English Premier League Season Preview—Part 3

Fourteen days to go until the opening of the English Premier season. It promises to be an enthralling season going in 2008-2009. So far we have looked at the likely relegation battle candidates and I looked at those tams who are destined to be middle of the table.

Today we will look at the five teams that will be competing for UEFA Cup spots.

With the transfer window still four week away, the prospects for many teams will rise and fall on what is added or leaves between now and then. But with the current rosters, this is how I see the battle for the Premiership going in 2008-2009.

European Contenders
These five teams: Aston Villa, Everton, Man City, Portsmouth, and Spurs will battle it out this season for UEFA Cup honors. I do not think that any of them have made a big enough improvement to catch one of the big four, but I think the gap between this group and the big four will be closer than ever before.

The Juande Ramos revolution is certainly underway at White Hart Lane as he seems to be competing with Roy Keane for the most new faces. The comings and goings at Spurs have not finished but so far I like what Ramos has done.

Giovani dos Santos and David Bentley bring a swagger back to Spurs while Luka Modric adds some quality in midfield. Spurs, I feel are still a little light at the back and it will be their defensive frailties that will stop them from braking into the top four. But with four weeks left in the transfer window, expect Spurs line-up to change a little more between now and then.

I like Martin O’Neil as a manager and I think that the Brad Friedel signing is a good one. Villa’s season will be made or broke depending on the resolution of the Gareth Barry saga. If Barry stays and is happy then Villa will be well positioned to make another run at Europe this season.

Barry leaving is not the end of the world for Villa, if O’Neil can quickly reinvest the money in new players before the transfer window closes. The worst move for Villa would be for Barry to go right before the transfer window closes leaving Villa with no time to replace him. A midfield partnership of Steve Sidwell and Nigel Reo-Coker will not get Villa into Europe.

Everton are one of only two teams in the Premier League (Manchester United being the other one) who have not added to their squad this season.

If Everton’s preseason form is any indication, they need some new players. With Andy Johnson heading to Fulham, Everton need at least replace his goals. In addition, Everton manager David Moyes needs to add some depth to his squad as an injury to Cahill, Arteta, or Yakubu would seriously derail Everton’s European dreams.

Manchester City took a big step forward with the signing of Mark Hughes as manager. Hughes had a great record at both Blackburn and Wales and is known for getting the most out of his players and now he is surrounded by more talent than he has ever had.

Brazilian striker Jo, I think will have a big impact this season while the signing of Tal Ben Haim will help strengthen that sometimes porous City defense. I think that City still need another quality forward (maybe Roque Santa Cruz?) and a bit of quality and experience in the midfield before they can seriously contend for a major European spot.

Harry Redknapp has done a remarkable job turning Portsmouth around from perennial relegation candidates to European contenders. Redknapp did a great job in the transfer window last winter adding Lassana Diarra from Arsenal and Jermain Defoe from Spurs. Having these two for a whole season will make a big difference. So will Peter Crouch, who should form a prolific partnership up front with Defoe.

My concern with Pompey is that Campbell and James wake up one morning and realize who old they are. Portsmouth does not have ready replacements for these two and are really depending on them to be playing at a high level in 2008-2009.

From this group of five, I think that Spurs and Portsmouth are best positioned to grab the European spots and to capitalize on any slips by one of the top four. As we said last season, the best chances of silverware for this group might be the Carling and F.A. cups.