Premiership Preview: Part Two

With the start of the 2013/14 Premiership season just around the corner I thought I would take a look at the various teams and the transfers in and out. What can the supporters of each team really expect from the upcoming season.
Each day I will take five teams in what will be a four part preview. Yesterday I started with Arsenal, Aston Villa, Cardiff, Chelsea and Crystal Palace. Today I tackle Everton, Fulham, Hull, Liverpool and Manchester City.



Everton:

David Moyes has moved on from Everton after many years of great work, with a limited budget at Everton. Now it is time for Roberto Martinez to see if he can move the Toffees on to the next level. It was feared by Everton fans that the departure of Moyes would also signal the exit of Leighton Baines and also Marouane Fellaini, with the latter rumored to be following Moyes to Old Trafford.

The big name departures were kept to a minimum with the only real name leaving was Phil Neville, who retired. Thomas Hitzlsperger was also released but he’d only played nine games for the club anyway. When Martinez was at Wigan he was heavily into developing good young players and with his signings for Everton it seems he may continue this trend. Gerard Deulofeu, a 19 year old Striker from Barcelona joins three players who spent last season at Roberto’s FA Cup winners, Wigan. Aroune Kone scored a goal every three games for the Premiership side last season and will be a great addition. On loan goalkeeper Joel joins Martinez’s new club on a permanent deal and finally Antolin Alcaraz, the Paraguayan experienced defender arrives.

Recent rumors put Joey Barton back on the Premiership radar and he has stated he would be willing to take a 50% pay cut in order to play for his childhood club. This may be tempting for a cash strapped Evertonian side but my own opinion is that on his good day Barton can be an inspiration and a leader on the pitch, like a Gerrard  but in Mersey blue. However recently if Gerrard was to be Dr Jekyll then Barton could surely be his Mr Hyde. A history of trouble wherever he has gone both on and off the pitch I think he may cause more trouble than his pay cut is worth.


Fulham:

Twenty two players were let go from Fulham over the past few months as Martin Jol looks to revamp his slumping Fulham side and improve on the relegation battle they had last season. They have a new owner, Shahid Khan, who also owns the Jacksonville Jaguars in the NFL.

Bringing in a good mixture of youth and experience Derek Boateng, the 30 year old Ghanaian midfielder, Dutch keeper, Stekelenburg (also 30) and ex Althetic Bilbao defender, Amorebieta join youngster Ange-Freddy Plumain at the Cottagers. On loan last season and joining on a permanent deal this season is Sascha Riether.

Out of all the teams in the bottom ten last season Fulham scored the most, not including the relegated three conceded the third most in the league. Jol is clearly looking to secure at the back with the signing of the experienced Goalie and two defenders.


Hull City:

Steve Bruce is going to have a tough job if he is to keep his Hull side in the Premiership this season. Bruces record in the Premiership is not much of a confidence booster for Tiger fans either. Although his manager career stats read as pretty even as far as wins and losses go (238 won, 237 lost) when you look at his Premiership you will see he has lost a lot more than he has won. If they can finish with three teams below them then it will be a successful season.

That said they have made some quality additions to the side, but as we saw with QPR over the last two seasons, good players don’t necessarily equate to a good team. Yannick Sagbo, Danny Graham and George Boyd have all been added to the striking options but only Danny Graham has been tested at the Premiership level.
Veteran Newcastle United goalie Steve Harper along with ex Glasgow Rangers keeper, Allan McGregor have been added as good options between the sticks, but the starting position will most likely stay with Jakupovic. Elmohamady, who was at Hull on loan last season and with Bruce at Sunderland before that will add something to the midfield and finally two experienced defenders, Curtis Davis and Maynor Figueroa round up the new additions. If they can gel then Hull might stand a chance but in the cut throat Premier League it will have to happen quickly.


Liverpool:

Personally I was shocked when it was announced that Pepe Reina would be allowed to leave on loan. I understand that wages were an issue but losing someone of Reina’s quality leaves a big hole in the squad, but to do it voluntary is almost madness. Now it falls to either Brad Jones or new signing Simeon Mignolet to fill those huge gloves.

Defender Kolo Toure leaves his brother at Manchester City and will try to fill the gap left by the retiring Jamie Carragher. Andy Carroll never quite converted his Newcastle form into a Liverpool shirt and so it was no surprise that he was moved on. Luis Alberto (20) and Iago Aspas (25) are the incoming strike options, with the latter the most experienced, scoring 46 goals while at Celta, although only 12 of those came in the top Spanish Division.

With Arsenal attempting to sign Suarez the question is, if they are successful, just how long will it be before Rodgers is fired and will he be the first manager gone.




Manchester City:

When Roberto Mancini was let go at the end of last season the City fans were up in arms. Two months later and it’s a 180 and now are waiting with renewed excitement that this season could produce something special. Manuel Pellegrini seems to have more of a focus on attacking, attractive football rather than his predecessor.

City had reduced their wage bill significantly with the sale of Tevez, release of Santa Cruz and allowing free transfers of Kolo Toure and Wayne Bridge. Other than Tevez I don’t really see a great deal of names the City fans will have wished they’d kept. The additions to the Etihad are just as exciting as they have ever been with the signing of Brazilian Fernandinho, a defensive midfielder who should now allow Yaya Toure to play further up the pitch. Wingers will now be used at City now also, with the signing of Jesus Navas.

The loss of attacking options of Tevez and Balotelli over the course of the last six months has been addressed with the signings of Negredo and Jovetic. Both come to City after flourishing in the Spanish and Italian top Leagues respectively and both have represented their National sides multiple times. In the case of Jovetic, at 23 he still has his best years some way ahead of him whereas Negredo is statistically now having his best years.

Add to this the fact that last seasons super sub Edin Dzeko has been told he is well and truly in Pellegrinis plans and City could essentially have three new strikers this season. Personally I think that along with Dzeko the other player from last season who will benefit from the new playing style will be Samir Nasri and I look for the Frenchman to have one of his best Premiership seasons in 2013/14, certainly his best in sky blue!