Barclays Premier League 2015-16 Preview And Predictions
With just a few hours until the start of the 2015-16 Barclays Premier League season, the world’s most popular league promises to deliver its most entertaining installment since its inception. With the arms race to the Premier League title heating up here is my concise preview of the 2015-16 Barclays Premier League season.
Last season saw Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea walk to the Premier League title, and while the Community Shield isn’t a good indicator of what to expect, Arsenal’s victory over the Blues shows that the rest have caught up with the champions. With the addition of Raheem Sterling from Liverpool, Manchester City is best placed to dethrone Chelsea. However, expect a three horse title race until the final weeks of the season.
Top Four
1. Manchester City
2. Arsenal
3. Chelsea
4. Manchester United
The race for the top is always fierce with teams competing to qualify for the illustrious Champions League, yet a big team will always have to settle for either the Europa League or no Europe at all. Expect Manchester United to edge both Liverpool and Tottenham out this season.
Best Of The Rest
5. Liverpool
6. Tottenham
7. Swansea City
8. Crystal Palace
Relegated: Leicester City, Bournemouth, and Aston Villa
Another intriguing storyline is the relegation battle. Last season saw one of the most intense fight to stay in the Premier League, and with lucrative TV money set to dramatically increase next season the fight to stay up has never been so essential. Leicester City had an incredible escape despite weeks of ominously looking certain of relegation. With manager Nigel Pearson stunningly sacked in the summer along with the departure of Estaban Cambiasso, “The Foxes” should be favorites of being relegated.
Bournemouth will certainly be the Cinderella story of the season. Their rise from the bottom of the professional League football to now rubbing shoulders with the best England has to offer, added with their entertaining brand of football, has captured the hearts and imaginations of their fans and a few neutrals as well. With Swansea a notable exception, promoted clubs rarely do well playing free flowing attacking football in their first season in the Premier League.
While Tim Sherwood has brought some stability to Aston Villa, the losses of Ron Vlaar, Fabian Delph, and Christian Benteke may just be too much for the Villains to cope with.
Top Goalscorer: Sergio Aguero
A fit Sergio Aguero should have no problems winning the golden boot again. Expect competition from Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney with the 29-year-old ready to take on the central striking role.
Player of the Year: Sergio Aguero
Young Player of the Year: Raheem Sterling
Golden Gloves: Petr Cech
Manager of the Year: Quique Flores
Obviously, not all these predictions will come to fruition, but one thing to expect is another entertaining edition of the Barclays Premier League.
[Photo by Laurence Griffiths, Mike Hewitt and Justin Setterfield/Getty Images]
