I look at the big five and I think, what were the weaknesses last year. City was obviously getting a new centre-back partner for Kompany, which they might do with Mangala. Chelsea's was getting a striker and deep lying playmaker in as well as a partner for the DLP. Costa, Fabregas and Matic last year we have filled that quota up. Arsenal have signed Sanchez, Debuchy and Chambers. Not exactly strengthening their team where it was needed as they needed a defensive midfielder, another top end centre-back and left back who can be reliable to play a whole season nearly. They have not signed any of that. Sanchez is a marquee signing in an area filled with attacking talent. Walcott, Ozil, Chamberlain, Podolski and Cazorla are all already still there but if Sanchez plays a lot as the central striker then it could be a great move. United still have not signed centre-backs to replace Vidic and Ferdinand and are expecting to go 3 at the back, how does that make sense. They also need a ball winner in the middle to feed the attacking players like Herrera, Mata and Rooney but have not gotten anyone in yet, Vidal could be a key signing but there are doubts over his fitness. Liverpool wills struggle without Suarez's goals and influence. Although I think Markovic could be a key player as the season goes on and Sterling will come into his own a bit more this year. For me 1. Chelsea 2. Man City 3. Arsenal 4.Liverpol/Man U depending on further acquisitions.
This could well be the season of the Manager. Jose has strengthened where he wanted to, Man City look strong pretty much everywhere. I'm not writing off United either, though I am Arsenal, maybe stupidly. Jose has no excuses now, nor does Pelllegrini, time to put up. I have a suspicion that if we go for everything we will come up short. We need to decide on 2 trophies and concentrate on that. It is almost impossible to win everything and you can fail trying by knackering your players. Jose to come out on top.
CP, last season was different. League & FA cup were more probable with that squad! Jose kept at those to get some realistic silverware. Luckily we were in the hunt for the league due to Manny's steep learning curve. This year will be different - we got all our weakness plugged and have 2 good players for every position. We should go for the Quadruple. BTW - did you see DC's solo goal today? Freakin' awesome!
If we start with maybe Courtois - Ivanovic - Cahill - Terry - Luis - Fabregas - Matic - Oscar - Schurrle - Hazard - Costa in the main games then we could easily put out a team like Cech - Azpilicueta - Ivanovic - Zouma - Ake - Mikel/Ramires - Van Ginkel - Ramires/Torres - Salah - Willian - Drogba in the League Cup, which is by no mean a bad team at all.
I think Chelsea still have the edge but they are not the favourites for all we know that tier-teams also have the abilities to win the Premier League 2014/15. For now it will be a battle of how Jose will line-up his squad or who will be his Starting XI (priority) but I know Jose he will rotates his player.
