FA Premier League 2004-05 Season Review
CONTENTS
1. SEASON PREVIEW
2. TEAMS
3. COMMUNITY SHIELD
4. FA PREMIER LEAGUE
5. FA CUP REVIEW
6. CARLING CUP REVIEW
7. UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE REVIEW (English Clubs Only)
8. UEFA CUP REVIEW (English Clubs Only)
9. 2005-06 PREVIEW
From the previous season, Arsenal were the current champions after going the previous season unbeaten. Arsenal were the favourites for the league title, with Chelsea and Manchester United expected to be their closest challengers. United had finished 3rd in 2003-04 but had won the FA Cup after beating surprise finalists Millwall. Middlesbrough had won their first ever trophy in their history by beating Bolton 2-1 to win the Carling Cup. Going into the season, for the first time in the history of the FA Premier League, Leeds would not be participating after relegation last season. Leicester and Wolves joined them. Returning to the Premier League were Norwich after a 10-year absence. West Brom after a 1-year absence and Crystal Palace via the play-offs after a 6-year absence. There a few changes in manager for clubs. Title challengers Chelsea placed Jose Mourinho as Claudio Ranieri's successor. Mourinho had just won the Champions League as manager of FC Porto. Fellow challengers Liverpool had also replaced their manager. Gerard Houllier was sacked to be replaced by Valencia coach Rafael Benitez who had just completed the double of La Liga and UEFA Cup. Tottenham had also appointed Jacques Santini as a replacement for David Pleat after Pleat himself was caretaker for Glenn Hoddle. Chelsea had bought Didier Drogba from Marseille, Ricardo Carvalho and Paulo Ferreira from Mourinho's former club FC Porto. Man United had bought Alan Smith from rivals Leeds after their relegation and Gabriel Heinze from Paris Saint-Germain. Liverpool had bought Djibril Cisse from Auxerre for £14 million, a then club record fee. But, Rafael Benitez had mainly raided Spain buying Josemi, Antonio Nunez, Luis Garcia and Xabi Alonso. Michael Owen was exchanged for Nunez in an £8 million deal which saw Owen go to Real Madrid. Real Madrid also bought Jonathan Woodgate from Newcastle. Middlesbrough had bought Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink on a free transfer. Charlton and Birmingham had profited from Liverpool's sale with the signings of Danny Murphy and Emile Heskey. El Hadji Diouf had joined Bolton initially on loan but then permanently from Liverpool. Tim Cahill had joined Everton from Millwall. Carlton Cole had joined Aston Villa on loan from Chelsea whilst Thomas Hitzlsperger and Martin Laursen had joined to add some international experience to the Midlands club. Peter Crouch had joined Southampton whilst rivals Portsmouth had secured the signings of Aliou Cisse and Ricardo Fuller. Arsenal had bought Robin Van Persie and Manuel Almunia but had sold many key players including Ray Parlour to Middlesbrough, Sylvain Wiltord to Lyon and Martin Keown to Leicester. Blackburn had secured the signings of Morten Gamst Pedersen and Barry Ferguson whilst Fulham had secured the signings of Andrew Cole, Papa Bouba Diop and Claus Jensen from Charlton. As for the newly promoted sides, Norwich loaned promising midfielder David Bentley from Arsenal and experienced Danish defender Thomas Helveg, Crystal Palace bought goalkeepers Gabor Kiraly and Julian Speroni and experienced Ecuadorian striker Ivan Kaviedes and West Brom bought Tomasz Kuszczak, Robert Earnshaw and Zoltan Gera. Everyone had strengthened their squad to sufficient standard and were ready for the new season.
Teams
ArsenalLAST SEASON: 1st
Captain: Patrick Vieira
Key Player: Robert Pires
Key Goalscorer: Thierry Henry
Manager: Arsene Wenger
Stadium: Highbury
Home Kit: Red shirt with white sleeves and white shorts.
Away Kit: All dark blue shirt with dark blue shorts.
3rd Kit: Yellow shirt with blue shorts.
Shirt Sponsor: O2
----
Aston Villa
LAST SEASON: 6th
Captain: Olof Mellberg
Key Player: Gareth Barry
Key Goalscorer: Darius Vassell
Manager: David O'Leary
Stadium: Villa Park
Home Kit: Claret shirt with light blue sleeves and white shorts.
Away Kit: All white shirt with little claret arrows going down sleeves and white shorts.
3rd Kit: Unknown
Shirt Sponsor: DWS
----
Birmingham City
LAST SEASON: 10th
Captain: Mario Melchiot
Key Player: David Dunn
Key Goalscorer: Emile Heskey
Manager: Steve Bruce
Stadium: St Andrews
Home Kit: All blue kit with white shorts.
Away Kit: All red kit with red shorts.
3rd Kit: Unknown.
Shirt Sponsor: Flybe
----
Blackburn Rovers
LAST SEASON: 15th
Captain: Barry Ferguson
Key Player: Brad Friedel
Key Goalscorer: Jonathan Stead
Manager: Graeme Souness
Stadium: Ewood Park
Home Kit: A blue and white halved shirt with one sleeve blue and one sleeve white and blue shorts.
Away Kit: Red shirt with black sleeves and black shorts.
3rd Kit: Unknown.
Shirt Sponsor: HSA
----
Bolton Wanderers
LAST SEASON: 8th
Captain: Kevin Nolan
Key Player: Jay-Jay Okocha
Key Goalscorer: Kevin Davies
Manager: Sam Allardyce
Stadium: Reebok Stadium
Home Kit: All white with white shorts.
Away Kit: All fluorescent blue with blue shorts.
3rd Kit: Yellow kit with dark blue sleeves and shorts.
Shirt Sponsor: Reebok
----
Charlton Athletic
LAST SEASON: 7th
Captain: Matt Holland
Key Player: Dennis Rommedahl
Key Goalscorer: Shaun Bartlett
Manager: Alan Curbishley
Stadium: The Valley
Home Kit: All red shirt with white shorts.
Away Kit: All yellow shirt with yellow shorts.
3rd Kit: All white shirt with white shorts.
Shirt Sponsor: All:sports
----
Chelsea
LAST SEASON: 2nd
Captain: John Terry
Key Player: Frank Lampard
Key Goalscorer: Didier Drogba
Manager: Jose Mourinho
Stadium: Stamford Bridge
Home Kit: All blue shirt with blue shorts.
Away Kit: All black shirt with silver lining and black shorts.
3rd Kit: All white shirt with a blue checkered stripe going down middle of shirt and white shorts.
Shirt Sponsor: Fly Emirates
----
Crystal Palace
LAST SEASON: 6th in Division 1, promoted via play-offs
Captain: Tony Popovic
Key Player: Wayne Routledge
Key Goalscorer: Andy Johnson
Manager: Iain Dowie
Stadium: Selhurst Park
Home Kit: Burgundy and dark blue striped shirt with blue shorts.
Away Kit: White shirt with blue sleeves and blue shorts.
3rd Kit: All yellow shirt and yellow shorts.
Shirt Sponsor: Churchill Insurance
----
Everton
LAST SEASON: 17th
Captain: David Weir
Key Player: Tim Cahill
Key Goalscorer: James McFadden
Manager: David Moyes
Stadium: Goodison Park
Home Kit: All blue shirt with white shorts.
Away Kit: All white shirt with blue shorts
3rd Kit: All drak green shirt with grey shorts.
Shirt Sponsor: Chang Beer
----
Fulham
LAST SEASON: 9th
Captain: Sylvain Legwinski
Key Player: Steed Malbranque
Key Goalscorer: Andrew Cole
Manager: Chris Coleman
Stadium: Craven Cottage
Home Kit: All white kit with one black sleeve and black shorts.
Away Kit: All light blue kit with black markings and black shorts.
3rd Kit: Unknown
Shirt Sponsor: dabs.com
----
Liverpool
LAST SEASON: 4th
Captain: Steven Gerrard
Key Player: Steven Gerrard
Key Goalscorer: Djibril Cisse
Manager: Rafael Benitez
Syadium: Anfield
Home Kit: All red with red shorts.
Away Kit: Lemon yellow with green markings and black shorts.
3rd Kit: All white kit with black shorts.
Shirt Sponsor: Carlsberg
----
Manchester City
LAST SEASON: 16th
Captain: Richard Dunne
Key Player: David James
Key Goalscorer: Robbie Fowler
Manager: Kevin Keegan
Stadium: City of Manchester Stadium
Home Kit: All light blue shirt with white shorts.
Away Kit: White kit with purple markings and black shorts.
3rd Kit: Red and black striped kit with black shorts.
Shirt Sponsor: Thomas Cook
----
Manchester United
LAST SEASON: 3rd
Captain: Roy Keane
Key Player: Ryan Giggs
Key Goalscorer: Ruud van Nistelrooy
Manager: Sir Alex Ferguson
Stadium: Old Trafford
Home Kit: All red kit with black shorts.
Away Kit: All black kit with black shorts.
3rd Kit: All white kit with thin red horizontal stripes on with black shorts.
Shirt Sponsor: Vodafone
----
Middlesbrough
LAST SEASON: 11th
Captain: Gareth Southgate
Key Player: Boudewijn Zenden
Key Goalscorer: Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink
Manager: Steve McLaren
Stadium: Riverside Stadium
Home Kit: All red kit with one horizontal white stripe containing shirt sponsor and red shorts.
Away Kit: White front with burgundy and dark blue sleeves and burgundy shorts.
3rd Kit: All yellow kit with black shorts.
Shirt Sponsor: 888.com
----
Newcastle United
LAST SEASON: 5th
Captain: Alan Shearer
Key Player: Shay Given
Key Goalscorer: Alan Shearer
Manager: Sir Bobby Robson
Stadium: St James Park
Home Kit: Black and white striped kit with black shorts.
Away Kit: Dark navy blue kit with navy blue shorts.
3rd Kit: Unknown
Shirt Sponsor: Northern Rock
----
Norwich City
LAST SEASON: 1st in Division 1
Captain: Adam Drury
Key Player: David Bentley
Key Goalscorer: Darren Huckerby
Manager: Nigel Worthington
Stadium: Carrow Road
Home Kit: All yellow kit with green shorts.
Away Kit: All dark green with green shorts.
3rd Kit: Unknown
Shirt Sponsor: Lotus Cars
----
Portsmouth
LAST SEASON: 13th
Captain: Dejan Stefanovic
Key Player: Patrik Berger
Key Goalscorer: Aiyegbini Yakubu
Manager: Harry Redknapp
Stadium: Fratton Park
Home Kit: All light blue kit with white shorts.
Away Kit: All dark blue kit with dark blue shorts.
3rd Kit: All white kit with white shorts.
Shirt Sponsor: Ty
----
Southampton
LAST SEASON: 12th
Captain: Jason Dodd
Key Player: Anders Svensson
Key Goalscorer: Kevin Phillips
Manager: Paul Sturrock
Stadium: St Mary's
Home Kit: Red and white striped kit with red shorts.
Away Kit: All yellow kit with dark blue shorts.
3rd Kit: Light blue kit with dark blue shorts.
Shirt Sponsor: Friends Provident
----
Tottenham Hotspur
LAST SEASON: 14th
Captain: Ledley King
Key Player: Jamie Redknapp
Key Goalscorer: Robbie Keane
Manager: Jacques Santini
Stadium: White Hart Lane
Home Kit: All white kit with navy blue shorts.
Away Kit: All navy blur kit with navy blue shorts.
3rd Kit: Bright yellow kit with yellow shorts.
Shirt Sponsor: Thomson Holidays
----
West Bromwich Albion
LAST SEASON: 2nd in Division 1
Captain: Darren Moore
Key Player: Jonathan Greening
Key Goalscorer: Nwankwo Kanu
Manager: Gary Megson
Stadium: The Hawthorns
Home Kit: Navy blue and white striped kit with navy blue shorts.
Away Kit: All red kit with a blue stripe down the left side with navy blue shorts.
3rd Kit: Yellow and green striped kit with navy blue shorts.
Shirt Sponsor: T-Mobile
FA COMMUNITY SHIELD
The season started with the traditional curtain-raiser of the FA Community Shield. The Premier League holders Arsenal played FA Cup winners Manchester United at Cardiff's Millenium Stadium. United had the best start with Paul Scholes having a crack blocked by Jose Antonio Reyes. Arsenal wasted many chances including an incredible miss from Reyes. Tim Howard was also denying good efforts from Thierry Henry, but Arsenal attoned for their misses when Reyes passed the ball to Gilberto Silva who netted past Howard. But then, Man U undeservedly equalised with debutant Alan Smith beat German keeper Jens Lehmann despite suspicions of offside in the build-up involving David Bellion. Reyes restored Arsenal's lead 3 minutes later with a neat finish. Dodgy defending from Gary Neville and David Bellion allowed Ashley Cole to cross in. The cross was deflected in the net of Mikael Silvestre to make the score 3-1. Arsenal were the Community Shield winners and were hoping that they could defend their title and beat Nottingham Forest's record of 42 league games unbeaten.FA PREMIER LEAGUE
14/08/04Tottenham Hotspur 1-1 Liverpool FC
Tottenham and Liverpool started the Premier League season with a livening encounter at White Hart Lane. And what made this tie more interesting was the fact that these were the first games in charge of their new clubs for Jacques Santini and Rafa Benitez. Liverpool started the brightest testing a new look Tottenham defence with new signings Noureddine Naybet in defence and Paul Robinson in goal. Noureddine Naybet was strong at the back blocking efforts from Harry Kewell and Milan Baros, a striker hoping to make an impact after the departure of Michael Owen. It wasn't surprising when Liverpool took the lead when Steve Finnan's cross was calmly slotted home from debutant Djibril Cisse. Fellow Liverpool debutant Josemi wasn't as successful when Jermaine Defoe showed him up and created Tottenham's first opportunity which was blasted over. Defoe then got the equaliser when he broke through and slotted past Jerzy Dudek at his near post. Paul Robinson then showed why Tottenham bought him despite a disappointing previous season at Leeds, with a tremendous save to deny what would've been a first goal in 5 years from Jamie Carragher. The full time whistle went, and both managers satisfied. Santini probably more than Benitez.
Norwich City 1-1 Crystal Palace
The two newly-promoted teams started life in the Premier League with an encounter against each other. For Palace they got off to a good start at Carrow Road with Emmerson Boyce and Wayne Routledge posing a threat from the right wing. However, Norwich then took the lead when debutant Darren Huckerby latched onto Matt Svensson's through ball and beat fellow debutant Julian Speroni in the Crystal Palace goal. Darren Huckerby could have trebled his tally if it weren't for numerous, frustrating offsides. Palace threatened when Sandor Torghelle tested Robert Green but the English keeper kept the ball out. But he couldn't keep out Andy Johnson's effort as a threatening cross from Wayne Routledge was placed in the net by Johnson's right foot. Speroni and Green then denied efforts late on in the game which meant that it was a point a piece for both the newly promoted sides.
Blackburn Rovers 1-1 West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion's first game back in the big league was a tough trip to Ewood Park. Of course, Blackburn were one of only three teams that have won the Premier League since it's creation back in 1992. Since that title, Blackburn haven't even challenged for the league, have been relegated and survived relegation last season finishing 15th, so both teams will want to finish in a respectable position. West Brom handed debuts to Kanu, Jonathan Greening and Riccardo Scimeca and all played reasonably well. Dwight Yorke also started well with a couple of decent chances, none converted. Both teams had penalty appeals turned down by referee Chris Foy. Dominic Matteo fouled Geoff Horsfield and with the resulting free kick, Neil Clement struck Barry Ferguson and the deflection beat Brad Friedel. The Baggies were in front. Matteo had a chance to make amends but shot over Russell Hoult's bar. Eventually, Blackburn got the equaliser when Jonathan Stead's cross was met by the head of Craig Short who headed in via the post. Tugay and Brett Emerton then almost gave Blackburn the lead but good solid defending allowed West Brom a very creditable draw. Graeme Souness would've been very disappointed, whilst Gary Megson would;ve hoped they could use this result as a stepping stone for bigger things in the season.
Manchester City 1-1 Fulham FC
Fulham travelled to the City of Manchester Stadium to play Manchester City. The previous season, Fulham achieved their highest ever finish of 9th whilst Man City had disappointed by just surviving relegation finishing 16th when many pundits expected Man City and Fulham to have exchanged positions. Man City started the brightest when Shaun Wright-Phillips produced an amazing run which almost produced a finish from Nicolas Anelka. They took the lead halfway through the first half, when Antoine Sibierski flicked on to Robbie Fowler, who's amazing finish gave Edwin Van der Sar no chance. In the second half, Fulham unexpectedly equalised. Despite boasting a strike force of experienced forwards Andy Cole and Tomasz Radzinski, it was young Collins John that grabbed the goal. A cross from another new signing Claus Jensen was calmly slotted past David James from the young Dutch striker Collins John. Edwin Van der Sar then kept out a point blank header from Sibierski to keep Fulham's point. The full time whistle went and City were left feeling hard done by. Manager Kevin Keegan said his side were unfortunate.
Bolton Wanderers 4-1 Charlton Athletic
Both teams just missed out on europe the previous season, so both were hoping to improve on 7th and 8th place finishes. Bolton had the strongest start at the Reebok Stadium with Kevin Davies threatening Dean Kiely after just 30 seconds. Jay-Jay Okocha then gave Bolton the lead with a cracking 30-yard free kick. Then, not long afterwards, it was 2 when Henrik Pedersen latched onto a nice through ball from Jay-Jay Okocha, shrugged of Luke Young and slotted past Kiely. Jussi Jaaskelainen preserved Bolton's 2-goal lead with a smart save from Kevin Lisbie. Shaun Bartlett and Danny Murphy had good chances but couldn't reduce the deficit. Jay-Jay Okocha produced a sublime bit of trickery on the edge of the area and hit a powerful shot past Dean Kiely. 3-0 and Charlton were out of the game despite Kevin Lisbie heading home from a Danny Murphy corner to make it 3-1. Jay-Jay Okocha could have had a hat-trick but a for a clearance off the line by Bartlett. Gary Speed then produced a good through ball for Henrik Pedersen and she slotted past Kiely to make it 4-1 to Bolton. A good start for Wanderers but Charlton need to improve if they are to match or better their 7th place finish last season.
Portsmouth FC 1-1 Birmingham City
Both teams would've been hoping to push on this season after mid-table finishes the previous season. Portsmouth were the only promoted team last season to stay up, Leicester and Wolves were the other promoted teams last season that went down. Birmingham were hoping to push for perhaps a European place and they showed why with the brighter start to the match. Damien Johnson was brought down for a free kick which Robbie Savage took and beat Shaka Hislop with a nice curled finish. But, Portsmouth were level 6 minutes later. Stan Lazaridis was adjudged to have pushed Steve Stone and the penalty was converted by debutant David Unsworth. Unfortunately, that was the last goal in a good game. Emile Heskey, another debutant, was denied by Hislop. Maik Taylor also made an important save from Aiyegbini Yakubu. In the second half, however, there wasn't as many chances but Stan Lazaridis had an opportunity which he blazed wide as did Clinton Morrison with the last kick of the game when he turned and shot wide. So, a point for both teams, a building block for both teams and the fifth 1-1 draw of the day.
Aston Villa 2-0 Southampton FC
Aston Villa had achieved 6th last season but had missed out on a UEFA Cup spot, due to Middlesbrough's and Millwall's cup runs, so that was a target for them. As for Southampton, they were hoping for a comfortable finish in the league. Despite being an everpresent in the Premier League since it's creation in 1992, Southampton had been so close to relegation on numerous occasions, but they had improved in recent seasons. Despite that manager Paul Sturrock was already under considerable pressure and that didn't help when Darius Vassell gave Aston Villa the lead with a nice finish after Lee Hendrie's shot was blocked and fell nicely for Vassell who stabbed it past Antti Niemi. d
To be finished
2004-05
Comments