Wednesday, August 10, 2005
CAFC Season preview
Only a few days now till the start of the 2005-6 Premiership season, and Pedro45 has decided to give a run down on the teams to watch or not, as the case may be...
Charlton
Lots of squad signings, and it will be fun finding out how they fit together. Bent will need to score goals and also get used to the 4-5-1 formation Curbs is quite obviously going to start away games with. The defence will be more solid if all fit and available; Sorondo needs to stay on the pitch (I think he got sent off three times last year playing for some Croydon team); the wide men, whether it be Rommerdahl, Thomas, Ambrose, or Sam neeed to score and make more goals than previously; the midfield needs to tackle, and Smertin is key here. A good season would be 6th-8th, a bad season anywhere below 12th.
Chelsea
They will be champions again, simply because nobody else is good enough to beat them consistently. Many don't like Drogba, but I saw him play for Marseille, and he'll get well over 20 goals this year if he stays fit. Lamps will score another bundle, as will Duff, Robben, and Wright-Philips if he gets on the pitch enough. I think they will be Champions of Europe too...
Man Utd
Not good enough all round. Breakthrough year for Darren Fletcher who seems to get better and better; goals a plenty for Ruud and Rooney, but others are getting on, and there may not be much (or enough) left in the tank for Keane, Scholes, Giggs, etc. Will be better in defence, if Rio stays and gets used to earplugs, and Van Der Sar will provide continuity in goal, if not fluffing his kicks.
Arsenal
Also not good enough to get close to Chelsea. Viera-less, younger midfielders will come through to be stars - Fabregas and (the once Charlton-bound) Flamini - and Pires and Ljundberg will score loads more goals, but...they just aren't in the same league as those Blues...apart from Henry. Thank god he hasn't taken the rouble yet; it's about time he got injured though...
Spurs
A better season, but internal strife may rear it's head when they have the odd defeat. Solid in midfield, I'm not a fan of Davids, it's still upfront where they excite. If they keep hold of Defoe, Keane, and Kanoute, with Mido in reserve, they are capable of scoring lots, in any match! Defensively suspect; is Ledley King really any good? They do have a good goalie though...
Everton
In trouble. Why do clubs/teams that have money problems go out and spend it all once the get the sniff of success? Everton have outlayed over £15m recently, yet will almost certainly not get any of the Champions league TV money unless they overturn Villareal (third in La Liga last year) in the away leg, which is unlikely. Will be behind Liverpool this season!
Liverpool
Champions of Europe, but not good enough week in week out. They do have (in my opinion) the best manager in the country, and he is getting there. Still a couple of years away from challenging Chelsea, will probably finish fourth. Look out for Sissoroko (I think that's how you spell it?), but don't expect to see much of the lanky Crouch, who I predict will be injured most of the season.
Down the bottom
Sunderland, Wigan and West Ham all have it all to do to stay up. All are capable of winning the odd game against some premier league teams (Fulham, Blackburn, Pompey, Charlton, WBA, etc) but not enough to allow breathing space. Wigan will be toughest to beat but they probably won't win enough - they have a good manager, and he kept Bradford up for a year! I think one will survive, and it could be any of them, as other teams are due a rubbish season. Fulham look dodgy, as do Pompey, and both have lost their best players. Albion should be OK if they carry on from last year.
In the middle
Villa, Brummies, Boro, Bolton, Newcastle, Massives, and will join Charlton in the middle of the bunch; good days and bad days throughout the season predicted. Not quite good enough to step up, or bad enough to get worried.
Cups
With Chelsea nearly unbeatable, only a tough Champions league campaign will mean there reserves getting a game, in which case (and hope) a bit of silverwear for Man Utd (League cup) and Arsenal (FA), with Boro and Liverpool the losing finalists.
Well that's it, publish and be damned. My predictions on this site so far have been miles off, so don't rush down the bookies after reading this.
Comments welcome!
Charlton
Lots of squad signings, and it will be fun finding out how they fit together. Bent will need to score goals and also get used to the 4-5-1 formation Curbs is quite obviously going to start away games with. The defence will be more solid if all fit and available; Sorondo needs to stay on the pitch (I think he got sent off three times last year playing for some Croydon team); the wide men, whether it be Rommerdahl, Thomas, Ambrose, or Sam neeed to score and make more goals than previously; the midfield needs to tackle, and Smertin is key here. A good season would be 6th-8th, a bad season anywhere below 12th.
Chelsea
They will be champions again, simply because nobody else is good enough to beat them consistently. Many don't like Drogba, but I saw him play for Marseille, and he'll get well over 20 goals this year if he stays fit. Lamps will score another bundle, as will Duff, Robben, and Wright-Philips if he gets on the pitch enough. I think they will be Champions of Europe too...
Man Utd
Not good enough all round. Breakthrough year for Darren Fletcher who seems to get better and better; goals a plenty for Ruud and Rooney, but others are getting on, and there may not be much (or enough) left in the tank for Keane, Scholes, Giggs, etc. Will be better in defence, if Rio stays and gets used to earplugs, and Van Der Sar will provide continuity in goal, if not fluffing his kicks.
Arsenal
Also not good enough to get close to Chelsea. Viera-less, younger midfielders will come through to be stars - Fabregas and (the once Charlton-bound) Flamini - and Pires and Ljundberg will score loads more goals, but...they just aren't in the same league as those Blues...apart from Henry. Thank god he hasn't taken the rouble yet; it's about time he got injured though...
Spurs
A better season, but internal strife may rear it's head when they have the odd defeat. Solid in midfield, I'm not a fan of Davids, it's still upfront where they excite. If they keep hold of Defoe, Keane, and Kanoute, with Mido in reserve, they are capable of scoring lots, in any match! Defensively suspect; is Ledley King really any good? They do have a good goalie though...
Everton
In trouble. Why do clubs/teams that have money problems go out and spend it all once the get the sniff of success? Everton have outlayed over £15m recently, yet will almost certainly not get any of the Champions league TV money unless they overturn Villareal (third in La Liga last year) in the away leg, which is unlikely. Will be behind Liverpool this season!
Liverpool
Champions of Europe, but not good enough week in week out. They do have (in my opinion) the best manager in the country, and he is getting there. Still a couple of years away from challenging Chelsea, will probably finish fourth. Look out for Sissoroko (I think that's how you spell it?), but don't expect to see much of the lanky Crouch, who I predict will be injured most of the season.
Down the bottom
Sunderland, Wigan and West Ham all have it all to do to stay up. All are capable of winning the odd game against some premier league teams (Fulham, Blackburn, Pompey, Charlton, WBA, etc) but not enough to allow breathing space. Wigan will be toughest to beat but they probably won't win enough - they have a good manager, and he kept Bradford up for a year! I think one will survive, and it could be any of them, as other teams are due a rubbish season. Fulham look dodgy, as do Pompey, and both have lost their best players. Albion should be OK if they carry on from last year.
In the middle
Villa, Brummies, Boro, Bolton, Newcastle, Massives, and will join Charlton in the middle of the bunch; good days and bad days throughout the season predicted. Not quite good enough to step up, or bad enough to get worried.
Cups
With Chelsea nearly unbeatable, only a tough Champions league campaign will mean there reserves getting a game, in which case (and hope) a bit of silverwear for Man Utd (League cup) and Arsenal (FA), with Boro and Liverpool the losing finalists.
Well that's it, publish and be damned. My predictions on this site so far have been miles off, so don't rush down the bookies after reading this.
Comments welcome!
