Preview to Premier League Season 19/20 (Part 1)

Following the summer which has given us three major tournaments, the football season is fast approaching with the Premier League starting in two weeks with the first game at Anfield between Liverpool and Norwich City. Let's take a preview of the upcoming season with the first seven teams based on their potential final position come May next year. 

Sheffield United. Potential Finish: 20th

Sheffield United are back in the Premier League for the first time since 2007 having been at the Third Division just two years ago. Sheffield were the surprise package from the Championship last season with very few tipping them for promotion which shows the work that coach Steve Wilder has done at Bramall Lane conceding just 41 goals, keeping 21 clean sheets and the performances of Billy Sharp who scored 24 goals that season in propelling the Blades back to the promise land. However, it seems likely that Sheffield will go down with Wilder stating that Sheffield's playing style will not change drastically from the Championship, being the only thing in the Premier League with everyone in their squad from the British Isles and not spending much on the transfer market with Lys Mousset their big money signing at £10 million whilst getting Ravel Morrison and Phil Jagielka both on one year deals plus getting back Dean Henderson from Manchester United on loan. Despite that, the Blades have a relatively kind fixture list for the first ten games with only Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool being tough fixtures where it's likely they won't get anything. So, with an unlikely promotion plus choosing to save money rather than spend it and Wilder keeping to his beliefs, Sheffield are pretty much there for the ride and nothing more meaning a swift return to the Championship. 

Newcastle United. Potential Finish: 19th

What a turbulent summer for the Magpies. Following back-to-back mid table finishes, Rafa Benitez left St. James Park following a disagreement with owner Mike Ashley over signing a new contract and funds to improve the squad. Former Sunderland manager Steve Bruce was appointed which hasn't given the Toon faithful a lot of confidence for the upcoming season as he's the second manager with the worst win percentage for a manager with over 250 games in the Premier League and has spent the last few years in the Championship. Also, Newcastle have lost Ayoze Pérez and Salomón Rondón which is huge considering they contributed to half of Newcastle's goals last season. They have managed to sign Brazilian striker Joelinton from Bundesliga side Hoffenheim which is good but will find it difficult to replicate the form of Rondón and Perez. Aside from that, there hasn't been much business done on Tyneside to improve the squad dispute Ashley stating that Bruce will be given money to improve the team. With a manager who is suited for the Championship, drama behind the scenes, a frustrated fan base, and loss of goals, Newcastle looked primed to go down for the third time under Mike Ashley's ownership.

Brighton and Hove Albion. Potential Finish: 18th

Brighton are entering their third successive season in the Premier League which is a great achievement for the seagulls. However, they could count their blessings having stayed up last season at Cardiff's expense but their form at the end of last season leaves early warning signs for the upcoming season. They didn't win their remaining nine league games, scoring just three goals and despite staying up cost Chris Hughton his job. Hughton did a fine job at the South Coast, guiding them to promotion and sustain them in the Premier League but the struggles from last season and the spending they made from last season, may have led to Hughton's sacking. Graham Potter was appointed in his place with a big reputation but has just one season in English football to his home and has to utilise the squad in order to stay up. Only Glenn Murray scored more than ten goals for Brighton last season and at the age of 35, the Seagulls will have to call on their other attackers to step up as they were one of the lowest goal scoring teams in the league last season with only 35. With a new style of play, heavy dependence on an ageing striker and the inexperience of Graham Potter, Brighton's stay in the Premier League looks set to end.

Norwich City. Potential Finish: 17th

The team from East Anglia are back in the top flight for the third time this decade. Under Paul Lambert and Chris Hughton, the Canaries were a regular for three seasons under they were relegated in 2014. They came back a year later under Alex Neil but had just one season and we're drifting back down to the Championship. They have been in a rebuild under German coach Daniel Farke as they have become a fast-paced, possession style of football which he brought from Farke's time at Borussia Dortmund. It has payed off really well, finishing top of the Championship, scoring 93 goals with Teemu Pukki scoring 29 goals and boast some of the best young players from last season in Jamal Lewis and Max Aarons, who was awarded EFL Championship Young Player of the Year. As said before, the jump from the Championship to the Premier League is big which will be the same for Norwich. They will be exciting to watch with their style of play but will have their struggles, having Liverpool, Manchester City, Arsenal and Chelsea in their first ten fixtures, which could affect the future of Farke. Nevertheless, the team chemistry they had from last season hasn't been affected with little transfer activity which could count in their favour (or not).

Aston Villa. Potential Finish: 16th

After three years away, Aston Villa are back. In 2018, they suffered heartache losing in the playoff final to Fulham. Experiencing a slow start to last season led to Steve Bruce getting sacked and appointed Dean Smith, who rejuvenated the Villans leading them to the playoff places and will have a happy ending beating Derby County in the playoff final in May, sealing promotion back in the top flight. Unlike Sheffield United and Norwich City, Villa have splashed the cash in buildup to the season. With Tammy Abraham gone, Villa have signed Brazilian striker Wesley Moares from Belgian side Club Brugge for £22 million plus the likes of Tyrone Mings, Douglas, Matt Targett, Trezeguet and others to provide quality and depth. Having been linked with a move away, it looks like Jack Grealish will be staying at Villa Park. The Englishman has grown during Villa's time in the Championship, eventually becoming club captain and will look to keep Villa in the Premier League with some inspiring performances. Despite the evidence from Fulham last season that overspending can look team chemistry, it's likely that it wouldn't apply to Villa and will have enough to stay up.

Crystal Palace. Potential Finish: 15th

This summer, Palace fans feared that the vultures will be coming for their key assets. Palace have been in the Premier League since 2013 and have been a steady lower to mid-table team since then. Last season, the South London side finished 12th with 49 points with huge performances from their talisman Wilfried Zaha, who scored 10 goals and made 5 assists and youth product Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who was arguably the right-back in the league last season. Wan-Bissaka have left for Manchester United for a reported fee of £50 million and it looks like Zaha will be leaving as well with heavy speculation of him moving to Arsenal and Everton for £60 to £80 million. How the Eagles use the money is anybody's guess as they have made just one signing in Jordan Ayew from Swansea City. That leaves pressure on manager Roy Hodgson to keep Palace away from a relegation dogfight especially without Zaha, who has been important to Palace since returning from Manchester United and the team literally built around the Ivorian. However, with his experience in situations like this, Hodgson will find a way without Zaha and Palace should be okay with their Premier League status.

Watford. Potential Finish: 14th

Watford had a good 18/19 season. They finished 11th in the league with 50 points and reached the FA Cup Final for the first time in 35 years. The lest said that final, the better. A good season that Javi Gracia was awarded a new contract and is having a second season at Vircarage Road, a big deal considering how Watford operates with managers having five managers since gaining promotion in 2015 with Gracia's predecessor Marco Silva spending the least amount of days at the helm. Watford know what they are, a physical team that will make the opposition feel uncomfortable which worked against teams around them with their captain Troy Deeney being a clear example. It has worked for them well in the Premier League and they have slowed in their turnover of players this summer as they have made little business in the transfer market, signing Craig Dawson from West Brom, João Pedro from Fluminense and Tom Dele-Bashiru from Manchester City. It will be difficult for Gracia to replicate that again but with the Hornets going for continuity, they should be fine.