TFL: Premier League Preview

Title Contenders

If I had to make one bet on to who would win the Premier league this season it would be Blaza’s Lyon squad. He has great attackers with all kinds of talent in the midfield. Losing Jean Makoun will hurt but they have all sorts of depth and will probably move Toulalan into Makoun’s vacant CDM spot. Blaza has already stated that he will find a way to get both Lisandro and Befetimbi Gomis on the field at the same time meaning Lyon will score often. Lyon can be a bit soft in the back four but don’t be surprised if you see versatile Michael Bastos manning the Left Back position.

Players to Watch:

Michael Bastos

Bastos will give Manager Blaza the versatility he needs to play any style of football. He can be an attacking Winger or a dangerous Left Back.

Yoann Gourcuff

Gourcuff is a rock in the Midfield and will suit Blaza’s style of football perfect. Look for Yoann to be one of the top players in the Premier Leage.

Manager AJ Hart makes the move to Juventus after his wonderful championship winning season at Marseille. Juve will play a different style of futbol than the French side but we expect AJ to do ok when you have the likes of Alessandro Del Piero, Milos Krasic and Gianluigi Buffon on your squad. Juve have stated they are going with a 4-2-1-3 formation to utilize Del Piero’s assets. We can’t quite expect a unbeaten season this year out of AJ but we do expect him to challenge and push Blaza’s Lyon squad.

Players to Watch:

Gianluigi Buffon

Arguably the best keeper in the world will always keep the Juve games close. It takes something special to beat the legend.

Alessandro Del Piero

This living legend may be up there in age but he still has all the skills to be one of the top players in the league. He is lethal in both the corner kick and free kick set’s.

Although Manager Ryalaman is new this season to the TFL, he has made quite the name for himself during his friendly campaign. Already known as a force defensively, he seems to have a knack for scoring goals also. Porto is led by the Incredible Hulk. Hulk will team with Radamel Falcao and Varela to lead a potent squad and we think he has a great chance to surprise everyone and take the Title in his first season.

Players to Watch:

Hulk

Hulk can do it all. He has the speed to blow by defenders, the moves to make them miss and the passing ability to set up the dangerous Falcao. Hulk is one of the better players in the world and we fully expect him to show opposing Managers why.

Helton

The Porto Keeper should be one of the many reasons why the Portuguese club will challenge for the Title. He’s a very athletic keeper and one of the better one’s in the Premier League.

Sleepers

It’s hard to ever say a JFace led squad would be a sleeper but we think sometimes he fly’s under the radar. He’s as good as anyone here and we expect him to take Season 1 bottom feeder Villareal to the top. There is just too much talent on this squad to not compete. Led by the dynamic duo of Nilmar and Giuseppe Rossi, look for Villareal to score goals but the strength lies in the defense. Led by Marcos Senna and Joan Capdevilla, Villareal has the look of a top 2 or 3 team.

Players to Watch:

Joan Capdevila

The Spanish International has always been a steady rock no matter where he plays. Line him up at CDM or LB, he’ll make the right decisions and make the necessary plays to give his team the best chance to win.

Giuseppe Rossi

The American born Italian International was snubbed by the National team for the 2010 World Cup but he looks to take out his anger on the TFL. He’s got great speed and a very accurate shot. Teaming with Nilmar, they should provide one of the best 1-2 punch in the entire league.

We think this is the season Ryno finally takes that next step and becomes very competitive in the TFL. He has some amazing players at his disposal. None of which is more dominating than Zlatan Ibrahimovic. When you add wingers Pato and Robinho and the pending arrival of Antonio Cassano, this team is going to be very dangerous. They are a tad old in the back four but they should be able to score goals with anyone. With the arrival of Mark Van Bommell, they should be good enough to finish with a top 6 finish.

Players to Watch:

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Zlatan is one of the top strikers in the world and I imagine everyone in the TFL will be very annoyed with the monster target by the time this season is over. Don’t be surprised is Ibrahimovic is holding the Golden Boot when all is said and done.

Pato

Someone has to get the ball to the big Swedish Striker and who better than the Brazilian International. Pato is one of the most exciting players in the world to watch and were sure Ryno will have loads of fun with him.

There may not be a more exciting team to watch this season the Athletico. Manager Huskie is known for his wide open style and he has the team that is best suited for said style. The amazing duo of Diego Forlan and Sergio Aguero will score plenty of goals but the question will always be with Huskie’s teams, can they score more than they give up?? We believe a top 3 finish and a run for the championship is not out of the question.

Players to Watch:

Diego Forlan

For the fans that didn’t know much about the Uruguay Striker before last year’s World Cup, they sure know him now. His acrobatic goals are the stuff of legend and although he’s getting a bit older, he’s still as good as ever. A Golden boot is certainly not out of the question.

Sergio Aguerro

As Forlan may be getting a bit older, Aguero is just now hitting his prime. He’s a dynamic scorer with blazing speed. Teaming with Forlan, these two guys could very easily score 40 goals between the two of them.

Relegation??

There is no denying that Liverpool has talent but how will the loss of Fernando Torres treat this squad. The acquisition of Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez should help make up for the loss of one of the best Strikers in the world but do they have enough to escape relegation to League One? It’s going to take a complete team effort and Steven Gerrard and Raul Meireles will have to be on top of their games to avoid such a fate.

Players to Watch:

Steven Gerrard

Always widely considered one of the best midfielders in the world, Gerrard is also getting a bit older but he still has all the style and grace to help make Liverpool very competitive. He’ll have to look to be more involved on the scoresheet after the loss of Torres if Liverpool has any chance this season.

Glen Johnson

One of the better attacking Right Backs in the world, Johnson will also have to be very involved with the loss of Torres. Look for Johnson to push the attack a bit more than usual but with that, there could be some opportunity’s to be beat on the counter attack. Johnson will have to limit turnovers for Liverpool to win many games.

The Richuation has been given the key’s to his beloved Villa squad but will he know what to do with them?? Aston Villa has made some outstanding January transfer moves with the acquisitions of Lyon Midfielder Jean Makoun and Sunderland striker Darren Bent. Add them to a solid squad featuring Ashley Young and Gabby Agbonlahor and Villa should be a good squad this upcoming season. Do they have what it takes to avoid the dreaded relegation?? Only time will tell.

Players to Watch:

Ashley Young

Young has always been one of my favorite players and his blazing speed always make him a fit for opposing defenses to contain. He should be able to lob many crosses into the box. Hopefully for Villa’s sake, Bent and Gabby can convert them.

Darren Bent

It may be a couple of weeks before Richuation get’s his hands on the emerging striker but it will surely be worth the wait. Teaming with Young, Agbonlahor and Heskey, this should be one of the more feared front 3 or 4 in the TFL.

Not much is really known about Roma’s new manager Colemanchu other than he is known for his defensive prowess and he has chosen a great team for his abilities. Roma has a rock in the defensive midfield in Daniele De Rossi and forwards Francesco Totti and Marco Borriello give this squad some offensive firepower. They will have to win games with their defensive game however and they have some good defenders with the likes of Phillipe Mexes and Juan manning the back line.

Players to Watch:

Daniele De Rossi

One of the better defensive midfielder’s in Europe, De Rossi will have to play a huge role if Roma want’s to stay in the Premier League more than one year. He has all the ability’s to help out but will need the strikers to score goals.

Francesco Totti

If Roma has any intention of contending for anything, Totti needs to be a 20+ goal scorer. Does he still have that in him at his old age? Manager Colemanchu sure hopes so.