August 13 2004

Premiership

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

Middlesbrough

Last Season: 11th

In: Mark Viduka (Leeds),Jimmy- Floyd Hasslebaink ,Boudewijn Zenden (Chelsea), Ray Parlour (Arsenal), Reiziger (Barcelona)

Out: Jonathan Greening, Craig Dove, Phil Gulliver, Allan Johnston, David Murphy, Micheal Ricketts, Sam Russell, Robbie Stockdale, Ross Turnbull (loan)

Player to Watch: Jimmy Floyd Hasslebaink

My Prediction: 8th

Total Points: Between 50-55

How Many Points will we get : 1 point at best.

Middlesbrough has had their best season ever. They finished mid-table but won the Carling Cup, their first honour in their long history. Steve McClaren has not rested on his laurels and added experience to a squad which will be carved in Teeside folklore after their success at Cardiff.

McClaren has brought in seasoned performers in his quest this season to improve. Micheal Reiziger, Bolo Zenden and Jimmy Floyd Hasslebaink have all performed at the highest level for club and country. The Dutchmen should push ‘Boro on to greater things this season. Ray Parlour has left Arsenal and Mark Viduka should solve their goal scoring issues.

Outbound from the Riverside, Jonathan Greening and Micheal Ricketts are the only real big names to leave. Ricketts especially will be looking for a new start, after a £4 million pound move did not work out.

Chairman Steve Gibson has always backed his manager, despite some failures in the transfer market, Steve McClaren is still a shrewd operator. He still has the ever dependable Gareth Southgate (one of our greatest ever exports) and exciting Mendieta and the diminutive Juninho to call upon. These are exciting times on Teeside.

The UEFA Cup will provide a real test of all the players this season, it will be a new experience for some of the most success starved fans in the Premiership (we cant be far behind) and rather than detracting from their league form, could well augment it.

A lot depends on whether the players signed match their expectations so far. Viduka and Reiziger have gone off the boil and are not automatic guarantees that they are going to set the division alight. One man who will, providing that he gets the service, will be Hasslebaink. He is still a top performer and although is known to be moody, produces the goods week in, week out. If he hits top form, and all of ‘Boros’ other stars shine, then they could have their best season yet.

But, saying that, too many of the players have flattered to deceive and this is a better side, but one that may fall a little short of the expectations that the names on the team sheet supply. A good run in the UEFA should end in the Quarter or even Semi Finals, but ultimately, it will be a nearly season for the boys from the Riverside.

So how will we fare? It depends on which ‘Boro runs out in the 2 matches. I think that we can get a point at Selhurst, but the away game is at the end of August and I predict a defeat at the Riverside. Still 1 point is better than none, from the side that will be the “top” of the 2nd tier sides in the Premiership.

Aston Villa

Last Season: 6th

In: Martin Laursen (AC Milan), Mathieu Berson (Nantes), Vaclav Drobny (Strasbourg), Carlton Cole (Chelsea)

Out: Peter Crouch, Rob Edwards, Dion Dublin, Colin Marshall, Ronny Johnsen, Wayne Henderson (loan), Stefan Moore (loan).

Player to Watch: Thomas Hitzlsperger

My Prediction: 7th

Total Points: Between 52-58

How Many Points will we get : 2 points at best

Finishing 6th last season was a tremendous success for Villa and their boss David O’Leary. For Villa fans, it was their highest finish for some time and for O’Leary, vindication that he did not need millions to manage successfully. Scapegoated for the financial problems at Leeds, wrongly in my view, O’Leary has proven that he can get the best out of his players. Youngsters like Peter Whittingham rose to the occasion, and Darius Vassell and Juan Pablo Angel terrorised defences all over the country last season.

However, while O’Leary has done fantastically well, the fact that he has not spent much money means that some serious investment was needed if Villa were going to claim a European spot this season. Sadly, at the time of writing this has not happened. While Martin Laursen is no doubt a quality signing, very little quality has passed through the gates at Villa Park this summer. Carlton Cole is a good young prospect and if anyone can get the best out of him, it is the Villa chief. Mathieu Berson and Vaclav Drobny have arrived from the French league and may take time to adapt.

My man to watch is Thomas Hitzlsperger. He has class throughout and should force his way into Jurgen Klinsmanns Squad for the coming qualifiers. He is an exciting talent and certainly has an eye for goal.

If only Doug Ellis had given O’Leary more money, Villa could have attracted some of the top players to have been on offer this season, such as Nicky Butt, Ray Parlour, Patrick Kluivert or Danny Murphy. Instead, Villa are snapping up the scraps at the table of the top clubs. Sadly, this is where they will end up this season.

For us, it will be very difficult. Villa is a quality side but can take time to get going, so we can profit from that. I think that 2 draws will be the best we can expect, from exciting encounter with the Claret and Blues from Birmingham this year.

Liverpool

Last Season: 4th

In: Djibril Cisse (Auxerre), Josemi (Malaga)

Out: Emile Heskey, Danny Murphy, Markus Babbel, Stephen Gillespie, Steven Vaughan, Bruno Cheyrou (loan), Anthony Le Tallec (loan), Gregory Vignal (Loan)

Player to Watch: Djibril Cisse

My Prediction: 6th

Total Points: Between 55-58

How Many Points will we get : 2 Points at best.

Liverpool fans now look back over 10 years to find when they won the league. Never won the Premiership and with little to show in the way of proper Championship challenges over the years, you can forgive the disappointment of the Anfield faithful, who has been brought up on a diet of success, success and success.

But this will be another year of disappointment for Liverpool on that front. New man Rafael Benitez will take time to build a side in his own image, and the players will take time to bed down to new ideas and systems. Nevertheless, Liverpool still boasts quality throughout their side, but there will be mistakes along the way.

The arrival of Djibril Cisse, who is my man to watch incidentally and the sale of Emile Heskey were the start of some early season signings to take place at Anfield under the last actions of Gerard Houiller. Rafa has obtained a forward line of real talent, which on its day can deal devastating blows. Cisse was the top scorer in France last season, ahead of Didier Drogba, Micheal Owen is a consistent performer in the Premiership and Milan Baros will want to be back in the side to show that his haul in Euro 2004 was no fluke.

At the back, Benitez has signed Josemi from Malaga in the only other bit of incoming business this close season. He could form a strong partnership with the brilliant Sami Hyypia in defence.

With the talents of Harry Kewell, John Arne Riise and Steven Gerrard, Liverpool will find themselves undergoing a transition this season under new management. Champions League will bring more money and a chance for Liverpool to begin to stamp their name back into European football circles. The name is mentioned now only in harking back to days gone by when they dominated Europe and the home competitions.

However with the Champions League, this could seriously derail any chance of making headway in the league. In fact, it could have the adverse effect of allowing other teams who have less pressure on them to sneak up on them. In effect, Liverpool will be a victim of their own success.

Victims too of change as Michael Owen is now rumoured to be favouring a move to Real Madrid. If this is to be true, then despite the talents of Milan Baros and the possible incoming transfer of Xabi Alonso, change could well provoke unrest.

Hence the reason for my placing of 6th for the Anfield mob. Benitez will have time to mould the side, and patience will be a watchword on Merseyside this season. Expect with the managers’ pedigree a good run in the Champions League or the UEFA cup. But league success will have to wait.

Palace can do well here. We have performed well under the Liverpool of Gerard Houiller and I see no reason why we cannot get 2 draws again. Transition could bring Liverpool to excel or to flounder. I am banking on the latter as we may profit from the new tide sweeping the boot room at the moment.