BARCLAYS PREMIERLEAGUE 2012/13 YOUR GUIDE TO THE NEW FOOTBALL SEASON! INSIDE TOP 10 STARS x CLUB-BY-CLUB GUIDE Barclays Premier Barclays Premier 02 League 2012/13 League 2012/13 03 THREE of Manchester City’s potential banana SORRY FERGIE, CITY skins in their defence of the Barclays Premier League title will be shown live on ESPN in the opening four months of the season. The visit of QPR – who so nearly prevented them lifting the trophy on a dramatic final day of the last campaign – on September 1 will be broadcast, along with the visit of last year’s surprise package Swansea and the tricky trip to ARE TOO STRONG... West Ham. Their coverage will begin with the opening day clash between Newcastle and Tottenham, two says ESPN football analyst Chris Waddle sides who are looking to build on last term. It will be Andres Villas-Boas’ first competitive ANCHESTER CITY will be the Vincent Kompany lifts the Barclays Premier last season and have not signed game as Spurs coach, after the London club team to beat again this anyone of note and will be down sacked Harry Redknapp despite leading them to League trophy on the final day of last season season – they have not have there again, while Sunderland have a fourth-place finish. M Villas-Boas’ replacement as Chelsea boss bought anyone yet, but they have a not had a great pre-season and it Roberto Di Matteo unified the Stamford got a strong enough side and will be could be hard for them as well. Bridge dressing room, claiming the FA Cup and focused on winning the league, while It will be interesting to see how Champions League trophies. See whether he can I’m sure they will want to do better they start as they could find maintain that momentum the following weekend, in the Champions League. themselves up against it. when they host Newcastle. They played some great football last It will be tough for the promoted Arsenal’s resolve will be tested in three live year, scored plenty of goals and still sides Reading, Southampton and West away games, with their trips to West Ham, look a tough side despite the lack of Ham. They can only reach a certain Norwich and Aston Villa all set to be shown. signings. I think every team, whoever level and it is then almost impossible they are, though, have to recruit as for them to go beyond that as they you need two or three fresh faces in just don’t have the money to compete LIVE SCHEDULE order to keep everyone on their toes with the big clubs. Big Sam will try to AUGUST and I am sure they will do some wheel and deal with the Hammers, Saturday 18 business before too long. but he has not signed much, while Newcastle v Tottenham ............5.30pm Manchester United and Chelsea will Reading and Southampton are in a Saturday 25 be the main challengers again, with similar position. Chelsea v Newcastle ................5.30pm Arsenal and Tottenham battling it out I can see there being around eight SEPTEMBER for that elusive fourth spot. or nine clubs battling it out to avoid Saturday 1 United have not done much the drop this season, with Norwich, business, either. They have brought a Villa and Swansea – all with new Man City v QPR ....................... 5.30pm few in, but Sir Alex Ferguson knows managers in charge – possibly the Saturday 15 what it takes to win the Barc;lays ones to go down as they have failed Sunderland v Liverpool ............5.30pm Premier League and he won’t be to strengthen significantly. A good Saturday 29 unduly concerned. The lad from start is imperative and most sides will Man Utd v Tottenham ..............5.30pm Borussia Dortmund, Shinji Kagawa, be eying a decent opening to the OCTOBER looks a solid signing and they should campaign. This is vitally important. Saturday 6 push City all the way. form of a few years back. The loss of fortunes. Rodgers has a history of okay. They have really exploited the On the question of whether the West Ham v Arsenal ................. 5.30pm We all know how close it was last Drogba’s goals will be a blow but if playing football with his sides, and French market with players like Olympics will have any bearing for Saturday 20 year. It went right down to the wire, the Spaniard can rediscover his form the signing of Fabio Borini, from Hatem Ben Arfa. the players involved, well it is just the Norwich v Arsenal ................... 5.30pm and I can see it being tight again. then they should be okay. Roma, gives him something extra up Those sides who came up from the same as them doing a pre-season Saturday 27 Chelsea have spent quite a bit and Roberto Di Matteo is back in the front – he and Luis Suarez could Championship in the 2010-11 really and all the players involved Man City v Swansea ................. 5.30pm it may take some time for their hotseat after winning the FA Cup and strike up a decent partnership. campaign will have that second- should head into the season raring NOVEMBER players to gel, but the signing of Champions League, but the team As for the Andy Carroll situation, seasonitis that seems to affect to go. Saturday 3 Oscar looks a good one. I was basically picked itself last year. Rodgers has never played a big man promoted clubs. I think Norwich, CHRIS WAS TALKING TO West Ham v Man City .............. 5.30pm impressed with him at the Olympics These two sides will definitely be up front, it is just not his style. It is Swansea and QPR will all struggle. DOMINIC PICKSLEY Saturday 17 and he looks some player, while they the ones challenging City. Arsenal and the manager’s prerogative how he QPR have been trying to sign n Chris Waddle is a pundit for ESPN, Norwich v Man Utd ................. 5.30pm have taken the plunge on the likes of Tottenham remain strong and, I’m plays and who he plays, so Carroll anyone and everyone, as they really which broadcasts live coverage of the Saturday 24 Eden Hazard and Marko Marin. sure, will be battling for fourth. looks out of it at Anfield. don’t want to go down, as they know Barclays Premier League, starting on Aston Villa v Arsenal ................ 5.30pm The loss of Didier Drogba is a big Liverpool could do quite well Newcastle will do well to replicate how much it means to be in the Saturday, August 18, with Newcastle one and they really need Fernando under Brendan Rodgers, although he their efforts of last season, although Premier League, but it could be hard United v Tottenham. For more details Torres to step up now and show his won’t instantly turn around their they won’t struggle and will be for them. Aston Villa did not do well visit espn.co.uk/tv. www.facebook.com/BarclaysFootball Barclays Premier Barclays Premier 4 League 2012/13 League 2012/13 5 20 YEARS OF DRAMA HAT a match! What a We have had 20 years of English ful. In 1994 striker Chris Sutton £1.782 billion. The new £3bn deal is finale! What a season! bulldog spirit epitomised by Alan became the first £10,000-a-week a staggering rise. It all comes down WThat was the universal Shearer and Wayne Rooney and player when Blackburn signed him to demand and when you consider reaction to the manner in which wonderful foreign talent such as from Norwich. Now the wages of games this season will be broadcast Manchester City came from 2-1 Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp, Manchester City’s Carlos Tevez and to around 600m people in more down in May to beat QPR 3-2 with Gianfranco Zola and David Silva. United’s Wayne Rooney are reported than 200 countries it is not difficult injury-time goals from substitute Twenty years of controversial to be £250,000-a-week. to see where the numbers come Edin Dzeko and Sergio Aguero. characters such as Eric Cantona and In 1992-93 Manchester United’s from. By common consent it was the Didier Drogba and Mario Balotelli. shirt was sponsored by Sharp at a Despite the global recession there most dramatic ending to a season Twenty years in which plain old cost of £200,000 for the season. In is no reason to believe the world’s in 20 years of Barclays Premier Alex Ferguson has become Sir Alex 2011-12 American financial gi- most popular game has reached League football and etched the as he has guided Manchester United ant AON were paying a reported saturation point. Far from it. fifth name on the most coveted to those 12 league titles. £20million per season in a four-year The biggest change, perhaps, is domestic trophy. Who would bet against Sir Alex, deal to have their logo emblazoned the nature of the personnel. Twenty So Manchester City are the health and fitness permitting, on the United jerseys. United also years ago when the Premier League champions as the world’s most plotting another United title chal- have a training kit deal with DHL consisted of 22 clubs the opening famous league celebrates its 20th lenge this coming season and hoping worth an estimated £10m a year. day’s programme saw just 11 foreign anniversary. for a similar ending in 2013 to the In 1992 a season ticket at A rsenal’s players take the field.