Tuesday 12 August 2014

2014-2015 Season Preview

With the season fast approaching, journalists, broadcasters and former players have given Michael's Football Fix their view on how THEIR team is shaping up in the wake of the new campaign.


Aston Villa
Pat Murphy, BBC Radio 5 Live football and cricket correspondent

Who has been Villa's best summer signing so far?: "Kieran Richardson"( signed for an undisclosed fee from Fulham)
Which areas do they need to improve before the transfer window shuts?: "Full-backs and a fit creative midfielder".
What are your hopes for the season ahead?: "A decent run in the cup competitions".
Where do you think they'll finish come the end of the season?: "Just above the relegation places".



Birmingham City
Ian Danter, talkSPORT football correspondent 

Who has been Birmingham's best summer signing so far?: "Stephen Gleeson (free transfer from MK Dons) should do well in my humble opinion" 
What are your hopes for the season ahead?: "I expect mid table respectability and the same damn owners come the end of the season."



Blackpool
Paul Stewart, former Blackpool and England striker

Who has been Blackpool's best summer signing so far?: "The manager!!" (Jose Riga, managed Charlton Athletic last season)
What are your hopes for the season ahead?: "That they give the new manager time and finally they win a trophy!!"



Carlisle United
James Philips, BBC Radio Cumbria Sport commentator

Who has been Carlisle's best summer signing so far?: "Billy Paynter (free transfer from Doncaster Rovers) - a great character who could solve United's goalscoring problems."
Which areas do they need to improve before the transfer window shuts?: "Up front. Still not enough proven goal-finders in the team, unless one comes from the young lads breaking through..."
What are the hopes for the season ahead?: "They'll hope for promotion, automatic preferably".
Where do you think they'll finish come the end of the season?: "Play-offs might be more realistic, after such a high player-turnover, but their exciting young players could change that."



Coventry City
Dave Rowe, talkSPORT football reporter

David Rowe
Who has been Coventry's best summer signing so far?: "Reda Johnson" (free transfer from Sheffield Wednesday)
Which areas do they need to improve before the transfer window shuts?: "Everywhere, but another central defender needed".
What are your hopes for the season ahead?: "Survival at best".
Where do you think they'll finish come the end of the season?: "16th".


Crystal Palace
Mark Bright, former Palace and England striker

Who has been Crystal Palace's best summer signing so far?: "Julian Speroni". (signed a new 1 year contract with the club)
Which areas do they need to improve before the transfer window shuts?: "A left-back, a central midfielder and possibly a winger"
What are your hopes for the season ahead?: "I'll settle for same as last year".
Where do you think they'll finish come the end of the season?: "10th"



Derby
Ivan Gaskell, football correspondent for the BBC

Who has been Derby's best summer signing so far?: "The next one!".
Which areas do they need to improve before the transfer window shuts?: "Defensive".
What are your hopes for the season ahead?: "Recovery from Wembley!"
Where do you think they'll finish come the end of the season?: "Top 8".



Everton
Stuart Pyke, BBC Radio 5 Live football and rugby league commentator

Who has been Everton best summer signing so far?: "A lot of people would say Lukaku but I reckon Gareth Barry (free transfer from Manchester City). Proved a lot of sceptics wrong last season and ticks every box.
Which areas do they need to improve before the transfer window shuts?: "I think another striker and central defender but squad looking strong. Don't forget Oviedo, Gibson and Kone are like new signings
What are your hopes for the season ahead?: "I would love to challenge top 4 again but realistically the cup competitions give us our best chance of that silverware."
Where do you think they'll finish come the end of the season?: "My heart says 4th, the head says 6th but crucial to make a good start. Certainly strongest Everton squad for 3 decades - grounds for optimism at Goodison!"



Ipswich Town
Phil Wye, BBC Radio 5 Live football producer

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Who has been Ipswich's best summer signing so far?: "Best signing is a hard one, but I'll say Kevin Bru, French-born Mauritius international midfielder (free transfer  from Bulgarian side Levski Sofia), could be the most intriguing."
Which areas do they need to improve before the transfer window shuts?: "Ipswich Town are crying out for a creative spark in midfield, and possibly an unpredictable frontman"
What are your hopes for the season ahead?: "Hope that such a small squad stays as injury free as possible to give Big Mick's team a chance."
Where do you think they'll finish come the end of the season?: "Heart says 6th, head says 8th. So much competition with teams wallowing in big transfer kittys."



Liverpool
Graham Beecroft, Merseyside football correspondent for talkSPORT

Who has been Liverpool's best summer signing so far?: "Best summer signing, in terms of value for money, could be Manquillo (on loan from Atletico Madrid). He had an excellent debut. Positionally he was first class."
Which areas do they need to improve before the transfer window shuts?: "Competition is needed at left back and Suarez has not yet been replaced in terms of a player with alternative skills."
What are your hopes for the season ahead?: "A top 4 finish, a good run in Europe and a domestic cup win".
Where do you think they'll finish come the end of the season?: "Second would be another excellent achievement. The league this season means that any contender could finish from 1st to 5th".



Manchester City
Will Perry, BT Sport and BBC Radio 5 Live presenter

Who has been Manchester City's best summer signing so far?: "Bacary Sagna for free (released from Arsenal)"
Which areas do they need to improve before the transfer window shuts?: "We still need another centre-back".
What are your hopes for the season ahead?: "A solid start away from home".
Where do you think they'll finish come the end of the season?: "Champions - obviously :P" 




Manchester United
Alex Crook, national newspaper journalist and talkSPORT football commentator

Who has been Manchester United's best summer signing so far?: "Louis Van Gaal" (joined as manager after leading the Dutch national team to a third place finish in this summer's World Cup).
Which areas do they need to improve before the transfer window shuts?:  "Central defence".
What are your hopes for the season ahead?: "To go back to playing the United after some dismal fair under the hapless Moyes".
Where do you think they'll finish come the end of the season?: "Top 4". 


Notts County
Andrew McKenna, talkSPORT football and rugby union commentator

Who has been Notts County's best summer signing so far?: "Roy Carroll (free transfer from Olympiakos). Bialkowski saved us so many times last season we needed a goalie to do that role again - just in case!"
Which areas do they need to improve before the transfer window shuts?: "Not sure. Something'll always crop up though, it always does. Set pieces'll be big having lost Sheehan."
What are your hopes for the season ahead?: "Easy - finish the season with the same manager as we started! It's been a while, if we do we'll have done OK!!"
Where do you think they'll finish come the end of the season?: "Love to say play-offs, because I'd have a chance of commentating on my team at Wembley! I'd pass that up for automatic though."




Portsmouth
Ian Darke, football commentator for BT Sport and ESPN

What are our thoughts going into the season?: "Upbeat mood. Finished a bad season strongly last year when Andy Awford took over. Held on to good youngster Jed Wallace. Pre season suggested the defence is less than watertight and that's main concern. But should challenge for play offs."



Stoke City
Robin Grey, football commentator and presenter of The Staffordshire Football Show on Knot FM

Who has been Stoke City's best summer signing so far?: Bojan Krkic (signed from Barcelona for an undisclosed fee) or Phil Bardsley (free transfer from Sunderland) 
Which areas do they need to improve before the transfer window shuts?: "We need a winger or 2 to add competition." 
What are your hopes for the season ahead?: "To cement position in top 10".
Where do you think they'll finish come the end of the season?: "9th"



Torquay United
Jim Proudfoot, talkSPORT football commentator

Who has been Torquay's best summer signing so far?: "Luke Young (free transfer) - surprised Plymouth let him go, a midfielder with composure, excellent range of passing & best years ahead".
Which areas do they need to improve before the transfer window shuts?: "Defensively there is a lack of depth - up front Bowman will be excellent but if he gets injured we are short."
What are your hopes for the season ahead?: "That our home form radically improves and we have team to be proud of again. Hoping our young local players develop into the talent we hope, Yeoman, Sullivan, Chaney, Ives could all be great youngsters who redevelop our identity".

Where do you think they'll finish come the end of the season?: "Upper mid-table. It will be the lowest we have finished since 1927 but could be season that provides platform for future".




Tranmere Rovers
Nigel Adderley, football commentator for Match of The Day and talkSPORT

Who has been Tranmere's best summer signing so far?: "Marcus Holness (free transfer from Burton Albion) - we needed a strong captain".
Which areas do they need to improve before the transfer window shuts?: "I'm concerned about lack of depth behind what looks a decent 1-11".
What are your hopes for the season ahead?: "I hope Mark Palios concludes his takeover to end years of stagnation".
Where do you think they'll finish come the end of the season?: "Play-offs realistic ambition but lack of squad might mean mid table".


Wolverhampton Wanderers 
Lynsey Hooper, freelance sports journalist



Who has been Wolves' best summer signing so far?: "Hanging on to Bakary Sako"
Which areas do they need to improve before the transfer window shuts?: "Need more firepower. Another striker would be most welcome".
What are your hopes for the season ahead?: "A good season would see us fighting for a play off spot".
Where do you think they'll finish come the end of the season?: "An eighth placed finish to build on for next season".

More contributions to follow...



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