The 2008-09 season had two outcomes, one: manchester united proved to be good in knowing how to win the league and two: liverpool are a tremendously improved side and could mount a serious challenge in the next campaign.
The season as such was dry with respect to the total number of goals scored suggesting that a good defence could be the key to survival in the English league. A lot of it has been contributed by the solid defences of ManU, Liverpool and Chelsea and of course the 14 games unbeaten and clean sheet record of van der saar and pepe reina's equally impressive run.
I am a fan of clubs like Everton, Aston Villa, Tottenham Spurs and Man City simply because i believe that they are the clubs in need of investment and the subsequent returns could be significantly higher. A common undercurrent across these clubs are that they are managed by excellent managers who read the english game very well and each one could easily manage a top club in europe.
Everton
Unlucky to have got their main players injured. Saha has showed that whether its Manchester or Everton, the injuries are always with him. A feared striker on his day, more or less spends time on the treatment room.
Buy: A creative mid-fielder/winger (joaquin?), a striker (trezeguet could go in there)
Sell: no one really
Aston Villa
Superb first half of the season soon frittered into a disappointng end; so much for having a thin squad and the injury to the captain martin laursen. But this side has got talent, agbonlahor, ashley young and james milner leading the light; the big and powerful heskey and carew have combined well this season to lead the line and cause the opposition defenders some problems.
The pain points though resides elsewhere, Defence. Its been problematic ever since mellberg left for Juventus and laursen had to retire due early due to a knee injury. They need two solid centre backs and a replacement for the now departed former captain and talisman gareth barry. Who is martin o'neill thinking about is a mystery; but they sure could do with a good creative mid-fielder who could build the game from the center of the park with the help of petrov, reo-coker and sidwell helping along.
Buy: A creative mid-fielder and two centre backs
Sell: no one unless a big big offer comes along
Prediction for next season: a trophy if martin is given the license to spend by lerner.
Manchester City
This club could go places if the money from the Abu-Dhabi group is well spent by mark hughes. That said one can never predict who they are after for the money is available in plenty; but more so who is ready to come to manchester city. For this its imperative that hughes build a team around the likes of micah richards, richard dunne, stephen ireland, elano, petrov and robinho; the list is exhaustive but its important hughes knows his starting and best XI.
Some gyan for this club: Build a team first then buy the players, look at the defence and mid-field; sell players who are there for the money before its too late.
The pain points though resides elsewhere, Defence. Its been problematic ever since mellberg left for Juventus and laursen had to retire due early due to a knee injury. They need two solid centre backs and a replacement for the now departed former captain and talisman gareth barry. Who is martin o'neill thinking about is a mystery; but they sure could do with a good creative mid-fielder who could build the game from the center of the park with the help of petrov, reo-coker and sidwell helping along.
Buy: A creative mid-fielder and two centre backs
Sell: no one unless a big big offer comes along
Prediction for next season: a trophy if martin is given the license to spend by lerner.
Manchester City
This club could go places if the money from the Abu-Dhabi group is well spent by mark hughes. That said one can never predict who they are after for the money is available in plenty; but more so who is ready to come to manchester city. For this its imperative that hughes build a team around the likes of micah richards, richard dunne, stephen ireland, elano, petrov and robinho; the list is exhaustive but its important hughes knows his starting and best XI.
Some gyan for this club: Build a team first then buy the players, look at the defence and mid-field; sell players who are there for the money before its too late.
I hate to admit this but this year the title belonged to Liverpool and not United...They won it just for their miserly defense for 75% of the season and their 1-0 wins.. But the saying goes "Form is temporary but class is permanent" ...ManUtd are classy :D Go reds!!!
ReplyDeletePoint well taken Nishant, Liverpool messed up their chances...
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