Alan Smith’s Expert Predictions: Premier League Season Review and Analysis

Harry Kane and Other Strikers’ Importance

Obviously, Harry Kane is absolutely pivotal; if he isn’t at it, we will drop 20-30%, really, because he’s that good and he has that much know-how and class. Another amazing season; I think he’s had one or two rests towards the end of the season, so hopefully he isn’t burnt out as he has been previously.

Ivan Toney was an interesting pick; I don’t mind that – I think Tuchel is thinking of those last 15 minutes or so, and who’s good at penalties. Ollie Watkins finished the season really well. At one stage, it looked like Watkins might not get in because it’s been an up-and-down season, and Solanke and Calvert-Lewin were in the squad, weren’t they? But yeah, I’m happy with that forward line.

Will Arsenal Be Even Better Next Season

I do think they will be better. I think they’ve got to move forward; they’ve got to evolve. Arteta said that himself. The forward positions need strengthening; there’s no question about that. Yeah, it did end in disappointment, obviously, when you’re losing on the penalty shootout, but PSG at the moment are a better team than Arsenal. They’ve got more going forward, certainly.

That is what Arsenal have got to do and try and improve. So, in the end, I think it’s been a brilliant season, competing at the top level in Europe as well as winning the Premier League, which is so competitive. It’s been an amazing season.

How Surprised Were You by Liverpool’s Decline?

I think it surprised everybody how far they fell. You don’t often see that with champions. They got some good results to start with without playing well, and then things just fell away. So it was surprising, definitely. And obviously, Diogo Jota’s passing would have hit everybody like a sledgehammer. It really would have. So that must have played a part. And now it’s time to bounce back.

Was It Harsh to Sack Slot?

You never know what’s going on behind the scenes, whether there’s a rift between players and manager; certainly there was with him and the players. But he’s going. Maybe it’s the style of football and not only that, the fact that a manager like Iraola is on the market. Because I think if you’re the owners, you’re thinking somebody’s going to get him, and he’s going to do well, and if it starts badly at Liverpool we’ve missed the boat. So I think there’s a big element of that, the fact that somebody like that was available.

Can Iraola Bring Attacking Football to Liverpool?

I think he can certainly change the style and improve it. And I hope he does well. A lot of people are saying, has he got the right personality? Because he’s a little reserved, you might say, but who knows what he’s like on the training ground? He can’t be that reserved. So I’d love to see him do well. Yeah, because he produces such exciting football, or certainly did at Bournemouth.

David Moyes’ Position at the Club

Of course, he’ll be disappointed with that finish. But the fact that they were pushing for European places is such an amazing achievement, given how they’ve been struggling at the bottom for several years. So you can’t underestimate how much good work David Moyes has done there, and he’ll be looking now to push on. So yeah, a disappointing end, but they’ve kind of gotten the new stadium thing out of the way, and they’ll be hoping for much better results at that new ground now as well.

Beto and Thierno Barry

They came in with a few goals towards the end. I think he’s knocked off a few rough edges, Beto. So, yeah, he’s a little bit raw. It all depends on whether the manager feels he can develop the likes of Thierno Barry or whether he feels he should go in the market. But I think Everton are in the market for players like Thierno Barry, of some potential that you can bring in, rather than ready-made, because that is a lot of money. I think he would want to improve the quality in the centre-forward position.

Anthony Gordon to Barcelona – How to Reinvest

They certainly won’t leave things dragging on until deadline day as they did. They’ll want to try and get the business done. I’ve spoken before about where they need to improve. And the centre-forward position is the one, really. They’ve got Harvey Barnes who’s ready-made on the left. So, with that money, I would imagine maybe they’ll try to get either Wissa or Woltemade out the door, probably just one of them, and bring in a centre-forward with that Anthony Gordon money.

Shea Charles Signing

Time will tell if he’s ready for the Premier League. He’s served his time in the Championship, hasn’t he? He’s won a lot of caps for Northern Ireland. So he’ll feel he’s ready. I think Leeds would be a good fit. Maybe at one of the top clubs you’re on the bench more often than not. So he’ll get his game time there, and he’ll learn what it is about being a Premier League player under Daniel Farke. So if he does go there, I think that’d be a decent move for him.

Zan Vipotnik – Swansea Top Scorer Linked to Hull

It’s the market that they’re in, and to buy the Championship top scorer, you are hoping that he can replicate that in the top flight. You never know. The player won’t know. But he’s clearly a talented striker, and they need goals. So yeah, I think that’d be a good signing. They’re going to be up against it, aren’t they? They really are.

They need more quality. How much they’re going to spend, who knows? But they’ll be looking at Sunderland and thinking, can we do what they did? Have they got the money to do what they did? But yeah, on the face of it, that looks like a good buy.