Premiership preview, table prediction: 3. Manchester City

Manchester City

Manchester City  Barclays Premier League position preview 2011/12

Manager:  Roberto Mancini 

Ground: The City of Manchester Stadium

Nickname: City of The Blues

Capacity: 47726

Squad:

Goalkeepers 12 Stuart Taylor 25 Joe Hart 37 Gunnar Nielsen 63 Eirik Holmen Johansen Costel Pantilimon ·         Defenders 2 Micah Richards 4 Vincent Kompany 5 Pablo Zabaleta 6 Joleon Lescott 13 Aleksandar Kolarov 15 Stefan Savic 22 Gael Clichy 28 Kolo Toure 36 Wayne Bridge 38 Dedryck Boyata 44 Karim Rekik 56 Frederic Veseli 57 Reece Wabara Greg Cunningham Nedum Onuoha

Midfielders 7 James Milner 8 Shaun Wright-Phillips 11 Adam Johnson 18 Gareth Barry 20 Vladimir Weiss 21 David Silva 31 Gai Assulin 34 Nigel de Jong 36 Denis Suarez 42 Yaya Toure 53 Chris Chantler 62 Abdul Razak 64 Joan Angel Roman

Forwards 6 Emmanuel Adebayor 10 Edin Dzeko 14 Roque Santa Cruz 16 Sergio Aguero 32 Carlos Tevez 39 Craig Bellamy 43 Alex Nimely 45 Mario Balotelli 60 John Guidetti 66 Luca Scapuzzi

Manchester City finished in 3^rd place last season, and finally qualified for the champion’s league. Roberto Mancini is a quality manager and is looking to take the club in the right direction. That being said, he knows the owners have big expectations of this season both in the league and Europe. He knows poor results could cost him the job early in the season. The owners keep on pumping out money to strengthen the squad, and Manchester City have founds and a squad that few if none in the premiership can match at the moment. The question I’m asking; can Mancini manage to get the best out of the squad and make a team out of all the stars?

Pre-Season Fixtures/Results

July 16 vs Club America 2-0 – McGivern, Wright-Phillips

July 18 vs Vancouver Whitecaps 2-1 – Guidetti, Wright-Phillips

July 24 vs LA Galaxy 1-1 – Balotelli

July 30 vs League of Ireland XI 3-0 Wright-Phillips, Johnson, Scapuzzi

July 31 vs Inter Milan 3-0 Balotelli, Dzeko, Johnson

August 7 vs Manchester United (Community Shield) 2-3 Lescott, Dzeko

Players in

07/11 Kun Agüero FW Atlético Madrid

07/11 Gael Clichy DF Arsenal FC  

07/11 Stefan Savić DF Partizan

Players out

07/11 Michael Johnson MF Leicester City

07/11 Jérôme Boateng DF Bayern München

06/11 Shay Given GK Aston Villa

06/11 John Guidetti FW FC Twente

06/11 Jô FW Internacional RS

06/11 Scott Kay MF Macclesfield Town

06/11 Shaleum Logan DF Brentford FC

06/11 Ryan McGivern DF Manchester City (R)

Most likely starting lineup for Manchester City next weekend:

25 Joe Hart

2 Micah Richards   4 Vincent Kompany   6 Joleon Lescott   13 Aleksandar Kolarov

7 James Milner                 34 Nigel de Jong              42 Yaya Toure   21 David Silva

10 Edin Dzeko   45 Mario Balotelli

Manchester City’s talisman from last season Carlos Tevez wants to leave the club and could give Mancini big problems this year if they can’t sell him. I don’t know if Tevez is motivated enough to play yet a good season for a club he has no intentions of staying with? And how does the rest of the squad react to his childish behavior. And the childish and immature player of the history in super talent Mario Balotelli is another big problem for Mancini this year. That being said he should have enough quality in the club to make up for the Tevez and Balotelli problems. And the owners won’t be waiting for success if Mancini can’t deliver progress this season as well. He could actually be one of the first managers to be sacked this season. I think City will finish in 3^rd spot as last year, so I believe Mancini needs success in the champion’s league if he is to remain at City further.

Premiership preview, table prediction: 4. Liverpool

Liverpool

Liverpool Barclays Premier League position preview 2011/12

Manager: Kenny Dalglish

Ground: Anfield

Nickname: The Reds

Capacity: 45362

Squad:

Goalkeepers 1 Brad Jones 25 Pepe Reina 32 Alexander Doni         Defenders 2 Glen Johnson 5 Daniel Agger 6 Fabio Aurelio 16 Sotirios Kyrgiakos 22 Danny Wilson 23 Jamie Carragher 34 Martin Kelly 35 Conor Coady 37 Martin Skrtel 38 John Flanagan 40 Daniel Ayala 47 Andre Wisdom 49 Jack Robinson Emiliano Insua Philipp Degen Jose Enrique

Midfielders 4 Raul Meireles 8 Steven Gerrard 10 Joe Cole 14 Jordan Henderson 15 Alberto Aquilani 17 Maxi Rodriguez 19 Stewart Downing 20 Jay Spearing 21 Lucas 26 Charlie Adam 28 Christian Poulsen 33 Jonjo Shelvey

Forwards 7 Luis Suarez 9 Andy Carroll 12 Daniel Pacheco 18 Dirk Kuyt 24 David N'Gog 39 Nathan Eccleston 46 David Amoo Nabil El Zhar

Liverpool started the season horribly last season, and as I predicted from day one of appointing Hodgson and signing players like Paulsen and Konchesky it was doom for the club. But for the Liverpool fans a came a miracle out of nowhere when they got new owners and getting rid of Hodgson and bringing back King Kenny. Dalglish won the last League title for the club, and brought so much joy to the fans, both as manager and player back in the days. After years of darkness at Anfield it finally felt like a new dawn for the club and fans.

With a renewed hope and owners backing the club and understanding the fans and history of the club, it looks like Liverpool with Kenny in charge can challenge for the top 4 spots again. The question is if King Kenny can bring Liverpool even into a title challenge. I think not, but I bet a lot of the fans do, and with the backing of The Kop they will be a hard team to beat this season.

Pre-Season Fixtures/Results

July 13 vs Guangdong Sunray Cave 4-3 – Poulsen, N’Gog, Coady, Carroll

July 16 vs Malaysia XI 6-3 – Adam, N’Gog (2), Rodriguez (2), Kuyt

July 23 vs Hull 0-3 July 28 vs Galatasaray 0-3

August 1 vs Valerenga 3-3 Carroll, Agger (2)

August 6 vs Valencia 2-0 Carroll, Kuyt

Players in

08/11 José Enrique DF Newcastle United

07/11 Stewart Downing MF Aston Villa

07/11 Charlie Adam MF Blackpool FC

07/11 David Amoo FW Hull City

07/11 Alberto Aquilani MF Juventus

07/11 Philipp Degen DF VfB Stuttgart

07/11 Doni GK AS Roma

07/11 Nathan Eccleston FW Charlton Athletic

07/11 Nabil El Zhar MF PAOK Saloniki

07/11 Jordan Henderson MF Sunderland AFC

07/11 Emiliano Insua DF Galatasaray

07/11 Brad Jones GK Derby County

07/11 Emmanuel Mendy DF Liverpool FC (R)

07/11 Dani Pacheco FW Norwich City

07/11 Suso MF Liverpool FC (R)

Players out

07/11 Paul Konchesky DF Leicester City

06/11 Stephen Darby DF Rochdale AFC

06/11 Péter Gulácsi GK Hull City

06/11 Martin Hansen GK Bradford City

06/11 Conor Thomas MF Coventry City

Dalglish have done a lot of good signing and it looks like he is mainly interested in britans or players with premiership experience. I guess some of the idea is that this will make it easier for him to bring Liverpool back in the top of England, since the player s know what English football is all about. It’s no secret that most foreigners need time to adept to the premiership, but this should not be a problem at Liverpool this season.

Injuries and bans:                           Return date                       situation

Skrtel (Martin)                               20th Aug 2011                 Calf injury

Gerrard (Steven)                            4th Sep 2011                  Groin Injury               

Johnson (Glen)                               13th Aug 2011                Thigh injury                 

Most likely starting lineup for Liverpool next weekend:

25 Pepe Reina

34 Martin Kelly   23 Jamie Carragher    5 Daniel Agger    Jose Enrique

19 Stewart Downing  26 Charlie Adam   14 Jordan Henderson    18 Dirk Kuyt

7 Luis Suarez     9 Andy Carroll

Looking at Liverpool’s squad it’s as good as most of the top teams, except for the defence. They should have had a central defender of higher quality, and if they get and injury on Agger they might be in trouble against the best teams. That being said, I’m my opinion they got the strongest midfield in the premiership at the moment. Players like Gerrard, Meireles, Aquilani, Adam, Downing, Lucas and Henderson will give Daglish plenty of option this season. I reckon he will play 4-5-1 mostly away, to take advantage of the strong line of midfielders he got.  With the best goalkeeper in the premiership in Reina, and creative Suarez and hard hitting Carrol in front I believe Liverpool will nick the important 4^th place in front of Arsenal and Tottenham. But I think it’s too early for Dalglish to challenge the two Manchester teams and Chelsea for the title. 

Premiership preview, table prediction: 5. Arsenal

Arsenal 

Arsenal Barclays Premier League position preview 2011/12

Manager: Arsène Wenger

Ground: Emirates Stadium

Nickname: The Gunners

Capacity: 60361

Squad:

Goalkeepers 1 Manuel Almunia 13 Wojciech Szczesny 21 Lukasz Fabianski 29 Vito Mannone 59 Damian Martinez Defenders 3 Bacary Sagna 5 Thomas Vermaelen 6 Laurent Koscielny 18 Sebastien Squillaci 20 Johan Djourou 25 Carl Jenkinson 28 Kieran Gibbs 28 Gavin Hoyte 30 Armand Traore 48 Ignasi Miquel Pedro Botelho

Midfielders 2 Abou Diaby 4 Cesc Fabregas 16 Aaron Ramsey 17 Alex Song 19 Jack Wilshere 26 Alex Chamberlain 27 Emmanuel Eboue 35 Emmanuel Frimpong 40 Craig Eastmond 44 Conor Henderson 46 Henri Lansbury 58 Nicholas Yennaris Francis Coquelin Samuel Galindo Attacking Midfielders 7 Tomas Rosicky 8 Samir Nasri 23 Andrey Arshavin Sanchez Watt

Forwards 10 Robin van Persie 14 Theo Walcott 18 Carlos Vela 22 Gervinho 29 Marouane Chamakh 33 Benik Afobe 42 Ryo Miyaichi 49 Rhys Murphy 52 Nicklas Bendtner 56 Luke Freeman 57 Gilles Sunu

Arsenal finished last season in a disappointing 4^th place. The Gunners are usually one of the first teams getting mentioned as a title contender, but if you ask me this season is going to one big disappointment for Arsenal fans. There have been a lot of speculations about Fabregas and Nasri this summer, and as I’m writing now it being said that Fabregas is more or less a Barcelona player, and that Nasri will join Man City within a day or so. This has been a long and bad process for the whole club, and the ending cannot be good for Wenger. Losing two of his key player’s right before the start of the season. Bringing in players and getting them settled into the club and the system is not easy after the season have started. Replacing one of the best playmakers in the world is not easy in itself. The belief in the squad has properly gone to hell, and a lot of players might be looking to exit Emirates stadium in the coming year. Manager Arsène Wenger is world class, but he is in for what most likely is his hardest challenge in his career. The question is will he be able to keep his own motivation after this?

Pre-Season Fixtures/Results

July 13 vs Malaysia XI 4-0 – Ramsey, Walcott, Vela, Rosicky

July 16 vs Hangzhou Greentown 1-1 – Vela

July 23 vs FC Cologne 2-1 – Gervinho (2)

July 30 vs Boca Juniors 2-2 Van Persie, Ramsey

July 31 vs New York Red Bulls 1-1 Van Persie

August 6 vs Benfica 1-2 Van Persie

Players in

07/11 Craig Eastmond DF Millwall FC

07/11 Emmanuel Frimpong MF Arsenal FC (R)

07/11 Gervinho FW Lille OSC

07/11 Carl Jenkinson DF Charlton Athletic

07/11 Henri Lansbury MF Norwich City

07/11 Vito Mannone GK Hull City

07/11 Ryo Miyaichi FW Feyenoord

07/11 Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain MF Southampton FC

07/11 Armand Traoré DF Juventus

07/11 Carlos Vela FW West Bromwich Albion

Players out

06/11 Gael Clichy DF Manchester City

06/11 Denilson MF São Paulo FC

06/11 James Shea GK Dagenham & Redbridge

Injuries and bans:                           Return date                       situation

Wilshere (Jack)                              Unknown                           Ankle injury

Van Persie (Robin)                         13th Aug 2011                   Knee injury

Koscielny (Laurent)                        13th Aug 2011                   Muscle injury

Nasri (Samir)                                  13th Aug 2011                  Muscle injury

Abou Diaby (Vassiriki)                   17th Sep 2011                     Ankle injury

The signing of Gervinho is clearly not enough to get Arsenal to fight for titles this season and Wenger needs to spend a lot of money if he is going to keep up with the big guns in the league. To make things even worse it’s many key players out with injury before the season starts as well. Players like Wilshire, Van Persie, Diaby and Koscielny are all out with small or bigger injuries.

Most likely starting lineup for Arsenal next weekend:

13 Wojciech Szczesny

3 Bacary Sagna     20 Johan Djourou    6 Laurent Koscielny   28 Kieran Gibbs

16 Aaron Ramsey  17 Alex Song

7 Tomas Rosicky                                                                             23 Andrey Arshavin

                                    22 Gervinho        29 Marouane Chamakh

Arsenal still have a big squad with plenty of talent, but losing two of their biggest playmakers and captain right before it all kick-starts, is a massive blow to the team. Arsene Wenger have a lot to do within a small period of time, and the biggest job is boosting his own and the squads moral and hope before it’s too late. I think Arsenal is in for a humongous disappointment this season, and need to spend big if they are to get a champions league spot. Wenger is by far one of the best managers out there, so if anybody can do this it’s him. Myself I think they will fail to come top 4 this season.