Sunday, 11 August 2013

Season Preview: Four Top-Tier Teams-to-Watch


Original draft. Written for 'Fireball UK'.

http://www.ignitethenite.co.uk/season-preview-four-teams-to-watch/


So with a new football season brings renewed optimism, growing excitement, new signings and universal hope across the nation. Some things never change - Nicolas Anelka has moved to his 138th club, Wayne Rooney has handed in his annual transfer request, and Palace have been relegated before a ball has even been kicked (or so say every season review out there, and lets face it, they’re not wrong). But as Palace prepare for their 5th Premier League season, with the previous 4 having ended in relegation, 4 teams in particular have been quietly making the positive changes required for a potentially memorable campaign.

Tottenham Hotspur
Okay, granted, it’s an obvious one, but hear me out. At the time of writing, Spurs are doing everything in their power to hold on to Gareth Bale, including prepping a young kid in their reserves to look exactly like Gareth so to confuse admirers (honestly, look up Kenny McEvoy and tell me that’s a coincidence). If by the time of reading Daniel Levy’s cunning plan has failed, and Bale has joined ‘CR7’ at Madrid, ignore this entire paragraph. He’s that good! However, if he stays, AndrĂ© Villas-Boas has assembled one very impressive squad. The addition of Nacer Chadli from FC Twente relieves at least part of the reliance on Bale and Lennon. In Roberto Soldado, Spurs now have a proven goalscorer to lead the line, with experience both internationally and during his time in Spain. Add Brazilian Paulinho to an already-impressive midfield-duo of Sandro and Dembele and suddenly Tottenham appear to be quite a force. Factor in the stability effect from holding on to AVB whilst Chelsea, Man City and Man United all face the new season with unknown-quantities in charge; alongside the benefits of owning one of the leagues’ strongest Goalkeepers; it would be foolish to bet high on Spurs not making Champions League qualification.

Norwich City
Call me a biased, blind-optimist all you like – few would argue Norwich haven’t already made significant changes this transfer window. In January, Everton reportedly bid over £8-million for midfield powerhouse Leroy Fer, only for a ‘failed medical’ to scupper the deal. The definition of the term ‘failed medical’, however, is somewhat ambiguous. Many reports indicate the term relates to the expected departure of Fellaini, which never materialised, and so Fer was no longer required. 6-months later and the Canaries have snapped up the Dutch midfielder for half the price, alongside fellow countryman Ricky van Wolfswinkel. Goal-scoring success has followed ‘the Wolf’ from Holland to the Portuguese League, earning him the opportunity to prove his worth in the illustrious Premier League – just in time for the World Cup, perhaps? Additionally, Martin Olsson offers an alternative to Javier Garrido at left-back, whilst also providing a pacy option down the wing, something which the Canaries noticeably lacked last season. The Hughton-factor enabled Norwich to beat off competition from the likes of Everton and Swansea to secure the hot English prospect of Nathan Redmond from Birmingham City, who was given his first professional contract by none other than Hughton himself. The most recent addition of Gary Hooper from Celtic doesn’t appear to signal closed business for Norwich either, with more additions likely. Expect a very different Norwich City from the rather dull and defensively-minded outset of last year.
 
Swansea City
‘Swansalona’ have taken the Premiership by storm since that fantastic Championship play-off final victory against Reading back in 2011, and don’t look likely to be heading back down any time soon. The most impressive factor of Swansea’s rise to football stardom hasn’t even been the development of their own distinctive brand of passing football; or their knack (or rather, luck) of discovering the bargain-of-the-season two years running in Michel Vorm and Michu’; or even the unbelievable story of midfield-regular Leon Britton who was a part of the Swansea team that fell to the very bottom of the football league only 10 years ago. Rather, most of the credit due to Swansea lies with their ability to not only deal with huge club departures that had seriously damaging potential – but to actually improve on those departures. Losing Brendan Rodgers could have seen an end to the Swansea-style of play, but instead Michael Laudrup came in and simply continued the trend. When Scott Sinclair made the choice to ‘progress his career’ in the Manchester City reserves, up stepped wingers Nathan Dyer and Wayne Routledge. The transition from Gylfi Sigurdsson to Michu went relatively unnoticed following Michu’s debut season-tally of 18 league goals. This year, the club-record signing of Wilfried Bony – once tipped to be the ‘next Didier Drogba’ – will provide vital goalscoring ammunition and lift the large burden of pressure from Michu’s shoulders. The combined effect could prove astronomical.

Cardiff City
With the South Wales Derby becoming a Premier League fixture for the very first time, Cardiff fans will be hotly anticipating the new season. After three failed attempts at promotion through the playoffs, Cardiff finally decided to take the automatic route - but at what cost? An image overhaul saw the ‘Bluebirds’ evolve into ‘Red Dragons’ with a new red kit colour and badge. Many in football, including Cardiff fans, saw this as an abandonment of their history. For many, success has simply been a smokescreen for the damaged reputation of their new owner. Aside from off-pitch controversy, Cardiff has the squad in place to really compete in the top-tier. The gap between the Premiership and Championship has expanded more than ever, but Cardiff holds the potential to be an exception. A clean-sheet tally of 18 over last years Championship campaign can be credited to a solid defence, with the strong addition of Steven Caulker from Spurs helping to ease the step-up. At the other end, 20-year-old striker Andreas Cornelius is a gamble following only one year of regular first-team football, in the Danish Superliga. Cardiff can take confidence from their goal-scoring potential all-over the pitch, aided by the threat Peter Whittingham and Craig Bellamy provide from set pieces. With survival a very realistic first aim, Cardiff fans should be buoyed by the prospect of top-flight football. Is changing back to blue too much to ask, maybe?

Now just sit-back and watch as AVB is sacked by November; Rooney reveals a ‘once a red, always a red’ message under his shirt; Anelka signs a three-year contract extension; Norwich slump to relegation; Bony turns out to be flop-of-the-season and Cardiff change their kits mid-season, to green. Oh, and Palace make their surge towards the top-half… Okay, apologies, I took it too far!

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