I get it, it just isn't sexy to play in the Europa League. It has a funny name, no one really cares about it, and it is consistently in the shadow of the Champions League. However, for many of the EPL's second tier of clubs, the Europa League, and the chance to play in Europe, is quite the reward after a long and arduous season. Here are five teams who will be battling for the qualification spots in Europe in the upcoming Premiership season.
10. Sunderland (Finished 13th in the Premiership)
Sunderland AFC +8.536.000 £
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| Total: 0 | Total: 8.536.000 £ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
If I was a fan of Sunderland, I would be confused. After disposing of Steve Bruce and bringing in Mr. Martin O'Neill, Sunderland appeared to right the ship and was in contention for a place in Europe before a late season swoon dropped them all the way down to 13th place. Sunderland have a strong core of players that is highlighted by Stephne Sessegnon, one of Bruce's more astute signings.
In order to have a successful season, Sunderland still need a striker, and for all the Louis Saha's fans in the room, that striker needs to be healthy for more than half the season. Unfortunately Mr. Saha is quite injury prone. Furthermore, Sessegnon will surely be targeted as Sunderland's key man, so the onus for the Black Cats' attacking play might rest on the shoulders of Sebastian Larsson and emerging midfielder James McClean. I am cautiously optimistic.
9. Swansea City (Finished 11th in the Premiership)
Swansea City +11.114.400 £
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| Total: 5.605.600 £ | Total: 16.720.000 £ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Swansea, led by Brendan Rogers, overachieved last year, playing a Spanish style tiki-taka football that led some to call them the Welsh Barcelona. Maybe Barcelona are called the Spanish Swansea City. Well, because of their success, Mr. Rogers has moved his neighborhood to Anfield and enter stage left, Michael Laudrup, the footballing legend who led Denmark to the Euro 1992 title.
For the upcoming season, Swansea did lose two significant midfielders in Joe Allen and Gylfi Sigurdsson, but the astute acquisitions of Jonathan de Guzman and Michu should help alleviate the void left by the pair. Furthermore, Michael Vorm is the best goalkeeper you have never heard of. Swansea will continue to rise and they will finish in the Top 10 in their second season in the Premiership.
8. Everton (Finished 7th in the Premiership)
Everton FC +11.440.000 £
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| Total: 5.060.000 £ | Total: 16.500.000 £ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
For the fans of Everton last season must have been a dream season. For the first time in 7 years, Everton finished above their rivals, Liverpool, in the league table. David Moyes, again, worked even more miracles taking a threadbare roster and pushing them just hard enough to overachieve. Building on last season's success Moyes was able to add Steve Naismith from Rangers and Steven Pienaar from Tottenham, while only losing talented yet injury prone Jack Rodwell to Manchester City and Tim Cahill to the MLS.
With a full season of Nikica Jelavic roaring to go and the midfield dynamo of Marouane Fellaini near the top of his talents, Everton will again contend for a European place. My only concern with this team is their relative lack of depth. I am not familiar with many of their youth players so I can be pleasantly surprised but one or two more experienced signings could have this club pushing even higher.
7. Newcastle (Finished 5th in the Premiership)
Newcastle United -3.489.200 £
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| Total: 9.033.200 £ | Total: 5.544.000 £ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
If we all thought that Swansea, Norwich and Everton overachieved, than whatever was happening at St. James' Park was truly a Christmas miracle. Buoyed by the Senegalese strike force of Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse Newcastle played some of the most attractive football in the Premiership. Furthermore, they were undefeated for three months, which is quite impressive in its own right.
Newcastle managed to fight off the vultures and lost only some squad players from their team. With Cisse and Ba paired for a full season, there will be plenty of goals for the Magpies. The concern for this team as with any other that is trying to break into the top 4 is their relative depth. I would not be surprised to see Newcastle break into the top four, but after a relatively healthy campaign in 2011, an injury or two could hamper the squad pushing them back down the table.
6. Tottenham (Finished 4th in the Premiership)
Tottenham Hotspur -2.420.000 £
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| Total: 19.800.000 £ | Total: 17.380.000 £ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tottenham were unlucky not to get back into the Champions League after their fourth placed finish in the league. In most years that would clearly be enough, but with Chelsea's victory against Bayern Munich in the final, they captured England's final spot and left Spurs the pleasure of the Europa League. While we have been blessed to welcome back Big Sam Allardyce to the Premiership, it is a shame that 'Arry Redknapp will not be around as he was let go after his very public flirtation with the England job.
So here comes AVB, Andre Villas-Boas, who in his defense, was never given the time or patience to see if his project at Chelsea could come to fruition. If AVB is given the proper backing, I can see Spurs challenging for a coveted spot in the Champions League. With the signings of Vertonghen to replace the retired Ledley King and Sigurdsson to replace Madrid bound Modric, there is a significant amount of class in the side. I would be more comfortable if a striker could join the fray as well to augment their push.
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