JOE continues its series of Premier League previews with a look at last year’s runners-up Man Utd, as well as Man City, Liverpool and Fulham.
By Conor Hogan
Fulham
Last Season: 12th
Transfers in: Jonathan Greening (West Brom, free), Philippe Senderos (Arsenal, free)
Transfers out: Chris Smalling (Manchester United, £10m), Chris Buchtmann (Cologne, undisclosed), Erik Nevland (Viking, free), Wayne Brown (Bristol Rovers, free)
Overview: The ghost of Roy Hodgson will loom large at the Cottage for a long time. The man rescued Fulham from certain relegation before leading them to 7th in the league and a Europa League final in consecutive seasons.
The Fulham job could be looked upon as something of a poisoned chalice for even the best of managers. This is especially the case for new boss Mark Hughes, as he was clearly the second choice behind Ajax’s Martin Jol.
Then again, Fulham fans are a realistic lot. Most of them can remember a time when their team was in danger of dropping out of the football league altogether. And that seasons like the last two are more likely to be exceptions rather than the norm.
Fulham have a decent if ageing squad, and aren’t weak in any particular position. Hangeland and Hughes form a solid centre-half partnership in front of one of the league’s best goalkeepers Mark Schwarzer (who they’ll be hoping doesn’t move to Arsenal).
Duff and Davies were exceptional playing on the wrong wing and cutting inside last season, while American Clint Dempsey, who can play on either wing or up-front, produced some moments of magic. Then there was Bobby Zamora, a man who scored five goals in all competitions in 2008-2009, yet found the net 21 times last season. A man who undoubtedly should’ve been named in the England World Cup squad.
Fulham is the kind of club that should suit Hughes more than Manchester City. Like Blackburn, who he managed to two top seven finishes, they are a smallish club where he’ll have more freedom to mould the team in his image. With no European football for Fulham to worry about this term, they are likely to improve their league position.
One to watch: £10 million man Andy Johnson has been something of a forgotten man, after missing most of last season with a wounded knee. Fulham were reliant on his goals in 2007-2008 as Bobby Zamora wasn’t particularly prolific. Now that Zamora has added goals to his game, the two could form a lethal combination as soon as Johnson returns from injury.
Fantasy football goldmine: Brede Hangeland – £5.5 million. Hangeland has garnered 263 points in the last two Fantasy Premier League seasons. The man is a bonus point machine.
JOE prediction: 9th
Liverpool
Last Season: 7th
Transfers in: Joe Cole (Chelsea, free), Milan Jovanovic (Standard Liege, free), Danny Wilson (Rangers, £2m), Jonjo Shelvey (Charlton, £1.7m)
Transfers out: Yossi Benayoun (Chelsea, £5m), Albert Riera (Olympiakos, £3,3m), Mikel San Jose (Athletic Bilbao, undisc), Robbie Threlfall (Bradford City, free)
Overview: Roy Hodgson arrives as new manager comfortable in the knowledge that it will be very difficult to do any worse than last season. At his disposal, he’s still got the bulk of the team who managed second place in the Premier League in 2008-2009.
Steven Gerrard had a nightmare 2009-2010, and should definitely improve. Fernando Torres was injured for much of last season but still managed 18 league goals, an average of 0.8 a game, while David Ngog has been banging them in during the early rounds of the Europa League.
Sicknotes Alberto Aqualani and Joe Cole are undoubtedly talented players, so if they can stay injury free they could play important roles, and behind international centre-halves Martin Skrtel and Daniel Agger stands arguably the best goalkeeper in the Premier League, Pepe Reina.
Add to that the indefatigable Dirk Kuyt and attacking full-back Glen Johnson, and you have a team that should certainly improve on last year’s seventh place. Even if the mooted Chinese millions don’t arrive, they could well challenge for a top four place. A lack of strength in depth, however, makes a title-challenge unlikely.
One to watch: Nobody has more to prove than England international Joe Cole, who’ll be determined to prove Chelsea bosses that they made a mistake in letting him go. He’s already impressed in the Europa League.
Fantasy football goldmine: Glen Johnson – £7.5 million. Johnson picked up 124 points last season, after scoring three goals and providing five assists. Liverpool only conceded 22 goals with the England wing-back in the team.
JOE prediction: 5thManchester City
Last Season: 6th
Transfers in: Yaya Toure (Barcelona, £28m), David Silva (Valencia, £24m), Aleksandar Kolarov (Lazio, £16m), Jerome Boateng (Hamburg, £11m), Alex Henshall (Swindon, £250,000), Albert Rusnak (MFK Kovice, undisc)
Transfers out: Javier Garrido (Lazio, £2.5m), Valeri Bojinov (Parma, undisc), Robert Mak (Nuremburg, undisc), Martin Petrov (Bolton, free), Paul Marshall (Walsall, free), Filip Mentel (Dundee United, free), Andrew Mitchell (Rangers, free), Jack Redshaw (Rochdale, free), Benjani Mwaruwari, Sylvinho, Karl Moore (all released)
Overview: Manchester City have already spent £80million this summer to add to the £250million frittered away in the two preceding season. No club in England has their strength in depth, and they’ve promised that more players are to come.
Roberto Mancini isn’t taking any pressure off himself by declaring that they can challenge for the title. There is something unconvincing about City, though, and there are several pertinent questions to be asked.
Can Silva and Kolarov hit the ground running? How big a loss will Bellamy be once he’s sold, as he was arguably City’s best player in 2009-2010? Can Tevez be as prolific as he was last year? Is Yaya Toure worth £200,000 a week?
Kolo Toure and Lescott were a poor partnership last year, so Boateng should improve them in that area at the very least. City could win the league, but they probably won’t. Top four looks very achievable, however.
With Tottenham distracted by the Champions League they look likely to overtake them. They should be wary of Liverpool, though, as the Reds look certain to improve.
One to watch: An inability to close out games proved City’s downfall last year. They’ll be hoping the signing of Germany’s Jerome Boateng will provide the solidity in defence that they need. At £11million, he’s certainly more reasonable than Joleon Lescott.
Fantasy football goldmine: David Silva – £9 million. Silva managed ten goals and 15 assists for Valencia last year. If he can acclimatise quickly to England, the 24-year could prove an astute signing for any fantasy team.
JOE prediction: 4th
Manchester United
Last Season: 2nd
Transfers in: Chris Smalling (Fulham Undisclosed) Javier Hernández (Guadalajara, Undisclosed)
Transfers out: Tom Heaton (Cardiff City, Free) Zoran Tošić (CSKA Moscow, Undisclosed) Ron-Robert Zieler (Hannover, Free) Febian Brandy (Released) Sam Hewson (Released) Scott Moffatt (Released) David Gray (Preston North End,  Free)
Overview: Whenever Manchester United don’t win the league it’s a massive surprise. They are the winners of three of the last four titles, and have won eleven out of 18 Premier Leagues. Since 1992, they have never finished outside the top three.
Last year they lost Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez before the start of the season, and had a defensive injury crisis that resulted in Fletcher having to play at centre-half. In what could have been a transitional season for the Red Devils, they ended up finishing only one point behind eventual champions Chelsea.
Berbatov can only get better, while Javi Hernandez looks a decent signing after impressing pre-season. If Vidic, Evans and Ferdinand can remain fit, if Fletcher can have as good a year as last year, if Valencia and Nani can continue to improve and Rooney can keep scoring then they‘ll be a force to be reckoned with.
With neither Chelsea nor Arsenal strengthening significantly this year, who would bet against the greatest manager of all-time, Alex Ferguson, picking up the Premier League trophy yet again?
One to watch: The 22-year-old Mexican Javier Hernández has shown glimpses of quality pre-seaon, with goals in games against the MLS-All Stars and the Airtricty XI.
Fantasy football goldmine: Antonio Valencia – £8.5 million. Valencia managed a very respectable 144 fantasy points in his first season with United. The Ecuadorian provided his team with nine assists, so if he can add goals he’ll be an absolute steal.
JOE prediction: 1st
For our preview of Arsenal to Blackburn click here
For our preview of Blackpool to Everton (including Chelsea) click here
Click here for West Brom to Wolves
Click here for Newcastle to Spurs
