The Community Shield takes place this afternoon and the
traditional curtain raiser to the English Premier League season features two
sides who’s main aspiration, domestically, will be to be top of the pile come
next May. Current Champions Manchester City take on reigning FA Cup and
Champions League holders, Chelsea at Wembley. The only other creditable
challengers (at the moment) for this year’s league title are Manchester United.
Arsenal may enter the reckoning if they strengthen their defence and midfield,
as well as keeping hold of captain Robin Van Persie, but even then I don’t
think they can muster enough of a sustained challenge to the top three clubs.
City have yet to add to last season’s squad despite the best
efforts of the club. Van Persie was coveted at the start of the summer but it
seems as though his preference is to move elsewhere. Roberto Mancini believes
he needs to strengthen before the close of the window with a defender and
striker seemingly a priority. Daniel Agger of Liverpool seems to be his chosen
defender but it depends if the valuation of the buying club is similar to that
of the selling club. Mancini knows that he has to not only mount another charge
for the title but also achieve a prolonged run in the Champions League after
being knocked at the group stage last season. He has been able to hold on to every
one of his key players. Joe Hart, Vincent Kompany, Yaya Toure and Sergio Augero
will once again form the spine of the light blues – and it’s a pretty
formidable one at that1
Chelsea have been the biggest spenders in English football this
problem with Roberto Di Matteo set to take charge of his first full season in
charge. It couldn’t have went much better for the Italian as caretaker as he
not only captured the FA Cup but managed to do something that the likes of
Mourinho, Ancelotti and Scolari couldn’t do – win Chelsea’s first ever European
Cup. He has certainly not rested on his laurels, bringing in Oscar and Eden
Hazard, who join up with Marko Marin, signed before the summer. It addresses
what had been a real problem in recent years for Chelsea, a lack of genuine
creativity from midfield. It also signals a change in the style of play as they
have been used to playing a more direct and forcing style of play. Juan Mata’s
signing attempted to rectify that but he was doubled up on my many teams
resulting in the threat being nullified. The addition of extra creativity and
pace – which has too been lacking – will benefit them greatly. It should also
help their £50m man Fernando Torres. Fresh off another International tournament
win with Spain (and collecting the Golden Boot) El Nino has to hit the ground
running this year. He’s into his second full season now at the club but has
failed to convince. Now that Didier Drogba is no longer the main striker that
should alleviate some of the pressure and allow him to play more freely and
finally come good. He has to.
Sir Alex Ferguson will not have suffered as much angst and
disappointment as he did on the final day of last season ever before in his
illustrious career in football. Losing the title on the last kick of the season
was agonising but he will use it to spur both him and his players on to success
this season. Shinji Kagawa has been bought from Bourrusia Dortmund and has been
the club’s sole major transfer. Nick Powell was also brought in but the
youngster still has a lot to learn before he can be considered a viable candidate
for being a regular in the side. Again, like City, they have not lost any of
their key players which is as beneficial as any new signing. Captain Nemanja
Vidic is back fit after missing most of last season and his return is massive.
Many will point to the fact that they still haven’t bought another central
midfielder but the emergence of Tom Cleverley could go some way to softening
that blow. It’s obvious that Ferguson is still looking to strengthen as well
with negotiations for Van Persie still ongoing. With that in mind, it’s
reasonable to expect them to add at least one new face before their assault on
the title gathers full pace.
The coming season is one of the most intriguing for some
time. City have never been in this position before, how will they react?!
Chelsea are redeveloping their team and style of play, and having spent
millions on doing so, it’s not expected they will get a lot of time to succeed
under what is still a relatively rookie in Di Matteo. Whilst United are the
wounded animal; they never hit the heights they were capable of last season but
only lost out on goal difference.
I think all three will strengthen before the end of August
and that could reshape the market further. Chelsea still requires at least one
defender and one central midfielder despite the plethora they have already got.
City will be on the lookout for that central defender and possibly another
striker (depending on departures) till the last gasp of the window and their
city rivals will also be looking to bolster their attacking options, with the
possibility of adding a midfielder to the ranks.
There doesn’t seem to be a balance within the Chelsea squad
as yet and although that may change in the next couple of weeks, I don’t see
how they can accommodate all of their attacking midfielders. The other concern
would be the lack of an out and out striker to deputise for Torres. Daniel
Sturridge is unlikely to want to sit on the bench again for the odd run-out and
still looks short of what is needed at a club of their size. I think the Blues
will be in and around the title picture for much of the season but ultimately
fall short.
That leaves the two Manchester clubs – again! City just got
past the finishing line ahead of United last season, can they do it again?
Well, no, not in my opinion. For all United never reached the level they were
capable of last season, they were still only undone by goal difference, whilst
City’s key players had the season of their lives. With Vidic back for the Red
Devils and further creativity added with the purchase of Kagawa that could
prove the difference. Should they acquire Van Persie as well, and remove some
pressure from Rooney, that would only enhance my view of them as the most likely
winners of this season’s Premier League.
My Selections:
Manchester United to win the Premier league, 11/4 @ Ladbrokes
