LOOKING AHEAD TO THE 2022/23 PREMIER LEAGUE

from The Pools August 2022

MORE WINNERS THAN EVER!

By Reggie Owens

The 2022/23 English Premier League season is going to be a bit odd. Starting early, on Friday, 5th August, it will break after the games on 12th November for the World Cup in Qatar. Once over, there is a mini new season starting on a mega Boxing Day special. Plenty of juicy football to help digest all that turkey!

The opener for the season is Crystal Palace versus Arsenal. Patrick Vieira, one of the new breed of coaches, was one of the great midfielders of the 90s, playing for his beloved Arsenal under the great Arsène Wenger. The faithful of Arsenal still hold Patrick in high regard and fondness, but the defeats his team inflicted on their team last season still hurt. Arsenal will most definitely be entering this game and the season bearing a grudge. Arsenal had a mini renaissance at the end of last season, so they are tipped for a win.

The season launches into full flight the next day on the 6th. There are seven games, the pick being Everton and Chelsea at Goodison Park. The Toffees only escaped by the skin of their teeth last season, taking their relegation fight down to the wire. Their manager, Frank Lampard, is another of the new generation of coaches, moving up from being a top player of the noughties. One could say Lampard’s style of midfield was the Ying to Vieira’s Yang with Patrick being a midfield stalwart and Lampard bringing the new era of midfielders becoming goalscoring threats. Lampard, of course, was a hero of Chelsea but he definitely has something to prove this season. Everton have been through eight managers in as many years, and there is only so much their fanatical fans can take.

The other stand-out game of the first Saturday is Newcastle versus Nottingham Forest. Both clubs have a big history, with newly-promoted Forest being twice winners of the European Cup. Of course, it’s been a long time since those glory days, mostly spent languishing in lower leagues. Forest have lost two key players in Bryce Samba and Djed Spence. Samba left as a free agent rejecting a contract and Spence was on loan from Middlesbrough and is likely to go to Spurs. To replace Samba, Forest are signing Dean Henderson on loan

from United, Spence is much harder to replace as he ran the game from right back, Trent-style. Newcastle, on the other hand, pulled off an amazing second half of the season last year, being the only club ever to come back from just one win in the first 20 games to 12 wins in the second 20 games. They are the first team to survive after not winning any of their first 14 games. This coincided with the appointment of Eddie Howe as coach and the purchase of the club by big-money Saudis. To be fair, they have managed the 2021/22 winter and this summer’s transfer windows well, not splurging money on dubious, big-name signings. Eddie Howe was a massive presence at Bournemouth, and really should have won Manager of the Year for what he has done at Newcastle. I’m tipping them for a top 7 finish this year.

Another new team starting with a baptism of fire is Fulham in facing Liverpool. Fortunately, they will be at home, so the Craven Cottage faithful will be providing much encouragement. For Fulham the question is can Mitrovic carry on his record-breaking form of 43 championship goals into the Premier League where he has formerly struggle? Also, can Fulham secure the permanent signing of Neco Williams after Liverpool confirmed Calvin Ramsey’s signing? When Neco went on loan to Fulham he revitalised their attack and improved his overall game. With a Wales World Cup campaign coming up he’ll want to get regular game time to secure his spot in the first 11.

The weekend rounds off with two games on the Sunday, both Manchester teams being in action. Manchester City and their arch-rivals Liverpool both play London teams on the first week. While both teams should win, City, on paper, has the more difficult challenge with West Ham. United, on the other hand, are a mess, a team in a downward spiral since the loss of their genius manager Sir Alex Ferguson. A new manager this season, Erik ten Hag, is expected to ring the changes on a team filled with ageing individuals with questionable levels of fitness. Of course, ten Hag doesn’t have the truly stellar career of a José Mourinho, who failed spectacularly at United just a few seasons ago. United face Brighton, who finished ninth in the league last year.

The first weekend of games looks good for setting the teams up for the season. Coming out, the expectation is that we should have Manchester City and Liverpool on top, followed by Chelsea, Spurs and Arsenal making up the top five.