We are only 2 games into the new English Premier League season but it seems the league is picking up right where it left off last season. 2009-2010 EPL winners, Chelsea, sit atop the league with 6 points while a host of other teams including 2009-2010 runners-up, Manchester United, follow closely with 4 points. As much as this has been a busy off-season for many teams in the league, it has been an exponentially exhausting one for a majority of the league’s players. Numerous players participated in this summer’s World Cup festivities in South Africa and are expected to feel the effects of a shortened off-season early in the EPL season.
Regardless, there is a lot of excitement surrounding the start of this premiership season. For starters, there is excitement carrying over from the end of the 2009-2010 season, which saw Chelsea win the EPL on the last day of play by a slim 1-point margin over Manchester United. Undoubtedly, many expect to see at least one of these two teams atop the league at the end of this season.
Over the course of the off-season, teams have made numerous line-up changes in order to bolster their teams and make a run for the title. These trades and signings were headlined by the following: William Gallas from Arsenal to Tottenham Hotspur, Mame Biram Diouf on loan to Blackburn, the arrival of Yossi Benayoun to Chelsea, and the departure of Michael Ballack and Joe Cole from Chelsea, Joe Cole signing with Liverpool, Jerome Boateng and Yaya Toure to Manchester City, and Javier Hernandez to Manchester United.
For the new season, don’t expect too much variation in the standings compared to last season’s standings. With the addition of big names and the inclusion of young, energetic players to their squads, Manchester City and Liverpool should make strong runs for the premiership title. With Manchester United having a number of players out on loan to begin the season (such as Danny Welbeck and Mame Biram Diouf ) and the much anticipated arrival of the young Javier Hernandez, look for them to have a monster second half of the season.
Tottenham Hotspur are eager to show fans that last season’s return to the days of old was not a one-time act. Expect to see good football from them based on their strengthening team chemistry from last year and with the addition of William Gallas.
Perennial premiership standouts Arsenal and Chelsea had lackluster off-seasons. They both lost a number of key players (ex: William Gallas for Arsenal, Michael Ballack and Joe Cole for Chelsea). Arsenal did not do a good job of trying to replace the caliber of players they lost. Chelsea lost a number of players, and as a team, I expect them to play slow, showing their age.
Finally, supporters of Sunderland should gear up for a season of repeated heartbreak. Sunderland acquired a number of players but majority of them are on loan. Not much will change from last season as I expect they will finish in a worse position than they did in 2009-2010. Sorry Sunderland fans.
My prediction for the winner of the EPL in 2010-2011: Manchester United. The squad is just too stacked. Combine their “so close, but yet so far” finish in second place last season, the moves they made this off season to strengthen their lineup, and the fact that no other team made significantly stronger moves to try to top them, I just cannot see them finishing in any place other than first.
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