vip-carlVIPStakes Sports betting representative The VIPStakes sports representative that blogged from Brazil during the World Cup is back with a series of Sports Blogs in which he will write about the upcoming Premier League. Here's a short introduction about this season's teams, some predictions and betting advice!
Newcastle United FC
Last season:
After avoiding relegation with a small margin the previous season Newcastle started their 13/14 campaign very positively beating teams such as Chelsea and Spurs. After the Christmas period the good results ended and they lost 14 of the 20 last matches of the season. The absence of draws still made up for all the losses and the team ended the season in 10th place.
2014/15-season preview:
When Yoann Cabaye left the club for Paris SG in January he also left a big gap behind him, which the management failed to fill. This year his compatriot Remy Cabella is the man supposed to fill the gap after signing for a 10 million pound fee from French side Montpellier. Other signings that the club has brought in are Siem de Joing, (Ajax) Daryl Janmaat (Feyenoord), Jack Colback (Sunderland) and Emanuele Riviere (Monaco).
Player profile:
Hatem Ben Arfa was early thought of as a wonderkid when he became a regular for the Lyon side dominating French football back in the days. After fighting with the manager as well as his teammates he moved to Marseille as a 21-year-old. After two years in the south of France he was loaned out to Newcastle where he started of very good but had a horror injury breaking his leg. Despite missing the rest of the season he impressed the Newcastle board enough to make a permanent move to St James Park. He was together with Cabeye, Ba and Cissé one of the key players in the 11/12 Newcastle team that finished in 5th place. After that golden season things went downwards for Ben Arfa and Newcastle. The 27-year old attacking midfielder has been rumoured to be on his way out of the club this summer. Whether he plays his football for Newcastle or anywhere else this season people will probably always see him as one of the wonderkids who never really reached the heights he could have.
Summary:
Newcastle keeps on being the biggest mystery of English football. How can this great club with a massive fan base underachieve year after year? Being on right track with their French influence a few years back the club went downhill after Cabeye left for PSG. Ahead of this summer it is more positive again around Tyneside with a couple of quality acquisitions combined with an already promising squad. Everything but a finish on the upper hand of the table must be viewed as a disappointment.
Prediction:
9th place
Betting suggestion:
Top 6 finish @ 10.00
