Premier League season previews for 2016-2017 season: part II
THE countdown to the 2016-2017 Premier League kick-off is ramping up.
The chasing pack is out to hunt down Leicester City, and it is going to make compelling viewing.
As foxsports.com.au continues to bring you everything you need to know ahead of kick-off, here’s the second part of our bible on all 20 teams.
ULTIMATE EPL CLUB-BY-CLUB COMPANION: PART I
LIVERPOOL
BIGGEST SIGNING: Jurgen Klopp clearly adores pace and energy – cue Christian Benteke’s departure - spending £30 million on Sadio Mane, who has looked positive in pre-season.
THE GAFFER: Klopp is one of the most absorbing characters in the EPL, and he’s now had the full pre-season under his belt that he craved to imbue the Reds completely with his philosophy after arriving with great fanfare last term.
FIRST SIX GAMES: Arsenal (a), Burnley (a), Tottenham (a), Leicester (h), Chelsea (a), Hull (h)
FANTASY GEM: The Reds’ stars are obvious, and priced accordingly, so $600,000 for Danny Ings is a cheaper option up top, while one to monitor is Sheyi Ojo at $500,000 as an assist outlet. Out of the strikers mooted to make the XI, Divock Origi looks the smartest purchase at $700k compared to Sturridge (1000k), Firmino ($850k) and Coutinho ($800k).
A GOOD SEASON IS … High tempo Liverpool play fluent football, defend stoutly, and without the burden of European football, surge towards a serious top four tilt.
A BAD SEASON IS … A shocking draw – accentuated by playing away from home while Anfield’s renovations continue – off the back of a busy, globetrotting pre-season, sees the Reds suffer a poor start that they can’t recover from.
SYNOPSIS: Klopp might have a long term deal but the pressure is on at Liverpool after their 60-point, eighth placed finish was their worst in 52 years. There won’t be a repeat of last term’s burden: Klopp presided over 52 matches in eight months, using 39 players. Now, the belief we saw in the Europa League must be converted to consistent performances in the league.
PODCAST SPECIAL: Daniel Garb joins David Weiner to break down the enthralling title race in 2016-2017. Listen here, or in iTunes!
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MANAGERS’ MATRIX: The most extraordinary cast assembled
PREMIER LEAGUE FANTASY: The most popular XI so far
MANCHESTER CITY
BIGGEST SIGNING: Ilkay Gundogan was Pep Guardiola’s first piece of work and for an important reason: he is a cultured midfielder with a reputation for his passing ability who could become the centrepiece of Klopp’s plan. But he’s still recovering from a knee injury suffered at Borussia Dortmund that kept him out of Germany’s Euros plans.
THE GAFFER: Four years later, City have their man. Now Pep Guardiola begins his quest to win a league in his third country after the La Liga and Bundesliga, while refining City’s style to help their global charm offensive. After three UCL semi-final losses with Bayern, he’d dearly love to enhance City’s success in that competition – but first he’ll need to qualify past Steaua Bucharest.
FIRST SIX GAMES: Sunderland (h), Stoke City (a), West Ham (h), Manchester United (a), Bournemouth (h), Swansea (a)
FANTASY GEM: This is an expensive squad. If you’re backing City defensively, a Gael Clichy or Bacary Sagna at $550k might be your go, or, if Kelechi Iheanacho gets a run in the first team, he might be one of the league’s breakthrough stars up front.
A GOOD SEASON … Win the league and make a convincing Champions League push. That’s the aim. Fourth last season was completely flat and underwhelming.
A BAD SEASON … It takes time to adjust to Guardiola’s methods, particularly after the unproductive China jaunt, and City are the ones squeezed out in the top four logjam.
SYNOPSIS: After meandering under Manuel Pellegrini, Guardiola’s arrival will turbocharge things at Etihad Stadium. It’s deplorable that they only won back-to-back once last term; Guardiola’s intensity will not countenance that. He’s spent purposefully, adding Leroy Sane and Nolito to his offensive mix, but must have grave concerns at the back, especially with Vincent Kompany’s muscle troubles. John Stones is an important - although unproven - addition. There’s no doubt he’ll experiment tactically, but first, City will shore up defensively to provide a proper platform for Sergio Aguero, David Silva and Kevin de Bruyne to work from. The major uncertainties? How will Guardiola cope with the festive season, what happens to the likes of Yaya Toure and can he return Raheem Sterling to his best.
THE UNANSWERED QUESTIONS: The big uncertainties looming over your club
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MANCHESTER UNITED
BIGGEST SIGNING: Some chap named Paul Pogba has just returned to the club for a world record fee. READ PLENTY MORE HERE. Would take something like that to trump Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
THE GAFFER: Jose Mourinho has dominated conversation pre-season, landing the job he long coveted at a club desperate for a return to the top. He has a lot to prove after Chelsea’s disastrous championship defence last term.
FIRST SIX FIXTURES: Bournemouth (a), Southampton (h), Hull (a), Manchester City (h), Watford (a), Leicester (h)
FANTASY GEM: $950,000 for Henrikh Mkhitaryan doesn’t sound like value, but, listed in midfield, if he comes close to reproducing his Bundesliga statistics, he’ll amass you a fortune.
A GOOD SEASON IS … The league title returns to United or, at minimum, Mourinho returns them to the top four.
A BAD SEASON IS …Big signings fail to meet the hype, Mourinho brings off-field tumult to Old Trafford and they are the club squeezed out of the top four.
SYNOPSIS: Old Trafford is compelling viewing this season as Mourinho is tasked with adding purpose back to a club that laboured under Louis van Gaal. There is genuine rockstar power there now with Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, but in pure football terms, the Portuguese has the tools of a very impressive line-up, with options. He recruited purposefully and glamorously, with Armenian Mkhitaryan not to be underestimated either.
SOUTHAMPTON
BIGGEST SIGNING: Norwich winger Nathan Redmond seems the perfect Southampton signing – hungry and bursting with potential.
THE GAFFER: The next man up for the Saints is Frenchman Claude Puel, who arrives having guided Nice to fourth place in Ligue 1 last season.
FIRST SIX GAMES: Watford (h), Manchester United (a), Sunderland (h), Arsenal (a), Swansea (h), West Ham (a)
FANTASY GEM: Charlie Austin should pick up where he left off for QPR in the ’14-15 campaign, where he scored 18 goals for the R’s. The Saints will need him to and at $650,000, he could be good value.
A GOOD SEASON IS… They keep on keeping on, letting managers leave and selling players only to replace them without missing a beat.
A BAD SEASON IS … Their constant churn of personnel finally takes its toll as they fall into the bottom half.
SYNOPSIS: Southampton have bettered their league position every year for the past five seasons, but it’s difficult to see them repeating the sixth-place finish of last campaign, especially without Ronald Koeman, Sadio Mane, Victor Wanyama and Graziano Pelle. Puel will be hoping for a few more additions to go along with Redmond and former Bayern Munich man Pierre-Emile Højbjerg before the end of August. - By Alex Malyon
STOKE CITY
BIGGEST SIGNING: Liverpool midfielder Joe Allen parlayed a stunning Euro 2016 campaign into a £13m transfer to the Potteries.
THE GAFFER: Former Manchester United striker Mark Hughes will lead Stoke into a fourth-straight Premier League campaign but will want to continue to raise the clubs’ credibility and reputation for playing competitive but watchable football.
FIRST SIX FIXTURES: Middlesbrough (a), Manchester City (h), Everton (a), Tottenham (h), Crystal Palace (a), West Brom (h)
FANTASY GEM: Xherdan Shaqiri, priced at $650k, should improve on last season’s stats in his second season in England.
A GOOD SEASON IS ... Bettering the last three finishes of: 9, 9 and 9, to compete with the European positions.
A BAD SEASON IS … Losing Stoke’s previously resilient attributes without making strides with a winning but more aesthetically pleasing approach.
SYNOPSIS: Stoke have done well to establish themselves as a Premier League regular since their promotion in 2008, while Hughes has built an interesting and entertaining side in his three years with the club. The Potters have a sprinkling of genuine quality in Shaqiri, Marko Arnautovic and Bojan, while Giannelli Imbula and/or Ibrahim Afellay will likely feature alongside Allen in midfield. Goalkeeper Jack Butland is one of the best in the division. - By Alex Malyon
SUNDERLAND
BIGGEST SIGNING: With uncertainty over the manager post after Sam Allardyce took the England job, recruitment has been lacking. Chelsea defender Papy Djilobodji, who cost £8 million, is Sunderland’s only signing so far this off season.
THE GAFFER: Former Manchester United manager David Moyes will be looking for Premier League redemption when he takes charge of the Black Cats this season.
THE FIRST SIX FIXTURES: Manchester City (a), Middlesbrough (h), Southampton (a), Everton (h), Tottenham (a), Crystal Palace (h).
FANTASY GEM: If he remains the focal point of the attack under Moyes, veteran striker Jermaine Defoe could come close to his 15 goals from last season and be a banker for you at just $700,000.
A GOOD SEASON IS … Find the semblance of stability and not just avoid relegation – but steer clear of the drama. Oh, and Newcastle fail to win promotion.
A BAD SEASON IS … Lessons aren’t learned and another turbulent season can’t be rescued and the Black Cats finally run out of lives.
SYNOPSIS: Moyes is the story with Sunderland, the club’s eighth manager in 10 seasons. Crazy. With only Djilobodji signed so far, the club will need significant reinforcements before the end of the month if Moyes is to turn the Black Cats from relegation strugglers into a top half regular as he did with Everton. Defoe and Fabio Borini will need more help, but the priority has to be tightening the shambolic defence and putting a stop to the circus at the Stadium of Light. Big Sam’s January recruits defender Lamine Kone and midfielders Whabi Khazri and Jan Kirchhoff are crucial, while Jack Rodwell has a lot to prove in the middle of the park. - By Alex Malyon
TOTTENHAM
BIGGEST SIGNING: Vincent Janssen and Vincent Wanyama are two specific pieces of business for Tottenham. The former will take the burden off Harry Kane, the latter adds mongrel and bite to an already impressive midfield.
THE GAFFER: Mauricio Pochettino is one of Europe’s most promising managers. Spurs ran out of gas last term and he will be desperate to start well to banish those demons.
FIRST SIX GAMES: Everton (a), Crystal Palace (h), Liverpool (h), Stoke (a), Sunderland (h), Middlesbrough (a).
FANTASY GEM: Erik Lamela is the cheaper option from Spurs’ attacking riches and has been in fine pre-season scoring form. If Josh Onomah breaks through, snare him for $450,000 before anyone else does.
A GOOD SEASON IS … To maintain their top four status. Anything more than that would mean we could have another EPL upset on the cards.
A BAD SEASON IS … Last season was their window but their young squad, much like their England contingent at Euro 2016 endured, fails to progress.
SYNOPSIS: Tottenham are a definite joker in the pack, threatening to knock down the established order. They had the best defence last term, and the second best attack, with the youngest squad. If the likes of Dele Alli, Kane and co continue to progress, then Spurs can definitely threaten, but it’s imperative they keep Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld fit in central defence.
Wanyama’s arrival also makes it a highly competitive central midfield joust, with Eric Dier and Ryan Mason contending to hold the fort to allow Alli, Christian Eriksen, Erik Lamela and co flourish further forward. Pochettino was shattered with last season’s final month, but his team’s – be it Spurs, Southampton or Espanyol - notoriously fade on the back of the intensity he demands from his players. That will make this season fascinating, as their season climax includes Manchester United, West Ham Arsenal and Leicester in the final six weeks. Spurs didn’t win either of their two games in Australia but with their big guns back on the weekend, thumped Inter Milan 6-1.
SWANSEA
BIGGEST SIGNING: For the Aussie angle, we’ll pick out Mark Birighitti even though the custodian is competing with Lukasz Fabianski, Kristoffer Nordfelt and Gerhard Tremmel on the books, he’s unlikely to see game time.
THE GAFFER: Francesco Guidolin steadied the ship last term but the Italian, most recently at Udinese in a journeyman managerial career spaning 30 years, has a big task ahead.
FIRST SIX FIXTURES: Burnley (a), Hull (h), Leicester (a), Chelsea (h), Southampton (a), Manchester City (h)
FANTASY GEM: If Jefferson Montero gets his act together, the right winger is cheap, at $550k, and can set up a goal or two.
A GOOD SEASON IS … Swansea finish mid-table.
A BAD SEASON IS … Last season’s malaise spirals into a relegation implosion.
SYNOPSIS: This is a worrying season for the Welsh club. They were an extreme disappointment last season at a time you thought they might progress under Gary Monk. With Andre Ayew’s departure to West Ham, and Everton pulling mightily at Ashley Williams, there’s got to be a fear that Fabiansku and Gylfi Sigurdsson will be the best of their core remaining. 31-year-old Spanish striker Fernando Llorente, once of Juventus, is a very impressive recruit, but the Spanish target man, lured from Sevilla, was an essential pick-up given Alberto Paloschi, Beftimibi Gomis, Eder and Ayew have all departed.
WATFORD
BIGGEST SIGNING: The club outlayed £12.5 million on Nigerian 20-year-old Isaac Success from Granada in a bid to get width and more potency to their attack.
THE GAFFER: The club enraged plenty sacking Quique Sanchez Flores after he guided them to safety last term. Italian Walter Mazzari, formerly of Napoli (where he had success) and Inter Milan (where he didn’t) takes over.
FIRST SIX GAMES: Southampton (a), Chelsea (h), Arsenal (h), West Ham (a), Manchester United (h), Burnley (a)
FANTASY GEM: You know you’ll get goals from Ighalo ($750k) or Deeney ($700k), so for those prices, they seem decent bets.
A GOOD SEASON IS … Mazzarri is a solid appointment and the Hornets build on last term.
A BAD SEASON IS … The signs of decay under Flores accelerate and they get relegated.
SYNOPSIS: No one at the club scored more than two goals last term, placing enormous pressure on stars Odion Ighalo and Troy Deeney. Success will be key to adding some variety, while Mazzarri has also bought width, via Juan Zuniga and Brice Dja Djedje to aid his mooted 3-5-2 formation.
WEST BROM
BIGGEST SIGNING: Matt Phillips arrives from Queens Park Rangers – the winger the only bit of business so far.
THE GAFFER: Perennial Premier League survivor Tony Pulis has gone on the record to say he needs to sign more players to strengthen. That will especially be the case if Saido Berahino eventually leaves.
FIRST SIX GAMES: Crystal Palace (a), Everton (h), Middlesbrough (h), Bournemouth (a), West Ham (h), Stoke City (a)
FANTASY GEM: If West Brom remain frugal, then a $450,000 defender isn’t a bad bet. Johnny Evans could be your man for that.
A GOOD SEASON IS … Are Baggies fans happy with another finish in the ‘Pulis zone’ – ie, between 11th and 14th? It would ensure survival, but at a nauseating pace.
A BAD SEASON IS … Pulis doesn’t strengthen and gets mired in a relegation battle.
SYNOPSIS: Is there much for West Brom fans to be excited about this term? They held the least ball in the EPL last term, and scored the second least amount of goals. Salomon Rondon remains their key man up top should Berahino go, in a line-up that doesn’t set the world alight.
WEST HAM
BIGGEST SIGNING: A club record fee on Andre Ayew places him front and centre of their summer highlights, creating a physical robust strike force with Andy Carroll.
THE GAFFER: Slaven Bilic is becoming one of the true characters of the EPL. West Ham were outstanding last term and after a busy transfer market, the Croatian can make the Hammers a joker in the pack this season.
FIRST SIX GAMES: Chelsea (a), Bournemouth (h), Manchester City (a), Watford (h), West Brom (a), Southampton (h)
FANTASY GEM: New man Ayew, $750,000, in midfield. Get on him. Feghouli looks tempting at $550,000 as well for some assists.
A GOOD SEASON IS … The 60,000 capacity Olympic Stadium witnesses a campaign that once again pushes the Hammers to the brink of the European places, or even beyond that, and they continue to trouble the big teams.
A BAD SEASON IS … With so much competition around the top four, West Ham slide down into the middle to bottom half – a huge anti-climax at the new ground.
SYNOPSIS: How refreshing is it to see that West Ham have held onto Dimitri Payet, one of the Euro 2016 stars? The Frenchman headlines a creative and exciting crop of midfielders at West Ham that provide every reason for fans to be optimistic. He is joined by the Algerian Sofiane Feghouli and Manuel Lanzini in a very promising midfield. But Bilic has two challenges to meet the hype. One, West Ham weren’t actually that prolific last term and so he needs Ayew, Carroll and Antonio Valencia to stay fit and become more clinical. The Hammers also copped 51 goals last term and Bilic, a former centre-back, could certainly add further depth in that position. He’ll also have to cope with Aaron Creswell’s absence from left-back with a four month injury. They had a terrific record against the ‘big sides’ last term: can they turn that into something more consistent?