The Round Football Column 8.13.08: 165th Edition - Premier League Preview - Part Three
Posted by on 08.13.2008
Can Cristiano Ronaldo produce the goods again? Will Liverpool end the jinx? If Mark Hughes breaks into the top four, will he be sacked? Is Afonso Alves any good? None of these questions are answered, but mildly discussed nonetheless. One click away.
Lesson of the day - only predict stuff if you can take hate mail. I can, so let's continue.
Some big teams coming up, starting with a side that really need to win this trophy.
LIVERPOOL
It's not a myth and it's not a vicious rumour full of lies – this really, really, madly, truly, deeply is Liverpool's strongest chance of Premier League glory.
The excellent Daniel Agger has returned from a lengthy injury, Robbie Keane may not be worth £18 million plus add-ons but he'll guarantee you at least 15 league goals, and Javier Mascherano is a disciplined god. All that before I even think about waxing lyrical over the usually-awesome Stevie G and David Villa's bitch until the final, Fernando Torres.
I still don't trust Rafa to be a good boy with his rotation policy – in Robbie Keane's press conference he talked about how Keane could play on the right or left (Liverpool fan says: "Aaaaaaaaaaaargh!") – but spending the big bucks on an established Premier League player shows signs of looking deeper into the domestic side of a season. Subsequently I'm sure the Reds' faithful still pining over that 1989/90 season many moons ago will be a little happier. However, there still seems like there's something missing. I wouldn't automatically expect them to get three points at Craven Cottage or St. James' Park like I would with Man. United.
Despite all that, I'm still more wary of their threat than I have been in many years and a first Premier League title win isn't beyond the realms of possibility.
I think I'm serious.
KEY MAN: Fernando Torres
ONE TO WATCH: Daniel Agger
ROUND FOOTBALL COLUMN VERDICT: You just know Rafa will get itchy rotation fingers when they travel to Wigan in January, but there's still something more serious about them this season. Maybe it'll finally happen, or maybe it won't? Buying David Silva wouldn't have hurt.
PREDICTION: 4th
MANCHESTER CITY
Remember the days when no one took Man. City seriously? I do, and it's seems weird that we can no longer have that mindset.
As funny as it is to take the piss out of forehead-loving Sven, we have to praise him for what he did last season. Aside from the capitulation and 8-1 drubbing at The Riverside (did I dream that?) the Mexico gaffer did well at Eastlands and was treated like shit.
Times change though and in comes Mark Hughes. He's had some great moments as Blackburn manager and garnered a ton of respect in the process. He has some really tidy players from the outset in Corluka, Dunne, Richards, Johnsonl, Ireland and the surprisingly superb Martin Petrov, but he needs to use all his expertise to extract some consistency out of Elano. When the Brazilian was on it last season he looked world-class, but his dips in form must have been infuriating for City fans.
The hunt for Ronaldinho and the acquisition of Jo were very exciting, but they seem to have stopped there and gone back to more normal / boring transfer targets. Ultimately, I think that's the reason why I still don't see them challenging the top four like their insistent doctor wants them to.
KEY MAN: Vedran Corluka
ONE TO WATCH: Jo
ROUND FOOTBALL COLUMN VERDICT: I rate Hughes highly enough to give City a glowing review here. Competition is high and they may still struggle to get fifth, but under the Welshman they won't finish outside the top eight.
PREDICTION: 7th
MANCHESTER UNITED
Winning the Champions League and Premier League in the same season must be just great. I wonder how that feels? Seriously, as I wipe the jealous tears away from eyes I just wonder.
Let's face it. Whether or not you have your qualms and doubts like I do, it's always so tough to ever consider backing a team that's not named Manchester United. They have dominated the Premier League for so long and have a really great squad.
There central defensive pairing is incredible – the best in the business – and their attacking options are sublime. I mean, c'mon – surely Rooney's going to start scoring league goals this season?
The problem I have with United, and as much as it'll sound like jealousy I mean it, is that Ronaldo really did win it for them last season. The title win before was a far more eclectic effort, but 2007-08 really was the Ronaldo show. Nowhere near the level of Maradona with Napoli, but superbly influential nonetheless. I know the tacticians say that Tevez and Rooney ran into the ground to free up pitch space for Ronaldo, and that's fine, but they still need to pitch in with more league goals. Ryan Giggs is really shit, and it's only his historic standing that make people take him seriously still. He's predictable and has lost all his pace. No wonder Fergie bid for David Silva. Michael Carrick did well, but his influence was still overrated. Rio and Nemanja were and are incredible – without doubt the best defensive pairing in world football – but in attack it really was all about that annoying Portuguese fella.
You would think bigger seasons are coming from Rooney, Nani, Anderson and Tevez, but without Ronaldo's goals again they may surprise people and finish second or third! It sounds crazy, right?
KEY MAN: Rio Ferdinand
ONE TO WATCH: Carlos Tevez
ROUND FOOTBALL COLUMN VERDICT: Ronaldo won't have the season he had and that will affect them more than people think, but Rooney and Tevez should be stronger and for that reason plus many more they'll still be the team to beat, even though they shouldn't be as feared as they will be.
PREDICTION: 2nd
MIDDLESBROUGH
I like Middlesbrough. No, no. I don't think you understand – I mean I really like Middlesbrough.
Okay, creepy gag aside I think Gareth Southgate has quietly done a decent job at The Riverside. The squad depth isn't great and that will affect any team, but his best eleven consists of some very dynamic midfielders and strikers. A lot of people still don't trust Afonso Alves' credentials, because his reputation comes from the Eredivisie, but judging his initial few months in the Prem I thought he did well. The goal-fest on the final day against Man City was superb, but it was his performance and brace against Man Utd that turned my head. No one ever seems to rattle Fergie's central defenders anymore, but this lad did just that on a snowy Sunday afternoon in April. He could be one to watch in the Prem this season.
Elsewhere, Stewart Downing continues to be one of the league's most undervalued players, David Wheater isn't as overrated as I first thought he was, and the signings of Emnes and Digard have the potential to be very astute bits of business, especially the latter.
Of course, they still need better away performances, more ruthlessness against the bottom eight teams and less random sales of decent players like Luke Young.
KEY MAN: Afonso Alves
ONE TO WATCH: David Wheater
ROUND FOOTBALL COLUMN VERDICT: Unlike others I don't see them being dark horses for a relegation scrap. They have some really good attacking players, and it could be a big season for Digard and Wheater too. However, the usual downfalls will undoubtedly hinder them in spells and they could struggle to break into the top ten.
