The biggest league football begins - Evaluation and Optimism

 A new Premier league season is starting. You can feel it in the air. Immediately the trophy is lifted, the eyes look forward to the start of another thrilling adventure; the exciting and pulsating links, rumours and the eventual "here we go", clubs change managers, fans get to see their new players in preseason, new beautiful jerseys are launched and expectations are on the rise, every fan hoping to have a better season than the last. This piece would be my little-eyed evaluation of top teams going into the 2024/2025 EPL season.

1. Man City have done the incredible - English Champions four times in row. What's left to fight for? What's the motivation now? Pep Guardiola always seem to have answers to these questions. As long as you play for him, there's only one way to think - Win. It is how he has remained the best and he won't stop. 

 The addition of the blistering winger, Savinho with the breakthrough of Oscar Bobb and McAtee look really scary as seen in their performances versus Man Utd in the Community Shield. However, Julian Alvarez's departure leaves a huge gap to be filled and it puts City on the lookout again after it seemed they had closed shop. No addition looks possible before the Chelsea opener. 

City would likely start somewhat slowly like they used to but it's a long season and yes, they are veterans in playing the long game. Will this be Pep's last season? Maybe.

2. Arsenal have pressed City by the neck for two straight seasons. Enough doesn't just seem enough chasing Pep and his troops. Each failure is motivation for the next journey. Arterta has the trust of the board, the players, the fans and they would go hard again to end their 21 year wait for an EPL title.

The addition of Calafiori to the meanest defence last season passes a strong message. Timber's return seems like a new signing and Partey looks ready to go again. Emile Smith Rowe's departure can't be separated from Arsenal's heavy link to European champion, Merino while the talks of adding a Center forward to Jesus haven't left the waves. Arsenal fans want a right winger to relieve Saka but nothing looks concrete before the opener versus Wolves.

It's another season for Arsenal fans to hope and believe if Son doesn't miss another one on one at the dying minutes, they would win it this time. Could they be third time lucky? I hope not. (laughs)

3. Liverpool ended last season on an emotional note - the great Jorgen Klopp said goodbye. Before the season ended, a replacement was sought. Arne Slot comes in from PSV and he has big shoes to fill. Gaining the trust of fans with "exciting" football and a winning mentality would be his major goal this season. 

Liverpool are the only club in English top-flight yet to make a permanent signing and after the latest rejection from Zubimemdi (to top an extensive rejection list in two consecutive summers), it's not looking like that would change. 

Slot has said he's trying to get his players to have possession of the ball even if Klopp's "chaos football" would still be in the mix. Expectations aren't that high and Liverpool fans can go into the season more relaxed I guess. This is Arne Slot's era not post-Klopp era and Liverpool fans shouldn't make every loss a an opportunity to remember Klopp.

4. Manchester United without a manager change look like they are starting afresh. The revamp at the back office was so remarkable and the United fans can't wait for the new season to kickoff. An abysmal season ended on a high with the FA cup win and it's easier to believe that saved Ten Hag his job. He now has to deliver this time.

The arrival of Yoro, De Ligt and Mazraoui gives fans some hope given how leaky they were last season with the injury plague that rampaged their defence. Copa champion, Martinez feels like a new signing and Malacia is running again. Zirkee is a different profile of striker from Højlund, one could see the perfect Martial replacement and Ten Hag has shown his admiration. The signing of a defensive midfielder would make this summer a perfect one but Man utd don't look like getting the Ugarte deal over the line before Friday night football versus Fulham.

There's a lot of optimism for Man utd fans and rightly so. Could Ten Hag finally shut the mouth of doubters? Marco Silva can answer.

5. Chelsea got a new manager surprisingly after how well Pochettino ended the season, getting an European qualification. The Bohely-led era are determined to stamp their feet at whatever cost. The fans seem more confused than they were this time last year with the amount of new players that ceaselessly get signed. 

With the Maresca, many questions still beg for answers as regards which players actually fit his plans. Tosin came in for free after Silva's departure. Viega could play as a Center back, a Left back and a Defensive midfielder, Dewsbury-Hall followed his boss from Leicester. Lavia and Nkunku feel like new signings and look ready to show the world what they're really capable of. Pedro Neto looks exciting and Marc Guiu could prove a worthy back up for Jackson.

So many uncertainties as to what to expect but Chelsea fans should expect a long ride of education of a new system. Can Maresca be the beginning of a new dawn of sustainability at Chelsea? I hope so.