image via Soccerlens
The English Premier League is one of the most followed football leagues in the world and especially in Kenya. With the new season just around the corner, most of the team fans have started buying their new club jersey and are looking forward to another dramatic 10 months of football. So what is there to look forward to in the 2014/15 season.
The race for the title.
Last season it was the tale of three horses and a donkey (to use political jargon) and we will be looking to see if the donkey has finally caught up with the rest. Manchester City won the title, in less dramatic fashion, in the final weeks of the season after Liverpool let the trophy slip from their hands.
This season, the teams have not wasted any time in strengthening their sides and the title contenders will include, favorites Machester City and Chelsea and rank outsiders, Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United.
Manchester City and Chelsea have the strongest teams but as the special one put it, the league is not a sprint but a marathon, so this will not count for much if they can not put their personell to full use and win games.
Liverpool have wasted no time in trying to replace talisman Suarez, who moved to Barcelona, and will be a force to reckon with. As for Arsenal, the signing of Chile forward Alexis Sanchez has people buzzing but you still feel they need a few more players so as to compete with Manchester City and Chelsea.
Manchester United are coming off a strong pre-season and will want to put last season’s woes behind them and show that they are still a force in the league. New manager, Van Gaal, has given them a skip in their step but they are still far behind their tital rivals especially with the lose of veterans, Vidic, Ferdinand and Evra. Despite LVG making Rooney his new captain you still feel they need more personalities in the dressing room to mount a full challenge. Also their new formation means they seriously need to buy a centreback and defensive midfielder before the tranfer window closes.
The Dark horses
Trust the EPL to have teams that will surprise us in the bid for a top four spot. Everton finally got to sign Lukaku on a permanent deal and will look to build on where they left off last season.
The strongest of the dark horses will be Tottenham though as they look to finally show their strength with the world class players that they have. The likes of Lamela will now have a season of English football under their belts and will be expected to step up and light the league.
We should also have an eye at Newcastle who have made some shrewd transfer deals this summer and will be a force to reckon with as they challenge for a European spot.
All in all, it is one hell of a league campaign ahead for Kenyan fans and with the transfer window still open till the end of August you never know who might make his way to the biggest league in the world.