6 days until the start of the Premier League 20 clubs: Crystal Palace

By Thomas Matthews @mafuse33

Less than a week to wait for Premier League action, but not to worry today has embarked on the start of other leagues so whilst you wait look down at the English football tier and see what you can find to itch that spot whilst we wait for the Premier League to start.

But lets start with the club that stands 6th in the table as they stand at the moment, Crystal Palace are a team that is located in the South of London. The amateur team was known to be playing in the borough since 1861, with a professional club being established in 1905.

Palace as a club haven’t really won any accolades when it comes to silverware with the club only real site to a major trophy was there FA Cup run in 1990 and 2016. But armed with a new manager in Frank De Boer the club will be looking to change its past fortunes, and maybe even start to put a team together that

Even though the club have failed to gain popularity from winning trophies, it hasn’t stopped the club from producing some of the greatest talent the league has seen. Ian Wright came up from nowhere to play for Palace, ended up playing 277 games and scoring 117 goals for the club before going to Arsenal and becoming their top goalscorer for many years.

Not to forget players that are fan favourites such as Geoff Thomas a midfielder who played 195 times scoring 26 goals in his years at the club, not to forget Peter Taylor a winger who played 122 times and scored 33 goals. But looking down the years apart from Ex player and manager Alan Pardew scoring a header to send the club into there first FA Cup final in 1990, after a suspense match against Liverpool in a match that finished 4-3.

The Eagles have so far kept there transfers to a minimal with the club only bringing in two players, young Dutch defender Jairo Riedewald from Ajax for a very reasonable fee of £8m. Not to forget the loan deal they made for Ruben Loftus Cheek, the youth product of Chelsea’s ever-growing loan system players. With a number of youth products either being loaned out, or let go by the club. The only player so far to leave the club was Steve Mandanda who went back to Marseille in a £3m switch.

So with the lack of transfer activity it looks like the club  could be in with a shock come the end of the season, with the rest of the league recruiting heavily Crystal Palace could be in trouble if they aren’t able to strengthen certain areas of the team come the end of the transfer window. But where will they finish this season? have your say in the comments below.

 

1 week until the start of the Premier League 20 clubs: Everton FC

With just one week now until the Premier League to start, it’s time for fans to show their excitement especially if you’re an Everton fan and have been buying some very interesting players in the market so far.

The club was founded in 1887 and were one of the founding members of the Football League, just two years after they won their first Division One title. Soon after the trophies didn’t stop with the club going on to win 4 more Division One titles, and 2 FA Cups. These cup wins were great establishing Everton’s place on the footballing map, but this didn’t last during the war period, but the club were able to pick themselves back up in the 1960s. But again with the club following an unsuccessful period with their last silverware being won in 1995.

Talking about the clubs trophies they have an impressive amount of silverware for a club in recent years have struggled to get close to any trophies. But with the club in the past proving they have what it takes to be contenders and new owners being involved with the club who knows, maybe Everton can reach those heights again. The club have won an impressive amount of Division 1 titles winning 9 in total, 5 FA Cups, and a UEFA Cup Winners Cup in 1985.

With a great history must bring some great footballers and Everton have a few memorable ones at that, with players such as Neville Southall the famous Scottish goalkeeper that played 750 times for the Toffees. But the player that will go down as there greatest goal scorer a player that hit the net 383 times in just 433 appearances at the club, Dixie Dean played for the club from 1924-1938 and still holds the club’s goal scoring record with in unlikely to be beaten anytime soon.

Everton have been busy in the transfer market this season after seeing probably there best asset leave to move to Manchester United for a mega deal of £75m, But the club hasn’t rested in bringing in new additions to fill the void that Lukaku will bring in the new season. Some of the talent that has been brought will hopefully take the club into the correct direction and seeing Wayne Rooney back in a Everton shirt will fill the gap that Lukaku has left. Also strengthening in defense and the goalkeeper position will help the team keep goals out the other end also, with Michael Keane from Burnley moving in a £30m deal, and goalkeeper Jordan Pickford almost making a move to some may say bigger clubs, but chose Everton in a deal worth around £30m.

The spending hasn’t stopped there, with the money from the deal that took their start striker away covering those two transfers the club has a lot more disposable income, so in comes Davy Klaassen a midfielder that can create, and score goals will hopefully bring the same kind of influence he has at Ajax at his new club. Also young striker Sandro Ramierz from Malaga could also step up to be a surprise this season for the Toffees and contribute to the void Lukaku has left in the team.

With the club in the past two season finishing under par to what they have done in the past, Everton look to be a team on the up. With a new stadium in the works and finally money to spend Everton in a few years could be contenders for either League or European places but one step at a time. Will they finish better than 7th place of last season, or will they suffer without their talisman? leave your comments below.

 

8 days until the start of the Premier League 20 clubs: Huddersfield Town

By Thomas Matthews @mafuse33

Just over a week to go until we get to see our favourite teams un action. with new teams to look forward to see what they will be capable of one that will certainly be a team that will want to try to cement a place within the league.

Huddersfield Town are a professional football club that is based in the West of Yorkshire, and this year will play there trade in the highest tier or English football the Premier League. The club has a great history with one of the most influential managers to grace the game Herbert Chapman, who lead the team to three consecutive League Titles, and an FA Cup in 1922.

But the club didn’t start there they also were able to gain the services of probably Liverpool’s greatest managers, Bill Shankly who managed the club in the late 50s. The club has suffered since though playing their football in the third and fourth tier for 45 years until they reached the heights of the top-tier of English football.

Along side an FA cup which was won in 1922, the club also won three League titles in this era which only three other clubs in the country have been able to do. But is there enough within the clubs history to see them sustain there playing position within the Premier League.

The Club has not had the best of years but that doesn’t mean that they didn’t have some known talented footballers play for them, a prime example is Denis Law who started off at the club, then made a career at Manchester United. And club legend Ray Wilson who was managed under Bill Shankly who made 266 appearances for the club at left back. But the all time all-star for the Terriers was Billy smith a left winger that made over 500 appearances and scored 126 goals for the club.

Huddersfield haven’t rested in the off-season already adding seven new players to their squad. The most notable of these are Tom Ince from Derby County who was brought for £8m, a player that has yet to prove himself on a bigger scale could finally be getting his chance. And Montpellier striker Steve Mounie who’s been the clubs most expensive player so far. A question is will the team be able to keep this new group of players together to keep them up this season, or will they drop back down to the Championship.

With the Premier League so close now it’s gets mote difficult to see whether these clubs are ready, or come opening day there will be weaknesses which is probably will hinder clubs like Huddersfield. But where will they end up come the end of the year, will it be a relegation battle? or will they be the leagues surprise this season, have your say in the comment section below.

 

Nine days until the start of the Premier League 20 clubs: Leicester City

Just down to one figure, 9 days only for fans to wait for the upcoming 2017/18 season, as the season gets closer teams are looking almost the finished articles. As pre season friendlies finish the real work can start to un-earth within these elite footballing teams the weaknesses which could jeopardy  the performances of certain players, I certainly feel this is what happened to former league champions Leicester City  last season that why the club struggled.

Leicester City were founded in 1884 three years after the Football League was founded but the name wasn’t the name we all know them by now, they were found under their original name of Leicester Fosse this was cause the club first played their football near Fosse Road. Later on in 1891 the club moved to Filbert Street and three years later were elected to the Football League, it took the team over 20 years for them to change the name of the club to Leicester City.

The club have won many accolades in its 100 year existence but many of them were from second division within the Football League. This was until the club did the unthinkable, they won the Premier League in 2015/16 season against all the odds of the team being threatened with relegation ever since there return to the League. But all across the squad they found players over performing where they shouldn’t have been players such as Wes Morgan, Danny Drinkwater, and top goalscorer that season Jamie Vardy out shone most players in the league.

Speaking about players in the 15/16 season. They will go down as legends in the city and across the footballing world for generations.  But this wasn’t the only team put together in the clubs history where legends were born. Players such as Goalkeeper Gordan Banks made a career of making world-class performances and playing international football for England, he spent 8 years at the club making 293 appearances for the foxes.

Another player worth talking about is Scottish footballer John Sjoberg who at full back was a constant threat in attack and defense his career at the club stretched 15 years with him making just 336 games still goes down as one of the clubs more memorable full backs. Who could forget prolific striker Gary Lineker who made a scene playing for the Foxes and established himself as one of England strikers in the mid 80s to the mid 90s. Although he only played for the club for 7 seasons, and played 194 games the striker who had it all scored 95 goals for the club and will go down as being one of the greatest local hero’s.

For the club to even think about emulating what they did two years ago, or even trying to reach the top 10 in the league they will have a lot of work to do. As there back four age, and their midfield and attack either get poached by bigger clubs, or lose the confidence they had in that league winning season. With Kante at Chelsea, and now talks of other super star Riyad Mahrez leaving for Leicester it seem all doom and gloom but with that said reinforcements have been brought in during the transfer window.

With Harry Maguire making the switch from Hull City could rejuvenate the defense. Not to forget about Ex Sevilla captain joining the team Vicente Iborra who at the age of 29 brings both attacking and defensive capabilities to the field. But weather or not Mahrez leaves the club do the team still need to make signings to be able to stay in the Premier League this season,or will they be able to get by with what they have done in the transfer market? also will the team be able to recoup the form they had and better the position of last season? leave your comment and thoughts below.

10 days until the start of the Premier League 20 clubs: Liverpool FC

Just 10 days until the start of the Premier League, half way through the clubs that make up the League and we get to the second most successful team within the English game. Liverpool’s history is well-known, but have struggled to reach old heights within the Premier League.

Liverpool City were found in 1892 following a split from bitter rivals Everton F.C, a year later the club joined the Football League within this period came the first dominant period of Liverpool with manager Tom Watson they won two League Championships, after a two decades of successful football in the Division 1 they were relegated to the second division in 1954.

The reds were dominant in so many ways in the 90s 80s 70s and more, but the last 20 years have seen the trophies run dry. But even with the  club not winning a League title in over two decades they are still the second most successful team within the English league.  winning 18 Division 1 titles, 5 European Cups, 7 FA Cups, 8 League Cups, 3 UEFA Cups, 3 European Super Cups, and not to forget the 15 Community Shields they have won. So it isn’t all doom and gloom for the Liverpool faithful but many think its time that they start to show a presence within the League once more.

In the clubs 100 year existence there has been a fair few players to come through the club that could go down as legendary players. So picking people to talk about was pretty difficult so i stuck with players that played for the club in the 80s and 90s just to make things easier.

John Barnes was an ever present player for England probably during one of the countries best period on international scale since we won the World Cup in 1966, also playing great for Liverpool playing 407 games scoring 108 goals from the wing. A player that has to go down as the clubs best goalkeeper Ray Clemence dedicated 14 years to the cub, playing 665 times for The Reds, also making over 60 appearances for England even with Peter Shilton in between the sticks.

Alan Hansen will for my generation be remembered for his punditry on MOTD with Alan Shearer and Gary Lineker but for many Liverpool fans and people who remember the club from the 70s-90s he was the clubs outstanding centre back making 620 appearances during his time at the club. Last but 100% not least one of the greatest goal scorers to walk into the game, Ian Rush goal scoring record most players would be jealous in the modern era and would want to reach the heights of what Rush did at Liverpool, scoring 346 goals in 660 games is an incredible return.

But it all comes down to what the club can achieve this season manager Jürgen Klopp has definitely turned the clubs fortunes around in recent seasons but still has a lot of work to do to make them the world beater they once were. With additions such as Ex-Roma player Mohamed Salah for £37m making him the most expensive Egyptian player of all time and bringing in Andrew Robertson from Hull City at Full Back could solve that issue on the left side they seemed to have for a couple of seasons. But will Liverpool be able to compete with the likes of Chelsea, Man City, and rivals Manchester United? where will they finish this season? comment below on your thoughts of their season this year.