Premier League 2013-14: the struggle for survival
In part two of our Premier League 2013-14 preview, Malcolm Boughen looks at the teams hoping to finish in the top 10, those aiming to avoid an end-of season dogfight, and the newly promoted clubs.
Beyond the tussle for the title and European places, there is a whole other Premier League battle for respectability and survival.
On the basis of transfer activity, three teams who might be looking to make a serious assault on the top 10 this season are Swansea, Norwich and Southampton, who have each spent around £20m this summer.
League Cup winners Swansea will face the extra demands of Europa league competition, but have prepared for it by signing nine new players – most notably the Ivory Coast striker Wilfred Bony, acquired from VItesse Arnhem for a club record £12m, Liverpool’s England Under-21 midfielder Jonjo Shelvey, and three promising Spaniards, Jordi Amat, Jose Canas and Alejandro Pozuelo.
The Canaries have had a big turnover in the close season, bringing in seven players, including striker Gary Hooper from Celtic, the £8.5m Dutch striker Ricky van Wolfswinkel, Dutch midfielder Leroy Fer and the England Under-21 winger Nathan Redmond from Birmingham.
Southampton have played it differently, going for just two big-money signings – the Croation defender Dejan Lovren from Lyon and Celtic’s Kenyan international midfielder Victor Wanyama. But with striker Ricky Lambert having spectacularly – if belatedly – broken into the England team this week, they will go into the new season with confidence.
Staying in the top 10
West Ham, having completed the signing of Andy Carroll for a club record £15m, have now added Stewart Downing, also from Liverpool, to supply the crosses. They will be looking to stay in the top 10, as will West Brom, though their signing of the much-travelled Nicolas Anelka is perhaps more of a gamble.
Swansea have prepared for the demands of the Europa league by signing nine new players.
Newcastle, who finished a disappointing 16th last season, will be looking to improve, but they have had a disruptive close season, with the row over Joe Kinnear being brought in as director of football and their failure to make significant signings beyond QPR’s Loic Remy, who will miss the start of the season through injury.
Neighbours Sunderland could also face a tumultuous time under the unpredictable Paolo di Canio. He has set about re-shaping the team in his image, bringing in nine players, including the £6.5m Italian international midfielder Emanuele Giaccherini and USA striker Jozy Altidore. But it is anyone’s guess what will happen at the Stadium of Light this season.
Read more: Championship play-off to the Promised Land – and back?
Avoiding the dogfight
Stoke City, having replaced manager Tony Pulis with Mark Hughes, will be seeking a change of style too. But whether the Welshman can improve on last season’s 13th place finish is doubtful. They – like Hughes’s former club, Fulham – could be dragged into the relegation dogfight if they are not careful.
Crystal Palace manager Ian Holloway is experienced enough to know that his side face a long, hard season.
Fulham have signed the Dutch international keeper Maarten Stekelenburg to replace Mark Schwarzer and have taken a punt on QPR’s Adel Taarabt, who has shown sublime talent but questionable application in the past.
Aston Villa have been looking for bargains in the transfer market and will be hoping their achievement in holding on to star striker Christian Benteke will keep them clear of the danger zone, though it remains a hope rather than an expectation.
Return to the Promised land
The promoted trio of Cardiff, Hull and Crystal Palace will all be hoping that they, too, can manage 17th place or better.
Cardiff have spent big on players like strikers Gary Medel, Andreas Cornelius and Tottenham defender Steven Caulker, and look the best-equipped of the three to survive.
Hull have had a big turnover of players, without breaking the bank. Striker Danny Graham has come in on a season-long loan from Sunderland, while centre-half Curtis Davies has joined from Birmingham. And, perhaps significantly, they have brought in two goalkeepers: Scottish international Allan McGregor and Newcastle’s Steve Harper.
Crystal Palace will be hoping that strikers Marouane Chamakh, from Arsenal, Dwight Gale, from Peterborough, and winger Jerome Thomas can help fill the gap left by the loss of Wilfried Zaha to Manchester United, and that Glenn Murray can return before too long from his cruciate knee injury.
But manager Ian Holloway is experienced enough to know that his side face a long, hard season – with no guarantee that their return to the Promised Land of the Premier League will be extended beyond that.