Premier League Preview: Aston Villa

With a new Gaffer, a new keeper between the sticks and a star winger in Charles N'Zogbia, Villa are arguably the most transformed side from last season, even more so after losing the likes of Ashley Young, Stewart Downing, Nigel Reo Cooker and John Carew, probably their four most influential players. 

It'll be interesting to see how Alex McLeish manages the Villans after taking the bold decision of 'betraying' Villa's bitter derby rivals Birmingham. McLeish had a roller-coaster season with Birmingham where his side won the Carling Cup and then got relegated on the last day of the Premier League. 

Season 2010-2011
Attack- Villa ranked 13th in terms of goals scored in the Premier League averaging 1.26 goals per game. They failed to score in 24% of their games, which is quite poor. 

Defence- Aston Villa were the 8th best defence at home, keeping 37% clean sheets. But it seems like they lost their defensive organisation away from Villa Park as they failed to keep EVEN ONE clean sheet in their away games, making them the 4th worst defence away from home.

Transfers:

Players in: Shay Given (Manchester City, £3.5m), Charles N'Zogbia (Wigan, £9.5m)

Players out: Ashley Young (Manchester United, £20m), Stewart Downing (Liverpool, £20m), Nigel Reo-Coker (Bolton, free), John Carew, Moustapha Salifou, Robert Pires, Isaiah Osbourne, Harry Forrester, Arsenio Halfhuid, Durrell Berry, Ellis Deeney, Calum Flanagan (all released), Brad Friedel (Tottenham, undisclosed).

2010-2011 position: 9th

Football Finesse prediction: 7th, 8th

Men to watch: Charles N'Zogbia, Stephen Ireland, Darren Bent, Shay Given, Marc Albrighton.

Premier League Preview: Arsenal FC

Victim to probably the longest and the most annoying transfer sagas of all time, the Gunners embark upon this season on a low. With skipper Fabregas and winger Nasri longing to leave the Emirates, Arsenal are on the verge of losing their fire power. It's been 6 years, 2 months and 13 days since they last won a trophy.
(Check this out: http://www.sincearsenallastwonatrophy.co.uk/, ftw)

Having lost an integral part of their already weak defence in Gael Clichy to Manchester City, they need serious reinforcements at the back, Jenkison won't be enough. The midfield looks sorted if they don't lose Cesc and Nasri and the addition of Gervinho surely is one of the few positives they have going into the season and a big boost to their striking options.

Verdict: Let the want-aways leave, use the money to make a couple of good signings and start afresh. SPEND, for god's sake.The current squad isn't good enough. Strengthen the defense, stabilize the midfield, play two up-front. Don't let van Persie go for Holland's friendlies unless you want him injured. Follow-up the good starts to the season, make the 'beautiful' football count. Keep the players fit for big games. Make Gervinho and Robin play up-front, together.


Transfers: 
Players in: Gervinho (Lille, £11m), Jon Toral, Hector Bellerin (Both Barcelona, undisclosed), Carl Jenkinson (Charlton, undisclosed)
Players out: Gael Clichy (Manchester City, £7m), Jay Emmanuel-Thomas (Ipswich, £1.1m), Mark Randall (Chesterfield, free), Roarie Deacon (Sunderland, free), Denilson (Sao Paulo, loan), James Shea (Dagenham, loan), Thomas Cruise (released)

2010-2011 position: 4th

Pre-Season:  Won   4-0 vs Malaysia XI
                      Drew  1-1 vs Hangzhou Greentown
                      Won   2-1 vs FC Cologne
                      Drew  2-2 vs Boca Juniors
                      Drew  1-1 vs NY Red Bulls

Football Finesse Prediction: 4th, 5th.
Men to watch : Jack Wilshere, Gervinho, Aaron Ramsey

London Calling: Bluus Hiddink?

Remember the guy who got Chelsea out of jail after Scolari's management blunder? Yes, he might just replace Carlo Ancelotti as Chelsea manager. He's currently managing Turkey's national team.

"I feel energetic, so a club role is more preferable - and that's what I like, working every day. I feel I need to do more.I've trained Australia and PSV at the same time, as well as Russia and Chelsea, and I was very happy. We'll see what happens with Turkey."

"There is no official offer yet, but I can't guarantee anything. I haven't told the [Turkish Football Federation] chairman what I thought yet, but he's an intelligent man. I am sure he follows the world media.

So in short, Rom wants him. He wants Chelsea. So the only thing standing between the deal, is the Turkey National Team's board.

His short stint at Chelsea won them the FA Cup, but will he be able to cope up with Chelsea's Russian owner's long-term demands?

Reading Vs. Swansea City - The Final for the the third promotion spot to the Premier League.

The Final of the play-off is here. Reading and Swansea City will battle it out to gain a spot in the 2011-12 season of the English Premier League, the best league in the world.

Both teams will be vying for the last promotion spot that is said to be worth around £90 Million, according to Deloitte. This includes TV Revenue, sponsorships and other deals.


Reading are known to play a unique style of football under the management of Brian McDermott, where as Swansea City's game can be compared to Wigan Athletic due to the influence of Roberto Martinez.


Both, Reading and Swansea, have players that have earlier played in the top tier of English Football. Players such as Zurab Khizanishvili, Scott Sinclair, Craig Beattie and Andy Griffin will play huge roles in the finals to help promote their club.




Verdict: In our opinion, it will be a good game with Swansea having the advantage of beating Reading, home and away, in the league but the attacking prowess shown by Reading in the previous games can help the team to win.
All in all, it will be a match of high intensity, as both teams will go all out to try and win the match to play in the Premier League in the next season.