Will new boys inspire title tilt?
Will new boys inspire title tilt?
Sunday, 3.30pm, Sky Sports 1 (CH 512) and Sky Sports 1 HD (CH 502). Also available after broadcast in Sky On Demand
The old footballing adage has it that you can’t win the league title in the first weeks of the season, but you can certainly lose it. Such will be one of the competing scenarios as last season’s top two, Chelsea and Manchester City, meet in only the second week of the new campaign.
For all their bountiful riches, both sides have been relatively frugal in the transfer market this summer – City’s extravagant purchase of Raheem Sterling for the small matter of £49million aside! The blue half of Manchester have also secured Fabian Delph and Patrick Roberts, but the 18-year-old Roberts is more for the future.
Chelsea, meanwhile, haven’t been dissuaded by Radamel Falcao’s dismal season at Manchester United last year and have signed the Colombian on a year-long loan. They have also purchased Stoke’s keeper Asmir Begovic as a replacement for Petr Cech.
That’s not to say that Manuel Pellegrini and José Mourinho aren’t looking to reinforce their squads. City would love to add Wolfsburg’s attacking midfielder Kevin de Bruyne and Chelsea are actively pursuing Everton’s highly touted John Stones as the long-term replacement for John Terry. Both would open their chequebooks to secure Paul Pogba, but he seems likely to make the move from Juventus to Barcelona.
So, how will the new signings fare in this game, and over the season? Let’s have a look…
Raheem Sterling (Man City)
Sterling’s talent isn’t in question. His pace and trickery scares defenders, but can he apply himself over a full season? Will his price tag weigh heavy? Going into his first season at City, more questions than answers remain for the former Liverpool man. His pre-season was encouraging and it appears he has struck up a solid understanding with David Silva. Those two behind Sergio Aguero will strike fear into John Terry and Gary Cahill.
Fabian Delph (Man City)
Likely to miss this game due to the hamstring injury he suffered in his first game for City in pre-season. However, he looks a bargain at £8m). With Fernandinho and Fernando both poor last year, you’d imagine Delph – now an established England international lest we forget – will slot straight into the midfield alongside Yaya Toure.
Radamel Falcao (Chelsea)
Will the real Radamel Falcao stand up? Is it the forward that scored for fun in Portugal and Spain before his ill-fated move to Monaco? Or is it the hapless striker that appeared a shadow of his former self on loan in Manchester last year? Signed as a replacement for Didier Drogba, there’s the notion that Falcao has nothing to lose. If he’s fully recovered from his anterior cruciate ligament injury then Mourinho could have a potent back-up to Diego Costa. If he hasn’t then it will be a case of nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Asmir Begovic (Chelsea)
The former Stoke goalie would walk into most side’s first team, so signing for Chelsea where he knows he’ll be back-up to Thibaut Courtois is something of a puzzle. Yes, he will doubtless win medals, but participating to what degree? Chelsea know that if anything happens to Courtois they have a more than able deputy. He’ll probably get a run in the Capital One Cup. And that could be it.