoke midfield in seasons to come.

Comments? Views? Please add them below.
Please follow Game Ramble Weekly on Twitter @gamerambleweekly 

Premier League Previews: #13 Southampton

Last Season: 2nd (Championship)

In: Nathaniel Clyne (£2.8m, Crystal Palace), Steven Davies (£880,000, Rangers), Jay Rodriguez (£7.6m, Burnley)

Out: Nine players have left Southampton this summer. See full list here.

If they were an Olympian: Christian Taylor. The world and Olympic triple jump champion has enjoyed a fantastic rise to the top, whilst his fiercest rival Phillips Idowu has endured a miserable summer.

Like Norwich City last year, Southampton arrive in the Premier League on the back of successive promotions under manager Nigel Adkins and again like Norwich, Adkins looks set to rely upon those who have got Southampton to this stage rather than bringing in more established Premier League players.

The club's two biggest expenditures this summer have been Crystal Palace right back Nathaniel Clyne and Burnley striker Jay Rodriguez both of whom excelled in the Championship. The club have also exploited the fire-sale that is occurring at Rangers by signing Steven Davies for just under £1m. The Northern Irishman has plenty of top flight experience both North and South of the border and is a useful addition to the squad.

Much of Southampton's success in the past two seasons has been based on the goal scoring exploits of Rickie Lambert, who has scored 88 goals in 155 games, 31 of them coming last season. If Southampton are to be successful again then they will need Lambert to continue to fire. As both Swansea and Norwich showed last season when your main forward scores 15+ goals it is a massive boost to your survival chances.

Another man who is key to the Saints' is midfielder Adam Lallana, the 24 year old left sided midfielder has been central to Southampton's succesive promotion campaigns and weighed in with 13 goals in all competitions last year. Usually deployed on the left, Lallana has a freedom to move inside and is quick to get himself into the box when the opportunity presents itself. Whilst lacking the explosive pace of fellow academy graduates Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Theo Walcott and Gareth Bale, Lallana does possess excellent delivery with his left foot and uses his quick feet to create space to cross the ball, he is also excellent in the air.

Nigel Adkins' squad is packed with good footballers and hard workers but much relies on defensive midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin, who often acts as the anchor in a midfield that contains attack minded players Richard Chaplow and Jack Cork.

Southampton have a fairly daunting opening set of fixtures which sees them travel to Manchester City on the opening weekend before facing Manchester United, Arsenal and Everton within their first 6 games. Although they do also have two eminently winnable home games against Wigan and Aston Villa. As with all promoted sides, Southampton's home form will be key to their survival chances and if they are to avoid heading straight back down to the Championship they will need to make home advantage at St.Mary's count.

Adkins' has done a magnificent job on the South coast and it was not that long ago that Southampton seemed to be destined for extinction. For them to be back in the Premier League is an achievement in itself. Unfortunately I feel that this season may be where the adventure ends and they will ultimately fall just short in their attempts to remain in the top flight. By the end of September they may well find themselves rock bottom of the league and a poor start can quickly lead to a club being cut adrift. It will be tight but I expect Southampton to be relegated, though it may well go down to the last kick of the season.



Predicted Finish: 19th

Key Man: Rickie Lambert. As stated above Lambert has been vital to the Saints since he arrived from Bristol City and their survival hopes hinge on the 30 year old. Excellent in the air and very much an out and out number 9, Lambert will relish testing himself against the likes of John Terry and Vincent Kompany. Will probably reach double figures in the league but even this might not be enough.

Underrated: Kelvin Davies. A vastly experienced goalkeeper who continues to impress, the 35 year old has experience of the Premier League with Sunderland, although it was far from a happy time for Davies, who was roundly criticised for his part in the club's relegation. However he has rebuilt his confidence and his career at Southampton and has been named in the PFA team of the year for 3 seasons in a row.

Watch out for: Adam Lallana. Already discussed above, Lallana will be expected to provide the bullets for Lambert and attacking midfielder Guly Do Prado.

Comments? Views? Please add them below.
Please follow Game Ramble Weekly on Twitter @gamerambleweekly 
 

Premier League Previews: #12 Reading

Last Season: 1st (Championship)

In: Adrian Mariappa (£3.3m, Watford), Chris Gunter (£2.6m, Nottingham Forest), Nicky Shorey (free, West Bromwich Albion), Garath McCleary (free transfer, Nottingham Forest), Danny Guthrie (free transfe, Newcastle United), Pavel Pogrebnyak (free transfer, Fulham)

Out: 16 players have left the club. See here for a full list of departures

If they were an Olympian: Ben Ainslee. Been out of the limelight since last major triumph in 2008 but back at the top four years on. Easy on the eye and inoffensive, very middle class (sponsored by Waitrose!) but well liked by all.

Reading manager Brian McDermott has done a fantastic job at the Madjeski stadium since taking charge in January 2010. Promoted as caretaker manager after Brendan Rogers was sacked, McDermott started brilliantly, knocking Liverpool out of the FA Cup in the third round at Anfield. After being confirmed as the clubs manager, McDermott led the club to the FA Cup quarter finals for the first time in nearly a century. The next season he took them to the brink of the Premier League, losing 4-2 to former boss Brendan Rogers' Swansea in the Play-off final. Whilst many teams often spiral downwards after such a near miss, McDermott rallied his troops and they romped to the Championship title, going on a superb run of 15 wins in 17 games.

Last May saw long term owner, chairman and benefactor Sir John Madjeski sell of 51% of the club to Thames Sport Investment, a group lead by Russian-born Anton Zingarevich however Madjeski remains at the club as Chairman. 

Reading are one of the best run clubs in the country and the perfect riposte to those who argue that directors of football do not work in England. At Reading, Nicky Hammond has worked closely with McDermott to acquire players who offer a blend Premier League experience and youthful enthusiasm and hunger. Nicky Shorey, Danny Guthrie and Pavel Pogrebnyak are all experienced top level pro's whilst Adrian Mariappa, Chris Gunter and Garath McCleary are young and talented. This transfer policy is somewhat of an amalgamation of the recruitment policies of Norwich and QPR last season.

One of the main reasons for Reading's success last year in the Championship, which is a notoriously difficult league to get out of, was their versatility. Whilst ideally looking to keep the ball on the ground with players like Jobi McAnuff and Jimmy Kebe, if teams chose the physical route then Reading were happy to match them. With giant centre half Kaspars Gorkss at one end and Jason Roberts at the other, Reading were more than capable of dealing with those attempting to use less than noble means to defeat them.

The biggest problem you fear for Reading will be goals. They have plenty of players who can create and chip in now and then but their highest scorer in the league last year was Adam le Fondre with 12. Whilst spreading the goals around is fine, history tells us that promoted teams who can boast a 15 goal a season striker stand a much better chance of surviving, i.e. Grant Holt at Norwich last year.

McDermott and Reading will be hoping that Pavel Pogrebnyak is that man and there is no doubt that the Russian, who spent the second half of last season with Fulham, has all the attributes to succeed in the league. Whether the 28 year old can sustain his form over the season remains to be seen but on his day the "pog" is a real threat who can finish with both feet as well as being strong in the air.

Much depends on Jimmy Kebe, whose ability to ghost past opposition defenders made him one of the Championship's most entertaining players. Often linked with moves away from the Madjeski, Kebe has remained at the club and this season will be his chance to prove that his talents belong on the big stage. Again goals are the problem and for such a talented player, Kebe should really have scored more than the 3 goals he manged last term.

McDermott mostly used a 4-4-2 last season, however he may well ask Pogrebnyak to play up front on his own and use his strength to hold the ball up so that Reading can add an extra man in midfield.

This season will be much like the past few, with relegation going right down to the wire. Reading have proved in recent years that they can handle the pressure and with an excellent young manager and a supportive boardroom, I feel they may just have enough to survive.

Predicted Finish: 17th

Key Man: The club have a number of players who were critical in their remarkable promotion campaign and one key in their rise was that they were not reliant on any one individual. Goal scoring was spread well between forwards Adam le Fondre (12), Noel Hunt (8), Simon Church (7) and Jason Roberts (6). At the back goalkeeper Adam Federici and Latvian centre back Kaspars Gorkss were outstanding, whilst Ian Harte rolled back the clock with a number of outstanding performances and a few critical goals.

Underrated: Definitely not underrated by those who have seen Reading on a regular basis but perhaps unknown to others, 23 year old Jem Karacan is a seriously talented midfielder. Although not physically impressive, Karacan is tough, and proved last season in the Championship that he could look after himself. An excellent dribbler and passer, Karacan was invaluable to Reading  last year until he suffered a broken ankle at the hands of Leeds United. Only recently returned to full training, the Royals will be hoping that the Turkish U21 international can return to the form he showed last year, which attracted the attention of a number of Premier League teams.

Watch out for: Adam le Fondre. Signed from Rotherham for £350,000 at the start of last season, le Fondre was in and out of the team for much of last term but he more than repaid his transfer fee come the end of the season when he scored crucial goals in wins against both Leeds and Southampton that all but sealed Reading's promotion. A lively striker, le Fondre is able to sniff out half chances and if he can carry on from where he left off last year, Reading will continue to consider that £350k money very well spent. 

Comments? Views? Please add them below.
Please follow Game Ramble Weekly on Twitter @gamerambleweekly 
 

Premier League Previews: #11 QPR

Last Season: 17th

In: Junior Hoilett (free transfer, Blackburn), Ji-Sung Park (£2.7m, Manchester United), Fabio (loan, Manchester United), Samba Diakite (£3.5m, AS Nancy-Lorraine), Ryan Nelsen (free transfer, Tottenham Hotspur), Robert Green (free transfer, West Ham United), Andy Johnson (free transfer, Fulham FC)

Out: Peter Ramage (free transfer, Crystal Palace), Heider Helguson (undisclosed, Cardiff City), Fitz Hall (free transfer, Watford), Paddy Kenny (£440,000, Leeds United), Rowan Vince (St. Johnstone, free transfer), Danny Shittu (released), Akos Buzsaky (released), Danny Gabbidon (released)

If they were an Olympian: G4S Security. Well financed, with owners of global influence, seemingly mired in controversy, often lacking discipline.

Few teams in the world can rival QPR for unpredictability in recent years, a succession of colorful managers have come and gone and a list of attendees at the club's board meetings reads like a who's who of international billionaires. In spite of all this, QPR managed to remain a Premier League club last term and this year manager Mark Hughes must make good on the promise he made on the final day of last season when he claimed that QPR would "never again" be in danger of relegation whilst he was at the club.

Hughes has certainly been proactive this summer, releasing a number of players who served previous boss Neil Warnock well but were always unlikely to figure in his long term plans. Some of the most notable departures have been goal keeper Paddy Kenny and striker Heider Helgusson who have both dropped back down to the Championship. The signing of Robert Green is an upgrade on Kenny, whilst Andy Johnson has moved a couple of miles across London from Hughes' previous club Fulham. Whilst Johnson is a proven Premier League performer I actually feel that the Rangers may miss Helguson. Whilst a fairly limited player, the Icelandic striker is truly brilliant in the air and had a knack of unsettling teams, with his performances in games against both Chelsea and Manchester City excellent examples.

On paper one must admit that QPR have made some impressive signings. As well as Green and Johnson, Junior Hoilett has arrived from Blackburn to add pace, width and goals to the side. Hughes has also permanently signed Samba Diakite from Nancy, who was influential in QPR's survival last year, although he will have to improve a disciplinary record which saw him pick up 6 yellow cards and one red in 9 league appearances last year.

Ryan Nelson, Ji-Sung Park and Ryan Nelson have all arrived and offer vast experience and with these signings the club should have little difficulty retaining their top flight status.

The question is how far can Ranger's realistically go this year? Anything approaching mid-table must surely be considered a success and further justify owner Tony Fernandes' harsh but correct decision to remove Neil Warnock last winter.

The full back positions were a problem area for the club last year and again it is an area the Hoops could be vulnerable in. Armand Traore and Fabio are both excellent athletes and decent enough footballers but defensively they both leave a lot to be desired. Traore for his tendency to get caught high up the pitch and Fabio for his occasional recklessness and lapses in concentration. With the wingers in front of them likely to be Shaun Wright-Phillips, Adel Taarabt and Junior Hoilett, they are unlikely to receive a great deal of cover.

Up front the club has an excessive amount of strikers on the books and the fact that in the past 6 months Hughes' has signed Johnson, Bobby Zamora and Djibril Cisse surely means that Jay Bothroyd, D.J. Campbell and Tommy Smith are all free to leave.

The club should be able to welcome back Alejandro Faurlin, who was enjoying an excellent season until he damaged knee ligaments in January, and the Argentine will be a welcome addition to the squad as he possesses a far greater passing range than Shaun Derry, Diakite and Joey Barton. Barton, who has been linked with a move to Blackpool, seems unlikely to have a future with the club after showing that he still cannot be relied upon under pressure, after his appalling behavior on the last day of the season when he very nearly cost QPR everything.

Expect QPR this season to be very similar to Hughes' first season at Blackburn where first and foremost they were incredibly hard to beat and ferociously hard working. Hughes' teams are always some of the fittest in the league and after being privately shocked at the poor training standards when he arrived at the club last January, there will be a noticeable difference at Loftus Road this year.

QPR's home form by the end of last season was the key to them surviving. Victories over Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham proved that and if they are able to replicate that throughout the season then a top 10 finish is certainly not beyond them.



Predicted Finish: 10th

Key Man: Adel Taarabt. Taarabt is one of the most colorful individuals in English football, whether he is curling in stunning free kicks or sulking out of grounds and jumping on buses, the Moroccan is pure box-office. On his day he is as technically gifted and exciting a player as the Premier League has to offer. The problem is consistency and whether he will buy into Mark Hughes' work ethic. 

Whilst Warnock was able to get the best out of the Moroccan in the Championship, he is alleged to have told his team that they could only pass to Taarabt when he was in the opposition half, neither he nor Hughes were totally trusting of him last season. If Hughes can get the best out of Taarabt he is one of the few players in the league who can conjure a match winning moment out of nothing.

Underrated: Shaun Derry. Possibly the most unglamorous player in the league but Derry proved his worth last season starting more league games than any other outfield player at the club. Whilst the legs are on their way, Derry is still a valuable part of the side and despite the fears of many, did not look out of place against much bigger and better opponents last season. An excellent reader of the game, Derry relies on his anticipation to nick the ball off players and does not over complicate his passing. Whether Hughes' can coax another season out of the 34 year old remains to be seen.

Watch out for: Joey Barton. He's nasty. Especially if you are an Argentinian striker, playing for Manchester City.

Comments? Views? Please add them below.
Please follow Game Ramble Weekly on Twitter @gamerambleweekly 

Premier League Previews: #10 Norwich City

Last Season: 12th

In: Michael Turner (£1.6m, Sunderland), Robert Snodgrass (£2.8m, Leeds United), Jacob Butterfield (free transfer, Barnsley), Steven Whittaker (free transfer, Rangers)

Out: Andrew Crofts (undisclosed, Brighton & Hove Albion), Daniel Ayala (free transfer, Nottingham Forest), Zak Whitbread (free tranfser), Aaron Wilbraham (free transfer, Crystal Palace), Adam Drury (free transfer, Leeds United)

If they were an Olympian: Rebecca Adlington. Likable country lass, done exceptionally well to reach the top, uncertain of how long it can be sustained, suffered recent blows.

Chris Hughton is due some good luck; first he was unceremoniously sacked by Newcastle after guiding them back to the Premier League as runaway champions. Then he took over at Birmingham only for the club to become engulfed in a financial quagmire. In spite of this he took Birmingham to the play offs with a thread bare squad.

The well respected and amiable Hughton takes charge at Norwich with the club enjoying three years of sustained success under the reign of previous coach Paul Lambert. The task for Hughton this season is simple; consolidate and ensure that Norwich are not victims to that most annoying of terms, "second seasonitis".

Much of Lambert's success was based around getting the best out of players who had little or no experience of top flight football. Some of the club's best performers last season were young hungry players such as wingers Anthony Pilkington and Elliot Bennett, who arrived from Huddersfield and Brighton respectively. Hughton will need to work similar miracles as the club has continued its policy of not gambling the club's future with the signing of expensive Premier League players.

The one exception to this rule was the acquisition of Michale Turner, 28, from Sunderland as Daniel Ayala has departed for Nottingham Forest and the former Hull City man will provide an experienced head, providing he can put the previous years injury problems behind him.

Norwich, as has already been discussed in these previews, were one of the more flexible sides in the league last year and whether Hughton continues this policy will be of interest. Norwich often lined up with a midfield diamond but Hughton, at both Newcastle and Birmingham, has usually been a firm advocate of a flat 4-4-2. Norwich have the players for both, with Howson, Snodgrass, Andrew Surman and David Fox all versatile. Up front too, Grant Holt and Steve Morison are far more than the battering rams that their frames suggest.

The arrival of Steven Whittaker from Rangers, is an acceptable replacement for Kyle Naughton but will not provide the same energy and attacking impetus as the Spur's loanee did.

The major problem for Norwich this season will be coping with the loss of Lambert, who instilled such belief and confidence in a team that had been languishing bottom of League One. The club have a fairly daunting opening set of fixtures as they face Tottenham, Newcastle, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal in their first 8 games. I fear that a bad start will be the start of a rapid spiral for Norwich which may well lead to them dropping into the relegation zone.


Predicted Finish: 18th

Key Man: Wes Hoolahan. A real star for Paul Lambert and a key factor in the club's meteoric rise from League One to the Premier League, the Irishman was the crucial link between Norwich's midfield and attack last term and Chris Hughton will be hoping that the diminutive Hoolahan can continue his fine form. Able to play at the top of a diamond and off the strikers.

Underrated: Jonny Howson. Norwich must have a strong attraction to those from Yorkshire as in the past 12 months Howson, Bradley Johnson and Robert Snodgras have all headed down from Leeds to East-Anglia. For years Leeds fans had extolled the qualities of local boy Howson, and he began to demonstrate those qualities towards the end of last season for Norwich. Paul Lambert often played Howson further forward than he had previously played, and this proved to be an astute move as Howson's endless energy and drive caused problems for opposing defences.

Watch out for: Robert Snodgrass. Another of the Leeds alumni, Snodgrass has been linked with a move to the Premier League for years and this season gives the Scottish international the chance to prove that excellent performances in the F.A. Cup against Premier League sides can be repeated on a consistent basis. Will probably be asked to play off front men Grant Holt and Steve Morrison or to come on as an impact substitute. The Scot is something of a set-piece specialist.

Comments? Views? Please add them below.
Please follow Game Ramble Weekly on Twitter @gamerambleweekly 

Premier League Previews: #9 Newcastle United

Last Season: 5th

In: Romain Amalfitano (free transfer, Amalfitano), Gael Bigirimana (£1.1m, Coventry City), Curtis Good (£450,000, Melbourne Heart FC)

Out: Danny Guthrie (free transfer, Reading FC), Leon Best (£3.3m, Blackburn Rovers), Peter Lovenkrands (free transfer, Birmingham City), Alan Smith (free transfer, MK Dons), Tamas Kadar (free transfer, Roda JC Kerkrade), Fraser Forster (£2.2m, Celtic)

If they were an Olympian: Mo Farah. Always had potential, finally enjoying success, owe much to African influences.

It is hard to see how Newcastle can improve on last season's 5th place finish. It is hard to envisage Chelsea having as poor a season as last term, whilst Tottenham and Arsenal have strengthened and Liverpool surely cannot be as inconsistent again. Not that this will bother Alan Pardew, as the Newcastle boss is nothing if not confident and will point to the fact that he will have players such as Hatem Ben Arfa, and last season's revelation Papiss Demba Cisse, available from the start.

The key for the Magpies is to try and repeat last season where they suffered remarkably few long term injuries. Fabricio Coloccini, Yohan Cabaye, Danny Simpson, Jonas Gutierrez, Demba Ba and Tim Krull all started over 30 Premier League games, whilst Chiek Tiote only missed out on account of the Ivory Coast's African Cup of Nations campaign.

With the added rigours of the Europa League this season, Pardew will have to make use of his relatively small squad. Newcastle will be hurt by the fact that African Nations Cup takes place again in January 2013 as the competition moves from even to odd-numbered years. This will cause the absence of Tiote, Cisse and Ba for a period which means Newcastle will be particularly short up front, especially with the departures of Peter Lovenkrands and Leon Best to Birmingham and Blackburn respectively.

Perhaps this explains why the club are continuing to pursue Andy Carroll and whilst talk of the move has been dampened lately expect plenty of last minute speculation as the transfer window draws to a close.

The club face a tough start to the season with the Magpies facing Tottenham, Chelsea and Everton in their first four fixtures. However St. James' will continue to be a ground that few teams enjoy visiting, with last seasons good form leading to regular full houses at one of England's most atmospheric grounds. Many of Newcastle's best results last term actually came on the road as with forwards like Ben Arfa, Ba and Cisse they were devastating on the break, with the 2-0 win at Chelsea one of the teams best performances of the season.

There was much speculation that Demba Ba would leave, with a clause in his contract requiring only a £7m bid to secure the Sengalese's service. However the deadline for this clause has passed and Ba looks set to stay at Newcastle. So far there have been no bids for any of the clubs other stars and unless exceptional bids come in for the likes of Cabaye and Tiote it looks promising for a club who have seen a number of key performers depart in recent years.

Newcastle's realistic prospects for this season are probably limited to trying to retain a top six position and challenging in European and domestic competitions. The Magpies will be many people's dark horses to win one of the two domestic competitions and end the club's 42 year long wait for a major trophy.



Predicted Finish: 7th (Carling cup winners)

Key Man: Cheik Tiote. Whilst not possessing the passing range of Yohan Cabaye nor the flair of Hatem Ben Arfa, Tiote is the glue that holds the Newcastle midfield together. Ferocious in the tackle and as strong as an ox, it is no wonder that Chelsea and Manchester United have looked at the Ivorian.

Underrated: Mike Williamson. When Steven Taylor limped off against Chelsea in December, many thought that it would be the start of a decline for Newcastle. In stepped Mike Williamson, who had spent the majority of his career in the lower leagues. Rather than being a liability, Williamson was outstanding alongside Fabricio Coloccini as Newcastle continued their push for a Champions League spot till the last day.

Watch out for: Romain Amalfitano. Signed back in May on a Bosman from Riems, Amalfitano continues the "French revolution" that has occurred on Tyneside, as he joins 10 other French or French-speaking players at St. James' Park. Comfortable on the left, right or through the middle, Amalfitano has plenty of promise but has never played top flight football, having only ever played in Ligue 2. The Frenchman does have a penchant for scoring goals from 40 yards out.

Comments? Views? Please add them below.
Please follow Game Ramble Weekly on Twitter @gamerambleweekly 

Premier League Previews: #8 Manchester United

Last Season: 2nd

In: Shinji Kagawa (£13.2m, Borussia Dortmund), Nick Powell (£6.6m, Crewe Alexandra)

Out: Paul Pogba (free transfer, Juventus), Ji-Sung Park (£2.7m, QPR), Fabio (loan, QPR), Tomasz Kuszczak, (free transfer, Brighton & Hove Albion), Michael Owen (released)

If they were an Olympian: Rafael Nadal. Hugely successful with an enormous following, unmatched appetite for victory, often succeeds by wearing down opponents. Not always the prettiest, but ruthlessly effective. Questions over how long the success can last.

Finishing a season without a trophy is not something that Manchester United and Sir Alex Ferguson take too kindly to, having it happen two season in a row would be a full blown disaster, such are the standards the club has set.

Last season was a curios one at Old Trafford. They were criticised for defensive failings, yet they only conceded 4 more goals than Manchester City. They were accused of lacking creativity, yet the scored only four fewer goals than the eventual champions. Many said that Wayne Rooney was not at his best yet he had his best ever season in terms of league goal scoring. People were queing up to hail the everlasting brilliance of Ryan Giggs and the returning Paul Scholes, yet after Sergio Aguero's stoppage time winner on the last day of the season, these two veterans were seen as symptomatic of United's midfield failings.

On paper United's squad is stronger than last year but the major problem for Ferguson in the past two years has been injuries and United have regularly had half a dozen players out with long term injuries. If United can keep players fit, they have the greatest depth in their squad of any top team. At the back they have five centre halves, in Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Jonny Evans, Chris Smalling and Phil Jones, whom one would have few doubts about playing. Not even City can rival that as their reserve pairing is Stefan Savic and Kolo Toure, one of whom is yet to hit his best and the other who is past theirs.

Left back is more of a concern as not only has Patrice Evra struggled in the past two years but there is no obvious replacement for the Frenchman. Rafael is able to play there but is more comfortable on the right and is still prone to lapses in concentration. This explains the club's lingering interest in Leighton Baines, although Everton are seemingly reluctant to sell for anything less than £20m.

The return of Vidic is massive for United. Before his knee injury, he was the best "penalty box" defender in Europe. When it comes to winning headers, making clearances and last ditch tackles there are few who can rival Vidic, although Vincent Kompany comes close. The question will be whether Vidic can regain the form that saw him establish as the Premier League's most dominant centre back. Equally it awaits to be seen how Vidic's movement has been effected by his injury as even before he damaged his knee he was increasingly vulnerable to pace in behind him. With Rio Ferdinand also feeling the effects of age, Jonny Evans, who proved his doubters wrong last year, will surely become a more regular fixture in the team.

Midfield has been the area of greatest scrutiny for United in recent seasons, the failure to win the league last year was blamed on the lack of midfield creativity and the return of Paul Scholes from retirement in January was seen as indicative of this. On paper United have 6 central midfielders, including long term absentee Darren Fletcher, who is set to train with Scotland this week. However the concern is that there are plenty of "passers" but no player who can provide direct vertical movement towards goal.

The purchase of Shinji Kagawa from Dortmund, is an excellent purchase and for the price the club paid, good value for money for a player who is only 23. Kagawa's best position is as a second striker playing in between the lines and this should provide United with greater options in the middle of the pitch.

United have always had good wingers and Nani, Antonio Valencia and Ashley Young can all be expected to contribute service from wide, although both Nani and Young are prone to disappearing for spells in the season.

Up front United have options with Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck and Javier Hernandez along with Kagawa playing behind them. Dimitar Berbatov and Frederico Macheda are still at the club but no one would be shocked if they are not there come September 1st.

If United continue with the 4-4-2/4-4-1-1 that they have favoured in recent times than there first choice strike pairing looks likely to be Kagawa playing behind Rooney. Whilst presenting plenty of promise this partnership also has potential difficulties as with Rooney's tendency to drift all over the pitch it could mean United often being without a centre forward which would in turn require their wide players to come inside into goal scoring areas which is not a particular strength.

United have missed out on Lucas Moura, who has moved to PSG for a ludicrous fee in excess of £35m and wages of over £150,000 a week, but are continuing to pursue Robin Van Persie. With City and Juventus both cooling their interest it seems that the Dutchman now faces a straight choice between United and staying at Arsenal. Were United to sign Van Persie it would probably see Kagawa shifted into a wide position with Van Persie partnering Rooney, since if United are prepared to spend £15m+ on a 29 year old they must have plans to make immediate use of him.

Ferguson himself admits that United have underachieved in Europe during his reign and with his time at Old Trafford drawing to an end, he will want to lift the Champions League one more time. It is not beyond United, with them reaching 3 out of the last 5 Champions League finals, but for them to reach the final at Wembley in May (possibly for a rematch against Barcelona) they will have to address the defensive failings that saw them concede 8 goals in 4 games against FC Basel and Benfica in last year's group stage.

With Vidic returning, youngsters such as Smalling, Jones and Tom Cleverly a year older and the arrival of Kagawa and possibly Van Persie, United are this blogs pick to lift their 20th league title in May. The hurt of that gut wrenching finale to last season should provide all the motivation that the squad needs. The fixture list has been kind to United, their first four games sees them play Everton, Fulham, Southampton and Wigan before they face Liverpool and Tottenham at the end of September. The two dates to pencil in are December the 8th, which sees United travel to the Etihad before they host their neighbours at Old Trafford on April the 6th.




Predicted Finish: 1st

Key Man: Nemanja Vidic. The loss of Vidic hit United hard last year and they will be grateful to have the Serbian back at the heart of their defence. The 30 year old is still United's best centre back and adds steel to the silk of Rio Ferdinand and Jonny Evans.

Underrated: Luis Nani. The Portugese divides opinion amongst supporters with his undoubted ability tempered by his play acting and tendency to drift in and out of games. However Nani has delivered 30 direct assists in the past 3 seasons which puts him right at the top of the league's providers. Far more dangerous now that he has improved his left foot, the winger can go inside or outside the full back and Ferguson will now look for the 25 year old to produce on a more regular basis.

Watch out for: Shinji Kagawa. Unfairly seen by some as a marketing signing due to his popularity in the Far East, Kagawa has been of Europe's most effective players in the past two seasons. Kagawa was involved in 30 goals in 46 league games at Dortmund and will prove a big hit at United. After two years in Germany he is fully adapted to the physical demands of European football. 

Comments? Views? Please add them below.
Please follow Game Ramble Weekly on Twitter @gamerambleweekly