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Premier League 2012/13 Preview


Arsenal

Have made some good business this summer but selling Van Persie to Man Utd shows they no long see themselves as title challengers. They seem to have become comfortable just finishing in the top four. This could be the straw that breaks the camels back for Gooners. The older generation fans will remember their battles with United in the 90’s & selling them their best player will be hard for them to swallow. I don’t think they will struggle as Podolski & Cazorla should be enough to cover the gap RVP leaves, but if they go another season trophy less Wenger’s days could finally be numbered.  

Key Man Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain the youngster done very well at the Euros a lot of pressure will be on his young shoulders, I think he will handle it.

Aston Villa

New boss new hope? I don’t think so. Lambert doesn’t know what he has let himself in for. Villa are a team who use to be good but will never ever reach them heights again. Last year they faded badly that could be down to the previous manager. Bent being injured didn’t help, Agbonlahor & Albrighton will miss the start of the season. Not got a great midfield and Given is coming off the back of a poor Euros. Lambert will need to work wonders to get them mid table.

Key Man; Darren Bent they need his goals need him fit.

Chelsea

Won the Champions League which is what Roman wanted for years, now he has got it how interested is he? Going by Chelsea’s deals this summer he wants to claw back the Premier League. Oscar & Hazard will be interesting to watch and if it works along with Mata & Ramires it’s an exciting midfield. Lampard, Terry & Cole will of course carry the flag for the old guard. If Chelsea get a big name centre forward i.e. Cavaini or Hulk they well could be champions again. Torres needs to get back to his old self too.

Key Man: John Terry the ever popular captain will have a lot coming to him this season, how he deals with it will be vital for Chelsea.

Everton  

They finished above Liverpool last year and I think they could do well again this year. Jelavic proved to be a great signing & if he can carry on they will have a 20 goal a season man. Pienaar’s return will be helpful as Cahill has gone. Gibson & Fellaini are a decent midfield along with Osman.

Key Man: Nikica Jelavic came from the SPL and proved he can score in English football, big season for him.

Fulham

Martin Jol will have his work cut out this year Fulham have let some good players go but still they have some exciting players Petric & Rodallega will be an interesting strike force. Looks like Dempsey will stay and Dembele will be vital.

Key Player: Moussa Dembelle a creative player who attracted interest from some big sides, another good season Fulham may struggle to keep him.  

Liverpool

Big season for the reds, last year a Carling cup win covered a very bad league season. King Kenny was not great he was way out of touch and made many mistakes. Rodgers is young & exciting manager we know his style of play and he wants to make a mark will be interesting to see which Liverpool players fit in to his plans.

Key Man: Luis Suarez will have a very tough time at every away ground this season his best way to answer his critics is keep his head down & score goals.  

Manchester City

Manchester City won the Premier League in stunning fashion on the last day; will anyone be able to stop them this year? It will be tough for them as United & Chelsea have improved but City have a fantastic squad
& have a habit of winning now which is a good habit. The likes of Silva & Toure will be key but if Mancini can get Tevez working that forward line will be unstoppable.

Key Man: Sergio Aguero the little man from Argentina was a hit in his first season all eyes will be on him to shine again.

Manchester United

Man United lost out last season on goal difference, Sir Alex won’t want to see the neighbours winning back too back titles. The capture of RVP shows he knows want they need. Kagawa is a great signing and it will be interesting to see how he will fit into English football.  Scholes is back for another season Carrick and Cleverley will be the centre paring. The United defence suffered a lot of injuries last season with no new defenders brought in a lot will rely of Ferdinand, Vidic and Smalling keeping fit.

Key Man – Wayne Rooney is United’s most talented and important player. If he has a season like he did United will be pushing on all fronts. His partnership with RVP could be the best the Premier League has ever seen.

Newcastle United

They over achieved last season, Pardew put together an excellent side which saw them get into the Europa League. He had a bit of luck as one striker was sensational for the first half of the season Ba, then his mate from Senegal came in January, Cisse and had a cracking second half to the season. If they both hit the ground running who knows what could happen.

Key Man: Papiss Cisse all eyes will be on him to see if the goals pour in again this season. If they do he could easily hit 20.

Norwich

Lambert has gone but they have a more then adequate replacement in Chris Hughton. Norwich have brought in some good players but most importantly they kept hold of Grant Holt. The Canaries were comfortable last year I see the same for them this year.

Key Man: Grant Holt the big man said he wanted out but Hughton changed his mind. He will have to prove himself to some fans but he should hit double figures again.

QPR

They just survived relegation on the last day of the season, QPR have made a lot of movement in the transfer market brining in some big names. Hughes said they would never be in that situation again & with the players he has brought to the club, Park, Hoilett, Green & Fabio it looks like QPR mean business. They will have to improve their away form but with so many strikers Cisse, Zamora, Johnson, Mackie and Taraabt they shouldn’t struggle this season.

Key Man: Junior Hoilett going to QPR may have surprised most football fans, he is a quality player and can shine for QPR in their exciting forward line.

Reading

The Championship champions are back in the Premier League and will want to do a lot better then their flying visit last time. Manger Brian McDermott turned down Wolves and will now have a real crack in the big league. He is a calm character which will be needed with this talented Reading squad.

Key Man: Pavel Pogrebnyak, the Russian done very well in his short time at Fulham, Reading will hope he reproduces that form.

Southampton

Newly promoted Saints done the back to back promotion, but the hardest job well be staying in the promised-land. Home form will be vital if they get St Mary’s bouncing they will have a chance.

Key Man: Adam Lallana is a very talented player and if he can make the step up he will be vital to Southampton’s success.

Stoke City

They have become a well established Premier League side now, under Pullis Stoke have grown and grown. The Britannia is a place where clubs don’t like to go. They had a taste of Europe last season they will want that again.

Key Man: Peter Crouch showed last season given the chance he will get the goals. His volley against City shows the quality he still has.

Sunderland

Martin O’Neill will have a full season to work with this Sunderland side, he made an immediate impact when he first arrived but the season did fade out. I expect Sunderland to be in mid-table and I wouldn’t be surprised with a cup run.

Key Man: Seb Larsson a creative midfielder who is deadly from the set pieces, he also had a decent Euros will be a big player for them.

Swansea

New Manager Michael Laudrup may have a tough time to match what Rodgers did last season. Joe Allen will be a loss but Laudrup will play the way Swansea fans want if it is as effective as last season we will have to wait and see.

Key Man: Leon Britton is a classy player a lot more pressure will be on him with Allen’s departure he will have to step up.

Tottenham

AVB has a second chance to prove himself in England, he came with a lot of hype last year at Chelsea but it just didn’t work. Spurs a club who are know for foreign managers are taking a risk with AVB it can go either way. Their first 10 games will be vital he needs wins and the fans to be backing him.

Key Man: Gylfi Sigurdsson had a cracking half season at Swansea with a lot of clubs after his signature he picked Tottenham. He will shine I think in a very ambitious Tottenham side.  

West Brom

The Baggies have a new manager as the last one got the England job. West Brom were never in trouble last season but this time round it could be very different. If they start slowly it could be a long season for Steve Clark.

Key Man: Shane Long a player who tends to drift in and out they need him on form a very talented striker who could have a big season.

West Ham

The hammers won promotion via the play-offs; Big Sam got the job done in his own way. West Ham fans may not like his style of play but their back in the top flight. They have some talented players with a lot of Premier League experience, the only worry is if fans demand a change in style of play and it goes wrong for the east London club.

Key Man: Mark Noble is the heartbeat of the team, loved by the fans and gets goals from the midfield which will be key for them this season.

Wigan

Pulled off a miracle staying up last season Roberto Martinez will be the key again to wherever they survive he seems to know how to get them going around March time, he may have to plan his turn around a bit sooner this time if they want to stay up.

Key Man: Franco Di Santo the ex Chelsea player seems to have found his level at the DW. He can blossom in this team. 

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