Simon Says: Season Preview

What the title says

 In a professional career spanning almost two decades, Simon Smith has played for over sixty-seven clubs. The ultimate utility player, as his pace has diminished Simon has managed to reinvent himself time and again, from poacher to holding midfielder, centre-back to goalkeeper. Now that his website has been closed down, we have exclusive access to his weekly column.  

 The wait is over. Tomorrow the new Premier League season starts. It’s a season that promises much and I think we’ll see a great deal of change. Manchester City and Swansea both upset the natural order of things last season and there is every reason to think this season will be equally unpredictable. To help those of you who haven’t been able to follow the development of teams in the offseason, I offer my comprehensive team-by-team preview below.

Arsenal

The Gunners’ main story of the summer was the loss of RVP to rivals Manchester United. Fans are understandably upset but it is important to remember the roller coaster ride that is football. It wasn’t so long ago that Arsenal were the beneficiaries of the same deal in reverse when they poached Mikael Silvestre. Those calling for Wenger’s head should remember how Ferguson bounced back from that deal. Plenty for Arsenal fans to be excited about this year.

Last Season: 3rd Prediction for this season: 3rd

Aston Villa

Villa got rid of Alex McCleish after a pretty dismal season. I think replacement manager Paul Lambert is the right choice. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was in the running but it would have been a huge mistake to hire a manager who would only take control of the team from 75 minutes into a game. Lambert’s approach may not have the same last-minute impact but is less of a gamble. I think the fans will have a season to remember for the right reasons.

Last season: 16th Prediction for this season: 16th

Chelsea

I must say I was surprised to see Roberto Di Matteo given the full-time manager’s job but that just goes to show what a good job he did last season. To go from caretaker manager to the proper job shows how well he did with his man-management. I’ve not been behind the scenes at Stamford Bridge for a while but he must have got some incredible standards of tidiness when managing the caretaker to now be entrusted with the first-team squad. Should be a good year for Chelsea fans.

Last Season: 6th Prediction for this season: 6th

Everton

For me, one of the biggest signings of the season is Steven Pienaar to Everton. I’ve often thought that he might do well there. I really think he could be a good player for them but it depends on how he settles in. It will be interesting to see if he is able to develop a working-relationship with David Moyes, but I am excited to try and imagine how the Scot may use him in his systems. I think Toffee fans will have a lot to smile about this year.

Last Season: 7th Prediction for this season: 7th

Fulham

I keep reading a lot about how Fulham have ‘lost their captain Danny Murphy’. Normally this would be seen as careless but at this time of year the lad is probably off on his holidays. He may be cutting it fine but there is every chance he’s still letting his flat out to someone from the Olympics/Paralympics. A quick google search suggests that he’s gone to Blackburn. A questionable vacation choice but at least he’ll be able to get back in no time. I feel it’ll be a good season down at Craven Cottage.

Last Season: 9th Prediction for this season: 9th

Liverpool

Liverpool famously adopted the ‘moneyball’ technique that brought owner John Henry success in baseball where shrewd recruitment instead of big spending leads to a statistical advantage over teams that just spend big on ‘names’. Henry’s masterstroke is to combine this with shelling out lots of money on players giving Liverpool an advantage that will surely begin to pay off. I predict plenty of joyful singing in the Kop this season.

Last Season: 8th Prediction for this season: 8th

Manchester City

There is a lot of pressure on City this year. Having secured the long-awaited silverware the fans have craved, you wonder how their ambition and desire will be for the start of the season. Memories of lifting that Charity Shield will still be vivid in the players’ minds but they have to remember that there is still work to be done. There’s going to be a lot to enjoy for Manchester City fans this year.

Last Season: 1st Prediction for this season: 1st

Manchester United

Disaster struck the Lancashire club at the very end of last season. Tears rolled down the cheeks of fans as their season ended with the heart-breaking realisation that they had lost Michael Owen. He is arguably the club’s best ever number 7 and leave big shoes to fill. Ferguson has moved swiftly to bring in Robin van Persie in the hope that he can chip in with a goal or two. There’s plenty of cause for optimism among fans of the Red Devils.

Last Season: 2nd Prediction for this season: 2nd

Newcastle United

We can all agree that the Magpies were the most successful team in the transfer window and they were able to convert this into on the field success. I’ve heard a lot of pundits asking the question ‘how do Newcastle possibly improve on their terrific season and fifth place finish last year?’ For me the answer is actually quite obvious. Finish fourth. This season will be a good time to be in the Toon army.

Last Season: 5th Prediction for this season: 5th

Norwich City

Stephen Fry no doubt thought that last season was QUITE INTERESTING and I’m sure that Delia Smith is hoping new boss Chris Houghton has the RECIPE for success. (Stephen Fry is a devout Norwich City fan and Delia Smith is the club’s joint majority shareholder.) I expect Norwich to have a good season that’ll please the fans.

Last Season: 12th Prediction for this season: 12th

Queens Park Rangers

A lot of money has been pumped into the London club and I thought that it was going to fare them well last year. When they took the lead against Manchester City on the final game I thought it was the four year plan coming to fruition but the two goals that then went in from City were proof that money doesn’t buy success. I think Hoops fans will be smiling come May.

Last Season: 17th Prediction for this season: 17th

Reading

Reading football club is an English professional football club, based in Reading that plays in the Premier League. The club will compete in the 2012-13 season having guaranteed promotion at the end of the current season. Reading are nicknamed The Royals due to Reading’s location in the Royal County of Berkshire, though they were previously known as The Biscuitmen, due to the town’s association with Huntley and Palmers. I think their fans are in for a good year.

Last Season: Data couldn’t be found Prediction for this season: 1-20th

Southampton

Southampton Football Club is an English football club, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club will compete in the Premier League for the 2012–13 season, having gained promotion in the 2011–12 season, finishing as runners up in the Championship. After 27 years playing top-flight football the club was relegated to the Championship in 2005, before being relegated further to League One in 2009. There’s every reason to feel positive if you’re a Saints fan.

Last Season: Data couldn’t be found Prediction for this season: 1-20th

Stoke City

It is often said that ‘Stoke is a difficult place to go’. Personally I think that this couldn’t be farther from the truth. It’s about as central a city as you can find and the ground is a Rory Delap stone’s throw from the M1. People say that the big clubs have historically struggled but there is really no excuse for top teams with extensive staff to not find the place with some ease. I know for a fact that the Britannia stadium is listed as a point of interest on TomToms. Nick Hancock and his fellow fans are likely to have a great year.

Last Season: 14th Prediction for this season: 14th

Sunderland

A lot of attention has been given to Sunderland’s shoestring budget. I’m surprised to hear this be discussed as a problem because for me it shows why they will be successful. This is why Martin O’Neill is such a great manager. It’s all about attention to detail. If you get the little things right like the budget for the laces of your players’ boots then the bigger things will fall into place. Sunderland fans should be awaiting the start of the season with relish.

Last Season: 13th Prediction for this season: 13th

Swansea City

Swansea had a fantastic first season but you have to wonder if it can be sustained. International travel takes a tremendous toll on players. Just look at Alex Ferguson’s reluctance to let players undertake those journeys to play for their countries abroad and imagine how hard it is for a squad to do that every other week. It’s going to be extremely tough to do again. I think Swansea’s fans can look forward to a really successful season.

Last Season: 11th Prediction for this season: 11th

Tottenham Hotspur

AVB takes over from Harry Redknapp who had nearly four years at the Lane. It won’t be easy to fill those shoes and you know AVB will need to put in a lot of time to stamp his authority and build on the job that Harry did. Still, if he does a good job in the first few rounds of the season then there is no reason he can’t be just as good mate to the press in the pub and then get on with sorting out his team. I’ve got a feeling this will be a top-notch season for Spurs.

Last Season: 4th Prediction for this season: 4th

West Bromwich Albion

Roy Hodgson’s movements last summer will have put a spanner in the Baggies plans for this season but it just goes to show that you have to be ready to adapt. You can never assume that things are going to be as you expect and Roy Hodgson is a prime example. Turn the clock back a bit and the board wouldn’t expect to be replacing him but the surprising lack of being fired after the Euros means that Steve Clarke will lead the team this year. I expect Baggies fans to look back on this season with a great deal of satisfaction and pride.

Last Season: 10th Prediction for this season: 10th

West Ham United

West Ham United Football Club are an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, London. They will play in the Premier League in 2012–13. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current Boleyn Ground stadium. They initially competed in the Southern League and Western League before eventually joining the full Football League in 1919 and subsequently enjoyed promotion to the top flight for the 1923 season. I think the club’s fans will have a lot to enjoy this season.

Last Season: Data couldn’t be found Prediction for this season: 1-20th

Wigan Athletic

The people of Wigan should be delighted that they have managed to keep hold of Victor Moses so far and hope that will still be the case at the close of the transfer window. His goals and all-round play will be crucial as will the morale created by all of those wonderful ‘parting the defence like the red sea’ jokes that surely kick-started their resurgence at the end of last season. This season promises to be a great time to be a Latics fan.

Last Season: 15th Prediction for this season: 15th

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