So, what does the Premier league hold for the Whites, and what can we expect?
We all know that even with our board's backing, we are a long, long way behind Man City, Man U, Liverpool, Chelsea, Spurs, and Arsenal. They are the big six, with fan bases we can only dream about at the moment. Everton, with their new found money, and recently established clubs like Leicester, and to a lesser extent Burnley, should be our immediate, realistic aim. Breaking into the top ten would be a massive achievement for a newly promoted club, and Wolves will also be aiming for that. There are so many factors to take into consideration- how the new players integrate, what happens if there is a spate of injuries, is the squad deep enough in quality terms, etc. etc. Only time will tell.
The club has spent big, and wisely, and with Kline a distant memory, it seems Slav is having more say, even though Tony Khan always seems to take the credit. The new players are interesting, so let's take a look at them-
Seri- Highly rated and once on Barca's radar. He could be our "Kante", when he adapts to the Premier league.
Mawson- Another highly rated player, as shown by his previous England call up. He is good with the ball at his feet so will surely fit into the side well. He also has bundles of Premier league experience, given the amount of defending Swansea have had to do over the last couple of seasons.
Le Marchand- A bit of a conundrum for me as to where he plays. Consensus has it that he is a CB, but in the friendly I saw he looks like he can also play LB. One thing that stood out for me, is that he is an excellent passer of the ball.
Schurrle- Getting him on a two season loan is a massive coup, and with his experience he can be a great addition, and I think once we forget the rabble he used to play for, he will become a fan's favourite.
Fabri- From what I have seen, he looks a little dodgy on high balls, although his distribution is excellent. But for me, when Betts is fit, he has to get the nod.
Chambers- Another excellent loan and he has bags of Prem. experience for a player so young. Whether he plays CB or full back won't matter as he can play both positions easily. Could be the big surprise now he is reaching his prime.
Mitro- The fearsome, Serbian, beast needs no introduction and it was clear, last season, he loves our club and the Gaffer. This will be the season he shows that he is twice the striker that Benitez thought he was. Mitro will be on fire.
Needless to say there will be two more signings before the deadline, so we cannot blame the board for lack of investment this time around.
As much as I, and some other FFC fans enjoyed the Championship, and the intensity of that league, there would be no point in trying to win it if we didn't want to be in the Prem. I will miss the Championship and trips to places like Barnsley, but we are now a Premier league club (Villa you are still in the Championship, enjoy it). I am certain that all of us are sitting trying to predict where we will finish, and all I can say is good luck with that. For this writer it all depends on how the new signings integrate, and whether Slav will adapt his style when needed against much stronger opposition. We will play our beautiful passing game, and we will win our fair share of games. However, i do not see us breaking into the top ten this season, nor do I see us scrapping near the bottom. Realistically, I can see us finishing between 12th and 14th, and anything higher will be a bonus. Whatever happens, it will be one hell of a journey, and one that we will enjoy until next May.
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© Nic Smith
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