The past season was the 22nd. On May 11, "Manchester City" club won at home against "West Ham United" and secured the champions trophy with 86 points. The 2013-14 championship was full of unexpected twists and turns, intrigue both at the top and bottom of the standings, so it is not for nothing that the "Premier" league is considered the most interesting European tournament.
The first part of the season was confidently led by London's "Arsenal" finishing only fourth, while revived "Liverpool" was just a step away from gold. The leader of the Merseyside club, Luis Suarez, managed to become the tournament's top scorer despite missing the first five matches due to disqualification. It remains only to speculate what the coming years will bring. Let's try to review the perspectives of each team.
London's "Arsenal"
Last season's finish: 4th place, earned the right to participate in the final round of the UEFA Champions League qualifiers.
Coach: Arsene Wenger.
Team additions: C. Chambers, D. Ospina, M. Debuchy, A. Sanchez, J. Campbell (returned from loan).
Team departures: K. Kallstrom, L. Fabianski, C. Vela (sold to "Real Sociedad"), B. Sagna, C. Jenkinson.
The 2013-14 season started stormily for the "Gunners" - the team managed to recover after a loss in the first matches and won five consecutive games to lead the league. On August 31, Germany national team star Mesut Ozil was acquired. However, injuries poured in as the season progressed and "Arsenal" fell out of the title race. This year the club seems capable of going all the way - several solid acquisitions have already arrived in London, extending the bench depth. In addition, injuries are starting to heal for Theo Walcott, Abou Diaby, and Mesut Ozil, who feel more comfortable in England. Not only does the lineup look really strong, but a new fitness coach should also contribute to the team's success. Arsene Wenger just needs to avoid repeating the mistakes of last year, such as inadequate preparation for matches against top opponents, more rotation of players, and "Arsenal" will be able to compete for the gold not only in the first but also in the second part of the season.
Birmingham's "Aston Villa"
Last season's finish: 15th place.
Coach: Paul Lambert.
Team additions: K. Richardson, P. Senderos, J. Cole, D. Bent (returned from loan), S. Given (returned from loan), B. Bannan (returned from loan).
Team departures: Y. Sylla, N. Helenius, J. Bowery, R. Bertrand, G. Holt, M. Albright.
Last season, the Birmingham club played according to their abilities. "Villa" managed to stay in the league, and the fact that the team was never in the relegation zone could be considered successful. This young team proved that they should not be underestimated, as they defeated three out of the four teams that finished at the top of the table. The upcoming season is likely to be similar to the last one - "Aston Villa" faces a battle in the second half of the table. The positive on the side of the Birmingham club is the retention of key players and leader Christian Benteke. Additionally, capable defender Kieran Richardson has arrived, along with experienced players Philippe Senderos and Joe Cole. However, things may be complicated by a short depth of backup players and a heavy reliance on Benteke in the team's attack.
Burnley
Last season's finish: 2nd place in the Championship.
Coach: Sean Dyche.
Team additions: L. Jutkiewicz, S. Reid, M. Taylor, M. Gilks, M. Sordell, M. Kightly.
Team departures: C. Baird, J. Stanislas, N. Liversedge, B. Stock, K. Treacy, D. Edgar.
Burnley secured themselves in the top tier of English football after a successful stint in September 2013. Four draws and one loss in five matches in November pushed the Barnsley team out of first place. Since then, Burnley has been first several times, third several times, until February 8 when they were in second place and did not move from there. Like every newcomer, the fate of this team is hard to predict. Looking at the lineup, there are not many names known in the Premier League, so it will likely be difficult for this team to play against stronger opponents. On the other hand, the Championship team stood out for their excellent defense. Strengthening the attack with players of the highest caliber, the team would look really good. It is most likely that the league newcomers will fight for survival in the coming season.
Stay tuned for the continuation.
