Premier League Football Alphabet 2013/2014 – E for Everton

It’s an important season for Everton. In fact, that might be an understatement, it’s a massive season for Everton and all those associated with the Goodison Park club. After 11 years of hard work and quality service, David Moyes left his managerial post to take on the biggest job in English football as manager of Manchester United. In stepped former Wigan Athletic manager, Roberto Martinez – highly respected but somewhat unproven at the very top levels of the game. In his final season at Wigan, Martinez led the Latics to FA Cup Glory but also relegation from the Premier League.

So, there is a change at the top and new ideas to not only bring in but to bed in. There are some new players too and one might argue that despite the loss of hugely influential Belgian, Marouane Fellaini (who followed his old boss to Old Trafford) on transfer deadline day, they did manage to hold onto (some would say even more influential) Leighton Baines. The Toffees also managed to secure the services of midfield duo James McCarthy and Gareth Barry as well as striker Romelu Lukaku. Many expected Lukaku (dubbed by some as the new Didier Drogba) to feature heavily for Chelsea this season after his 17 goals for West Brom last time out and an impressive pre season for Chelsea, so his signature (even on a season long loan) could be highly significant. It does perhaps leave Arouna Kone wondering what he might have to do to become a first team starter.

How high can Everton finish? Before the transfer window closed, many may have settled for mid table solidity in the first season under a new manager, but with those new additions, perhaps there will now be hope of something a little better. After the first 3 games, the Toffees defence looks as solid as ever but with just 2 goals scored, the Goodison faithful will be pinning a lot on Lukaku getting on the end of those delicious crosses from Baines.

Premier League Football Alphabet 2013/2014 - C for Cardiff City, Chelsea and Crystal Palace

This is it football fans, the premier league season is (at the time of writing) less than 16 hours away. Liverpool, minus the still suspended Luis Suarez will entertain Stoke City in the day’s early kick off. However, our football alphabet is still at the letter C, so unless Coutinho or Crouch light up the opening fixture, let’s concentrate on Chelsea, Cardiff and Crystal Palace and their chances for the coming season.

Chelsea - Many people have Chelsea as favourites for the title this season and we certainly wouldn’t disagree with them – not unless there are dramatic developments before the close of the transfer window. Despite a very uncomfortable season at Stamford Bridge last time out, with both Roberto Di Matteo and Rafa Benitez departing, they still finished a very comfortable 3^rd in the table and won the Europa League.

At times, they played some outstanding football, with the likes of Juan Mata, Eden Hazard and Oscar lighting up the midfield with silky skills. Now add the likes of Andre Schurrle, Marco van Ginkel, Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku to the mix and an already impressive outfit looks even stronger. John Terry, Frank Lampard and Fernando Torres are also still holding the fort and the blend of youth and experience looks special. Speaking of special – one Jose Mourinho has returned as manager, to the club where he had so much success  and this combination of great players and great manager might just make Chelsea the Champions come May 2014.

Cardiff City - Not the blues but the reds have joined their Welsh rivals in the Premier League and on the surface at least it would appear that a season of struggle for survival could be ahead. Swansea managed to prove everybody wrong when they came up and stayed up but the Bluebirds (or is it the Dragons) may need to splash the cash a bit more to give themselves a fighting chance. They have been trying though – Andreas Cornelius has been brought in from FC Copenhagen to score goals but the English Premier League is...“leagues” away from the Danish Superliga. Steven Caulker from Spurs was a good bit of business and one would suspect that Cardiff will need lots of clean sheets to give themselves a chance. Craig Bellamy won’t look out of place back at this level but he is now in the twilight of his career so fans will have fingers crossed for 2 or 3 big signings before the end of August – or January if push comes to shove.

Crystal Palace - Like Cardiff, the newly promoted Eagles could be in for a tough time. Zaha has gone to Man United, Glenn Murray is injured, Chamakh has yet to prove he can do the business at this level and manager Ian Holloway lost out to Fulham for the signing of Darren Bent. The positives are that it will be 11 v 11 once out on the pitch but unless some serious business is done before the window closes, Crystal Palace unfortunately look like a Championship squad in a division that may be beyond them

We are all for the underdogs here at Sporting Voices though, so we wish the best of luck to Cardiff City and Crystal Palace in the Premier league. We don’t think Chelsea will be needing much of that luck but wish them all the best regardless.