It will be a 38-week series of battles in the English Premier league with 20 clubs jousting for one prize – the EPL’s Iron Throne and the first meaningful battle is on the opening weekend when Liverpool visit arsenal at the Emirates.
The real Game of Thrones follows the novel titled ‘A Song of Ice and Fire’ by George R. R. Martin and is set in the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros. Paraphrasing, the EPL’s Game of Thrones will be fought for from August 2016 till May 2017 – a period of intense and high drama.
The seven kingdoms of Westeros are Manchester United, Manchester City, Leicester City, Arsenal, Tottenham, Chelsea, and Liverpool.
Over these seven kingdoms are three newly installed commanders and four existing commanders, who desire to chart a path away from the last seven years.
Just four teams [kingdoms] have won [sat on the iron throne] the EPL title in the last seven seasons. Chelsea have won it twice; Manchester United have won it twice; Manchester City have also won it twice and then last season, the title was won by an unfancied Leicester City team.
Tottenham and Liverpool have never won the trophy while Arsenal’s last triumph was aeons ago!
There used to be a top four but realistically, there is now a top 7. And we have the characters, which will be leading their clans to seek the iron throne – the English Premier League!
We have the teams – Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspurs and the defending champions, Leicester City.
The 2016/17 EPL season is going to be the most competitive because of the caliber of managers that will be holding the fort at these clubs. Collectively, we have managers, who have won 85 titles between them.
From Pep Guardiola, the undoubted star of the new season’s cast to Mauricio Pochettino, whose work with Spurs is showing signs of dividend, we have seven generals, who are in assiduous pursuit of the ultimate throne – the EPL title!
The 7 Commanders
So here are your commanders:
Jose Mourinho – Manchester United – – Joffrey Baratheon
The characteristic that most people detest of Mourinho is his cockiness and that resonates so well with Joffrey Baratheon. He is able to forage deeply and elicit strong emotions – whether it is to like him or to hate him; he elicits a strong response. So many people wish him evil – that he falls flat on his face. Moving to United has exacerbated this – the most hated club engages the most hated manager – a marriage made in heaven!
Pep Guardiola – Manchester City – Cersei Lannister
Many players have labeled Guardiola, as being an unempathetic person. From Zlatan Ibrahimovic to Franck Ribery, he is depicted as being arrogant and self-interested. He is only interested in his project and its success not minding the reputations of the players that are destroyed. Players like Samuel Eto’o and Ronaldinho have felt the full wrath of this ruthlessness while players like Eliaquim Mangala, Wilfried Bony, Samir Nasri and Jesus Navas could feel it at City.
Claudio Ranieri – Leicester City – Tyrion Lannister
The underdog who can be king or be the kingmaker. Last season, Claudio Ranieri surprised everyone [including himself] by winning the EPL title – the first league title in a 30-year career. Wily, wise and fatherly, he of the dingily-dong rhyme is poised to repeat a feat that pundits have labelled unrepeatable! No one has given Tyrion Lannister any chance but he could still sit on the iron throne.
Arsene Wenger – Arsenal – Jon Snow
Many may not like this but Arsene Wenger is the longest serving manager in the EPL, and he has had his share of majestic triumphs and despicable defeats. His story resonates with Jon Snow, who has been up and about in the past six seasons of GoT. And the particular intrigue is we do not know where he will finish but he will always be amongst the contenders, even when he has been totally written off.
Antonio Conte – Chelsea – Daenerys Stormborn
A quote from Season 5, “I am Daenerys Stormborn and I will take what is mine with fire and blood.” Conte takes no prisoners and he has been known to be ready to fight his players when they do not carry out faithfully what he commands them. One of the new commanders but one who is already an expert in fighting fire with fire having played and managed Juventus – the most hated side in Italy.
Jurgen Klopp – Liverpool – Arya Stark
This tall and fiery German is a mirror of who Arya Stark is. He does not care about history or what has obtained – he is going to lay down his own rules and he is ready to enforce it. The master enabler of the Gengen Press, his players are like bees – looking for flowers to dominate. He is determined to take Liverpool back to where he thinks they rightly belong.
Mauricio Pochettino – Tottenham –Peter Bealish
Pochettino is the youngest of the lot but he looks to have a great future ahead on account of his ability to read games and prepare his young squad against more experienced teams. Probably the subtlest con artist of all the Lords of the seven kingdoms. He always had a plan to sit on the iron throne though not yet there – he has been able to create an army of youngsters who are ready to heed his every call.
The next in this series will be published on September 9, 2016. Do not miss it!
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