Pre Season Review
Despite some of the more tedious and farcical transfer sagas yet, Ronaldo and Barry in case you dont know who I’m on about (actually add Berbatov to that as well), there has only really been 4 teams who have done some interesting business, Fulham, Liverpool, Tottenham and Sunderland.
Spurs and Sunderland:
Keano has obviously decided that the best thing to do is to buy up all the Spurs players who wont be getting a game now they have some better talent coming in, apart from thier lardy and suspect keeper. Probably a sound move. Chimbonda, Malbranque and Tainio are good players. Spurs have been talked about to breaking into the top 4 for a few seasons now and while they havent done so the players Keano has got from them have been core to a half decent Spurs side. Sunderland probably only have ambitions to stay up and maybe a cup run and Keano has the players now to do this. Comfortably I would think.
Spurs, well Spurs have gone a bit mental really. Although if they had spannerd 15 million on Ashton then they deserve relegation! Modric, Bently and Dos Santos are good purchases and certainly indicate exitiing football at the Lane. Berbatov may yet stay, and really is vital to them now Keane has gone to Pool. Good business for Spurs but a real loss as Keane is a touch of class. So really I think its going to depend on the Striker situation at Spurs, if Berbatov stays then they do have a very serious chance for getting a top 4 slot. If he goes then its going to depend on who the get as a replacement. Dean Ashton? Carling cup will probably be the best they can hope for. And this year Chelsea wont be as east to beat in that, not that they were last season but Grant was, well his talents are better used elsewhere I think.
Liverpool and Fulham:
Fulham, who need all the help they can get, are really just an advert for chopping a couple of extra teams out of the PL. Relegation? Proably only saved by Hull, Bolton Stoke and Wigan Borough & West Brom all fighting for the chance to play a thier level. You can add Toon to that list as well I would think. A manger who doesnt convice he knows what hes doing and an owner who has taken the slightly unusual tactic of aiming for a top 4 slot by not actually improving a dodgy squad.
Liverpool is an odd one. They have Keane now, who with torres could produce a wealth of goals, but is Barry really the right player for them? If they do buy him they could benefit from a Gerrard and Barry partnership, which should signal the end of Lampard as a first choice for Englands starting lineup. So theres is something to be said for it afterall. But the rest of the players are going to have to make thier mark as Im not as convinced as some about the teams supposed depth of quality, they were 7 points off third last season, thier only comfort being the 11 points between them and Everton. The good news is Rafa did shift some right dross out. Team most likely to loose a top 4 spot? Probably not, Arsenals lack of purchases smacks of arrogance rather than just confidence.