For some time now, the chats we have had with opposition fans have been some of the more enjoyable articles we have done here at TEB HQ.
As a result, ahead of the 2018/19 Premier League season, TEB have recruited a representative from each club to share their views on the up and coming campaign.
We kick things off by looking at the opinions from Liverpool and Manchester City courtesy of Oliver Emmerson from Anfield Index and Richard Burns from the Bluemoon Podcast.
Manchester City @RichardTheBurns
Q. What are the fan expectations?
In terms of tangible success, obviously the hope is that City defend the Premier League title. That is something that evaded the team after the 2012 and 2014 title wins when it was clear that they lost some of their hunger the year after. Players have confessed as much in the time since those disappointing would-be title defences. Pep Guardiola is an entirely different breed to Roberto Mancini or Manuel Pellegrini though, and the team is considerably better than it was then so it’s fair to expect a better attempt at keeping the trophy at the Etihad Stadium.
Last season’s triumph was so emphatic that a lower points total is absolutely inevitable, but the team overall will be better. Even allowing for a 5-10 point drop-off, it still means any rival is going to have to improve significantly to get close to Pep’s men. So, expectations are that Guardiola’s style is further entrenched and that the title stays with us. That is the most important thing. After that, there is the second priority of having a decent crack at the Champions League and I think we are all hoping for something better than a shambolic quarter-final exit this time. Success in the domestic cups would be nice, but as ever that will be a lower priority for the club. It is a shame, but that is the nature of the club these days.
Q. Which position does your team desperately need to improve?
In all honesty, none. Not desperately. That said, a holding midfielder would be nice to provide adequate cover for Fernandinho. City went after Fred and Jorginho to address that issue but both men chose to move elsewhere. Fernandinho is a magnificent midfielder but he needs an understudy, somebody to share his workload and to eventually take over his position. In spite of that, nobody will be too concerned if there is no further recruitment this summer.
Q. Name a player from your club that will shine
Leroy Sané. I know, I know – it is hardly a bold prediction. He has just come off the back of a season where he was named PFA Young Player of the Year so it is easy to predict that he will kick on again. I think he is going to have an outstanding season though. There is something special about this boy; I spend a lot of time watching him closely. He is lightning quick, skillful and as last season progressed his decision making improved drastically. His ability to grab a game by the scruff of the neck is extremely underrated.
Sané is going to spend his career as a prominent player on the world stage and I think we will see real progress from him year-on-year. At the risk of setting myself up to be laughed at, I see similarities to Ronaldo at the same point in his career. Sané is learning to turn his incredible talent into something productive and he can run through a defence as well as anybody in the league. He will improve physically as he gets older too. He is all set to be a major player on the world stage for many years and I am so excited to watch his development.
Q. Where will your team finish in the league and how will they do in the cups?
Premier League – I hate to be bold or arrogant with predictions, but I cannot call anything other than City winning the league. They were so far ahead of the rest last time out and, with Riyad Mahrez, there is a significant improvement in attacking options. If Jürgen Klopp can translate Liverpool’s intensity into consistency across a league season then they concern me, but I think we have enough to bring it home again.
Champions League – In the spirit of optimism I will back us to make the final in Madrid and see how we get on there from there.
FA Cup – I would love to win it for the first time since 2011 but I am going for a quarter-final exit.
League Cup – We have won this one three times and, as we start in the third round, it feels like a very short competition to win. Though we might stumble when we put the younger players out, I am going to tip us to defend this cup too, but I would be lying if I said it was a confident prediction.
Q. Predict the title winners, teams relegated and domestic cup winner
Title winners – Manchester City
Teams relegated – I think this is one of the toughest years I can ever remember for predicting the bottom three. I will tip Cardiff City because Neil Warnock has never been able to meet the challenges of the Premier League; Bournemouth because they tend to flirt with relegation each year and I think that might catch up with them this time; Burnley, which might be a slightly left field shout but at the time of writing they have not signed anybody. If they stay in the Europa League the demands of that will add a lot of strain to that squad, and I think it’s deceptive to suggest they were brilliant last season. Seventh was a great achievement for them, but at one point they went eleven games without a league win. I think anything less than a flying start will see them bogged down towards the bottom of the league and, without quality additions, I do not see them pulling out of it. That said, it would not be the first time they have proven me completely wrong!
FA Cup – Liverpool
League Cup – Manchester City
Q. Your thoughts on Palace and how we will do this season?
I think that in Roy Hodgson, you have a manager who ultimately will steer you clear of any real trouble. He is never ruffled and he does not carried away by the the highs or the lows of a season. That calmness is a huge asset, I would expect comfortable survival, but..*OBVIOUS TAKE ALERT*…it is going to depend on keeping Wilfried Zaha. He is a wonderful player and you guys are so lucky you get to enjoy him week-in, week-out. Keep hold of him and you are a danger to any opponent. I would expect Palace to settle somewhere around midtable.
Liverpool @Oliver_Emmerson
Q. What are the fan expectations?
A serious title challenge, I would say. Some of the older supporters will tell you that after six years without one, it is time for a trophy, but in reality Liverpool need to focus on competing with Manchester City. Consecutive top four finishes, combined with runs to two European finals, have made for very good viewing in Jurgen Klopp’s first couple of years, allowing him to build a squad capable of challenging for the top honours. It is now time to do so.
Manchester City are an unbelievable force and may well go around smashing up the record books once more this season, but Liverpool need to stay in the running for as long as possible. There would be no shame in coming second to Guardiola’s side, but there needs to be at least ten points added to last season’s tally of 75.
Q. Which position does your team desperately need to improve?
Liverpool have done brilliantly to improve the squad this summer, solving issues in goal and midfield, whilst adding some creative depth in Xherdan Shaqiri. However, 9/10 fans will still tell you that centre-back is our weak spot when Dejan Lovren is in the side. Love him or hate him, you cannot excuse the clangers that occur year on year, he cannot be trusted to hold down a spot in a title winning side. With Ragnar Klavan’s age, Joe Gomez’s inexperience and Joel Matip’s injuries, I would suggest a centre-back being brought in before the deadline is crucial to our success this season.
Q. Name a player from your club that will shine?
It would be easy to say Mohamed Salah after the heroics of 2017/18, but I am going to plump for Naby Keita. I was excited before he officially made the move and watching him in pre-season has only wetted the appetite even more. Pass, press, tackle, dribble, shoot, he can do it all on a world class level and I am confident he is going to take the Premier League by storm. With Fabinho backing him up, I will even tip him as an outsider for Player of the Year.
Q. Where will your team finish in the league and how will they do in the cups?
Second. I think we are finally ready to be best of the rest, but that has come at a time where Pep Guardiola is up the road in Manchester doing crazy things. With improved strength in depth, I am tipping us for a League Cup win, whilst our style is so suited to European football I would not be surprised to see another Champions League run, to the semi-final at least. We will typically exit the FA Cup in the fourth round – probably at home to Palace.
Q. Predict the title winners, teams relegated and domestic cup winners?
- Premier League – Manchester City
- FA Cup – Tottenham Hotspur
- League Cup – Liverpool
- Relegated – Cardiff City, HuddersfieldTown, Fulham
Q. Your thoughts on Palace and how we will do this season?
Naturally, being a Liverpool fan I have not got the strongest of affections for Roy Hodgson. However, it cannot be denied that he did a super job last year, and now Liverpool seem to have got over their Selhurst Park voodoo, I have something of a soft spot for the Eagles. You have essentially got a seven game head start on last season which pretty much guarantees an improvement on the 44 points you totted up last season, providing of course you keep Wilfried Zaha. It would be nice to see Christian Benteke remember that the spherical object is supposed to go in between the white posts this season after a disappointing showing in the last twelve months. I would tip you for tenth, with a run to the FA Cup semi-final being the highlight of your season.
THANK YOU TO OLIVER AND RICHARD FOR JOINING OUR PREMIER LEAGUE PANEL FOR THE NEW SEASON. WE WILL REVISIT THEIR VIEWS LATER IN THE SEASON.
