The Next Chapter

With so many club owners and managers referring to their clubs’ ambitions as a project, this season appears to be a new chapter for most. More than just the record expenditure on new signings, this season has started with radical change for a number of clubs.

Southampton endured the most challenging of summers as they involuntarily lost a plethora of their stars and the manager who impressively led their charge to the brink of European football. Contrary to pre-season predictions that they would be battling relegation this season, the Saints have emphatically forced pundits to swallow their evaluations by ridding to the lofty position of second in the Premier League table. Will new manager Ronald Koeman sustain the momentum for the entire season and lead Southampton to the next phase of their project by qualifying for European football?

When they closed the transfer window with the signing of two truly world class gems, Manchester United thought they had forced pundits to swallow their pre-season doom predictions. In truth, after very impressive pre-season games and with a very remarkable World Cup behind the new manager, it looked like the pundits had been quickly converted into believers. Despite some jaw dropping attacking play, one win in the first five games of the season has not helped to keep the critics away and they are sounding louder than ever. Will new manager Louis van Gaal continue his legacy of turning very slow starts into successful first seasons? Champions League qualification is mandated after the lavish outlay on rebuilding the post-Ferguson United.

With a look of determination akin to Sir Alex Ferguson’s in his final season at United, Chelsea’s Jose Mourinho is expected to complete the transformation his “little horse” from last season into a champion. Having enjoyed one of the most prudent transfer windows, Chelsea have overwhelmed all that has crossed their path on their way to establishing an early strong lead in the Premier League table. While titles have been synonymous with Mourinho, he has to turn a page from his pragmatic profile by delivering this season’s title with stylish play.

Considered the protagonist of pragmatic play, Big Sam Allardyce is required to return West Ham United’s traditionally stylish play with a minimum of top half of the table finish. Despite leading the Hammers back to the top tier of English football and consolidating their position in the league, the fans have never warmed up to Big Sam. It will be some turn around if he can not only hold onto his position for the entirety of this season but finally get the fans to sing his name in the terraces.

If Jose and Sam need to look anywhere for a model of stylish play, they need to look no further than another of their London rivals. Having transformed Arsenal from the most pragmatic side in English football, Arsene Wenger has consistently delivered football in its most aesthetic form over the last eighteen years. After a couple of big money signings in recent seasons, and a first trophy to end a nine year drought, Arsenal fans will accept a little pragmatism if it will finally deliver a first league title in almost 10 years.

Merseyside has the other two managers who are synonymous with delivering aesthetic football. Having appeared to deliver his with a lot more end product than Arsenal, Brendan Rogers finally had Liverpool fans dreaming of a return to the glory days they last enjoyed in 1992. Having signed almost ten players to compensate for the departure of maverick Louis Suarez and the return of Champions League football, the next step in Liverpool’s progress is the League title. After a very slow start that has seen them lose three of their first five games this season, Liverpool are steadily revising their goals back to another season of Champions League qualification and a major trophy. Achieving this objective may have to be at the expense of Everton, their bitter Merseyside rivals who will be hoping to go one better than last season and make it into the coveted top four.

Will the clubs that successfully progress to their next chapter be those that have had a great start to the season or will the slower starters build a head of steam to overhaul the early season pace setters? This weekend’s North London and Merseyside derbies may be the start of the season long battle to settle this debate.