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Home|Football News|Columnists|Ranter|English Premier League Preview 2005-06
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English Premier League - The Season Starts Here
The RanterIn the final part of a three part series The Ranter looks ahead to the coming season… MiddlesboroughSteve McLaren should know a striker – he's got eight of them on his books! However, his search for a forward who can deliver 20 goals a season should finally have ended by landing Portsmouth's Aiyegbeni Yakubu in an £8m deal. It's the piece of the puzzle that should mean 'Boro remain in the top ten in the Premiership this season. McLaren's squad is built on youth with the bulk of the 2004 FA Youth Cup winning team now on the fringe's of the first team. Stuart Downing is the most familiar name but it is James Morrison who could make the biggest impact this year. However, 'Boro will miss the creative influence of Zenden who has left for European Champions Liverpool. At the back, fitness permitting, McLaren can rely on the solid experience of Schwarzer, Southgate and Ehiogu. It's a strong foundation on which to build. The ever improving left-back Frank Quedrue provides aggression, goals and creativity down the left while new boy Emanuel Pogatetz could be an inspired signing at right back. 'Boro could be an outside shot for a UEFA cup place but more realistically top ten will be a good season for McClaren with a strong showing in either cup competition a major bonus.
Key Man: Aiyegbeni Yakubu Newcastle UnitedIs there ever anything less than crisis a St.James' Park? Here is a club that has shot itself in the foot more often than any other in the history of English football. No major trophy for more than 50 years yet 50,000 still turn out for home games every other week. It's a fan base that deserves more than it gets from the epitome of fat cat chairman. This summer has hardly been different to any other with far more promises made than ever delivered. Graham Souness has attempted to instill discipline in his rabble-rousing troops but there is always the suspicion that a managerial change is just an Alan Shearer benching around the corner. Souness has made a couple of sound purchases in Emre and Scott Parker – if Jenas Stays there's the solid basis of a competitive midfield. Lee Clark has been brought back to Newcastle to provide back-up but is the manager alone in thinking that Newcastle can prosper without a genuine right-winger? It's up front that Newcastle is bound to struggle though. Shearer will, of course, score 20 plus Premiership goals if fit but there's no top-class back up with Bellamy and Kluivert leaving for pastures new. Michael Owen is available, affordable and desperately needed by the Toon – but if you were Owen, would you go to St. James' with no European football on offer? Exactly! Key Man: Alan Shearer, in his final, final season, honestly. PortsmouthNew manager Alan Perin has conducted a very bloody summer revolution at Fratton Park – with no less than seven first team players shipped out, and a similar number brought in. Something needed shaking up - Portsmouth was lucky to not be closer to relegation last season. It still promises to be a tough season for the South Coast side as new players gel and the team face the loss of top scorer Aiyegbeni Yakubu, talismanic midfielder Patrick Berger and central defensive hard-man Arjan De Zeeuw. Lack of money has hindered Perin and the former Marseille coach has been forced to be creative with his signings. He's taken a risk on the unpredictable but sometimes brilliant winger Lauren Robert from Newcastle and the equally perplexing former Liverpool goalkeeper Sander Westerveld. Pompey should have a squad good enough to stay up and they've certainly brought in a top-class coach. Can they progress? Unlikely given the number of changes but it would be a real surprise if the Championship beckons in 2006. Key Man: Lomana Tresor Lua-Lua SunderlandEvery pundit on the planet will be predicting Sunderland to go down and there's no difference here. The Stadium of Light roar should help secure a few home scalps but the squad looks too thin and devoid of goals to keep Mick McCarthy's side up. As ever it's a difficult job for the promoted Championship sides but with little money to spend and little top flight experience in the team the season is likely to end in disappointment for the former Ireland manager. Up front McCarthy has brought in Jonathan Stead from Blackburn who will need to hit the form of two years ago if he is to help Sunderland battle relegation effectively. The lively Andy Gray bought from Sheffield United could also do well and Gerrard Houllier's - diamond” Anthony Le Talec will have a lot to prove in a year long loan from Liverpool. It's at the back that Sunderland look weakest with former Ipswich 'keeper Kelvin Davis likely to be kept busy. Alan Stubbs will bring in top level experience but Sunderland will need to defender better, tighter and more effectively than they did even in the Championship last season. Key Man: Jon Stead Tottenham HotspursMartin Jol is building an excellent young squad at White Hart Lane – one that should push the 'big four' all the way for a Champions League spot. It may have come a season early with a number of young but talent players in the squad however. Edgar Davids is the biggest name summer buy and a real coup for Jol – it is the Dutch international whom he hopes will use his vast experience to bind a youthful team. Davids may have spent the best part of two seasons on the sidelines at Barcelona and Inter respectively but his class, aggression and know-how should tell in the middle of the park. This is especially true away from home where Tottenham struggled last season. If only Jol could find a top-class partner – Jermaine Jenas anyone? – then Spurs' squad would probably look stronger than Liverpool's, and a top four spot realistic. Up front Jol has options in abundance but it is Defoe and Mido that look the brightest pairing. Mido looked sharp and fit in pre-season; much more like the player who took the French league by storm earning a multi-million pound move to Roma. That said, Frederick Kanoute and Robbie Keane will still have a big say in any success that comes Spurs way. Wayne Routledge should counterbalance Andy Reid on the wings in an attacking looking squad. The defence will again be built around the excellent Ledley King and Paul Robinson. Eric Edman had a fine season last year with his goals and crosses making a vital contribution and Canadian Paul Stalteri is a canny signing at right back. Spurs could do with adding another centre half to the squad although former Nottingham Forrest youngster Michael Dawson may mature enough to take a more active role in the team this term. Key Man: West Bromwich AlbionThe Baggies maintained their Premiership status in a miraculous finish to the season. Key to that escape was the team spirit that former player Bryan Robson has instilled in the side. Perhaps the much pilloried Robson is actually top class coach despite the media onslaught that preceded his eventual Middlesbrough exit? However, it still promises to be a hard season ahead for the Midlands side, with goals continuing to be hard to come by. Kieron Richardson will be missed in midfield if he doesn't have a last minute change of heart and decide not to stay at Old Trafford. However Zoltan Gera will continue to be the creative force and his form will be important to the Baggies' chances. Diomansy Kamara should add some flair up front in Richardson's absence. The acquisition of Liverpool player Chris Kirkland on a year long loan could prove to be a masterstroke if only the goalkeeping prodigy can keep himself fit. Kirkland's safe hands and authority around the box should instill considerable confidence at the back, which has been strengthened with the arrival of the experienced Steve Watson. Robson must somehow find a way for his side to hit the back of the net more often – Kevin Campbell, Geoff Horsfield, Rob Earnshaw and Kanu failed to deliver in 2004-5. To this end Wigan's contract rebel Nathan Ellington has been bought for £3m. The powerful, pacy striker is still a risk for Robson; the forward has never before played in the Premiership. Maintaining their position in the Premiership by the end of the season may be a step too far for West Brom. Key Man: West Ham United The Championship Play-off winners are always favourite to go straight
back down – West Ham are deservedly no exception. The Hammers
were more than a little fortunate the make the Premiership and,
on paper at least, their squad simply isn't strong enough
to compete at this level. They've made some risky signings
but the most sensible of all was to retain the evergreen Teddy Sherringham
on a one year contract. His experience will prove even more valuable
at the top level even if the legs are not what they once were. The little known Yossi Benayoun could be an inspired signing but the remainder of the squad remain at Championship level. Can The Hammers maintain their Premiership status? That Alan Pardew is the bookies favourite for the sack says it all. Key Man: Teddy Sherringham WiganThe Championship winners have the funds to make a splash in the Premiership if only they can survive this season. Itïs going to be a close call Š essentially Wiganïs squad is of Championship standard and the Latics have had trouble bringing in top class players despite their deep pockets. Paul Jewell has proven to be a canny manager over the years and the suspicion is that of all the promoted sides Wigan has the best chance of staying up. Despite problems attracting new talent Jewell will be able to call upon Norwichïs excellent goalscoring midfielder Damien Francis, Henri Camara, the lightening quick Senagalese forward, and the experienced pair Arjan de Zeeu and Stephane Henchoz at the back. Camara will need to hit the back of the net regularly given Nathan Ellingtonïs departure to West Brom. The forward will be a massive loss to Wigan. If Wigan remains in contention come Christmas the purse strings could be loosened once again with the job of attracting players so much easier if survival is realistic. Theyïve got a good chance but some of the experienced signings must perform if this faith is to be proved to be true. Key Man: Henri Camara Premiership Prediction: 17th Related LinksThe Purist
- Glazer's Takeover - An Inside Look |
Managing My Life 
Signed
Beckham
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