August 13 2004

Premiership

The moment is nearly upon us, we are part of the Premiership once again, for the fourth time of asking.

Bolton

Last Season: 8th

In: Gary Speed (Newcastle), Tal Ben Haim (Maccabi), Radhi Jaidi (Esperance), Micheal Bridges (Leeds), Les Ferdinand (Leicester), Julio Cesar, Fernando Hierro

Out: Simon Charlton, Delroy Facey, Per Frandsen, Jeff Smith, Emerson Thome, Danny Livesey, Ibrahim Ba, Gerald Forschelet, Steve Howey, Lord-Kangana N’Diwa, Dwight Pezzarossi

Player to Watch: Jay Jay Okocha

My Prediction: 14th

Total Points: Between 45-48

How Many Points will we get: 3/6

Big Sam Allardyce has masterminded one of the transfer coups of the summer in getting Gary Speed from Newcastle for £750K. His proven work rate and consistency is money well spent, on a proven Premiership performer. Bolton had a fantastic last season, reaching the Carling Cup Final and finishing 8th in the League, which is a tremendous effort. Backed by the talents of Okocha (who can turn any game, on his own) and Djorkeaff, Bolton have season professionals of real international pedigree.

Speed aside, Bolton have done their usual transfer wheeling and dealing, getting in Micheal Bridges and Les Ferdinand on frees, while getting out of contract former stars Julio Cesar and Fernando Hierro. He has gone continental again, for signing Jaidi and Ben Haim, who will be unknown quantities at this level. Still, with a good squad to choose from Bolton should have another good season.

So why only 14th I hear you say. Boltons’ main problem, and still is today is the lack of a leading goal scorer. Ferdinand did wonders at Leicester last season, but they still went down, despite his goals. He is in a better side now, but as good as he is, surely age will have to catch up with him at some point. I expect him to be playing regularly though, and injuries permitting could have a say in the goal scoring charts again.

The old campaigners such as Julio Cesar and Fernando Hierro, I am not sure about. Great players in their prime, they are at the tail end of their careers now and a whole season in Qatar could have taken Hierros’ edge off. He may not be the same player.

Man to watch will again be Jay Jay Okocha, aided and abetted in midfield with Euro 2004 winner Stelios, Bolton should again perform well. With the sides around them all buying well too, I can see this being a tough season for Bolton, who will do well at home, but struggle away, which is why I foresee that we could beat them at home.

With the side struggling to find rhythm in front of goal, even with Bridges, Ferdinand, joining Kevin Davies and Pedersen up front. Hence despite having a solid look to them, will draw many games and this will cost them dear.

Manchester City

Last Season: 16th

In: Ben Thatcher (Leicester), Danny Mills (Leeds), Geert De Vlieger (Willem II)

Out: Mattias Vuoso, Stephen Elliott, Micheal Tarnat, Danny Tiatto, Glenn Whelan, Arni Arason, Gerard Wiekens.

Player to Watch: Nicolas Anelka

My Prediction: 13th

Total Points: Between 45-50

How Many Points will we get: 3/6

A near disaster last season, Kevin Keegan has only a few months to get it right. With the players he has at his disposal, he shouldn’t have problems. Players like David James, Robbie Fowler, Nicolas Anelka should be at the top of the table, challenging for trophies. Yet, City found due to some bad luck but generally poor defending, themselves at the wrong end of the table for the majority of last season.

On paper, this is a good squad; Sean Wright Phillips had a great season as did Joey Barton. To that end, Keegan has made only a couple of moves in the transfer marker at the time of writing. Ben Thatcher and Danny Mills are 2 no nonsense, uncompromising winners that will give City a more solid look at the back this season. Geert De Vlieger, signed as back up to David James, has suffered an injury which will keep him out for most of the season. Seems that luck has once again deserted Keegan.

Providing that they can keep the goals out, and with the quality that they have, this should be no problem. They have a competitive midfield, even if Steve McManaman is not the player he once was. Sinclair and Reyna have also been good solid buys, so there is no reason to suspect that they will suffer in getting the balls to their front players.

As with all Keegan sides, they have livewire forwards of real pedigree. The Incredible Sulk Nicolas Anelka scored fluently last season, despite rumours of him being unsettled or having problems at the club. Robbie Fowler will be trying to revisit past form to guide City to safety, while Jon Macken, finally fit again, will be an able deputy for them, should the need arise.

However with lots of ifs and buts surrounding their season, this unrest in the boardroom could derail a good season for City. Clearly they do not have the money previously given out for players or is the board now at the end of its tether with Keegan? If they have a bad start, I can see Keegan being sacked very early on.

We will do well against them, 3 points at home for sure as we have them early on, and will need to impress to keep ourselves clear of any relegation issues ourselves. Away, Eastlands is a new large auditorium and we will struggle there. City is good at home and it will be honours even there.

Man City have too much pedigree in their side to go down, but also seem to lack the desire needed to push on to the next level. With the Premiership weaker than last season, they will be clear of relegation, and should look to the Cups as their best chance of success.

Blackburn Rovers

Last Season: 15th

In: Paul Dickov (Leicester), Dominic Matteo (Leeds), Javi De Pedro (R Socieded)

Out: Andy Cole, Micheal Taylor, Alan Kelly

Player to Watch: Barry Ferguson

My Prediction: 12th

Total Points: Between 45-50

How Many Points will we get: 3/6

Blackburn seriously underachieved last season, and manager Graeme Souness knows this. A loss of form to their key strikers and a pile of injuries last year left Rovers in deep trouble. Only a rousing finale led by mid season acquisition Jon Stead gave them safety and he will be an important figure again.

Last season was characterised by the spats Souness had with strikers Cole and Yorke, while the over reliance on Brad Friedel to work the oracle at the back, was asking too much as comical defending left Rovers exposed time and time again.

Souness has done much to try to resolve these problems, first by getting Leeds Scotland International Central Defender and former Liverpool man Dominic Matteo to plug the holes in defence, while Paul Dickov has been recruited from Leicester and he did a sterling job last season, reaching double figures despite being in a relegated team.

Despite a relative quiet front in the arrivals lounge at Blackburn, Souness has tried to clear out the dead wood, notably up front with both Cole and Yorke finding themselves frozen out. Cole has since departed; Yorke has been welcomed back, for now.

The most interesting signing though has to be the acquisition of Javi De Pedro from Real Socieded. A proven winner, he was part of the Spanish World Cup squad in 2002. Now 31, he will see if he can provide the ammunition to keep Blackburn off the relegation pace this season.

This is a task that they should accomplish, providing that they can stay injury free. With Souness in charge, Blackburn will still have a good season. What will need to happen, is that players who were found wanting will have to prove very early on, that they are still capable and remain injury free. I picked out Barry Ferguson as the key man as with his ability, he can galvanise a good team into a very good team. However, history shows that Blackburn flatter to deceive. I see them having a good cup run however, but they will remain in mid-table obscurity again this season.

We will manage to get 3 points off them this season, as at home we can pull off the win at home. Ewood is not an easy place to go and I think there they will have the edge.