The new season of the Barclay’s premier League get’s under way at the weekend.
Regardless as to whether you agree with it’s dominance of the sporting calendar it is a big event.
Here are ten things we are looking out for over the coming weeks and months…
1. Whoey Suarez?
He dominated last season, breaking scoring records and driving Liverpool to within an unfortunate stumble of the title. Then he took a bite out of Chiellini at the World Cup and his subsequent (unrelated) transfer to Barcelona at least spare us the ins and outs and every detail of why he should / should not have his worldwide suspension lifted.
2. Sanchez Magic
He was one of the glittering stars of Brazil, as he was for Chile four years ago as well. Arsenal surprised many by stepping up for the marquee signing of the close season and his performance against Manchester City in the Community Shield suggests there will be good times ahead for the Gunners.
3. Roy’s Redemption
Roy Keane has a lot to deliver alongside Martin O’Neill as part of Irish Soccer’s new dawn but he will also be keeping his hand in as assistant manager to Paul Lambert at Aston Villa. The club is for sale and his Number One’s job is perhaps not the most secure in the game but hopefully they will get off to a consistent start and we won’t see an early firestorm about whether he will be stepping into the number one spot.
4. Irish Eyes
Analytics are as crucial to the preparation of any Premier League team as any drill on the coaching pitch or any free kick routine mapped out on the white board before a game. Ireland is playing a key role with StatSports the analytics partner of choice for 14 of the 20 top flight clubs, including Man United, Man City, Liverpool and Arsenal.
5. TV Stepping Up
Sky Sports and BT Sport will go head to head for coverage of the big games and will be eager to show their own innovation. The two are the biggest sports broadcasters in the game and with new rights coming up again the season after next they will want to show that they can deliver the best possible service to armchair fans. Watch out for new angles, new stats and new stars emerging from the studio as well as the pitch. Setanta will have exclusive rights to Saturday games here, as well as the irish highlights programmes on Saturday and Sunday evenings.
6. In the Air
The route between Dublin and London was revealed as the third busiest in the world this week and from this weekend again the airport will be packed with fans travelling to see their favourite teams back in action. The Premier League says that over 200,000 visits are made each year from Irish fans travelling to watch games. That’s an average of over 500 for every game played in the league over the course of a season.
7. Want to bet on it?
Paddy Power, Boylesports, Bragbet and Betbright are among the Irish betting companies spending big to attract new customers at the start of the season. It’s ironic then that the FA has introduced a new regulation banning any player or official in the Premier League or the next seven tiers of English soccer from placing any kind of bet on the sport, anywhere in the world.
8. Radio Days
Today FM and Newstalk have the exclusive live rights to radio commentary on the big Premier League games with the two stations splitting Saturday’s for the former and Sunday’s for the latter. Sport is big news on radio and expect to hear plenty of previews, reviews, gossip and results across all stations over the next nine months.
9. Late Finish
With no major Championships taking place in the summer of 2015 there is a much later than normal finish to the season with the final of the Champions’ League taking place in June at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin. premier League clubs came up short last year and there is no Man United this year but hopes will be high for a better showing.
10. United Return
It was a desperate year for Manchester United, flirting with mid table mediocrity and dispensing with David Moyes as manager before the end. Louis Van Gaal was certainly great box office at the World Cup and he has started with a bank being willing to hold forth on almost any subject involving himself in pre season. The clash of the massive ego’s that are Van Gaal and Mourinho will be entertaining in itself.
11. Don’t forget local
We do have a domestic soccer league in Ireland and the Airtricity Premier League has delivered plenty of thrills and spills over the summer. A resurgent Dundalk look set to capture the title and that would mean 8 different winners in the past 10 years. It doesn’t get more open than that and if you are drawn to support a team in England, why not make an effort to go to one game at home this season. You love the game, love local as well.
