The Premier League is starting next weekend. We have waited a long time since the dramatic ending of last season, and this has given Great Dane Football Blog the opportunity to think of what we are looking forward to see this year. 

1. The Battle of Manchester

Once upon a time there were only one winning team in Manchester. However, a bunch of money has brought City in front as the greatest club in town. At least in the last season. It Is going to be interesting to see whether or not the Red Devils will take back the trophy and once again be the best team in Manchester. The question is if passion can beat money?

 2. How is Arsenal going to play this year?

Arsenal started miserable last season – once again some might say. There are a lot of questions about the Gunners at the moment. Is van Persie going to stay? Can they win without the Dutchman? No one knows, but right now it seems that Wenger has lost his golden star either to Manchester United now or after this season. However, the French has made some interesting signings in Podolski, Cazorla and Giroud and rumours says that one or two players might join the club before the season start. This season can be quite interesting for Arsenal. They now have a team combined of routine and talent. It might be new days for Gooners. 

3. A new Tottenham?

André Villas-Boas has taken the steering-wheel of Tottenham after the Spurs surprisingly sacked Harry Redknapp. The Portuguese immediately announced changes in the squad, which he has now begun. Several players have been rumored to have been transfer listed by their new manager while exciting players as Gylfi Sigurdsson and Jan Vertonghen has joined the club. Harry’s work seems to be shattered into pieces by AVB, and a new Tottenham is about to rise. This season will show whether or not it is the right decision! 

4. Laudrup in Swansea

Not many had seen Michael Laudrup as the manager of Swansea. Many Danes where surprised that the legend would sign a contract with an English team, given his background in Spain. However, it seems Laudrup is doing his best to give Swansea the same success as they had under Brendan Rogers. One thing is for sure: The Spanish past has made its way into the Welsh team with the signings of Cuesta and the former Villareal player De Guzman. I’m looking forward to follow Laudrup this season. 

5. Can Newcastle do it even better this       season?

Newcastle had a great run last season, and has managed to keep their profiles so far in the transfer window. However, before the transfer window opened, several players were interested in joining the Toons, but so far they have only signed an Australian talent and Birigimana. Last season’s team was good, but they surprise-effect of Cissé and Demba Ba is gone now. Even so, I think we will see the black and white stripes in the top of the Premier League this year!

Pressure is on the Chelsea manager Andrés Villas-Boas as the club has had the worst set of results for more than 10 years and is in danger of not playing in Champions League for the first time since the 2002-2003 season. Rafael Benitez stands by to take over according to the media - But should AVB have more time?

Roman Abramovich bought Andrés Villas-Boas for the amount of £13.3 million last summer, making him not only the most expensive manager in the PL but also the youngest (34). Being compared to José Mourinho, the manager has been under pressure almost since his first match.

Villas-Boas has presented a three year plan to change the team and the club structure; however, a club like Chelsea demands results right from the start. To understand what Villas-Boas is up against, we should take a look at the former managers during the Abramovich ownership.

Claudio Ranieri 2000-2004

Win ratio:53.3 per cent

Notable signings: Wayne Bridge, Joe Cole,

                  Claude Makelele

Silverware: No Silverware, but guided Chelsea to

            second in the league (highest in 49

            seasons)

José Mourinho 2004-2007

 Win ratio: 67.6 per cent

 Notable signings: Didier Drogba, Paulo Ferreria, 

                   Ricardo Carvalho, Arjen Robben,

                   Michael Essien

 Silverware: 2 x Premier League, 2 x FA Cup, 

             2 x Carling Cup, Community Shield

 

 

 

 

 

 Avram Grant 2007-2008

 Win ratio: 66.7 per cent

 Notable signings: Nicholas Anelka, Branislav

                   Ivanovic

 Silverware: No silverware, but the first manager

             to bring Chelsea to a Champions

             League final

 

               

 Luiz Felipe Scolari 2008-2009

 Win ratio: 55.6 per cent 

 Notable signings: Jose Bosingwa, Deco 

 Silverware: No Silverware

  Guus Hiddink 2009

  Win ratio: 72.7 per cent

  Notable signings: None

  Silverware: FA Cup

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Carlo Ancelotti 2009-2011

Win ratio: 62.2 per cent

Notable signings: Ramires, Ross Turnbull,

                  Yuri Zhirkov, David Luiz, 

                  Daniel Sturridge, Fernando

                  Torres

Silverware: Community Shield, FA Cup, Premier League

Taken from The Telegraph 

The Chelsea-fans, as well as, club owner Roman Abramovich have been used to winning or at least being in the top since he bought the club. However, it seems as the team has lost its “magic” since Mourinho left Chelsea, and the hiring of AVB could be seen on as an attempt to bring it back. As mentioned before, Villas-Boas has come up with a three year plan to change not only the team but also the structure of the club.This takes time and the manager insists that he has Abramovich’s back up. Let us take a closer look at one of the most important but also hardest parts the plan.

First of all AVB is trying to revolutionise an ageing team.  Many of the players have been in Chelsea for a couple of years now and are “over the hill” – the team simply needs new and younger players. This is something the manager has tried to bring to the club by the signings of Juan Mata, Oriel Romeu and Romelo Lukaku. The hard part is to clear out in the squad – to get rid of some of the old boys – as Drogba, Florent Malauda, Ashley Cole and Frank Lampard. Villas-Boas have more than once put the older, more experienced players on the bench, given place to the young talents in the starting eleven. This has given him problems as the players who have been in the club for several years have stood up against him. At the same time are the fans furious when a club icon as Frank Lampard is being held on the bench. To make things worse for the manager have he often trusted  in his Portuguese players as Meireles, Bosingwa and David Luiz who more than often has failed. AVB himself said on the 16th of February that he do not need the support of his players as long as he has the support from Abramovich. 


Personally, I do not believe it is enough for Chelsea to get rid of the “old boys”. They need to sell the players that do not have an impact on the team – players as the harmless attacker Fernando Torres or Michael Essien – in order to bring some new faces to the squad. Porto’s attacker Hulk has already been mentioned as a new striker for the blues.


Time might be running out for Andrés Villas-Boas. If he does not get the results needed for keeping Chelsea in - or just outside - the top of Premier League in this season. However, Chelsea fans and Abramovich should open their eyes and see that AVB is not the “special one”. Perhaps not even the “next special one”. As long as the “Ghost of Mourinho “ is haunting at Stamford Bridge, Villas-Boas will not have the time and space to rebuild a new and younger Chelsea team. The question is can Rafael Benitez do it better?