Yesterday I looked at Newcastle, Norwich, Southampton, Stoke and Sunderland. Today, in the final day I will look at the last five. Today it’s the turn of Swansea, Tottenham, Watford, West Brom and West Ham.
Swansea:
A good season last time around for the Swans and they have made what seem like good moves in the transfer market. They just missed out on European football by four points and I think that could be a blessing in disguise. I am not sure the squad is quite ready for the toll Thursday nights traveling around Europe seems to take on teams. If they can keep themselves fit and focused then there is no reason we couldn’t see them repeat, or improve slightly, on that position this year.
Final Position:
I think the side will be challenging to get into Europe right until the final few weeks of the season. Whether they succeed will depend on their manager.
Tottenham:
In Europe and did really well to finish right behind the top four last time. My concern is that they were stretched in Europe last season but seem to have let more go than have come in this season. However quality is much better than quantity and so we shall see what happens. Can Harry Kane raise his game and do what he did for part of last season all this? I am not so sure.
Final Position:
I think they will finish in a decent position, but not as high as last season. Still qualifying for Europe and still in that top seven.
Watford:
I really am worrying for the side as they enter the Premiership. A new manager in Enrique Sanchez Flores with no experience in the Premiership either as a coach or player and an influx of new players make this have all the hallmarks of a ‘straight back down’ team. Flores was the sides fifth coach in twelve months and that was in a direct promotion season. What are the odds on him being the first head on the block in a season where they will surely struggle.
Final position:
Bottom? Possibly. Straight back down though without a doubt I think. An inexperienced manager, too many new players and a chairman who changes his employees more than his underwear are not the ingredients for a successful Premiership campaign.
West Brom:
Tony Pulis is great at getting solid, mid table, reliable sides together. That’s not a dig at him, at least five sides would take that right now heading into the new season. In James McLean he has a decent player, but with that being his only purchase so far, will it be enough to take the Baggies to that next level?
Final Position:
Flirt with relegation but in the end will be far enough away with a half dozen games still to go.
West Ham:
Got into Europe, let the manager go. Well to be fair it wasn’t qualification through their position in the League and the axe has been ready to drop on Big Sam for a while. In new Manager Slaven Bilic they have a guy who has played, and managed, at the highest levels.
The question I have though is, can he do it in the Premier League, where a lot of bigger names than him have failed. Add to that the half dozen new faces and my most hated of European competitions and, if Hammers fans thought it was going to be better after Sam, then they may want to skip this one and try again next season.
Final Position:
Not going to do much in the Europa League and will be around the same position come seasons end as they were last season. Transition period? European distractions? Maybe a bit of both.
Tomorrow I will put this all into a final table and post that on my Facebook page. Let me know what you think
Jason is a Freelance Soccer Writer. You can follow him on Twitter @PACityboy and www.facebook.com/jasonbardwell1979
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