Showing posts with label stoke city. Show all posts
Showing posts with label stoke city. Show all posts

Monday, 28 May 2018

Season 2017/18: For the record

(1) MANCHESTER CITY W32 D4 L2 F106 A27 +79 Pts 100
Manager Pep Guardiola (since July 2016)
FA Cup Fifth round League Cup Winners Champions League Quarter finals
Top scorer Sergio Agüero (21) Clean sheets 18 Failed to score 2
Manchester City secured a record 100 points with a record 32nd win of an incredible campaign on the last day of the season against Southampton - but it wasn't just one game which left Pep Guardiola's side as the best English champions in years. For the record, Man City additionally took most away points (50), finished most points ahead of second (19), gained the most away wins (16), scored the most goals (106), had the best goal difference (+79), and recorded the most consecutive victories (18) in Premier League history. Perhaps the most amazing statistic is that Guardiola's men were only behind for a total of 153 minutes all season in the league - and, only cup defeats to Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup and Liverpool in the Champions League prevented this them from achieving something truly glorious. It is undoubtedly the case, though, that this team can achieve even more next year - perhaps it has been in their interests to leave us wanting more.

(2) MANCHESTER UNITED W25 D6 L7 F68 A28 +40 Pts 81
Manager José Mourinho (since May 2016)
FA Cup Runners-up League Cup Quarter finals Champions League Last 16
Top scorer Romelu Lukaku (16) Clean sheets 19 Failed to score 8
Runners-up in the league, runners-up in the FA Cup, and tactically abysmal in Europe when trying to steal their last 16 tie from under the noses of Sevilla. Yes, it hardly needs saying that this was not a particularly fun season for José Mourinho or Manchester United. In fairness, as frontrunners, the Red Devils continued to provide the stiffest of tests for their opponents - and, in fact, they won all 21 league games in which they scored first. But, despite being able to call upon the likes of Anthony Martial, Paul Pogba, Juan Mata, Jesse Lingard, Romelu Lukaku, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Marcus Rashford and Alexis Sanchez, the same Man United struggled to open up teams who were content to match Mourinho's cautious approach. Ironically, the best day of the season for the Portuguese manager came in an extraordinary 3-2 comeback victory over crosstown rivals Manchester City, a result which delayed the Blues' title celebrations. But the fact that Man City instead won the championship on the following weekend due to Man United's failure to beat bottom-placed West Brom at home could not have better summed up another frustrating campaign at Old Trafford.

(3) TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR W23 D8 L7 F74 A36 +38 Pts 77
Manager Mauricio Pochettino (since May 2014)
FA Cup Semi finals League Cup Fourth round Champions League Last 16
Top scorer Harry Kane (30) Clean sheets 16 Failed to score 4
Tottenham Hotspur came, saw, but unsurprisingly did not conquer. It is now over 10 years since Spurs last won a trophy - the 2008 League Cup - and, though they have threatened ever since to win something under Mauricio Pochettino, they have never delivered. This season, for instance, Spurs were a distant third place in the league and never properly in the race after a poor autumn. In the FA Cup, they lost to a Manchester United team in the semi finals who were there for taking - and in the Champions League, they lost to a Juventus team which was also beatable. On the positive side, this is the first time Spurs had finished in the top three of the English league in three consecutive seasons since the 1960s - but a lack of trophies has undoubtedly left fans frustrated. After all, Argentine manager Pochettino must surely turn Harry Kane's outstanding goal return into some sort of tangible trophy-lifting sooner rather than later.

(4) LIVERPOOL W21 D12 L5 F84 A38 +46 Pts 75
Manager Jürgen Klopp (since October 2015)
FA Cup Fourth round League Cup Third round Champions League Runners-up
Top scorer Mohamed Salah (32) Clean sheets 17 Failed to score 7
For Liverpool in Kiev, the dream of a sixth European Cup turned into a nightmare. On a balmy night in Ukraine, the Reds best chance of winning on their seventh final appearance felt like it disappeared when top scorer Egyptian king Mo Salah went off injured on 31 minutes after a falling under a challenge by Sergio Ramos - and then it got worse just after half time as hapless goalkeeper Loris Karius literally handed the opening goal to Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema. Senegal striker Saido Mane quickly evened things up - but, in Gareth Bale, Real always had something extra up their sleeve. Welshman Bale scored perhaps the best goal ever in European Cup final history with a bicycle kick before sealing a third successive Champions League title with a 40-yard pot-shot which Karius could only palm into the net. Crestfallen Karius could not be consoled at full time - and, despite Liverpool having consolidated their position in the top four this season, another big summer awaits Anfield after yet another campaign without silverware.

(5) CHELSEA W21 D7 L10 F62 A38 +24 Pts 70
Manager Antonio Conte (since July 2016)
FA Cup Winners League Cup Semi finals Champions League Last 16
Top scorer Eden Hazard (12) Clean sheets 16 Failed to score 8
For Chelsea, this was a second lame title defence in three years as early season defeats to Burnley, Manchester City, and Crystal Palace left the  London club with next to no chance of defending their crown. From then, matters only deteriorated even further as, in interviews, Italian manager Antonio Conte did not even try to hide his dissatisfaction at what he considered to be a lack of backing from the boardroom. Naturally, the turmoil affected matters on the pitch - the Blues lost 3-0 at home to Bournemouth and 4-1 at Watford amid a run of five league defeats in seven. The sequence left Chelsea in fifth place and out of the Champions League places - and, despite four wins in a row, they failed to push their way back in. Conte defiantly claimed the FA Cup Final win against Manchester United proved he was a natural-born winner. Following the last few tumultuous months, however, it really is a surprise he remains at Stamford Bridge, at least at the time of this writing.

(6) ARSENAL W19 D6 L13 F74 A51 +23 Pts 63
Manager Arsène Wenger
FA Cup Third round League Cup Runners-up Europa League Semi finals
Top scorer Alexandre Lacazette (14) Clean sheets 13 Failed to score 6
So farewell then Arsène Wenger - but sadly this was not a fairytale departure for the legendary Frenchman. The Gunners' sixth place is their lowest finish in their 22 years under Wenger and their last chance of any silverware this year was extinguished by a superior Atletico Madrid side in the Europa League semi finals. In fairness, Wenger did say adieu to the Emirates in style as a scintillating Arsenal performance crushed closest rivals Burnley in his final home league game. Then again, home form was never the problem in spite of the increasing number of empty seats - only Manchester City picked up more points on their own turf. Performances on the road, however, were another matter - and Arsenal were, in fact, the last team in England to pick up an away league win in 2018. New man Unai Emery has made all of the right noises on his arrival but the Spaniard will need to be at his inspirational best to make this team consistently competitive again. 

(7) BURNLEY W14 D12 L12 F36 A39 -3 Pts 54
Manager Sean Dyche (since October 2012)
FA Cup Third round League Cup Third round
Top scorer Chris Wood (10) Clean sheets 12 Failed to score 13
Burnley qualified for Europe for the first time since 1967 following a totally unexpected but fully deserved seventh placed finish. A seemingly difficult summer saw the departure of Michael Keane to Everton and Andre Gray to Watford, and then in early September, goalkeeper Tom Heaton suffered a season-ending shoulder injury. The Clarets, to their huge credit, missed none of them. Nick Pope stepped in between the sticks with such impressive form that he has made it into the England squad for the World Cup, and defender James Tarkowski is on a stand-by for the same squad having marshalled the backline superbly. Club record signing Chris Wood chipped in with 10 goals, meanwhile, and earned his side no fewer than 12 points with his contribution - but this was a fine all-round effort from Sean Dyche's men who will certainly not be written off so quickly again in the future.

(8) EVERTON W13 D10 L15 F44 A58 -14 Pts 49
Managers Ronald Koeman (until 23 October), Sam Allardyce (from 30 November)
FA Cup Third round League Cup Fourth round Europa League Group stage
Top scorer Wayne Rooney (10) Clean sheets 10 Failed to score 11
Everton have been in a mess for the last 12 months, acting like a club without any sense of direction. Last summer, Ronald Koeman splurged the £75m which he received from the sale of Romelu Lukaku to Manchester United on defender Michael Keane from Burnley, goalkeeper Jordan Pickford from Sunderland, and attacking midfielders Davy Klaassen and Gylfi Sigurðsson. However, the transfer activity left the squad horribly unbalanced, and young striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin was left filling a Lukaku-sized hole up front. Koeman could not survive - and, by the end of October, he was out, seemingly to be replaced by Watford manager Marco Silva who was courted openly by the Merseysiders. The Hornets, however, immediately blocked the move - and, after Everton's options shortened, they turned reluctantly to Sam Allardyce. In truth, the Toffees were hardly in any genuine danger of relegation - their first game under Allardyce, a 2-0 home victory over Huddersfield Town, lifted them up to 10th. Eventually, the Merseysiders finished in the even more comfortable position of eighth - but most of the fans at Goodison recognised they had achieved the position in spite of playing an awful style of football, and Allardyce was unsurprisingly dumped at the end of the campaign. Oddly enough, Silva - now relieved of his duties at Watford - is expected to be the replacement.

(9) LEICESTER CITY W12 D11 L15 F56 A60 -4 Pts 47
Managers Craig Shakespeare (until 17 October), Claude Puel (from 25 October)
FA Cup Quarter finals League Cup Quarter finals
Top scorer Jamie Vardy (20) Clean sheets 9 Failed to score 8
The shock 2016 champions returned to the top half after a one-season absence as Jamie Vardy became the first Leicester City striker since Gary Lineker to score 20+ goals in two separate top flight campaigns for the Foxes. As ever, Vardy was indebted to playmaker Riyad Mahrez for many of his chances - and, indeed, the pair were statistically the best combination in the division. Nevertheless, this was an irritatingly inconsistent campaign by the east Midlanders. Craig Shakespeare paid the price for a slow start - and, while there was early improvement under replacement Claude Puel, it did not last. Leicester lost five out of their last seven games, conceding 13 goals, as they eventually settled into ninth place. Mid-table mediocrity, however, is unlikely to satisfy the likes of Mahrez or Vardy - and, if he stays, Frenchman Puel now has a big job on his hands to keep this squad together going into the next season.

(10) NEWCASTLE UNITED W12 D8 L18 F39 A47 -8 Pts 44
Manager Rafael Benítez (since March 2016)
FA Cup Fourth round League Cup Second round
Top scorer Ayoze Pérez (8) Clean sheets 9 Failed to score 14
Rafael Benitez turned Newcastle United into a quietly competent side, with an unexpectedly solid defence, as the Magpies deservedly took a top half place on their first season back in the top flight. This was, indeed, Newcastle's first visit to the top 10 since 2013-14 under Alan Pardew but, by no means, was this a comfortable ride. As a long winter came howling in, the Magpies took just one point out of a possible 27 - and, from that point until March, the bottom three were an immediate threat. Nevertheless, a 3-0 home win against Southampton eased worries massively and prompted a season-best four-match winning run. And so, while a disappointing slump of successive losses followed, there were no concerns at all ahead of a final day 3-0 beating of outgoing champions Chelsea. Now, of course, attention switches back to owner Mike Ashley in the boardroom at St James Park, as Tyneside waits with baited breath to find out if their best manager in years will be in any way backed in the transfer market.

(11) CRYSTAL PALACE W11 D11 L16 F45 A55 -10 Pts 44
Managers Frank de Boer (until 11 September), Roy Hodgson (from 12 September)
FA Cup Third round League Cup Fourth round
Top scorer Luka Milivojević (10) Clean sheets 9 Failed to score 14
Palace scored their first Premier League goal on 14 October. Aptly, it was an own goal but they then scored another for a remarkable 2-1 win over defending champions Chelsea. Those three points were the Eagles' first of the campaign after a run of seven successive losses, which also featured a goal drought of 731 minutes. The statistics verged on the embarrassing - and, even early on, Palace looked like an obvious candidate for the drop. Yet they then appointed a battle-scarred Roy Hodgson to save their season. In the circumstances, Hodgson did an excellent job, and has recovered his own reputation as a manager following the debacle as England boss against Iceland at Euro 2016. In fact, since the start of October, only the top six have taken more points per game than Palace - and only seven teams have scored more times than one which failed to score in any of its first seven matches of the season. For the record, Palace eventually finished 11th, 11 points clear of the bottom three - a genuinely remarkable position considering their start.

(12) AFC BOURNEMOUTH W11 D11 L16 F45 A61 -16 Pts 44
Manager Eddie Howe (since October 2012)
FA Cup Third round League Cup Quarter finals
Top scorer Callum Wilson (8) Clean sheets 6 Failed to score 12
There was no top half finish for Bournemouth this season but this still modest club should hardly be judged by that standard. Instead, Eddie Howe deserves credit for securing a fourth successive top flight campaign at Dean Court, and having done so without having suffered anywhere near the same sort of stress as south coast rivals Southampton. That said, this season was not without its difficult moments for the Cherries who, in fact, fell behind in more Premier League matches (27) than any other side. On the other hand, though, Bouremouth also recovered the most points (21) from a losing position. Such statistics should perhaps come as no surprise given Howe's well-renowned open style of play - but, for now, at least, Bournemouth have shown they possess enough firepower to counter the threat.

(13) WEST HAM UNITED W10 D12 L16 F48 A68 -20 Pts 42
Managers Slaven Bilić (until 6 November), David Moyes (from 7 November)
FA Cup Fourth round League Cup Quarter finals
Top scorer Marko Arnautović (11) Clean sheets 10 Failed to score 9
West Ham United have clearly still not fallen in love with the London Stadium. The 2017 World Athletics Championships in August left the Hammers without a home game until after the first international break - and so they opened with three away defeats, conceding 10 goals. The malaise continued deep into the autumn, and a heavy 4-1 home defeat against Liverpool - perhaps mercifully - brought the curtain down on the era of fan-favourite Slaven Bilić. Replacement David Moyes steadied an ailing vessel after his own poor start - but his limited expectations meant he never curried favour with an understandably frustrated set of supporters. Instead, former Premier League winner Manuel Pellegrini has taken the job - but, before he achieves anything, the Chilean must instill some discipline into a defence which conceded an eye-watering 42 away goals last season - only Stoke City conceded more on the road.

(14) WATFORD W11 D8 L16 F44 A64 - 20 Pts 41
Managers Marco Silva (until 21 January), Javi Gracia (from 21 January)
FA Cup Fourth round League Cup Second round
Top scorer Abdoulaye Doucoure (7) Clean sheets 9 Failed to score 14
Watford finished in 14th place, their lowest position all season - a sign that at least they got the hard work done early. Indeed, the Hornets secured a third consecutive season of top flight football - their best run since the 1980s - with six wins in their opening 13 games. From that point onwards, though, it started to go wrong. Marco Silva, with a decent record behind him at Hull City as well as at Vicarage Road, had his head turned by the vacant position at Everton - and Watford then took four points out of the next 27. Silva was sacked and, on the same day, another little-heard-of manager Javi Gracia took charge. Spaniard Gracia ensured safety with 10 points in his first five matches, including a 4-1 thrashing of Chelsea - but his subsequent sequence of only five points from the last nine games has left genuine questions over his overall quality.

(15) BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION W9 D13 L16 F34 A54 -20 Pts 40
Manager Chris Hughton (since December 2014)
FA Cup Quarter finals League Cup Third round
Top scorer Glenn Murray (12) Clean sheets 10 Failed to score 17
Brighton & Hove Albion stayed up in their first top flight season since 1982-83 and commendably hit the magic 40 points mark. Without doubt, though, the Seagulls are home birds. Chris Hughton's men scored only seven away league goals all season and took just 11 points - and their only two away wins came in a two-week period in the autumn. Thankfully for them, though, their home form was far better - and it was no surprise that they reached their safety target at the Amex Stadium. Perhaps it was a surprise that Premier League status was secured in a match against Manchester United but such victories can only serve to encourage even better results from the likeable Hughton and his squad in 2018-19.

(16) HUDDERSFIELD TOWN W9 D10 L19 F28 A58 -30 Pts 37
Manager David Wagner (since November 2015)
FA Cup Fifth round League Cup Third round
Top scorer Steve Mounié (7) Clean sheets 10 Failed to score 21
Once again, Huddersfield Town massively defied the odds as they stayed up in their first season of top flight football since 1971-72 with a game to spare. Last year, the Terriers became the first team to be promoted to the highest level of English football in spite of holding a negative goal difference. And now, this season, David Wagner's men have survived despite scoring a paltry total of 28 goals having failed to find the net in 21 of their 38 matches. Of course, away draws at Manchester City and Chelsea inside the final week of the campaign underlined the fine job which Wagner's has done. However, the west Yorkshire club simply cannot sit back and expect to be able to rely on yet another season of statistical improbability happening again in 2018-19.

(17) SOUTHAMPTON W7 D15 L16 F37 A56 -19 Pts 36
Managers Mauricio Pellegrino (until 12 March), Mark Hughes (from 14 March)
FA Cup Semi finals League Cup Second round
Top scorer Charlie Austin (7) Clean sheets 8 Failed to score 14
Southampton scraped their way somewhat fortunately to safety after securing only seven league wins all season. The Saints - who had finished in the top eight in each of their previous four campaigns - did not appear to be in too much bother in the opening months, and in fact a 4-1 home win over Everton in late November sent them into the top half. Astonishingly, though, the south coast club then won only one of their next 21 matches. Before the end of that run, former Saints forward Mark Hughes had replaced Mauricio Pellegrino as manager - and Hughes himself similarly struggled at first to seal a leaky defence. Fortunately for Southampton, their form returned just in time, as wins against Bournemouth and at Swansea kept the bottom three at arm's length. Hughes has now signed a three-year contract at St Mary's and he will be dearly hoping to reintroduce some spark into the Saints' often tepid performances.

(18) SWANSEA CITY W8 D9 L21 F28 A56 -28 Pts 33
Managers Paul Clement (until 20 December), Carlos Carvalhal (from 28 December)
FA Cup Quarter finals League Cup Fourth round
Top scorer Jordan Ayew (6) Clean sheets 9 Failed to score 18
The relegation of Swansea City felt as if it became inevitable as soon as a they started messing around at the top. Indeed, the trouble for the Swans can be traced as far back at least as last season when their saviour from the 2015-16 campaign Francesco Guidolin was replaced by the hopeless Bob Bradley. The American lasted just 11 games before Paul Clement steered the South Wales club to safety. Clement, however, could not maintain Swansea's form into the new season and he left with Swansea in bottom place just before Christmas. New manager Carlos Carvalhal inspired a short-term improvement but the form failed to last and the return of Andre Ayew in January from West Ham United turned into a goalless disaster. Ultimately, the Swans picked up 14 fewer points in Carvalhal's final nine games in charge (3) compared with his first nine matches (17). However, to be fair to him, the club had badly lost its way long before the involvement of the Portuguese.

(19) STOKE CITY W7 D12 L19 F35 A68 -33 Pts 33
Managers Mark Hughes (until 6 January), Paul Lambert (from 16 January)
FA Cup Third round League Cup Third round
Top scorer Xherdan Shaqiri (8) Clean sheets 6 Failed to score 13
Stoke City meekly surrendered their top-flight status after nine years following a series of terrible recruitment decisions on and off the pitch. On-loan Spanish striker Jesé was the biggest flop - and, though it became increasingly difficult to make a case for manager Mark Hughes to stay, Paul Lambert was clearly never going to be the answer to the Potters problems. Surprisingly, this was the first relegation actually suffered by Lambert as a manager. However, his unconvincing periods in charge of Aston Villa, Blackburn Rovers, and Wolverhampton Wanderers should have been enough warning to ward off any Stoke advances. Indeed, the Scotsman delivered just 13 points in his 15 games, and new appointment Gary Rowett now has a huge job on his hands to overhaul a squad of players largely well past their sell-by date.

(20) WEST BROMWICH ALBION W6 D13 L19 F31 A56 -25 Pts 31
Managers Tony Pulis (until 20 November), Alan Pardew (until 2 April), Darren Moore
FA Cup Fifth round League Cup Third round
Top scorers Jay Rodriguez, Salomón Rondón (7) Clean sheets 10 Failed to score 13
The Hawthorns will forever wonder what might have been. Perhaps another great Premier League escape would not have been beyond West Brom if one-man managerial disaster zone Alan Pardew had been ditched a bit earlier. Despite the best efforts of Darren Moore, though, the Baggies had left it far too late. Remarkably, Moore as a caretaker gained more points (11) in his five games than Tony Pulis (10) in his 12 games or Pardew (8) in 18, and he has now deservedly been awarded with the role permanently. A tough rebuilding job awaits but his fine late season run will give some much-needed confidence to him - and to the club as a whole.

⚽️
ROLL OF HONOUR 2017-18

ENGLAND
Premier League
ChampionsManchester City
Runners-upManchester United
Champions LeagueTottenham Hotspur, Liverpool
Europa LeagueChelsea, Arsenal, Burnley
RelegationSwansea City, Stoke City, West Bromwich Albion

Championship
ChampionsWolverhampton Wanderers
Runners-upCardiff City
Playoff winnersFulham (won 1-0 v Aston Villa)
RelegationBarnsley, Burton Albion, Sunderland

League One
ChampionsWigan Athletic
Runners-upBlackburn Rovers
Playoff winnersRotherham United (won 2-1 v Shrewsbury Town, after extra time)
RelegationOldham Athletic, Northampton Town, Milton Keynes Dons, Bury

League Two
ChampionsAccrington Stanley
Runners-upLuton Town
Also promotedWycombe Wanderers
Playoff winnersCoventry City (won 3-1 v Exeter City)
RelegationBarnet, Chesterfield

National League Premier
ChampionsMacclesfield Town
Playoff winnersTranmere Rovers (won 2-1 v Boreham Wood)
RelegationWoking, Torquay United, Chester FC, Guiseley

National League North
ChampionsSalford City
Playoff winnersHarrogate Town (won 3-0 v Brackley Town)
RelegationGainsborough Trinity, Tamworth, North Ferriby United

National League South
ChampionsHavant & Waterlooville
Playoff winnersBraintree Town (won 4-3 on pens v Hampton & Richmond Borough, after 1-1 aet)
RelegationPoole Town, Whitehawk, Bognor Regis Town

Domestic Cup Finals
FA Cup FinalChelsea 1-0 Manchester United
League Cup FinalManchester City 3-0 Arsenal
FA Community ShieldArsenal 1-1 Chelsea. Arsenal won 4-1 on penalties.
EFL TrophyLincoln City 1-0 Shrewsbury Town
FA TrophyBrackley Town 1-1 Bromley, aet. Brackley Town won 5-4 on penalties.
FA VaseThatcham Town 1-0 Stockton Town

SCOTLAND
Premiership
ChampionsCeltic
Runners-upAberdeen
Europa LeagueAberdeen (runners-up), Rangers (third place), Hibernian (fourth place)
RelegationPartick Thistle, Ross County

Championship
ChampionsSt Mirren
Runners-upLivingston
Playoff winnersLivingston (won 3-1 on agg v Partick Thistle (2-1h, 1-0a))
RelegationDumbarton, Brechin City

League One
ChampionsAyr United
Runners-upRaith Rovers (not promoted)
Playoff winnersAlloa Athletic (won 2-1 on agg v Dumbarton (0-1h, 2-0a aet))
RelegationQueen's Park, Albion Rovers

League Two
ChampionsMontrose
Runners-upPeterhead (not promoted)
Playoff winnersStenhousemuir (won 2-1 on agg v Peterhead (2-0h, 0-1a))

Domestic Cup Finals
FA Cup FinalCeltic 2-0 Motherwell
League Cup FinalCeltic 2-0 Motherwell
Challenge Cup FinalInverness Caledonian Thistle 1-0 Dumbarton

WALES
Welsh Premier League
ChampionsThe New Saints
Europa LeagueConnah's Quay Nomads (third place), Bala Town (fourth place), Cefn Druids (playoff winners)
RelegationBangor City, Prestatyn Town
Welsh Cup Finals
FA Cup FinalConnah's Quay Nomads 4-1 Aberystwyth
League Cup FinalThe New Saints 1-0 Cardiff Metropolitan University

NORTHERN IRELAND
Irish Premiership
ChampionsCrusaders
Europa LeagueColeraine (runners-up), Glenavon (third place), Cliftonville (playoff winners)
RelegationCarrick Rangers, Ballinamallard United
Irish Cup Finals
IFA Cup FinalColeraine 3-1 Cliftonville
League Cup FinalDungannon Swifts 3-1 Ballymena United

EUROPE
UEFA Finals
Champions LeagueReal Madrid (Spa) 3-1 Liverpool (Eng)
Europa LeagueAtletico Madrid (Spa) 3-0 Marseille (Fra)
Super CupReal Madrid (Spa) 2-1 Manchester United (Eng)

Major European league champions
SpainBarcelona
ItalyJuventus
GermanyBayern Munich
France Paris Saint-Germain
PortugalPorto
NetherlandsPSV Eindhoven
BelgiumClub Brugge
GreeceAEK Athens
TurkeyGalatasaray

Friday, 11 August 2017

Premier League preview 2017/18: Can Chelsea defend the title successfully?


ARSENAL The Gunners - Emirates Stadium - @Arsenal
Last season 5th ▪️ FA Cup Winners ▪️ League Cup Quarter finals ▪️ Champions League Last 16
Last major trophy FA Cup 2017 ▪️ Premier League seasons 26
Manager
Arsène Wenger (since October 1996)
Players In Sead Kolasinac, Alexandre Lacazette
Players Out Yaya Sanogo, Wojciech Szczesny
So, it finally happened. For the first time in 20 years under Arsène Wenger, Arsenal failed to qualify for the Champions League. Worse still, the Gunners also finished below north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur for the first time since 1995. That appeared as if it was going to be enough to bring the Wenger era to an end but a customary late rally included a third FA Cup Final win in four seasons, and the Frenchman subsequently signed a two-year extension. For some fans, the damage has already been done and Wenger's position remains untenable. Others are more charitable - but, despite the big money arrival of striker Alexandre Lacazette from Lyon, Arsenal simply lack enough quality overall to become serious title challengers once again.
Prediction: 5th

AFC BOURNEMOUTH The Cherries - Dean Court - @afcbournemouth
Last season 9th ▪️ FA Cup Third round ▪️ League Cup Third round
Last major trophy None ▪️ Premier League seasons 3
Manager Eddie Howe (since October 2012)

Players In Nathan Ake, Asmir Begovic, Jermain Defoe, Connor Mahoney, Frankie Vincent
Players Out None
This remarkable south coast odyssey continued last season as Bournemouth outscored Manchester United and finished inside the top half of the Premier League. The Cherries remained true to their attack-first style which has served them so well in recent years, and their approach was summed up perfectly by their 4-3 win against Liverpool at Dean Court in December. At the other end of the pitch, things were not so clever as Eddie Howe's men shipped 67 goals for the second season in a row. Experienced goalkeeper Asmir Begovic should help out in this regard while centre back Nathan Ake has now been taken on permanently. Of course, the main focus will still be in attack where - 16 years on from his previous appearance at the club - Jermain Defoe will line up alongside the impressive Joshua King.
Prediction: 11th 

BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION The Seagulls - Falmer Stadium - @OfficialBHAFC
Last season 2nd (promoted) ▪️ FA Cup Third round ▪️ League Cup Third round
Last major trophy None ▪️ Premier League seasons 1
Manager Chris Hughton (since December 2014)
Players In Paschal Gross, Mathew Ryan, Markus Suttner, Mathias Normann, Steven Alzate, Ales Mateju, Davy Propper, Soufyan Ahannach, Josh Kerr, Izzy Brown
Players Out Chris O'Grady, David Stockdale, Elvis Manu, Rob Hunt
Last season, Brighton reached the top flight for the first time since 1983 with a points total (93) which would have often been enough to win the Championship. Indeed, the Seagulls themselves probably should have won the title - but Chris Hughton's men uncharacteristically took their eye off the ball and, by taking only one point out of their last three games, allowed Newcastle United to steal in. The giveaway tempered the celebrations in East Sussex somewhat and, subsequently, the incomings this summer have done little to allay fears that Brighton simply will not have enough quality up front for the top level. At least, in manager Hughton though, they have someone used to the stresses of battling at the wrong end of the Premier League table.
Prediction: 17th

BURNLEY The Clarets - Turf Moor - @BurnleyOfficial
Last season 16th ▪️ FA Cup Fifth round ▪️ League Cup Second round
Last major trophy First Division 1959-60 ▪️ Premier League seasons 4
Manager Sean Dyche (since October 2012)

Players In Charlie Taylor, Jonathan Walters, Jack Cork, Phil Bardsley, Adam Legzdins
Players Out Joey Barton, Michael Kightly, George Boyd, Michael Keane, Rouwen Hennings, Paul Robinson, Tendayi Darikwa, Andre Gray
Burnley avoided immediate relegation for the first time in the Premier League era last season, mainly on the strength of their form at Turf Moor where they took 33 of their 40 points. By contrast, the Clarets struggled badly on the road, winning just once - at Crystal Palace in April - and, at one stage, lost seven consecutive away games. Yet more travel sickness this season can only result in one outcome as it hardly seems reasonable to expect that such outstanding home form will be maintained, especially following the loss of their best player, Michael Keane, to Everton. Manager Sean Dyche will once again attempt to extract a level of performance from his team which is greater than the sum of its parts - but, even still, this might not be enough.
Prediction: 19th

CHELSEA The Blues - Stamford Bridge - @ChelseaFC
Last season Winners ▪️ FA Cup Runners-up ▪️ League Cup Fourth round
Last major trophy Premier League 2016-17 ▪️ Premier League seasons 26
Manager Antonio Conte (since July 2016)

Players In Willy Caballero, Antonio Rudiger, Tiemoue Bakayoko, Alvaro Morata
Players Out Asmir Begovic, Dominic Solanke, Juan Cuadrado, Christian Atsu, Bertrand Traore, Nathan Ake, John Terry, Nathaniel Chalobah, Nemanja Matic, Tammy Abraham, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Kurt Zouma, Izzy Brown, Kasey Palmer
Chelsea stormed their way to a sixth English league title in May, and a fifth of the Premier League era, with a points total (93) bettered only by themselves in 2004-05. Italian coach Antonio Conte switched to a three-man defence and, with N'Golo Kante offering protection in midfield, the likes of Willian, Eden Hazard and Victor Moses supported Diego Costa as his goals fired the Blues to glory. Unfortunately for Chelsea, Costa now no longer wants to play ball and is holding out for a move elsewhere. Big signing Alvaro Morata has come in from Real Madrid as Costa's replacement - but he may take time to adapt to the league - and the squad as a whole could easily be distracted by the Champions League, which is back on the agenda. So, while Chelsea undoubtedly have the tools to become the first team this decade to defend their title successfully, it is no sure thing.
Prediction: 2nd

CRYSTAL PALACE The Eagles - Selhurst Park - @CPFC
Last season 14th ▪️ FA Cup Fourth round ▪️ League Cup Third round
Last major trophy None ▪️ Premier League seasons 9
Manager Frank de Boer (since June 2017)

Players In Jairo Riedewald, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Timothy Fosu-Mensah
Players Out Kwesi Appiah, Fraizer Campbell, Mathieu Flamini, Zeki Fryers, Joe Ledley, Steve Mandanda
Spot the odd one out: Ian Holloway, Tony Pulis, Neil Warnock, Alan Pardew, Sam Allardyce, Frank de Boer. Yes, after half a decade of old-school British bosses in the dugout at Selhurst Park, chairman Steve Parish has opted instead to go Dutch. De Boer arrives having won four league titles in his native Netherlands with Ajax and he will favour a classic possession-based game. Ruben Loftus-Cheek arrives on loan from Chelsea looking to convert his potential into something more - and, with Wilfried Zaha and Andros Townsend on the wings and Christian Benteke up front, Crystal Palace should not struggle for goals, regardless of their style of play. But de Boer will also need to tighten up a defence which conceded 63 times - which was the most the Eagles' have conceded in a top-flight season since 1997-98.
Prediction: 13th

EVERTON The Toffees - Goodison Park - @Everton
Last season 7th ▪️ FA Cup Third round ▪️ League Cup Third round
Last major trophy FA Cup 1995 ▪️ Premier League seasons 26
Manager Ronald Koeman (since June 2016)

Players In Davy Klaassen, Henry Onyekuru, Jordan Pickford, Michael Keane, Sandro Ramirez, Boris Mathis, Josh Bowler, Wayne Rooney, Cuco Martina
Players Out Romelu Lukaku, Tom Cleverley, Gerard Deulofeu, Arouna Kone, Conor McAleny, Aiden McGeady
Big-spending Everton have splurged more than £100m on seven players - and there could yet be more to come as manager Ronald Koeman sets about moulding his own squad after taking over last summer. The Toffees, nevertheless, remain in the black with significant funds from the sale of Romelu Lukaku to Manchester United further augmented by the departures of Tom Cleverley and Gerard Deulofeu. The question then that must be asked is if Everton are any closer to breaking into the top six as a result of this busy transfer window - and the answer, unfortunately for them, is probably not. A player like Lukaku is a rare beast indeed, and there will surely be occasions in this coming campaign that the Merseysiders miss his lethal finishing.
Prediction: 8th

HUDDERSFIELD TOWN The Terriers - John Smith's Stadium - @htafcdotcom
Last season 5th (promoted via playoffs) ▪️ FA Cup Fourth round ▪️ League Cup First round
Last major trophy First Division 1925-26 ▪️ Premier League seasons 1 
Manager David Wagner (since November 2015)
Players In Elias Kachunga, Laurent Depoitre, Aaron Mooy, Tom Ince, Danny Williams, Steve Mounie, Scott Malone, Mathias Jorgensen, Jonas Lossl, Kasey Palmer
Players Out Flo Bajaj, Kyle Dempsey, Joe Murphy, Harry Bunn, Mark Hudson
Huddersfield Town created history in May by becoming the first ever team to be promoted to the English top flight with a negative goal difference - and anyone who had the misfortune of watching the playoff final will know that the squad, as it existed then, would need to be hugely improved. A defence - which conceded 58 goals in the Championship - will surely need more reinforcement than it has received to date - but, instead, the signing of winger Tom Ince rather typifies the Terriers' summer business. The jury out on whether the 25-year-old will ever make it at the top level and the same can only be said for Huddersfield as a whole. Of course, it is not unusual for the playoff winners to be tipped to go straight back down - but then these Terriers are probably the biggest Premier League underdogs since Blackpool in 2010-11.
Prediction: 20th

LEICESTER CITY The Foxes - King Power Stadium - @LCFC
Last season 12th ▪️ FA Cup Fifth round ▪️ League Cup Third round ▪️ Champions League Quarter finals
Last major trophy Premier League 2015-16 ▪️ Premier League seasons 12
Manager Craig Shakespeare (since February 2017)

Players In Harry Maguire, Vicente Iborra, Eldin Jakupovic, Kelechi Iheanacho, George Thomas
Players Out Marcin Wasilewski, Ron-Robert Zieler
After a league title win and a Champions League quarter final in the last two seasons, this campaign for Leicester City may seem rather dull by contrast. A steady midtable place should be expected as the Foxes readjust to life in the middle lane following a whirlwind period. Kelechi Iheanacho had a decent goal record at Manchester City, despite his limited opportunity at Eastlands, and his signing should ease the weight off Jamie Vardy's shoulders. Additionally, Harry Maguire and Vicente Iborra will go some way to freshening what turned into a creaky defence, with 63 league goals conceded in 2016-17.
Prediction: 10th

LIVERPOOL The Reds - Anfield - @LFC
Last season 4th ▪️ FA Cup Fourth round ▪️ League Cup Semi finals
Last major trophy League Cup 2012 ▪️ Premier League seasons 26  
Manager Jürgen Klopp (since October 2015)
Players In Mohamed Salah, Dominic Solanke, Andrew Robertson
Players Out Andre Wisdom, Lucas Leiva, Kevin Stewart
Liverpool took advantage last season of a lack of midweek football to regain their place in the top four - but now manager Jürgen Klopp must defy a recent trend. Not since 2009 have the Reds finished in the top four in consecutive seasons - they followed their runners-up placing in 2009 with league finishes of 7th, 6th, 8th and 7th. Meanwhile, the runners-up place in 2014 was followed by 6th and 8th-placed finishes before last year. After five trophyless seasons at Anfield, there is also pressure on the German to bring in some sort of silverware - but, with most of their rivals around them having strengthened, Liverpool will have to prioritise once the injuries and suspensions begin to take their toll.
Prediction: 6th 

MANCHESTER CITY The Blues - Etihad Stadium - @ManCity
Last season 3rd ▪️ FA Cup Semi finals ▪️ League Cup Fourth round ▪️ Champions League Last 16
Last major trophy League Cup 2016 ▪️ Premier League seasons 21 
Manager Pep Guardiola (since July 2016)
Players In Bernardo Silva, Ederson, Kyle Walker, Danilo, Benjamin Mendy, Douglas Luiz, Uriel Antuna
Players Out Willy Caballero, Gael Clichy, Jesus Navas, Bacary Sagna, Pablo Zabaleta, Bruno Zuculini, Nolito, Aleksandar Kolarov, Kelechi Iheanacho, Fernando, Aaron Mooy, Joe Hart
Pep Guardiola has sought to rectify the holes in his squad following a disappointing campaign in which Manchester City failed to feature in any finals and finished well off the pace in the title race. The Spanish boss identified the goalkeeping position and his defence as being in need of most repair following costly mistakes at the back throughout 2016-17 - and a £150m outlay on Ederson, Danilo, Benjamin Mendy and Kyle Walker will surely lead to an improvement, even if the amount splashed on Walker in particular is eye-wateringly high. With attackers Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus backed up by Kevin De Bruyne, an evergreen David Silva, and a maturing Leroy Sane, the Blues appear well-placed to make a full challenge this time.
Prediction: Champions 

MANCHESTER UNITED The Red Devils - Old Trafford - @ManUtd
Last season 6th ▪️ FA Cup Quarter finals ▪️ League Cup Winners ▪️ Europa League Winners
Last major trophy Europa League 2017 ▪️ Premier League seasons 26 
Manager José Mourinho (since May 2016)
Players In Romelu Lukaku, Nemanja Matic, Victor Lindelof
Players Out Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Josh Harrop, Wayne Rooney, Adnan Januzaj, Timothy Fosu-Mensah
Manchester United made a return to the winners' enclosure last season with victory in the finals of the League Cup and the Europa League. Additionally, the Red Devils' enjoyed an unbeaten league run of 25 games from October to April - but no fewer than 10 draws at home undermined their challenge for the top four, and eventually Mourinho favoured the Europa League route as a way of getting back into the Champions League. This term, the Old Trafford faithful will expect far more from their side in the Premier League - and Mourinho cannot say that he has not been backed. Big signing Romelu Lukaku provides a longer term solution up front than Zlatan Ibrahimovic and the arrival of Nemanja Matic could prove just as important if it allows Paul Pogba to play further forward and with more freedom.
Prediction: 3rd 

NEWCASTLE UNITED The Magpies - St James Park - @NUFC
Last season 1st (promoted) ▪️ FA Cup Fourth round ▪️ League Cup Quarter finals
Last major trophy Fairs Cup 1969 ▪️ Premier League seasons 23 
Manager Rafael Benítez (since March 2016)
Players In Christian Atsu, Florian Lejeune, Jacob Murphy, Javier Manquillo, Mikel Merino
Players Out Kevin Mbabu, Lubo Satka, Florian Thauvin, Haris Vuckic, Vurnon Anita, Sammy Ameobi, Yoan Gouffran, Daryl Murphy
The Rafalution at St James Park truly took flight last season as Newcastle United overcame an early wobble and an April wobble to win the league title in dramatic fashion on the final day. The signings of Dwight Gayle and Matt Ritchie from Premier League clubs were as vital as they were unlikely if Rafael Benítez had decided to leave following relegation at the end of 2015-16 - and the successful Spaniard is understandably the Magpies' most popular manager in years. However, this summer, the former Liverpool, Chelsea and Real Madrid boss has expressed his frustration at the club's transfer dealings - and there is undoubtedly a lack of Premier League experience throughout the squad. The belief on Tyneside, though, is that, as long as Benítez remains in the post, he will be able to cajole enough from this group of players to ensure a safe enough first season back in the Premier League.
Prediction: 14th

SOUTHAMPTON The Saints - St Mary's Stadium - @SouthamptonFC
Last season 8th ▪️ FA Cup Fourth round ▪️ League Cup Runners-up ▪️ Europa League Group stage
Last major trophy FA Cup 1976 ▪️ Premier League seasons 19 
Manager Mauricio Pellegrino (since June 2017)
Players In Jan Bednarek, Mario Lemina
Players Out Jay Rodriguez, Cuco Martina, Martin Caceres
Southampton finished in the top eight for a fourth successive season - and reached the League Cup Final - but that was still not enough to save Claude Puel from the sack. A strange decision on the surface but Saints fans can point to a series of turgid displays, with only 17 goals scored in their 19 home league games. Unfortunately for new manager Mauricio Pellegrino, the summer has been dominated by the demands of wantaway defender Virgil van Dijk, and the Dutchman will surely now move on to new pastures. However, the loss of a big player is nothing new for Southampton as a club - they have coped with worse before - and if Italian striker Manolo Gabbiadini picks up where he left off at the back end of last season, the south coast club will once again do more than just cope.
Prediction: 9th
 

STOKE CITY The Potters - bet365 Stadium - @stokecity
Last season 13th ▪️ FA Cup Third round ▪️ League Cup Third round
Last major trophy League Cup 1972 ▪️ Premier League seasons 10 
Manager Mark Hughes (since May 2013)
Players In Darren Fletcher, Josh Tymon, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, Joe Bursik, Tre Pemberton, Kurt Zouma
Players Out Marko Arnautovic, Phil Bardsley, Glenn Whelan, Jonathan Walters, Shay Given, Daniel Bachmann
Stoke City suffered their worst season under Mark Hughes in 2016-17, dropping back to 13th, the equivalent of which was enough to see Tony Pulis moved on back in 2013. Never in serious trouble despite a slow start, the Potters' failure to push on in the second half of the campaign has left Hughes under pressure going into this term. Indeed, the Welshman is as short as 4/1 with some bookmakers to be the first manager to leave his post - and he was certainly not been helped by the decision of Marko Arnautovic to move to West Ham United. With only Darren Fletcher and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting as major incoming signings so far, it might just be that - after almost a decade of midtable serenity - this is the year Stoke start to struggle.
Prediction: 15th

SWANSEA CITY The Swans - Liberty Stadium - @SwansOfficial
Last season 15th ▪️ FA Cup Third round ▪️ League Cup Third round
Last major trophy League Cup 2013 ▪️ Premier League seasons
Manager Paul Clement (since January 2017)
Players In Erwin Mulder, Roque Mesa, Cian Harries, Tammy Abraham
Players Out Marvin Emnes, Bafetimbi Gomis, Gerhard Tremmel, Jack Cork, Modou Barrow
The suggestion that Swansea City fans are happy simply still just to be in the Premier League is surely no exaggeration after a traumatic last 12 months. The Swans looked as if they might go down even as late as April until 13 points out of the last 15 secured a final place of 15th which belied their earlier struggles. Manager Paul Clement can take much credit for the Swans' survival - the former Derby County manager tightened up a defence which had conceded 44 goals in the first half of the campaign - but the holes in the squad remain. Indeed, the situation could yet get worse if Gylfi Sigurdsson is lured elsewhere - and, while young striker Tammy Abraham - on loan from Chelsea - has potential, he may find it difficult to plough a lone furrow up front.
Prediction: 18th

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR Spurs - Wembley Stadium - @SpursOfficial
Last season Runners-up ▪️ FA Cup Semi finals ▪️ League Cup Fourth round ▪️ Champions League Group stage ▪️ Europa League Last 32
Last major trophy
League Cup 2008
▪️ Premier League seasons 26 
Manager Mauricio Pochettino (since May 2014)
Players In None
Players Out Kyle Walker, Federico Fazio, Clinton N'Jie, Filip Lesniak
It has been a quiet summer at Tottenham Hotspur as manager Mauricio Pochettino puts his trust firmly in the squad which took the club to their highest league finish since 1962-63. Last season was also the first time since 1964-65 that Spurs remained unbeaten at home throughout a campaign - and it was memorably their first finish above rivals Arsenal for 22 years. But this season looks tougher - due to the construction of their new ground, Spurs' home games have been moved to Wembley, a venue at which they have struggled. Meanwhile, the loss of Kyle Walker to Manchester City has been exacerbated by injury to his replacement Kieran Trippier. On the plus side, Harry Kane will ensure Pochettino's men continue to carry plenty of threat - and there are few centre-back partnerships in the Premier League as reliably solid as Belgian pair Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen.
Prediction: 4th 

WATFORD The Hornets - Vicarage Road - @WatfordFC
Last season 17th ▪️ FA Cup Fourth round ▪️ League Cup Second round
Last major trophy None ▪️ Premier League seasons 5
Manager Marco Silva (since May 2017)

Players In Daniel Bachmann, Tom Cleverley, Kiko Femenia, Will Hughes, Nathaniel Chalobah, Richarlison, Andre Grey
Players Out Mathias Ranegie, Mario Suarez, Steven Berghuis, Juan Carlos Paredes, Rene Gilmartin
Another season, another new manager - Portuguese Mario Silva became Watford's eighth boss since the Italian Pozzo family took over in 2012 when he joined in May. Not that the regular changes have done the Hertfordshire club too much harm - a third successive year in the top flight was secured in early April - although late-season performances then left previous manager Walter Mazzarri with an increasingly disenchanted squad and nowhere to turn. Silva himself, of course, arrived in English football only in January, making an ultimately failed attempt at keeping Hull City in the Premier League. That experience, though, should at least prepare him for what could be another tough next 10 months at Vicarage Road.
Prediction: 16th

WEST BROMWICH ALBION The Baggies - The Hawthorns - @WBA
Last season 10th ▪️ FA Cup Third round ▪️ League Cup Second round
Last major trophy FA Cup 1968 ▪️ Premier League seasons 12 
Manager Tony Pulis (since January 2015)
Players In Jay Rodriguez, Zhang Yuning, Ahmed Hegazy
Players Out Darren Fletcher
West Bromwich Albion begin an eighth-successive top-flight season, the Baggies' best run since the late 1970s and early 1980s - but the fact remains that they have never won more than 50 points in a single Premier League campaign. It looked for certain as if that duck was going to be broken last time out - but, having reached 40 points in February, Tony Pulis' men left for the beach and took only five points out of their last 36. In fact, West Brom lost seven out of their last eight and so carry no momentum into the new season. Regardless, Pulis will set his team up, as he always does - to survive and pinch a goal from a set-piece, an area in which they undoubtedly excel. While it is not pretty, it is effective - and should ensure West Brom celebrate a ninth-successive top-flight season next summer.
Prediction: 12th

WEST HAM UNITED The Hammers - London Stadium - @WestHamUtd
Last season 11th ▪️ FA Cup Third round ▪️ League Cup Quarter finals ▪️ Europa League Playoff
Last major trophy FA Cup 1980
▪️ Premier League seasons 22
Manager
Slaven Bilić (since June 2015)
Players In Javier Hernandez, Marko Arnautovic, Pablo Zabaleta, Anouar El Mhassani, Sead Haksabanovic, Joe Hart
Players Out Alvaro Arbeloa, Havard Nordtveit, Enner Valencia, Darren Randolph, Ashley Fletcher
Moving house is never easy - but, for West Ham United, last season was especially tough. It would be fair to say that many supporters are still not comfortable in their surroundings at the London Stadium - and the fact that the Hammers start this term with three away games because the arena is being used for athletics reinforces the belief that the arena is simply not suited for football. Slaven Bilić's men may be playing catch up then - but the Croatian boss, who is in need of a good season, appears to have recruited well. Javier Hernandez and Marko Arnautovic will add bite to an attack which was previously far too reliant on Andre Ayew and the oft-injured Andy Carroll. Meanwhile, further solid Premier League experience has been recruited as former Manchester City defender Pablo Zabaleta is reunited with the on-loan Joe Hart.
Prediction: 7th

All information correct at time of publication. Players In includes all first-team incoming permanent and loan moves. Players Out includes all first-team outgoing permanent moves and loans to other Premier League teams.