Premier League preview: The managers facing big tests in the 2016-17 season

Arsene Wenger, Jose Mourinho, Pep Guardiola and David Moyes (AAP/Getty Images)
Arsene Wenger, Jose Mourinho, Pep Guardiola and David Moyes (AAP/Getty Images)

There's always a big buzz around the transfer market at this time of year - but ahead of the 2016-17 season, the new managerial match-ups are proving even more compelling.

Old foes will face off, new bosses will attempt to bed into their clubs quickly, and managers at the top level will once again be under intense pressure to deliver Premier League titles.

So just a week out from the new season, Newshub's Matt Burrows takes a look at which managers are facing the biggest challenges.

Premier League preview: The managers facing big tests in the 2016-17 season

The only manager in Premier League history to even come close to rivalling Sir Alex Ferguson's consistent success in Britain's top flight. The Frenchman is a true veteran, and is well-known for his ability to guide his side into the league's top four, thereby securing Champions League football, year upon year. He's also earned respect for his astute purchases in the transfer market and his ability to develop young players during his 20 years in charge.

But Wenger still very much has his critics. The 66-year-old has been derided in recent years for his failure to bring a Premier League title to the North London club since 2004, a whopping 12 years ago. Given the huge success he brought in the years leading up to Arsenal's title drought, questions have been raised over just what has gone wrong.

Arsenal fans have been crying out for Wenger to buy proven, big-money players for years - and he has partially delivered, bringing the likes of Alexis Sánchez and Mesut Özil to the club. But he has also been accused of failing to bed any real leaders or strong defenders into his side.

He's been very quiet once again in this transfer window, but I think Wenger needs to prove he's not messing around - he needs big, aggressive, no-nonsense players to balance out all the dainty playmakers he has acquired over the years.

Premier League preview: The managers facing big tests in the 2016-17 season

Make no mistake, this will be a massive test for the Spaniard. He's enjoyed plenty of success with Barcelona and Bayern Munich, and is thought of highly by his peers, garnering a reputation as a tactical mastermind who knows just how to get the best out of his team and nullify the threat of the opposition.

He'll be expected to finish the season on top, but he'll also have a hard time adjusting to the Premier League, with its inclination for tossing up difficult games against sides who should be easy-beats. In La Liga and the Bundesliga, Guardiola had the luxury of resting his best players for easier games to save their energies and talents for the Champions League or a domestic cup competition. That's simply not a luxury that will be afforded to him now.

The 45-year-old has spent heavily in the transfer market, bringing in real quality in the form of Leroy Sané, İlkay Gündoğan and Nolito. I expect him to take Manchester City to the title this season - but if he doesn't, it'll be a massive blow to his standing in the managerial world and could just cost him his job.

Premier League preview: The managers facing big tests in the 2016-17 season

After 11 successful years at Everton, David Moyes' name has been dragged through the mud with abysmal one-year stints at both Manchester United and Real Sociedad. Moyes established a reputation as one of the UK's finest bosses up until his move to Old Trafford. He was known to be shrewd with money, and to possess an innate ability to get the most out of players who lacked star power.

But that's over now. Moyes turned into a laughing stock after guiding United to seventh, which was their worst league finish in 24 years and a result that saw them miss out on Champions League football for the first time in Premier League history. His spell at Real Sociedad was even worse.

Now he's at Sunderland - a team that escaped relegation by the skin of their teeth last campaign - with plenty to prove to himself, the supporters and the world's footballing community.

My gut feeling is he'll have a solid but unspectacular season in charge, guiding Sunderland to safety - before really pressing on in his second campaign.

Premier League preview: The managers facing big tests in the 2016-17 season

The Portuguese is under the greatest pressure of the lot having driven his former club Chelsea into the ground last year, just months after guiding them to a league title. In a move that surprised nobody, Mourinho arrived at Manchester United and immediately bought up a number of big-name players, including Zlatan Ibrahimović, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Eric Bailly and Paul Pogba.

But there's something about Old Trafford that just hasn't been the same since Ferguson left - a feeling of unease around the place; a nervousness; a sense that they're just moments away from the next big disappointment. First with Moyes and then with Van Gaal, the success the club had enjoyed for decades was suddenly not forthcoming. The shadow cast by Sir Alex was just too great.

Mourinho is the man they now turn to turn the ship round and take them into a new era of dominance. Though he performed terribly with the Blues last season, he's generally brought success wherever he's gone - winning league titles in Spain, England, Italy and Portugal.

I am torn on whether United fans can expect a genuine title push this campaign - part of me says the Red Devils are just too far in disarray, and need a lengthy rebuilding period before challenging again. But another part says with the right mix of world class talent - and an undoubtedly world class boss to put the wheels in motion.

Claudio Ranieri - The Italian is unlikely to be under any real pressure given the astonishing season his Leicester side had last season. While they definitely won't win the title this time around - or even come close, for that matter - Ranieri must ensure he keeps his players buoyant after a couple of losses, or they could end up well down the other end of the table.

Jürgen Klopp - The genial German made an instant impact when he arrived at Liverpool part-way through last season, steering them to two cup finals in his first few months in charge. But he still has plenty to prove when it comes to performances in the league, with his Reds still dropping points as regularly as they did under predecessor Brendan Rodgers. If there's one thing to address it's this: consistency.

Eddie Howe - He's the most exciting young managerial prospect in the UK - and rumours suggest he's being eyed up as the next England national team boss. So while he's shown his talent by helping Bournemouth climb to the top flight from the country's third division in just three years, he needs to build the Cherries into a genuine Premier League force to ensure he's still in the frame when England sack their next manager.

Antonio Conte - Chelsea's new boss knows how to win league titles - he did it at Juventus three years in a row, after all. But at the Blues the Italian has a battle on his hands, with a host of other teams and managers all eyeing the same prize - and all having the quality to deliver it. He's a top class coach though, and I expect him to guide Chelsea back into the Champions League. Anything less will be seen as a dismal failure by owner Roman Abramovich.

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