EPL Season Preview and Prediction - Manchester City
MANCHESTER CITY
Last Season - 3rd (78 Points, 23 wins, 9 draws, 6 losses
Manager - Pep Guardiola
Notable Gains - Bernardo Silva (Monaco), Kyle Walker (Tottenham Hotspur), Danilo (Real Madrid), Benjamin Mendy (Monaco)
Notable Losses - Pablo Zabaleta (West Ham), Gael Clichy (released), Jesus Navas (released)
Prediction - 1st
I just think this is the year we see what all the fuss is about Pep Guardiola. To me, City now look to have the most firepower and strongest squad in the Premier League, more capable of playing in the style that Guardiola craves. Having spent over 200 million in the transfer window, there are certainly no excuses for Manchester City this time around.
Last season, Manchester City came out of the blocks like a house on fire and, after 6 straight wins, everyone thought they were going to waltz their way to the Premier League title. However, just as they were being declared morals, they lost their way in somewhat of a spectacular fashion, in the end finishing an incredible 15 points behind Chelsea. Manchester City remained strong at home but were regularly beaten on the road and dropped far too many points at tricky away venues throughout the season. Whilst City could look spectacular when executing Guardiola’s high possession attacking style of football, they didn't have the legs in them, or the layers, capable of sustaining it through games and throughout long periods of the season.
This season it's clear Guardiola has asked for younger players with bundles of energy and City have addressed a lot of their issues at fullback and in midfield. Guardiola loves his fullbacks to play more like wing backs and get up and down the field and able to go past players, and they have reinforced sufficiently here. With both Silva and Mendy from Monaco, Guardioa has a couple of players that should be able to play at a higher level of energy than the likes of Yaya Toure and Pablo Zabaleta last season.
Whilst last season Manchester City averaged 80 goals, which was more than 2 per game, they conceded 39, which was more than a goal a game, and 13 more than the best defence in the League in Spurs. City created the most chances in the League last season, however their wider players and attacking midfielders were far too wasteful in front of goal and the side needs to be far more ruthless this season.
Overall I’m predicting City will be Champions this year as Guardiola has a deep squad capable of playing his brand of high possession, all action football. They look to have a dynamic strike force, wide players and midfield, and if Vincent Kompany can stay fit, their defence should be better than it was last season. City dominated plenty of games last year without converting them into wins, and I'm expecting them to be far more clinical in front of goal this year. I think this will be a very competitive Premier League this year, and 87 points might be enough to win, it as opposed to the 93 Chelsea mustered last season.