PL 16/17 Predictions Series: Chelsea

My new series looks at the participants of the latest Premier League season. For previous posts, see below:

Arsenal, Bournemouth, Burnley, Crystal Palace

Last season
An absolute disaster. The 2014/15 champions suffered one of the worst title defences of all time, struggling around the relegation zone for the first six months of the season. Having released Jose Mourinho for the second time, the team steadied under the stewardship of Guus Hiddink, eventually finishing tenth. With no other success in cup competitions, including a disappointing Champions League campaign.

Backroom setup

After 12 months of turbulence, with firstly Jose Mourinho and then Guus Hiddink as managers. With the latter always a short-term replacement, the club knew that the summer was going to be crucial. With many of their rivals also making managerial appointments, Chelsea needed someone high profile. Antonio Conte fit the bill perfectly, but it will be interesting to see whether the players deal with his tough-talking technique.

Pre-season
Before entering into the International Champions Cup, set to really provide a stern challenge, the Blues took a tour of Austria to warm up. However, no-one told Rapid Wien to go easy, with Chelsea suffering a 2-0 defeat in their first game. Though this was a youthful side, it was hardly the ideal start for Conte. Nevertheless, successive strong victories without conceding would follow, beating Wolfsberger 3-0 and unknown quantity Atus Ferlach 8-0, with Pedro, Remy, Mikel and new signing Michy Batshuayi all on target.

The International Champions Cup saw the Blues pitted against Liverpool, Real Madrid and AC Milan. Though Chelsea scored early to get the best of their Premier League rivals in a feisty 1-0 win, they struggled to get to grips with a weakened Madrid side, going 3-0 down early thanks to goals from Marcelo and Mariano. Though Hazard pulled two back in the late stages, they couldn't fight back. There was better news from their final two games, with successive wins over AC Milan (3-1) and Werder Bremen (4-2) putting the Blues in a strong position for the start of the season.

Squad and signings

As with behind the scenes, there have been changes to the Chelsea squad, though not perhaps as many as some were expecting. There have been big money moves for both Batshuayi and N'Golo Kante, who performed so admirably for Leicester in their title win last season, both valued at around £30m, with the only exits a number of loans. However, with the aberration of last year for the Blues, I would expect to see more comings and goings from Stamford Bridge in the remainder of the window.

Tactics
Conte has been synonymous with strong physical players during his time as Italian coach, and has seemed to favour a 3-5-2 formation. Whether he will translate that to Chelsea is unclear, though his intent to keep Juan Cuadrado, who had seemed on his way out just a few months ago, perhaps highlights that he could be keeping this tactic in his back pocket if it is required. Much more will be expected of both Fabregas and Hazard as a creative force this year if Chelsea are to be successful.

Predictions

Simply, there is no way that Chelsea can be as bad this year as they were last. While form is temporary, class is permanent, and without the distraction of the Champions League this season, I would fully expect to see them challenging towards the top few places. I still feel that they are lagging slightly behind both Manchester clubs in terms of quality, but I think they will cement their place as best of the rest this season, and may put together a more cohesive push next term.

Final position: 3rd

Summer Transfer Window Series: 2015 Window Top 10 Big Money Moves

And so, the summer chaos is over for another year. I'm not talking about the departure lounge of Manchester Airport, it is of course the transfer window. As part of my latest series, I wanted to review some of the biggest and best Premier League transactions this year, starting with the top 10 huge money moves.

It's been a record summer, with spending rising four per cent to £870m. As a result, we've got a strong top 10, with all of the deals highlighted in excess of £20m. With the new Sky TV deal, valued at a staggering £5bn, set to come into play next year, clubs have realised that they have money to play with, and as a result, are more willing to splash out the big bucks.

10. Pedro Rodriguez - Barcelona to Chelsea (£21m)
We kick off with Chelsea's big-name summer signing. Having struggled through their opening couple of games, claiming just one point, Jose Mourinho felt the time was right to make his move. Despite considerable reported interest from Manchester United, Chelsea met the buyout clause of Barcelona's Pedro, who had found himself less of a fixture at the Catalan club since the purchases of Neymar and Luis Suarez.

Cue merciless chants taunting United on the terraces, and rapid response from Louis van Gaal, claiming they never really wanted him - funny that! Meanwhile, the Spaniard, who has already won two Champions League titles and countless league crowns, has hit the ground running, with one goal and two assists in his first two games.

9. Heung-Min Son - Bayer Leverkusen to Tottenham Hotspur (£22m)
The first of our 'panic buys' to enter the list. Not unlike Chelsea, Spurs have had a rocky start to the new season, particularly struggling for goals. With Harry Kane having that typical 'second season syndrome', Tottenham swooped for Son, paying over the odds for a player that, while talented, has often struggled to be prolific. It remains to be seen whether this plays out well, but his debut will be eagerly anticipated by Spurs fans - but the last striker to cost in excess of £20m didn't really work out - Roberto Soldado.

8. Morgan Schneiderlin - Southampton to Manchester United (£24m)
Poor old Southampton. Their strong young side of a couple of years ago has been decimated, with Liverpool and Manchester United particularly guilty of stealing their players. This summer, it was the turn of Morgan Schneiderlin to depart, having come close to joining Spurs last year. At £24m, he seems extremely expensive, and he has hardly had the most auspicious start, frequently giving the ball away in the games at home to Tottenham and Newcastle. Nevertheless, it remains clear that Louis van Gaal considers him a ready-made replacement for the ageing Michael Carrick, and I expect to see the Dutchman continue to give him a chance to repay the outlay.

7. Nicolas Otamendi - Valencia to Manchester City (£28m upfront, will rise to £32m)
Another of Manchester United's failed transfer targets, and the first of Manchester City's big-money signings. Who would have thought that £28m would represent one of the club's cheaper purchases? Though a touch surprising, given the form of both Vincent Kompany and Eliaquim Mangala, Nicolas Otamendi adds further competition and strength in depth for City's European tilt, particularly given the typically ridiculous group the club has been given again.

It does have to be said, however, that one of the key reasons for the move to City is the transfer of Alvaro Negredo the other way last year. Expected cost in the region of £22m, Valencia have simply not got the money, so a part exchange was almost inevitable to come good on the money.

6. Roberto Firmino - Hoffenheim to Liverpool (£29m)
Liverpool have also been busy in the transfer window, financing the signing of Brazilian forward Roberto Firmino in June. The former Hoffenheim man has recently broken into the Brazil national team, popping up with some useful goals in recent friendlies, and seems to have the physical stature to cope with the rough and tumble of the Premier League. As with many of this year's moves, he looks overpriced by my estimation, and has failed to stamp his authority on the team in the opening weeks, but I do believe he adds something different to the Liverpool squad.

5. Memphis Depay - PSV Eindhoven to Manchester United (£31m)
The move finalised earlier than any other, Memphis Depay has had a considerable amount of time to gel with his new teammates, and you have to say it has worked. Of all of the United players so far this season, he has looked the most lively, and demonstrated his quality with his two-goal appearance at home to Club Brugge in the Champions League. Though he is often greedy and at times petulant, he is still young, and should learn quickly how to operate at a club the size of United. As a team, United has yet to hit top gear in the league, and you can be sure that Depay will be at the centre of activity once they do.

4. Christian Benteke - Aston Villa to Liverpool (£32.5m)
Funded by another big-money transfer (which if you don't already know about, I'll get to later, but more importantly, where have you been?!) Liverpool hit the buy-out clause in Christian Benteke's contract to secure his services. A proven goalscorer, Benteke has outperformed a relatively poor Aston Villa side over the last couple of years, and his suitors included a host of Europe's top teams. Though his opening few games for the Reds have been underwhelming, with one goal a relatively poor return at this stage, I am confident he will deliver, but it will be interesting to see how the Belgian deals with the enormous pressure that comes with the status of the club and the price tag over his head in the coming months.

3. Anthony Martial - AS Monaco to Manchester United (£36.6m - could rise to £58m)
Quite frankly, ridiculous. So left-field, they've disappeared off the pitch and out the stadium. I think you get my point. The very fact that Wayne Rooney had to ask who he was demonstrates the fact that this is not a £36.6m man, and his record is hardly justification either. Just eight goals in 31 Ligue 1 appearances last season does not strike of a prolific goalscorer, and with Rooney well and truly out of form, a goalscorer is exactly what United need. The fact that the deal was completed on deadline day reeks of a panic buy from Louis van Gaal following their defeat by Swansea, and with clauses including 25 international appearances and 25 goals over the next four seasons likely to cost the club another £15m, this could be an extremely expensive failure.

2. Raheem Sterling - Liverpool to Manchester City (£49m)
Arguably the most obvious move of the summer (although I would have put the sale of David de Gea to Real Madrid in this category!). Though a silly price, City had identified the player they required to progress their title tilt, and made their move early. With Sterling using every tactic in the book (and a few perhaps not in there!) to get his move, Liverpool handled the situation admirably, maintaining composure and ensuring they got the best deal for the current European Golden Boy. They certainly made City pay through the nose, but given the way the club has started this year, a lot of which is the injection of pace and width that Sterling provides, it does seem like a deal that may pay off for the Blues.

1. Kevin De Bruyne - VfL Wolfsburg to Manchester City (£54m)
And if City's start wasn't frightening enough for their rivals, they've brought in the man who created the most chances in any of Europe's top leagues last year. Though again for ridiculous money, Kevin de Bruyne is another exciting young prospect with proven pedigree, and will add to an already embarrassing forward line containing Silva, Aguero and Sterling. The Belgian has flourished in the Bundesliga, scoring 17 goals and assisting 29 more last season, and I have no doubt that he will do well in the Premier League. He's going to have to though, particularly for the eye-watering sum that was paid for him.