We conclude our team-by-team preview of the 2024-25 season in the English Premier League. Today, we are exploring the last five teams in alphabetical order, which include Nottingham Forest, Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United, and Wolverhampton.
Who among them is capable of delightfully surprising us, and who is most likely to be a disappointment? Let’s figure it out.
– Last season’s finish: seventh place (32 points, minus 18 goal differential)
– Key ins: CD Nikola Milenković (Fiorentina, €14,3m), MC Elliot Anderson (Newcastle, €41,2m)
– Key outs: CD Moussa Niakhaté (Olympique Lyonnais, €31,9m), DM Orel Mangala (Olympique Lyonnais, €23,4m)
– My predicted position: 15
After spending considerable amounts on player acquisitions over the past two years (around €200 million), Nottingham Forest is taking a more measured approach to transfers this summer.
The club is gradually shifting away from relying heavily on loaned players and is focusing on building a solid core group for the next few years. During the off-season, they brought in players of notable quality, such as Nikola Milenković and Elliot Anderson.
At the same time, Nottingham Forest sold Moussa Niakhaté and Orel Mangala, who were not integral to the main lineup last season.
Despite missing several opportunities towards the end of the previous season, Chris Wood emerged as the team’s top scorer, netting 14 goals. The New Zealand forward also scored three goals in five pre-season matches.
At the moment, Wood is the most efficient at converting opportunities into goals, making him a very important player for Nottingham Forest in the upcoming season.
Nuno Espírito Santo prefers to use the 4-2-3-1 formation, which best suits Nottingham’s key players and enables them to play in their most effective positions.
Last season, Nuno Espírito Santo made improvements to the team’s defense after joining the club midway through the season, ensuring their place in the EPL.
In the new season, the Portuguese coach has the potential to enhance the quality of vertical attacks, aiming to compete for a spot in the top ten. Every position in this team is filled with players of a solid calibre who could potentially contend for a mid-table placement.
Specifically, in the attacking line, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Anthony Elanga, and Morgan Gibbs-White possess top-class dribbling skills and the ability to execute variation passes into the penalty area. Taiwo Awoniyi and Chris Wood are fully capable of skillfully receiving the ball and consistently finding the back of the net.
– Last season’s finish: fourth place (87 points, plus 24 goal differential)
– Key ins: CD Taylor Harwood-Bellis (Man City, €23m), RFB
Yukinari Sugawara (AZ, €7m), Ben Brereton Díaz (Villareal, €7m)
– Key outs: Che Adams (Torino, free), Stuart Armstrong (no club, free)
– My predicted position: 19
One of the key moves for Southampton during the summer transfer window was the permanent signing of Taylor Harwood-Bellis from Manchester City. Last season, this central defender was on loan, but now he has become a full Southampton player.
However, apart from this acquisition, Southampton has been relatively inactive in the transfer market, showing little urgency to refresh the squad as they prepare for their return to the EPL.
This is despite the significant departures of Che Adams, who scored 16 goals in the Championship, and Stuart Armstrong, who contributed seven assists last season.
With the departures of Che Adams and Stuart Armstrong, who together contributed 32 goals through scoring and assisting, the onus now falls on players like Kyle Walker-Peters and Southampton’s top scorer from last season, Adam Armstrong.
The English central striker scored 21 goals and made 13 assists last season, making him the most impactful player on the team. It will be interesting to see if he can continue scoring in the EPL.
Last season, Southampton played in different formations, but towards the end of the season, they primarily settled into 4-3-3 and 5-3-2 setups.
In the previous season, Southampton finished fourth in the Championship and secured promotion to the Premier League only through the playoffs.
Moreover, the team has not yet acquired any new high-level players this summer and has even let go of two crucial players for free. Given the lack of reinforcement and the loss of key contributors, it seems that Southampton will have little chance of staying in the EPL at the end of the season.
– Last season’s finish: fifth place (66 points, plus 13 goal differential)
– Key ins: ST Dominic Solanke (Bournemouth, €64,3m)
– Key outs: DM Pierre-Emile Højbjerg (Olympique de Marseille, loan)
– My predicted position: 5
Tottenham had been quiet in the transfer market until they surprised everyone by acquiring 18-year-old Archie Gray for over €40 million. Then, in early August, news surfaced about Tottenham’s interest in signing another central forward, with Dominic Solanke becoming a major target for the London club.
Solanke had previously been considered one of the biggest disappointments in English football, having scored few goals and provided little value to Bournemouth in the EPL. However, last season, the 26-year-old suddenly scored 19 goals in the Premier League, catching Tottenham’s attention.
Despite this impressive turnaround, the €64 million price tag for Solanke raises eyebrows, given his inconsistent track record, with only one prolific season out of five in the EPL.
James Maddison, Heung-min Son, Pedro Porro, and Cristian Romero were standout performers for Tottenham last season. If they can avoid injuries, these players could definitely help Tottenham finish in the top five in the upcoming campaign.
Tottenham primarily used a 4-2-3-1 formation last season, which easily transformed into a 3-2-5 during attacking phases. This setup allowed right-back Pedro Porro to make powerful forward runs on the right flank.
Heung-min Son and Brennan Johnson also frequently moved to the flanks, from where they delivered dangerous passes to their teammates. The majority of assists for the London club last season came from these wide areas, highlighting the importance of their flank play.
In the previous season, Tottenham ranked 13th in the number of chances conceded, largely due to their risky high defensive line. Postecoglou’s main challenge this season will be to address these defensive vulnerabilities while maintaining the attacking fluidity that Tottenham has been known for.
– Last season’s finish: ninth place (52 points, minus 14 goal differential)
– Key ins: CM Guido Rodríguez (Betis, free), ST Niclas Füllkrug (Borussia Dortmund , €27m),
LW/RW Crysencio Summerville (Leeds, €29,3m), CD Max Kilman (Wolverhampton, €47,5m)
– Key outs: AM Saïd Benrahma (Olympique Lyonnais, €14,4m), Thilo Kehrer (Monaco, €11m)
– My predicted position: 13
West Ham is once again having a strong transfer campaign, strengthening their squad even more. Füllkrug appears to be a fantastic option in the center of the attack, while Crysencio Summerville adds a dynamic edge with his excellent dribbling, ability to provide assists, and knack for finding the back of the net.
West Ham have a lot of high class players who could form a strong, balanced team, but last season David Moyes turned this team into one of the biggest outsiders in the EPL.
Signing players like Lucas Paquetá, Mohammed Kudus, Jarrod Bowen, and Edson Álvarez is a phenomenal achievement for West Ham in the transfer market. Each of them possesses the quality to contend for a place in the starting lineup at any European top club.
If West Ham had a few more top defenders and a top-level European coach, this team could easily compete for a Champions League spot with Newcastle, Aston Villa, and Tottenham.
Julen Lopetegui is likely to use a 4-3-3 formation with a strong emphasis on wing play and attacking through the flanks. However, the exact tactical setup will become clearer as the season begins.
West Ham’s decision to retain David Moyes as coach throughout the last season, despite his abysmal performance, was puzzling.
The subsequent appointment of Julen Lopetegui also raises questions, especially considering his struggles at Wolverhampton Wanderers, where his team was statistically one of the worst in the EPL.
If the club does not address these managerial concerns, West Ham fans can expect another season filled with disappointment.
– Last season’s finish: fourteenth place place (46 points, minus 15 goal differential)
– Key ins: –
– Key outs: Pedro Neto (Chelsea €60m)
– My predicted position: 17
Wolverhampton has sold one of its best players, Pedro Neto, to Chelsea. Neto provided nine assists last season, so his departure is seen as a significant loss for the club. However, Neto is injury-prone, and receiving €60 million for him is a good deal.
Apart from this, Wolverhampton continues to scout talented players worldwide and aims to retain its squad overall.
Matheus Cunha was the team’s most valuable player, scoring 12 goals and providing 7 assists last season. He is expected to make a big contribution in the new season as well to help his team secure their place in the EPL.
Wolverhampton mostly played with three central defenders last season. However, in the pre-season matches, Gary O’Neil successfully used a 4-2-3-1 formation, which better suited the attacking players. This shift could lead to a more dynamic approach in the upcoming campaign.
Last season, O’Neil’s team was one of the worst in the EPL in terms of creating and conceding scoring opportunities.
However, they managed to earn enough points to avoid a relegation battle. The big question now is whether they can build on that foundation and push closer to the top ten in the league.
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Mohul Bhowmick is a reputed sports journalist and reporter from India. He is a diehard…
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