With major focus on the more fancied clashes of the English Premier League first round, it is only normal that lower teams are ignored. However, this weekend we are faced with the prospect of Burnley visiting Stamford Bridge with hopes of putting up a challenge to the hosts, who are under pressure to not repeat the title collapse of two years ago. On the other hand, Crystal Palace, will welcome another team to London, i.e., the English Premier League newcomers, Huddersfield Town, and hope to make a good start to life under Frank de Boer.
CHELSEA vs. BURNLEY
Three-way: 1: Chelsea -385; X: +585 Draw; 2: Burnley +1500
Spread -1.5: Chelsea -123; Burnley +123
Total +2.5: Over -139; Under +140
CHELSEA
The English Premier League champions come into this season with their heads held high, as they were the worthy winners last season. However, it is safe to say that there are more reasons to be worried than to be happy about. Conte and his men are desperate to avoid another ‘Mourinho’ season of 2015-16, when they finished tenth after being crowned champions the season before. Conte is a coach who is known to be obsessed with winning, and this year, his concerns have been clear as the squad looks incredibly thin.
After the rather strange departures of Nemanja Matic, Nathan Ake, Dominic Solanke, Bertrand Traore and Nathaniel Chalobah, along with Asmir Begovic, Branislav Ivanovic, and club legend John Terry, the club looks pretty light on paper when it comes to experience and quality, which is weird considering that they have let go of Ruben Loftus Cheek, Kurt Zouma and Tammy Abraham, three players who were definitely good enough to be used in the team.
They have signed German defender Antonio Rudiger for 35 million Euros to boost the backline, while adding highly rated Monaco destroyer Tiemoue Bakayoko for 40 million Euros. Their marque signing has to be Spanish striker Alvaro Morata, who has finally found a team where he is expected to be the leading striker. He has been signed for a deal worth 65 million Euros, plus add-ons.
The Blues didn’t have a very good preseason, at least on paper. They played five matches, which started with a thumping 8:0 win against Fulham, and ending with a penalties defeat in the FA community shield against Arsenal. In these five matches, they have scored 14 goals, while conceding 6.
There are not many players who are doubts for the weekend clash against the Clarets, but two of the most important players will be missing out. Eden Hazard is still not fit after his ankle surgery, and is still a long way out. Joining him is the new signing Bakayoko, who is recovering from a knee surgery earlier this season, and is still not fit. Victor Moses will remain sidelined with a red card he got in the FA cup final last year for simulation.
BURNLEY
The Clarets put on a brave fight last year and managed to get enough results to survive in the English Premier League for another year after they won promotion in just one season in the second tier of English Football. Under Sean Dyche, Burnley has shown that they are a team that are able to cause upsets in the English Premier League with their defensive abilities. They made a fortress at home Stadium Turf Moor last season, where they caused major upsets like a 2:0 win against Liverpool and a 1:1 draw against rampant Chelsea. They were poor on the road, which needs to be changed otherwise they will find survival very tough this season again.
They have made some decent moves in the transfer market, even though they will sorely miss the composure of Michael Keane who is off to Everton from this season. They have bought in Charlie Taylor from Leeds and Phil Bardsley from Stoke City, to fill the full back spots, with the former coming on free transfer while Bardsley joins for 840 thousand Euros. They have also managed to add the experienced Jonathon Walters for 2.5 million Euros, along with Midfielder Jack Cork from Swansea for 9.1 million Euros.
Burley took part in five friendly matches as pre season preparations. They won four of them, while drawing one, which shows that the current team has gelled in well. During this period, they have scored 12 goals, while conceding five, which indicate towards slight lack of cohesion in the backline as they have kept only one clean sheet.
Their only absentee is Dean Marney who is out with Cruciate Ligament Injury.
CHELSEA vs. BURNLEY – Match Prediction:
The concern that Antonio Conte has, is the same that is troubling all the fans-lack of squad depth. And the absence of talisman Eden Hazard has been sorely felt in recent matches, as he is the only player left that can make things happen after Diego Costa’s exile from the manager. However, looking at the current squads of both the teams, it is clear that Chelsea is the team, among the two that should cruise to a win, although they might face resistance from Burnley.
Since the current English Premier League champions are big favorite to win this match with the sportsbook listing them to win at -385, I can’t find too much value there, so I will be taking the over 2.5 goals offered at much reasonable odds.
MY PICK: Over 2.5 goals (-139)
CRYSTAL PALACE vs. HUDDERSFIELD TOWN
Three-way: 1: Crystal Palace -118; X: +272 Draw; 2: Huddersfield Town +400
Spread -0.5: Crystal Palace -120; Huddersfield Town +114
Total +2.5: Over +120; Under -127
CRYSTAL PALACE
Last season was a season of two halves in quite a literal sense for the Eagles. In the first half of the English Premier League season, they struggled badly, as there was no cohesion in the squad. Slowly, things got better, but until Sam Allardyce joined as manager, they were in serious contention to be relegated. Under big Sam, they pulled off some really good performances, including some impressive wins against the big six, including the wonderful 2:1 win at Stamford Bridge against eventual English Premier League Champions Chelsea. Now, after parting ways with Allardyce on a mutual basis, they have hired Dutch legend Frank de Boer, who will bring in his experience of winning trophies with Ajax and hope to improve the squad’s performances on a consistent basis.
They have added some extremely talented young blood in the squad, with the singing of Jairo Riedewald potentially one of the best deals in the league. The 20 year old centre back from Ajax has been signed on a 9 million Euro deal, and will be tasked with providing youthful enthusiasm at the centre of the backline. Joining him are two highly rated youngsters, who have joined on loan deals. Ruben Loftus Cheek has “finally” left Chelsea on a loan spell for more game time, and has already gelled in well with the squad. Joining him is Dutch teenager Timothy Fosu Mensah who has joined for a yearlong loan deal from Manchester United, and might be in contention to make the squad for the opener.
The London based club took part in the English Premier League Asia trophy in the preseason, which were a part of the five match long pre season schedule. In those five matches, they won two, drew two, and lost one, against Liverpool. During this period, the Eagles scored 7 goals, while conceding 5 goals. These statistics indicate towards a mediocre attack and defense.
In terms of injuries, there are a couple of injury concerns for the Eagles. Striker Connor Wickham has been out since November due to a Cruciate Ligament Injury, and is no closer to a return, yet. Joining him on the treatment table is Welsh International Jonathon Williams, who is out due to a shoulder injury.
HUDDERSFIELD TOWN
Under David Wagner, Huddersfield Town had a really good season last year, as they were consistent throughout the season. Such consistency in performances ensured that they didn’t have to struggle even though they had a few blips here and there, and hence get promotion through the playoffs. However, the English Premier League is something entirely different, and therefore, each and every member of the club has to be sure to avoid going down in the very first season, and hence, get their cards right in tactical sense and in the transfer market.
They have made many signings so as to ease life in the top flight in the first season. They have signed Steve Mounie from Montpellier for 13 million Euros and Laurent Depoitre for 4 million to boost the attack, while bringing in Tom Ince from Derby to add width on the flanks, in a deal worth 9 million Euros. To enhance the midfield engine, they have signed Aaron Mooy from Manchester City for a sum of 9 million Euros, and brought in Danny Williams from Reading on a free transfer. In defense, they have signed Zanka from Kobenhaven for 2.5 million Euros, and Scott Malone from Fulham for 3 million Euros.
The newly promoted club played seven friendly matches in the preseason. Out of those seven, they won three, lost two, and drew two. In the duration of these matches, they scored a total of 13 goals, while conceding 11, which shows defensive lapses in the playing style.
Jonathon Hogg and Nahki Wells are both out due to Malleolar injuries, and are almost sure not to be making an appearance even on the bench. Along with them, Jon Gorenc Stankovic and Martin Cranie will also be missing out due to knee Injury and Hip injury respectively.
CRYSTAL PALACE vs. HUDDERSFIELD TOWN- Match Prediction:
This match promises to be an intriguing contest between two seemingly less fancy, but talented squads. Both the managers would want to have a good performance in the opening round of the English Premier League, and hence will be looking to motivate their squads to the extent possible.
Huddersfield has a very good squad, that is very closely knit, but against Crystal Palace, they might fall just a bit short. Therefore, for this match, my prediction would be a home win for Crystal Palace, as they have slightly better players, at least on paper, and are playing at home.
MY PICK: Crystal Palace to win (-118)
