Johnny Phillips: Wolves will prosper... But what about Aston Villa and West Brom?
Wolves’ first season back in the top flight for six years is being hotly anticipated by their supporters.
The Joao Moutinho capture last week broke new ground and a midfield partnership with Ruben Neves is a mouth-watering prospect. With the transfer window still open for several weeks who knows what further quality they will take into the Premier League, but there is enough evidence already to say they will not struggle.
Their possession-based football, with swift counter-attacking on the deck or over the top with Neves’ range of passing, will suit them well in this division. There will be times of struggle – the third game against Manchester City could be an early one that quickly runs away from them if Pep Guardiola’s side are in the groove – but there is enough about Nuno Espirito Santo’s side to suggest they will prosper over the course of the season.
The acquisition of Willy Boly was a crucial piece of business in defence. He is a talented and immensely powerful footballer, brilliant in the air and unflappable under pressure. Rui Patricio’s arrival as goalkeeper does not necessarily signal the end for John Ruddy, who was a key part of the promotion campaign. It means there are two vastly experienced keepers available, always essential when preparing for the Premier League.
Picking a team to topple City at the top is tricky. Guardiola’s side were close to perfect last season and must start as favourites again. Liverpool and Manchester United are the two likeliest challengers. Jurgen Klopp’s transfer business at Anfield over the summer suggests he is looking to phase out Jordan Henderson. Henderson has his qualities but there has always been a question over his ability to dictate the direction of a whole game. With Emre Can departed there will be a pacier and more controlled look to the middle of the pitch. New signing Naby Keita has versatility alongside Fabinho in the deep-lying central midfield role. At the time of writing, France’s Nabil Fekir may yet be a third midfield addition. Winger Xherdan Shaqiri will likely be restricted to cameos from the bench but he has his match-winning qualities. And – long overdue – the arrival of Alisson in goal should end their keeper woes.
Manchester United should go close too. Jose Mourinho’s team finally clicked in the second half of last season and the performances of Paul Pogba and Romelu Lukaku at the World Cup showed what strength they have in key positions.
It is worth mentioning the World Cup, though, as the competition may prove to be the spanner in the works of some of the title challengers. City and United had seven players involved in the semi-finals which meant they all stayed in Russia for the final weekend of the tournament. Contrast that with Liverpool, who only had four. But it is Spurs who will really be feeling World Cup fatigue ahead of the league season. No fewer than nine of their players stayed for the entire tournament. Harry Kane, in particular, looks tired and unfit. Spurs’ preparation will be as much about injury prevention work as anything else.
Arsenal begin their first Premier League campaign in over 20 years without Arsene Wenger at the helm. New man Unai Emery has made a favourable impression with Gunners fans during pre-season. He is a modern-day coach who has been taking the most basic training drills as well as the more tactical elements of the role during his short time at their London Colney training base so far. In The Championship there will be a lot of trepidation among Albion fans about what lies ahead. The board made a very quick managerial appointment on the back of dressing room approval from a squad that is now dispersing. Darren Moore’s immediate success was built on the respect and relationships he built with that Premier League squad over years. Can he replicate it with a new set of players in a new division?
Stoke City would be my top bet for automatic promotion. There is enough class still in the team for them to thrive at this level. Add the goals of Benik Afobe into the mix and there is no reason why Stoke can’t bounce back at the first attempt. Paul Lambert was unfortunate to lose his job but they made a sound appointment in Gary Rowett, who has a great Championship track record during short spells at Birmingham and Derby.
It is hard to know where to start with Villa who are fast providing the soap opera of English football, with a new outlandish storyline from week to week. Steve Bruce is still in charge and that is the way it should be if they want the best chance of getting promoted. He has the know-how to take Villa up, even with a squad that may not be as strong as last season.
Surely, for the sake of Villa’s fans, it is time for a bit of stability from the boardroom and an end to the headline making on and off the pitch.
