Abhishek Iyer on The Verdict

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBgxoJ0rp-I

EPL 2012/13 - Bigger & Better

Here's an article of mine that was featured in the July edition of '90 Minutes' football magazine.                           

                                             EPL: 2012/13 - Bigger & Better!

            

The season upon us promises to be bigger and better. The stakes are higher. Mediocrity will be frowned upon and sheer brilliance will be the benchmark.

The Barclays Premier League might be the most watched football league around the world, but it has fallen from its status of being the most dominant, on the playing field. Up until May this year, in recent years, Spanish football has ruled Europe with Spain’s domestic and club success propelling to a different league altogether. Back to back Euro Cup wins (not to mention a World Cup in between) for the national side and two UEFA Champions League crowns for Barcelona in four years demonstrate a stubborn dominance in the sport. 

The English clubs are now keen to restore their fallen status (Chelsea’s big Champions League victory to begin with) amongst Europe’s elite and clearly – to be the best, you have to import the best. Or so seems to be this year’s blueprint.

So what really is in store for us this season? Well, to begin with, Arsenal FC seem to be starting off on the wrong foot with club captain RVP wanting out, citing differences in ‘ambition of the club’ and how it wishes to move forward. To replace him, the likes of Giroud and Podolski have been brought in by Wenger and with the addition of 2-3 more players across midfield and defense, Arsenal may just go on to have a decent season. Last year, after a bright start to Champions League, having topped their Group, Arsenal were demolished at the San Siro by AC Milan in the first knockout round. The Emirates told a different story however with Arsenal blitz-kreiging their way past Milan to lead 3-0 at half time. However, they lacked that one spark that could have proven to be the ‘coup de gras’ for AC Milan with the game ending at 3-0. Back then, RVP had it all to do himself with barely a Rosicky or a Walcott to complement him. The Arsenal attack was built on this dutch goal scoring machine and on occasions when he misfired, the entire team failed to deliver.

 This season however, with Wenger looking to balance the attack a lot more and spread the play evenly across the field, Arsenal will not have to solely rely on a number #9 to get the goals. We know what Podolski is capable off and we have seen flashes of brilliance in Giroud. Couple this with more signings, potentially of the likes of M’Vila, Gotze and De Cegile and you have a very good attacking side on display, capable of playing the Arsenal way in the best possible manner. Defensively too, with a little more muscle at the centre, the Arsenal back four wont be as easy to penetrate as they were last season. In all, if Wenger acts quick and does the business in the transfer market, Arsenal will be a real force to reckon with. In Europe, their style of play would suit them well given the pace and I don’t see too many teams stopping them on their day. The Italian teams will be too slow and against the likes of Barcelona and Real Madrid, a full strength Arsenal side can never be written off. Expect more success from this side as compared to last year if the transfer dealings are done correctly. After all, “In Wenger we trust”. Isn’t it?

                            Is he the man Arsenal have yearned for since Henry's departure?

Back in Anfield, Liverpool fans too will be hungry for more silverware this season. I expect Luis Suarez to have one hell of a campaign. i.e if he stays away from controversy. A lot will ride on his form and contribution and with the likes of Lucas and Johnson coming back from injury, with a few tweaks here and there, Champions League qualification might just be in the offing. A midfield pairing of Gerrard-Lucas-Dempsey with Borini Caroll and Suarez playing ahead doesn’t sound too bad now, does it?

Moving on to the reigning champions of Europe, Chelsea FC. What a mad season it was. Now however, the reset button has been pressed to make way for a mini revolution of sorts. Club talisman Dider Drogba has moved on to the more lucrative side of Chinese football while marquee signings - Eden Hazard, Marko Marin and the recent acquisition of Brazilian starlet Oscar from Intenacional signal a very clear intent from the Blues side - “We are in it, to win it”.

Roberto Di Matteo seems to have united this side which not too long ago nearly crashed down like a pack of cards. Domestically last year, they were in shambles and never really looked like a dominant force throughout the campaign. However, the signings so far have been excellent and the starting 11 is already beginning to look formidable. In fact, if one were to produce a starting line up for Chelsea and Real Madrid for the coming season, Cheslea would look the better team. What needs to be addressed quickly though is the growing uncertainity of the senior lot. Ashley Cole and Frank Lampard who were shunned under AVB’s reign proved to be the key players that turned the clubs fortunes last time around. Yet, their futures today remain uncertain. If this is addressed timely and properly, the Blues might just have the best mix of players in terms of age and experience. The Blues look like a side to beat for this campaign and we may just have a new league champion for the third time in a row.

The previous season also marked the rise of a new force in world football - Manchester City. Reigning champions of the Barclays Premier League and what a ride it had been. The blue moon has risen and we are now entering a new world of football. Bankrolled by an Arab billionaire, the club’s ambition and ambition alone will determine the level of success they achieve in this forthcoming campaign. The squad virtually remains unchanged with no major signings having come in yet. We can however, be rest assured that there will be signings made.

                               Once bitten, twice shy?

 Given that Eden Dzeko’s and Carlos Tevez’s future (with all his shenanigans) at the Etihad seems bleak, we will see a ‘big name signing’ to partner Kun Aguero up front with of course Italian superstar Mario Balotelli.. Robin Van Persie’s arrival would be just that. As it stands, City anyway has one of the best squads in the League but for success in Europe, depth needs to be invested upon. I see them being a real force in Europe this year and if two or three big names arrive this summer, expect great things from this Manchester outfit. Not only will they look to defend their crown but they will look to march a few steps forward and challenge for the Champions League crown as well.

They have the caliber to absolutely destroy opposing teams while putting on a spectacle. Their quality of football is outstanding and the troops they have form a ‘super’ star studded line up, capable of annihilating the very best. One can only imagine what damage a Van Persie - Aguero – Balotelli like striking partnership can inflict to even some of the best in the world. Last year, they failed to even make it past the group stages with Napoli and Bayern Munich going through instead but this year, we might just have a whole new definition to the word ‘ruthless’.

Not too far away, there lies the big daddy of them all. Manchester United. Sir Alex is determined to put last season’s massive last-minute heartbreak behind him, and rapidly build towards the oncoming campaign. United already boast a sizeable squad with the likes of Nani, Chicharito, Giggs and Rafael potentially making up the bench alone. Summer signings Nick Powell and Shinji Kagawa only add to an existing crop of gifted footballers all vying to get a place in the starting eleven.

Their major weakness as exposed by the likes of Manchester City and Athletic Bilbao last year is their midfield. They have been found wanting on many occasions and it literally took a return (retirement) from Paul Scholes to steady the ship last season. This side desperately needs more in midfield. Sir Alex seems to be deviating from his age old tonic of grit over flair in midfield. Grit in the form of Nicky Butt and Roy Keane has now given way to possibly a Kagawa-type spark in the centre with a quarter-back behind him. Lucas Moura, would be fantastic in providing some creative flair to the side, a key component that has gone missing since the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo back in 2009. That, balanced with the industrious efforts of Valencia on the right flank will provide far more goal scoring opportunities than the previous campaign.

In Europe, last year’s miserable campaign will be avenged for and Sir Alex has come clean in his mistakes. Fielding the young too early dug them in. Their #1 priority will of course be the domestic league and the cups that come with them but they are a side capable of winning it all in one go. 

                                More goals please!

   

Defensively, they look solid with captain Nemanja Vidic returning from a long standing injury. David de Gea has proven himself as an able keeper between the sticks and with rumors pouring in on Leighton Baines, the full backs and the centre halves are extremely well placed.

A formidable unit is being raised by the wily scot and Manchester United could potentially replicate if not better the success they had in 2008 with a little bit of luck. If rumors do hold out and Robin Van Persie does make his way to old Trafford, then boy oh boy are we in for a treat.