EPL Team Profile - Wigan

The formal name of the club is Wigan Athletic Football Club, or Wigan Athletic FC. They are popularly referred to as the Latics,and train at their home venue, the DW Stadium, in Greater Manchester, England, with a capacity of just over 25,000.

Founded in 1932, Wigan are the youngest team in the Premier League.

The owner of the club is Dave Whelan, and the manager, Roberto Martinez.

They were only promoted to the Premier League in 2005, and finished last season at 16th place on the League table.

In the current season, Wigan started badly, losing 4-0 to Blackburn, and 6-0 to Chelsea in their first two matches. Then they pulled off a surprise, beating Tottenham 1-0 in the third.

Early Season Preview:

I wouldn't blame you, if at first glance, you were pessimistic about Wigan's prospects this season. They have lost some quality players, who did duty for the Latics in the last season, and the previous.

However, with Robert Martinez at the helm and a striker of the calibre of Hugo Rodalegga, anything is possible. And Wigan might surprise all of us yet.

The team that beat Tottenham in the third round match of the ongoing season comprised of:

Al Habsi, Gohouri, Alcaraz, Boyce, Stam, Figueroa, McCarthy, Thomas, Diame, Boselli, Rodallega, Pollitt, Caldwell, Mustoe, Watson, Gomez, McArthur, and McManaman.

Left back Maynor Figouroa has been a consistently good player, and hence his great popularity with fans and rival clubs.

In fact, Wigan's biggest worry should be to hang on to Figouroa, or he could leave them, just as his predecessors, Wilson Palacios and Antonio Valencia, did.

With Sunderland managing to lure away Titus Bramble, there is a greater burden on Wigan and Figuoroa alike to keep their goal safe from rival strikers.

Crystal Palace's Victor Moses is in his second season with Wigan, and is widely believed to have great potential that he could well fufill this season.

Martinez has signed Antolin Alcaraz and Ronnie Stam, with wide experience playing in Europe, as possible replacements for Titus Bramble. He has also brought in James McArthur and Mauro Boselli.

'Keeper Ali Al Habsi is with Wigan on loan from Bolton.

The most significant departure is that of former skipper Mario Melchiot.

A relegation battle appears imminent for Wigan, and their first two matches were not the start the squad would have envisaged.

In late news coming in from the transfer window deadline day, yesterday, Wigan have done well by signing Chelsea's Franco Di Santio, and also by getting Manchester United's Tom Cleverly, on loan.

And their victory over Spurs in the third match bodes well for the Latics who could manage to stave off relegation, while not finishing much better than they did last year.

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EPL Team Profile - Everton

The formal name of the club is Everton Football Club, and they are popular referred to by the nickname, the Toffees.

Alternatively, they are also called the Blues, the People's Club, and the School of Science.

Founded in 1878, Everton were then known as St Domingos' FC.

Their home venue is Goodison Park, in Liverpool, England. the stadium has a capacity of about 40,000.

The Chairman of the club is Bill Kenwright and the manager, David Moyes.

Last season, the squd finished eighth on the Premier League table.

Everton have spent 108 years in top flight football, in England, more than any other team. They have nine football league titles, the fourth highest.

They were founder members of the Premier League in 1992.

The current season hasn't started very well for Everton, with a loss to Blackburn, and a 1-1 draw against Wolves. However, these are early days yet, and with the talent at Moyes' disposal, Everton should do much better as the season progresses.

Pre-season Preview:

A top six finish is what Everton would aim for, not having accomplished it in the last season.

But last year's failure could be attributed to a high incidence of injury; virtually every player was hit by injury at some point of the season.

Everton are fortunate to have a more than competent manager, in David Moyes, and with a match fit squad, the toffees can be outstanding on their day.

The following players comprise the squad:

Howard, Distin, Baines, Jagielka, Neville, Cahill, Arteta, Osman, Pienaar, Saha, Fellaini, Hibbert, Mucha, Bilyaletdinov, Heitinga, Gueye, Beckford, and Rodwell.

When there was speculation about Cesc Fabregas' leaving Arsenal, Everton's Mikel Arteta was spoken of as the most likely to replace the Arsenal midfielder.

Fortunately, for Everton, Fabregas did not leave Arsenal, and Arteta, in his turn, stayed on with Everton, and, in fact, signed a new deal.

Mikel fitness is key to Everton's showing on the Premiership, this season, and if they have the Spanish midfielder in peak condition and playing to his potential, the toffees could even aspire for a top 4 spot, on the League table.

Irish right back, Seamus Coleman, could be a trump card, too. Coleman, 21, has only played a few matches for Everton but has already made his mark. Last season, he was on loan to Blackpool, where his performance was impressive.

During his time at Blackpool, he signed a new long term contract with Everton and its looks as though he is very much part of Moyes` plans.

Moyes has managed to get Coleman to commit himself to the squad for a longer term, and the young Irishman is definitely on top of the team manager's agenda.

Another summer signing that holds promise is Jermaine Beckford, from Leeds, who has come in on a free transfer.

Keeper Jan Mucha from Slovakia, Joao Silva, and Magaye Gueye are other entrants, while Dan Gosling has departed, all on free transfer.

While Everton are not cash rich, a talented team and a great manager should hold them in stead.

Rather than a top four spot, they should try and finish among the first six, as an immediate priority.

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Footballer Profile - Carlos Tevez

By looking at the bare statistics, you'd be forgiven for wondering what all the fuss was about with Carlos Tévez. Seven goals in 26 league games for West Ham United; 19 in 63 for Manchester United. Hardly the sort of figures that should have West Ham fans singing his name out when he returned to play against them or, for that matter, the Old Trafford faithful to keep on urging Fergie to 'Sign him up, sign him up sign him up' at every home game. Certainly not the kind of player you might expect to have a 'Welcome to Manchester' poster displayed in the city centre for.

Even for his national team the Argentine striker has been no more prolific - 8 goals in 51 appearances making him quite Heskey-like in his goals per game ratio. And yet, wherever he has played, Carlos Tévez has been adored by the followers of his team. And he has three times been South American Player of the Season, and Hammer of the Year at West Ham after scoring the goal that ensured their Premier League survival - ironically at Old Trafford in May, 2007. It might be because of his tremendous work ethic and willingness to chase all day long; it might be because of his sometimes sublime link-up play; it might even be because, with one or two notable exceptions, not many South Americans have adapted so readily to life at the top of English football. Whatever the secret, it resulted in Manchester City followers being delighted when he was one of Mark Hughes' recruits during the summer of 2009.

Even now, after just 5 goals in his first 14 matches for the club, there are few supporters who wouldn't have Tévez as one of the first names on the team sheet. Carlos Alberto Tévez was originally from Ciudadela in Buenos Aires - from a district known as 'Fuerte Apache'. The nickname that has followed the player since, Apache, was given him at his earliest youth football club, All Boys. After signing for the famous Boca Juniors club and then subsequently transferring to Corinthians, his all-action style attracted the foreign scouts but after that it all began to get complicated.

All the ramifications of the deal which Media Sports Investments made with West Ham will probably never come to light - and the legal minefield frightened off some of the clubs interested in the player and his compatriot Javier Mascherano. The situation became even more complicated when Tévez moved to Manchester United on a two year loan deal which then had the possibility of the Old Trafford team buying the player outright.

Despite being one of the crowd's favourites, Tévez clearly felt unappreciated by some quarters at United. Left out for too many of the big matches and seemingly facing a reluctance to negotiate a full transfer, he made it clear that he would move on in the summer of 2009. Nevertheless, he must have left Old Trafford with many good memories - notably scoring the opening penalty in the Champions League Final shoot-out victory over Chelsea.

Since arriving at Eastlands to wear the Manchester City shirt - for what was claimed in the press to be a British record fee of £47 million - Tévez's all-action style has earned him his usual praise from the supporters - still revelling, of course, in snatching him from their local rivals. Already helping guide Mark Hughes' side to their first major cup semi-final since 1981 - and scoring a fabulous goal against Arsenal in the 3 - 0 quarter final victory - Tévez's attitude on the pitch belies his claim in the Argentine press that he was so tired he would consider retiring from football after the South Africa World Cup were his team to take the trophy. Perhaps he was considering making more cumbia villera tracks with his band - apparently that's his favourite pastime outside of football.

Certainly City fans will be hoping that this was a quote taken out of context somehow and that - World Cup winner or not - Carlos Tévez is back playing for the club in the Champions' League next season. After all, they already know that, as far as he is concerned, bare statistics don't go anywhere near explaining his value to the team.

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EPL Team Profile - Liverpool

The formal name of the club is Liverpool Football Club, or Liverpool FC.

Known popularly by their nickname of the Reds, Liverpool's home venue is Anfield, with a capacity of just over 45,000. Founded in 1892, Liverpool have won the most league titles, 18 in all, a record that's jointly held with Manchester United, although none of those titles have come in the Premier League.

Liverpool have American owners in George Gilett and Tom Hicks; their chairman is Martin Broughton, and the manager, Roy Hodgson. Last season, the Reds finished at 7th place in the Premier League rankings.

In three matches played this year, the Anfield outfit have a win and a draw, apart from a 3-0 loss to Manchester City, one of Liverpool's rivals for a top four spot.

Pre-season Review:

The pre-season began for Liverpool in an atmosphere of intrigue. It all started with the departure of manager Rafa Benitez, from the squad. Thereafter, several stories played out as the headlines and rumours were kept alive.

Roy Hodgson took over as the Merseysider's new manager. One of Hodgson's early signings was Joe Cole on a free transfer. Steven Gerrard chose to stick on with the club. Fernando Torres belied rumours of his imminent departure. And the American owners put up the club for sale.

The Merseysiders comprise the following players: Reina, G Johnson, Agger, Carragher, Skrtel, Gerrard, Lucas, C Poulsen, Torres, Jovanovic, Kuyt, Jones, Kyrgiakos, Kelly, Maxi, Spearing, Pacheco, and Babel.

Rafa Benitez did not favour wingers. But having arrived from Chelsea, Joe Cole can give the Merseysiders the additional zing of flank attacks. Liverpool's atatcks have recently been uni-dimensional, in that they have through the middle of the park.

In an early summer signing, Charlton Athletic's Jojo Shelvey was welcomed to the squad. If he could make it to the starting eleven, 18 year old Shelvey would want to emulate his form in League One.

Standard Liege's Milan Jovanovic, an early signing who was spotted by Benitez, has arrived, and his inclusion in the Anfield squad means additional attack options. Glasgow Rangers' Danny Wilson is another promising sign up. Among departures, Albert Riera and Yossi Benayoun are most significant.

There is no pressure of expectation on Roy Hodgson, after the poor showing by the Reds in the 2009-10 season, and the change at the helm can only do good for the team. And if Hodgson has been lucky in retaining Torres and Gerrard, he cannot hope to hang on to Javier Mascherano, and must work on getting a replacement, ASAP.

If they play to potential, Liverpool are capable of doing better than they did last season, but I cannot envisage the Merseysiders finishing any better than 5th.

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Footballer Profile - Jamie Carragher

A one club stalwart who always plays with absolute commitment, Jamie Carragher is one of the Premier League's most dependable defenders. One of the very first names on the team sheet for over a decade, Carragher is the epitome of what supporters love to see on the pitch - a local lad who knows just how much the club means to the people who pay to watch games.

Despite growing up as an Everton supporter -and having to read listen to rumours for years about having an Everton tattoo on his arm - Jamie Carragher has been at Anfield all of his professional career. Alongside his fellow Evertonian and school friend at the now defunct Lilleshall School of Excellence, Michael Owen, Jamie became a member of the Liverpool Youth team that won the FA Youth Cup in 1996. After making his league debut in the 1996/97 season, he established himself in the first team squad the following season.

During his early first team years, Carragher both benefited and suffered from his undoubted versatility. His all-round defensive qualities led to him playing at right back, left back and in midfield as well as in central defensive positions. He had the curse of the utility man - he was usually in the team but never able to claim a position that was really his own.

It was Rafa Benitez who eventually decided to install Carragher into the centre of the defence permanently when he arrived from Valencia at the beginning of the 2004/05 season. The partnership formed between Jamie and Sami Hyypia became the foundation of the team that went on to memorably defeat Milan in the Champions' League Final at the end of that season. Carragher, the captain on that illustrious occasion, will always be remembered by Liverpool supporters for that famous last ditch tackle at the end of extra time when he was barely able to walk because of cramp.

Controversially, and for many people regrettably, Jamie Carragher decided to bring his international career to an early end when, in 2007, he told the manager, Steve McClaren that he was no longer available for selection. After 34 appearances since 1999, the frustration of being unable to hold down a regular position persuaded him to concentrate on his Liverpool career.

Although he has never been the quickest of defenders, Jamie Carragher has always shown an uncanny ability of being able to 'read' situations in advance. Also able to time tackles well, his recent sending off against Fulham - itself a debatable decision - was his first for seven years. More than anything, though, it is his willingness to put his body in the way of anything that has always endeared him to Liverpool followers.

At 31 years of age, Jamie Carragher should have several more seasons of top level football ahead of him. Already he has played in more European matches than any other Liverpool player and, although he is unlikely to overtake Ian Callaghan's 857 first team appearances, he already has 590 to his credit. This means that he is ninth on the list and, with Alan Hansen and Bruce Grobbelaar not too far ahead of him, he could overtake them this season. It's less likely, however, that Ian Rush's total of 346 goals will come under threat; Jamie has four to his credit so far!

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