2008-09 English Premier League season preview
By Adam Marshall (Setanta Sports)
Published: Friday, August 15, 2008
A new season beckons and there is a great deal of optimism and excitement about how the Barclays English Premier League campaign will pan out after a frustratingly long summer of rumour, innuendo and failed transfer negotiations.
As we write, Gareth Barry, Cristiano Ronaldo and Dimitar Berbatov are all at the same club they ended last season with, although that could change at any minute. The Ronaldo saga has been the most tiresome with Real Madrid and their mouthpieces in the media refusing to concede that Sir Alex Ferguson simply is not going to allow his best player to join the club jostling with Manchester United for the title of the biggest in the world.
United will still be the team to beat, but Chelsea could improve on a pretty decent campaign last term with Luiz Felipe Scolari on hand to bring extra tactical flair and a bit of character to Stamford Bridge. How he fits Deco, Frank Lampard, Michael Ballack, Michael Essien and John Obi Mikel into midfield is a conundrum other managers would dream of.
Arsenal may have lost some of their star names, but Arsene Wenger's Young Guns generate respect and Liverpool fans believe this will finally be the year when they mount a serious challenge, with Robbie Keane on hand to assist sensational Spaniard Fernando Torres.
Tottenham Hotspur appear certain to entertain, but possibly frustrate as well, Portsmouth have an eye-catching double act in attack and Aston Villa have quietly gone about strengthening their squad. Just what is going on at Manchester City is anybody's guess, but Jo may make the fans forget about missing out on another, more famous Brazilian, in Ronaldinho.
Everton have had a summer of zero spending, which causes concern that David Moyes may not be able to oversee another over-achieving campaign in terms of his squad and West Ham United's fans are hardly filled with a great deal of anticipation, with Valon Behrami the only big-name arrival.
Blackburn Rovers have endured a summer of upheaval, with Paul Ince replacing Mark Hughes and the club doing all it can to prevent Roque Santa Cruz following stalwarts David Bentley and Brad Friedel through the exit door.
The North East should see its own mini-battle between big-spending Sunderland, Middlesbrough and Newcastle United, and this could turn into a closely run thing.
Bolton Wanderers, Wigan Athletic and Fulham must hope for less time spent worrying about relegation this time around, Roy Hodgson's nerves could not stand another Houdini act.
Hull City, in the top flight for the first time ever, and Stoke City will look to bring more to the table than Derby County ever did, while West Bromwich Albion play a pleasing brand of football that has most pundits believing they have the best chance of staying up of the promoted trio.
Click on the links below for Setanta Sports' full club-by-club season previews to the new Barclays English Premier League season.
| CLUB | MANAGER | SEASON PREVIEWS |
| ARSENAL | ARSENE WENGER | SEASON PREVIEW |
| ASTON VILLA | MARTIN O'NEILL | SEASON PREVIEW |
| BLACKBURN ROVERS | PAUL INCE | SEASON PREVIEW |
| BOLTON WANDERERS | GARY MEGSON | SEASON PREVIEW |
| CHELSEA | LUIZ FELIPE SCOLARI | SEASON PREVIEW |
| EVERTON | DAVID MOYES | SEASON PREVIEW |
| FULHAM | ROY HODGSON | SEASON PREVIEW |
| HULL CITY | PHIL BROWN | SEASON PREVIEW |
| LIVERPOOL | RAFA BENITEZ | SEASON PREVIEW |
| MANCHESTER CITY | MARK HUGHES | SEASON PREVIEW |
| MANCHESTER UNITED | SIR ALEX FERGUSON | SEASON PREVIEW |
| MIDDLESBROUGH | GARETH SOUTHGATE | SEASON PREVIEW |
| NEWCASTLE UNITED | KEVIN KEEGAN | SEASON PREVIEW |
| PORTSMOUTH | HARRY REDKNAPP | SEASON PREVIEW |
| STOKE CITY | TONY PULIS | SEASON PREVIEW |
| SUNDERLAND | ROY KEANE | SEASON PREVIEW |
| TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR | JUANDE RAMOS | SEASON PREVIEW |
| WEST BROMWICH ALBION | TONY MOWBRAY | SEASON PREVIEW |
| WEST HAM UNITED | ALAN CURBISHLEY | SEASON PREVIEW |
| WIGAN ATHLETIC | STEVE BRUCE | SEASON PREVIEW |