Top 10 New Year Resolutions For Premier League Sides Including Manchester United And Arsenal

Top 10 New Year Resolutions For Premier League Sides

As the New Year approaches, and with it, the second half of the Premier League, we all now have a solid idea of where certain teams will end up come May, and what those certain teams may need to work on to accomplish their goals in the coming months. Here I take a look at ten teams and what their New Year’s resolution must be for the second half of the campaign.

1) Manchester United: Bring In A Central Defender

Mats Hummels

All season Manchester United has been lacking in the department in which the team used to perfect: the centre of defence. With Nemanja Vidić and Rio Ferdinand having made the switches to Inter Milan and Queens Park Rangers respectively, Man United have been sorely missing that key commanding figure in their back line. David De Gea has been put to the test in the first half of the season, and he has responded wonderfully, often times being United’s best player on the pitch. But, obviously, a team cannot rely solely on its goalkeeper, so Louis Van Gaal will have to dip into the market and find a central defender worthy of taking over from the big Serbian; perhaps Mats Hummels will make the move to England? Time will tell, but If United can secure its defensive line, they may be able to make a serious title challenge in the second half of the season.

2) Arsenal: Acquire A Strong Holding Man

I’ll bet there are more than a few Arsenal fans ruing the criticisms that they laid upon Alex Song for his loan move to West Ham. The Hammers are sitting pretty above the Gunners thus far, and it must be said that Song has lent more than a helping hand to the cause. Commanding the midfield is key to any success in football, and Arsenal lack a Yaya Touré or Nemanja Matić in its squad that could see the team truly excel this year. Many people will disagree and say that it is in the striking department that Arsenal must build upon, but I thoroughly disagree due to the fact that Danny Welbeck and Olivier Giroud provide more than enough firepower going forward. It is controlling the middle of the park that must be worked on come January, and Wenger will have to spend big if he is to land a reputable name. Sergio Busquets, anyone?

3) Liverpool: Sort Out The Goalkeeping Mess

The Premier League is no tournament for switching out goalkeepers every couple of weeks, and Rodgers seems to have little faith in both Simon Mignolet and Brad Jones. Consistency is key in both a goalkeeper’s confidence and performance, so a first choice must be firmly established in January. Personally, I feel that Mignolet is more than capable of becoming a great keeper in a Liverpool jersey, but Rodgers may be opting for an out of work Victor Valdés for the New Year. Time will tell, but one way or another, the situation must be resolved.

4) Manchester City: Let Go Of Super Frank

It’s not fair to the Chelsea faithful to have to endure watching highlights of Frank Lampard netting goals and setting them up in a sky blue jersey. It’s borderline blasphemous. Who could blame Man City for wanting to keep hold of a man who has proven himself year in and year out for close to fifteen years, even with his advancing age? Perhaps this is just bitterness talking, but Lampard has signed a contract with New York City FC, and come January, he must be allowed to leave the club and pursue his success in the MLS. It’s not as if the Citizens do not have the money to replace him.

5) Chelsea: Steer Clear Of Injury

I recently watched a Blues game in which the commentator referred to the trio of Eden Hazard, Oscar, and Willian as the ‘Holy Trinity’, and it is hard to argue. I have never seen an attacking trio sitting behind the main striker with as much ability to interchange and leave defenders for dead as these three. Hazard needs no introduction; he’s quickly becoming one of the best in the world, but the work rate that both Oscar and Willian bring to the Chelsea set up is second to none in Europe at the moment, let alone England. Willian has fully come into his own at Chelsea and underlined his importance to the club in the 1-1 draw with Southampton. He can change a game, and will be crucial for the second half of the campaign. The ‘Holy Trinity’ must remain fit if Chelsea is to knock Man City off of the Premier League throne.

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6) Tottenham: Find Proper Cover For Harry Kane

The young Englishman has been drawing comparisons to Teddy Sheringham, and has quietly been going about his business in making himself a mainstay leading the line for Tottenham this season. He seems to be a good old-fashioned centre forward; no nonsense, strong on the ball, and knows how to put the ball in the back of the net. In this regard I suppose one could also draw comparisons to a young Wayne Rooney. He hasn’t quite made it to that level yet, but if things keep going the way they are for Kane, he’ll be picking up the phone from Roy Hodgson for the next round of internationals. As it stands, though, Spurs need a revamp in the striking department. Roberto Soldado is far too inconsistent, and Emmanuel Adebayor, although prolific when in form, can be just as much of a gamble up front. Proper cover is needed in the way of securing the signature of a known goal scorer if Spurs are to gain any success this year; Kane can’t do it alone.

7) Southampton: A Replacement For Morgan Schneiderlin

He’s been one of the most consistent players in his position in recent years, making the holding role in midfield quite his own. The problem is that he seems to want to push for a move away from St. Mary’s, perhaps to the red half of North London, where, as aforementioned, he would be most welcomed. Still, that would leave Southampton, high flying this year in the Premier League, with work to do in replacing the Frenchman, who has been with the club since 2008. The lure of a big name is what seems to be taking Schneiderlin away from Southampton, but he might do well to re-examine where the Saints sit in the league at the present time, and what position ex-teammates such as Dejan Lovren and Adam Lallana sit at the moment. The Saints are on the up and up, make no mistake; it is my opinion that it would be a mistake to leave at such an exciting time on the South coast.

8) Queens Park Rangers: Striker

As with Tottenham, QPR cannot rely solely on one striker to keep them up this year. Charlie Adam has been magnificent, there can be no denying that, but the best of clubs have two or even three players who know how to score a goal or two in the squad, ready to relieve the main man at a moment’s notice. The issue seems to be in drawing talent towards the club, so perhaps a loan move is best suited for any striker coming to Loftus Road in their quest for Premier League survival.

9) Burnley: The Return Of Sam Vokes

The link-up play that Vokes and Danny Ings had last season in the Championship division was devastating to teams all around them, so it was a massive blow to have had the former out for half of the season already. How he performs on his return to the starting line up (assuming that he can out-place Ashley Barnes at the moment) will be essential in determining their chances for survival this year. It’s not over; not by a long shot, but Burnley will need firepower if they are to remain a Premier League next season. Their issue is not with conceding goals; they defend for their lives and do it well (just look at the amount of draws they have accumulated); rather they need to have a striking partnership reminiscent of last season, and it is definitely possible with the return of Vokes to the squad.

10) West Brom: Avoid The Drop

Close to naming the replacement of Alan Irvine as former Stoke City manager Tony Pulis, the Baggies are now faced with the task of familiarizing themselves with a manager who has proven himself in the top flight. Pulis did a fantastic job at Stoke, overseeing their return to the Premier League and maintaining mid-table status until his eventual departure from the club in 2013. After a difficult spell with Crystal Palace, Pulis will now face a new task in avoiding the drop down to the Championship. They sit in 16^th position, only four points off of the bottom and one off of the relegation zone. The bottom half of the table is tight, and with teams like Burnley and QPR experiencing a period of much better form of late, West Brom and Tony Pulis will have it all to do in the second half of the campaign.