Ahead of the new season, we feel it is about time we took a look at the runners and riders that form the 2014/15 Premier League. A review of each team including betting odds for both their title chances and possible relegation at the time of writing. Odds supplied by our friends at Paddy Power.
Arsenal – 6/1 title – 500/1 relegation
A decent squad is being assembled at the Emirates amid the vultures circling over the longest serving manager in the division. Wenger has taken a lot of stick in recent years but you have to admire his patience. Not many other managers would have tolerated the owners decision to fund a new ground and hold back on transfer fees over a few years while it was paid for. A top four place beckons for the North London club but there is a big question over their staying power in the title race.
Aston Villa – 1000/1 title – 3/1 relegation
This is a big season for manager Paul Lambert, if indeed he can last until next May. His side showed glimpses of a positive future ahead but they all too often flattered to deceive and never really lived up their opening day win at Arsenal. They have been coy in the transfer market and signing Joe Cole and Philip Senderos are gambles. A lot will depend on the form of Benteke after injury and if he stays at the club beyond January. A valid contender for a right royal scrap at the bottom of the table.
Burnley – 1000/1 title – 4/7 relegation
A promoted team being treated in almost identical fashion to us last season. The only difference is that they have had more time to adjust and plan for the fact that they face a season in the Premier League by achieving automatic promotion rather than through the play offs. You could argue that boss Sean Dyche is out of his league but I like that in a manager, you simply do not know what you can do until you try. He will thrive rubbing shoulders with the best as will his team and while they are favourites for relegation, I hope that they survive on the limited budget that they have.
Chelsea – 19/10 title – 500/1 relegation
The automated payments have been flying both in and out of Stamford Bridge this summer as Mourinho has been renovating the Chelsea squad that he inherited. The sale of David Luiz to PSG was perhaps the sale of the century considering Brazil’s failure at the World Cup this summer. The addition of Atletico striker Diego Costa could prove the shrewdest acquisition even if it was for a large fee. A goal scoring striker has been missing for a while now, or at least since Drogba left. Speak of the devil, he is back too and along with the additions of Felipe and Fabregas this is a team that is more than capable of taking that extra step they missed last season.
Crystal Palace – 1000/1 title – 11/5 relegation
Last season was a dream and it is difficult to know what to expect this time. Now that Pulis has had a whole summer in charge to sort out the squad from the players he wants to keep and those he wants rid of, there is a real air of expectancy around the club. The additions of Campbell and Hangeland could well prove to be master strokes, topping up a squad of players that were not far off a top ten finish last season. In truth, the aim of finishing above the bottom three has to be phase one with phase two hopefully looking at progression and improvement in a bid to become an established Premier League club. Who knows what to think as after all, this is Palace we are talking about.
Everton – 100/1 title – 150/1 relegation
A second season in charge at Goodison Park could make or break Roberto Martinez. His first season in charge was outstanding and while they fell a little short in the battle for fourth place last season they will have to content with European football in the form of the Europa League. This has been a hindrance to clubs in the past, you only have to ask Newcastle and Swansea in past seasons. The Toffees should have a squad capable of pushing the top four this season but a lot will depend on their foray in Europe and it’s potential effect of league form.
Hull City – 1000/1 – 11/4 relegation
The Tigers have been signing up players left right and centre but you have to consider the fact that they are another team facing a season of European football. A large squad of players is what is needed if you are going to complete and that is the approach that manager Steve Bruce has taken. While extra competition is a welcome distraction, it could end up having a detrimental effect on league form and there could be a real threat of relegation. Success breeds more competition as the larger clubs have found but whether it is possible for one of the smaller clubs to cope with the demand remains to be seen.
Leicester City – 1000/1 title – 9/4 relegation
The Foxes walked the Championship last season, a little like Cardiff City did the season before but it is a serious case of being careful what you wish for. It is highly unlikely that the owners will start their own capitulation at the club in the manner Cardiff did but a first season back in top flight is one to be celebrated. There is money available to spend for the manager and improvements have been made to the squad of players but the core of the promotion team remains which is a similar approach to that Palace took last season if you ignore the transfer window panic.
Liverpool – 12/1 title – 500/1 relegation
Life without Suarez is what the Anfield faithful have to come to terms with but the influx from Southampton may go someway to softening the blow. It is difficult to see how a team can replace a player that had such a profound effect particularly when you consider their spectacular improvement last season to the season before when they finished seventh. A team in transition perhaps but they look to have spent well, even if a little over the odds. All three of the recruits from the South Coast in Lambert, Lallana and Lovren are well up to speed in this division so they should hit the ground running. Whether Sturridge relied too much on the services of his former strike partner remains to be seen. The biggest difference however is that last season Liverpool did not have European football to contend with.
Manchester City – 5/2 title – 500/1 relegation
The champions will be looking to retain their title which they failed to do the last time they won the trophy. There is an argument that they were handed it by the inability of others rather than winning it themselves but I do not buy into that. They were and still are a squad of players that offer so much going forward and they have strengthened sensibly this summer while offloading some of the fringe players such. The race for the title is likely to involve a few contenders this season with City being one of them. A key player is one that I have seen often in his Fiorentina days but after an injury plagued season, expect Steven Jovetic to make up for lost time.
Manchester United – 9/2 title – 500/1 relegation
No European football this season plays into the hands of Dutch boss van Gaal. While fellow title contenders will be travelling all over Europe midweek United will only have domestic competition to contend with and I fully expect them to be up there challenging for the title. Not being in Europe will have an effect trying to encourage players to join the club that do not have Champions League football. But this is Manchester United we are talking about and it is only likely to be one season under the expert guidance of van Gaal. He has plenty of work ahead of him though to sort through the deadwood that remains at Old Trafford but if anyone can do it effectively, it is him.
Newcastle United – 1000/1 title – 8/1 relegation
After what was a rather painful second half of last season, Pardew and his team will be looking for better this time out. The team continues to be in transition with several departures from the club which started with Cabaye in the January transfer window. That was the catalyst for their dismal form that followed. They owed a lot to their fantastic first half of the season and even though they clung on to a top ten finish that simply did not tell the whole story. Their new signings are unproven and should they not get off to a good start the pressure will be on Pardew.
Queens Park Rangers – 1000/1 title – 2/1 relegation
Promotion through the play offs always puts a club on the back foot in terms of preparation as we know. For QPR it is quite different as they have money and a manager in charge who is more than willing to spend it. They have the spine of the team that got them promotion but as the weeks have passed the look and feel has changed. They are well placed to survive at the first attempt this time around but the Premier League is a tough league and it is not always experience that gets you through.
Southampton – 1000/1 title – 4/1 relegation
Their odds for relegation have gradually come down as the summer weeks have passed and another player sold. They look like retaining Rodriguez and Schneiderlin but it is difficult to see if that will enough for them with what will be an influx of new signings. There is also a question of the new manager, former Dutch international defender Ronald Koeman. They will look more like a newly promoted club that one that had established themselves in the top division and fans on the South Coast will understandably be a little concerned going into the new season.
Stoke City – 1000/1 title – 7/1 relegation
The club that seem to have all of their players linked to us because of Pulis. They surprised many last season with their mid table finish and there is no reason why they cannot do so again. Hughes has picked up where Pulis left off and kept the side from the Potteries a very tough side to beat. The signing of former Barca player Bojan is seen as quite a coup and it will be very interesting to see how he fares on cold winter night at errr Stoke! With little change to the side other than a few additions they can expect a similar return this time around.
Sunderland – 1000/1 title – 4/1 relegation
The side that challenged on all fronts last season and managed to avoid the dreaded drop at the same time unlike many teams before them. The recent signing of Jack Rodwell from City could prove to be inspired if he can rid himself of the injury hoodoo that seems to be following him around right now. There does seem to be some unrest in the attacking options though with both Connor Wickham and Fabio Borini rumoured to be the subject of interest from elsewhere. Regardless, I do sense a similar season to last with a handful of teams involved in the mix at the wrong end of the table.
Swansea City – 1000/1 title – 4/1 relegation
The Swans are a very difficult one to predict. There is a lot of respect in the way that they have gone about things and the appointment from within to replace Laudrup last season worked for them. Whether it can longer team remains to be seen but it did with Brendan Rodgers. With Michu off to Italy and Vorm and Davies off to Spurs, the decent signing of Gomis to partner Bony up front will take some pressure off. The return of Gyfi could be inspired too as he should slot into the current side with ease. This is a talented team and they need to play their natural game, it is when they are prevented from doing so they struggle. This could be their most challenging season to date in the division.
Tottenham Hotspur – 66/1 title – 275/1 relegation
This club have flattered to deceive so often in recent years. So often the so called big club looking on as the others push on and take the rewards. The appointment of former Southampton boss Pochettino is a strong one and he should be able to sort out the divas that the club has acquired over the past few seasons. They are likely to be in and around the fringes of the top four this season but you have to think that there are around six clubs looking better placed than them this season.
West Bromwich Albion – 1000/1 title – 11/4 relegation
The appointments of Alan Irvine was a surprising one but the club have attracted new signings so he must have something about him. A club that really struggled last season and on the face of it, are likely to do so again this season, but they will not be alone. The news that keeper Ben Foster has signed a new contract is music to fans ears as in and amongst all the uncertainty. The Baggies will be hoping for a more settled season but it is another team in transition with the amount of players that exited in the summer. It has certainly been a revolving door at the Hawthorns and that is likely to continue until the transfer window ends.
West Ham United – 1000/1 title – 9/2 relegation
The season has yet to kick off and Big Sam is already under pressure. The news that star striker Andy Carroll is to be out of action once again for a few months has seen them big for several strikers in a mad panic. The arrival of several new signings during the summer including Ecuadorian striker Valencia shows that things are starting to change. With the guarantee by the club that they will play more exciting football will add more pressure to the coaching and playing staff as soon as the first whistle blows. This could be another tough season for the Hammers and one that may not end with Big Sam still in charge.
