It is back! The 2016-2017 English Premier League gets underway this Saturday, and after a year hiatus, the weekly column is back in the fold as well. Last year's league season was as wacky as can ever be remembered, in any sport. So before we take a look at the upcoming season, let's take a look back at what...
It is back!
The 2016-2017 English Premier League gets underway this Saturday, and after a year hiatus, the weekly column is back in the fold as well.
Last year's league season was as wacky as can ever be remembered, in any sport. So before we take a look at the upcoming season, let's take a look back at what transpired last season.
1. Leicester City won the title, in the biggest football story ever written-It was not just the 5,000-1 odds to win the title before the year started. Everything, and every team, conspired to make Leicester City the greatest underdog story in the history of sport.
Claudio Ranieri led his team, which was in a relegation battle the year before and only just scraped to safety, to the top of the Premier League. It was still amazing two months later, as Leicester walked out of the tunnel this past Sunday to play Manchester United in the F.A. Community Shield.
2. Manchester United won a trophy-The Red Devils, who were in disarray much of the last three years under three different managers, won the F.A. Cup in May with a 2-1 win over Crystal Palace at Wembley. United had to work extra time, and play a man down for the final 15 minutes, but Jesse Lingard's sweet strike brought some silverware back to Manchester. You may have heard that there was a managerial change after that game, but more on that later.
3. Manchester City wins the League Cup-The Citizens needed extra time, after a 1-1 draw with Liverpool, but they got the job done in penalties. It was the final trophy for Manuel Pelligrini with City, as the club also made a high-profile manager change.
4. Liverpool made the Europa League final-But as has been the case with Jurgen Klopp-led teams, Liverpool fell 3-1 to three-time champions Sevilla.
5. Real Madrid beat Atletico Madrid in an epic Champions League Final- After a 1-1 draw, Real Madrid outlasted city-rival Atletico for the second time in three years in extra time. Manchester City made a run to the semifinals, but fell 1-0 on aggregate to Real Madrid.
6. The top four, which make the 2016-2017 Champions League, were Leicester City, Arsenal, Tottenham, and Manchester City.
The bottom three teams, which all were relegated to the EFL Championship, were Newcastle, Norwich City, and Aston Villa.
The three Championship teams that were promoted for this year were Burnley, Middlesbrough, and Hull City.
New signings abound all over the league, including four so far for Manchester United: Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Paul Pogba, and Eric Bailly. But enough of last year, let's get into the preview for the upcoming season.
Both of the Manchester teams have new managers, and both gaffers are probably in the top five in the world. Pep Guardiola takes over at City, following a disappointing league campaign last year, while Jose Mourinho, who left Chelsea last season in a mess, takes the reigns at United.
Mourinho already has some silverware, won in his first trip to Wembley with his new club. United knocked off Leicester City 2-1 in the Community Shield last Sunday, through goals by F.A. Cup Final hero Jesse Lingard, and one of the fab-four signings, Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Striker Ibrahimovic, the Ligue One Player of the Year last year signed from PSG, joins Eric Bailly (CB, Villareal) Henrikh Mkhitaryan (MF, Bundesliga Player of the Year last year, Borussia Dortmund) and new world-record PS89 million transfer fee signing Paul Pogba (MF, Juventus, FIFPro Team of the Year 2015) as new signings for Mourinho's new project.
Ibrahimovic scored in the 83' to lead his new squad to victory, and may be odds-on to win the Golden Boot this year. But there will be some competition to be the top scorer, especially from the other side of town.
Sergio Aguero, if he can stay healthy, may help lead the Guardiola revolution. That has always been the issue with the diminutive striker. But the Citizens have spent heavily to reinforce their squad, to help Aguero. John Stones (CB, Everton), Leroy Sane (MF, Shalke 04), Ilkay Gundogan (MF, Borussia Dortmund), Nolito (ST, Celta Vigo), Gabriel Jesus (ST, Palmeiras) and Alex Zinchenko (MF, FC Ufa) will all help City, some right away, and some for the future.
Chelsea was a disaster last year, on and off the pitch. But with Antonio Conte at the helm, fresh off a job coaching Italy at the Euro 2016 tournament, things may be looking up for the London club. With no European commitments, this team is free to make runs at the league, and the two domestic cup tournaments.
Leicester City is not going to disappear like some say this year. Although the Foxes lost midfield dynamo N'Golo Kante, and may lose Riyad Mahrez, the reigning PFA (players) Player of the Year, they are still strong. Leicester still has top-scorer Jaime Vardy, the FWA (writers) Player of the Year last season, and have made some shrewd signings in the market. Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow), the speedster that can play wide or behind Vardy, and Nampalys Mendy (Nice) will take over in the defensive midfield for Kante.
So it is prediction time. With Leicester City traveling to Hull City for the early game to kick off the campaign (7:30 a.m. EDT), here is how a few people, including myself, see the various awards shaking out for 2016-2017.
Sean's Picks- Champions: Manchester United
Top Four- United, Manchester City, Chelsea, Leicester City.
Bottom Three- Bournemouth, Hull City, Burnley.
Golden Boot- Zlatan Ibrahimovic, United.
Player of the Year- Anthony Martial, United.
Young Player of the Year- Martial.
Surprise Team- Everton.
Champions League Winners- Barcelona.
____
Azak Fever's (Arsenal Bod) Picks- Champions:The Arsenal
Top Four: Arsenal, Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea.
Bottom Three: Hull City, Burnley, Bournemouth.
Golden Boot: Olivier Giroud, Arsenal.
Player of the Year: Mesut Ozil, Arsenal.
Young Player of the Year: Leroy Sane, Manchester City.
Surprise Team: Everton.
Champions League Winner: Barcelona
____
Emmet Austin's (Ex-player) Picks- Champions: Tottenham
Top Four: Tottenham, Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea.
Bottom Three: Sunderland, Burnley, Watford.
Golden Boot: Harry Kane, Tottenham.
Player of the Year: Sergio Aguero, Manchester City.
Young Player of the Year: Dele Alli, Tottenham.
Champions League Winner: Bayern Munich.
____
Brian Dzenis' (Reporter, The Vindicator, Youngstown, OH) Picks- Champions: Manchester United.
Top Four: United, Manchester City, Tottenham, Arsenal.
Bottom Three: Burnley, Hull City, Bournemouth.
Golden Boot: Sergio Aguero, Manchester City.
Player of the Year: Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Manchester United.
Young Player of the Year: Marcus Rashford, Manchester United.
Surprise Team: Swansea City.
Champions League Winner: Bayern Munich.
It is like Christmas Eve for the fans of the most competitive league in the world. Which team will come out on top? Who will be the hero this season? It will all unfold over the course of the next nine-plus months.
Contact Sean Miller at seanmillertrentontimes@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @TheProdigalSean