You’ve read your newspaper previews, heard what the ex-pro’s
and esteemed pundits (as well as the not so esteemed ones) have to say, but with
the 2013/14 season’s big Premier League big kick off now almost upon us, and
the football league (and those up and down Britain’s footballing pyramid) campaigns
already under way, it’s time to hear what the real supporters have to say. So
join us over the next few days as CollinsBeans has looked into its address book
and assembled a crack bunch of friends and experts to tell you just how the
next 10 months ahead will pan out for their teams. These are the real people in
the know so come and see what they have to say...
So beginning our first Big Fans Preview is an all London,
all Premier League edition. CollisnBeans co-founder James Platt tells you just
why he’s so all hot under the collar for the return of the special one and
friends of the blog Mr Howard Bateman and Mr Peter Thorn let you know just why Phillipe
Senderos gives them nightmares and why Arsenal will finish above Spurs...again.
Fans Preview No. 1 – James Platt: Chelsea
1. New season, new hope (or new fears...) - how are you feeling heading into season version 2013/14?
Pretty excited – Jose is back. For the first time in a little while I can’t wait for the new campaign to get going (although call me old fashioned but mid-August still seems wrong). It sounds horribly sentimental and melodramatic, but I genuinely always dreamed and hoped that Mourinho would come back one day, but didn’t think it would ever actually happen.
I’m not completely naïve. I know Mourinho comes with baggage, I know he doesn’t always play the most attractive football. I know things weren’t going particularly well when he left the first time. But there’s just something about the man – he’ll provide entertainment and controversy if nothing else.
On
the pitch I think the squad looks in decent shape too. I’m expecting big things
from Eden Hazard in particular. He was very good last season, even though it
was his first campaign in England and he’s still young. So this year, with a
season behind him, I can really see Hazard making a huge impact. I’d
hope/expect Oscar to push on too and start running games from start to finish –
he’s got the ability.
2. Everyone enjoys some
'wheeling and dealing' (TM H. Redknapp) so how would you assess your teams
summer transfer business?
It’s been fairly quiet so far – like a lot of sides I
sense a slightly panicked, rushed frenzy of activity towards the end of August.
Wayne Rooney is key. I really want him and think he’d
be great at the Bridge – you’d expect Mourinho to boost his confidence, make him
the main man, and with Hazard, Oscar and Juan Mata behind him, there could be a
hatful of goals. It’s a vital area as well – without Rooney, or another top
class striker, I think the title will be beyond us. Fernando Torres will never
be the player he used to be, Demba Ba is a decent squad man but nothing more,
and Romelu Lukaku has real potential but I can’t see him leading the line all
season and banging home 30 goals. A centre forward of real quality is a must.
I’d also like to see a top drawer defensive midfielder
added. Personally I think David Luiz is perfect for this role, but most coaches
seem to believe his future is at centre back. So with Luiz ruled out there’s
not much else – Mikel is limited, Essien is creaking, and Ramires needs licence
to get forward and counter-attack. Marco van Ginkel has been signed and has a
lot of potential in this role I’m led to believe, but he’s only 20.
Of the current signings, there’s nothing to get
particularly excited about. Van Ginkel (mentioned above) is young, and I’ll be
honest and say I haven’t seen much of Andre Schurrle. Mark Schwarzer could
actually be quite a clever move as a back-up goalkeeper with experience, but 40
year old Australian keepers on a free transfer are not really the kind of deals
to get the pulse racing…
3. Come May 2014, your team will be...
Let’s be optimistic and say league winners. As cited above, acquiring Rooney or another proven striker is the key though. Without one, that prediction is revised down to top four and maybe a domestic cup.
Manchester United under David Moyes will be interesting, and they could probably do with a quality signing themselves. I expect Manchester City to be up there as well, and they possibly start the season as title favourites.
With Mourinho back, it should be fun if nothing else.
Fans Preview No. 2 - Peter Thorn: Arsenal
1. New season, new hope (or new fears...) - how are you feeling heading into season version 2013/14?
Every season, or so it would feel to me, apocalyptic
proclamations of Arsenal's fall from grace are made, and I derive great
pleasure from the continued incorrectness of those predictions. Unfortunately
the truth for us goons is somewhat more mundane - a steady but certain decline
from title contenders to competing for the 'trophy' of fourth place. This is,
to an extent inevitable; it is clear now that the business plan has been to
attempt to maintain Champions League status whilst not really spending all that
much. Well, that's been achieved, but, alas, I don't feel much more confident
than I do in any other season. That said, it is quite nice to know that we have
a settled team for the first time in a while, albeit with no real 'superstars'
and more players of a good to very good calibre. I anticipate another season
with a bit where it looks like we're terrible, a bit where it looks like we're
contenders, and hopefully a top four finish.
2. Everyone enjoys some 'wheeling and dealing' (TM H. Redknapp) so how would you assess your team’s summer transfer business?
Transfers - it was all a little bit predictable wasn't it. When Gazidis came out in May and said that we had all this money to spend all Arsenal fans must have felt almost exactly as I did - a little bit of a heart flutter, but with head ruling heart to tell itself that it was probably never going to happen. I suppose I have to speak about the Suarez situation. I feel that the protracted nature of the talks probably says more about Liverpool than it does about Arsenal, with a host of former pros (especially the lamentably mundane and thoughtless input of Michael Owen) queuing up to say how Liverpool are a 'bigger club' than Arsenal. That's hardly the point is it? Arsenal will play CL football this year, barring a catastrophe against Fenerbache, and Suarez being Suarez, thats where he wants to be. However, can I be genuinely excited about a player like Suarez? Unfortunately not. We definitely need a striker of his calibre, but with all the baggage I don't feel comfortable making him our marquee signing. Still, I expect Wenger to sign *someone* before the window closes, but the question remains as to the quality and suitability of that player, and whether they will genuinely improve the overall level of the side. I have significant doubts.
3. Come May 2014, your team will be...
Overall, I feel that Arsenal are in decent shape, and that overall we have a good side. I think that Spurs have made some good signings, but if they do lose Bale then I don't see how that can fail to have an impact. He rescued so many games for them last season and was worth so many points that it may be hard for them to improve their position. I think that Arsenal will be a reasonably safe bet for fourth, as per normal, but that moving beyond there may be hard, there are likely to be some false dawns and false alarms in the meantime, but Wenger has been remarkably good at putting together sides of a consistent standard, and ultimately who am I to complain about that? It could be worse, and more of the same isn't always the worst thing in the world.
Fans Preview No. 3 – Howard Bateman: Fulham
1. New season, new hope (or new fears...) - how are you feeling heading into season version 2013/14?
There are the usual short term worries heading into this season, is the squad strong enough, can we push on and challenge for Europe again or will we be drawn into a relegation battle. However with the recent takeover all my emotions have revolved around Mr Khan. Al Fayed has performed nothing short of a miracle overseeing the clubs meteoric rise from what is now league 2 to being a stable premier league club. Initial signs look good with reassuring words from past, and present owners and all staff, but then that’s surely expected. If he delivers on his claims to continue to build upon the family that is Fulham and invest even a small percentage of his worth into a somewhat ignored transfer budget of recent years the future could be very bright indeed. A solid season and a cup run, hopefully a trip to Wembley and even the most critical Fulham fan will be happy come May.
2. Everyone enjoys some 'wheeling and dealing' (TM H. Redknapp) so how would you assess your team’s summer transfer business?
So far business has been efficient, acquiring Satcha Reither after his loan spell is arguably the best piece of business from any club this window after his exemplary performances last season and rightfully edging out Berbatov for player of the season. Derek Boateng looks a solid buy and will add bite and strength to an otherwise weak midfield (and hopefully won’t get a red card every game, yes Sidwell I mean you). Amorebieta is somewhat of an unknown quantity to me but comes with a high rating and there is no doubt we are in need of a partner for Hangeland. Jol seems to prefer Senderos to Hughes and I prefer anyone to Senderos so i’m in favour of this signing. I still feel Fulham are in need of another centre back, creative midfielder even after the recent signing of Taarabt, the shoes of Dembele are very big ones to fill. An attacker with some pace to give us another option other than give it to Berba is where all of Jol’s efforts should be placed right now.
3. Come May 2014, your team will be...
Stay tuned for Edition #2 coming very soon!
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