Team by Team Preview Part 2

By: Rob | August 11th, 2009

$\"Go and kick Ronaldo, he\'s annoying me\"$ Another day, another day closer to the big kick off in the premier league. Yesterday I covered Arsenal through Bolton and this morning I present you with the lo-down on Burnley, Chelsea, Everton, Fulham and Hull.

Can Fulham repeat last season’s surprise triumph? Can Everton break into the top 4 at long last? Can Carlo bring Chelsea a title? Can Either Burnley or Hull stay in the Premier League.

I’ll tell you all and more, after the jump.

Burnley

Last Season The fifth best team in the Championship, but through the magic of the playoffs, get to play with the fat cats this year.

New in Town Steven Fletcher, a Scottish international who signed for just £3m. If he can cut it in the Premier League, that’ll be vital.

They Will Be Wearing A classy simple number, nothing to be ashamed of, which is good as presumably most of their fans will want this one.

Who Needs a Big Season Owen Coyle. The Burnley manager has got a big job on his hands to keep Burnley up, but he seems to have the talent. Besides, Hull, Stoke and Reading have all shown it can be done.

Perfect Season Staying up, with two big wins over Blackburn would be lovely.

What They’ll Get A massive struggle. Its hard with sides like Burnley because we’ve been proven wrong before, but I can’t really see anything other than them going down. I hope I’m wrong but, 20th.

Chelsea

Last Season Started out brilliantly under Big Phil Scolari, but his treatment of Chelsea as an international side (light training, playing the XI most talented rather than any actual tactics) caused them to run out of steam by November. Sacked Phil and bought in Hiddink who finished 3rd and gave them an FA Cup win.

New in Town Yuri Zhirkov. The man with the best name in football comes to the Prem a little while after that impressive Euros. Chelsea do need a winger though, so its a great buy.

They Will Be Wearing At first it looks like a normal Blue Chelsea kit, but look closer and it seems to be rocking the stab-jacket look, complete with tiny zip. Odd.

Who Needs a Big Season John Terry can make everyone forget about the summer by reminding people of his defensive quality. Or at least staying fit for the World Cup.

Perfect Season Winning the Champions League, beating Barca in the final, having clinched the title on May 1st at Anfield.

What They’ll Get They may get something like that. To my mind, Chelsea are the only side out of the big four who don’t look a little weaker than last season. Ergo, they are my tip to win the title. You heard it here third. 1st

Everton

Last Season Started badly, but after a bad-tempered game with Man United, which saw Phil Neville grow in the countries heart by giving Ronaldo a kicking, and Rooney stupidly kiss his Man United badge, they rallied, and ended up fifth.

New in Town Luke Garbutt is only 16 but he’s already been robbed from Leeds, and might figure toward the end of the season.

They Will Be Wearing A bizzare blue-with-giant-white-V-down-the-middle. Awful.

Who Needs a Big Season Phil Jagielka. Its looking increasingly likely he won’t have Lescott along side him, but a big year could mean South Africa for the England defender.

Perfect Season Nicking into the top 4, and a Europa League trophy, the latter having beaten Liverpool who are in after failing to get through the group stage of the Champions League.

What They’ll Get A solid dependable 6th, and good runs in the cups.

Fulham

Last Season Surprised most people quietly by going from team who only just stayed up, to finishing 7th in the league and looking defensively strong all season. Roy Hodgson is a miracle worker.

New in Town Bjorn Helge Riise, plays right wing for his country (Norway), is the brother of the Roma and Ex-Liverpool defender and cost just £2m. Bargin.

They Will Be Wearing A good solid white and black number. One of the better kits this year.

Who Needs a Big Season Bobby Zamora set the lower leagues alight in his younger days, not really done it in the top league just yet though.

Perfect Season A rerun of last year would be great.

What They’ll Get A repeat seems unlikely, but it was unlikely last year as well. Mid-table I reckon. 9th.

Hull

Last Season A genuine season of two halves, they started amazingly, and shocked us all, beating Arsenal and climbing the league table. Then they didn’t win for about 100 years and stayed up only on the last day.

New in Town Steven Mouyokolo. With a name bloggers will love to hate, the french defender is bound to be a big hit to annoy me.

They Will Be Wearing Orange, with thin black stripes. With Wolves in the league, they’ll actually get to use their blue away kit once as well.

Who Needs a Big Season Phil Brown. He needs to make Hull look like the first half of the season and not the latter half.

Perfect Season Keeping up first half of the season form and finishing mid-table.

What They’ll Get Relegation. They got 35 points last year, and only stayed up because of how bad the teams below them are. I expect them to keep dropping like a stone this year. 19th.