After another year of relegation, Newcastle is returning to the Premiere League, thanks to thumping Brighton at the Championship level. Optimism still isn’t where it needs to be, but with the new-found confidence and respected veteran manager Rafa Martinez still running things, it’s a good time to expect improvement.
Also, there’s just no way but up for a team that is fresh off getting bumped down, especially now that they are bringing in a pair of quality players – Jacob Murphy and Christian Atsu. The two have potential, and should fill most of the needs. Newcastle isn’t done adding guys too, so look for a couple of more signings in the days or weeks to come.
Murphy and Atsu will be joining Jonjo Shelvey, Ayoze Perez, and speedster DeAndre Yeldin, as well as Aleksandar Mitrovic and the prolific Dwight Gayle, who unloaded 15 goals at the Championship last season.
The 2016-17 season was bittersweet for Tottenham, as they played well all throughout the year but came up short of a championship. It was, however, a clear sign that they are continually progressing, since the second-place finish was the current group’s best performance yet (also the club’s highest finish in 27 years).
Moving forward, we can expect manager Mauricio Pochettino and his men to again go all-out for a title. Their focus and intensity is up another notch since they are another year more mature, while also having better chemistry.
The trio of Harry Kane, Delli Ali, and Toby Alderweireld is obviously the headlining act of the team, but Keiran Tripper and Vincent Janssen are guys to also keep an eye on. Both men have something big to prove this season – Tripper is the Spurs’ only established right back now that Kyle Walker is gone, and Janssen is in jeopardy of fading out of the rotation due to his lackluster 2016.
