1. Chelsea 2. Spurs 3. Man City 18. Brighton 19. Huddersfield 20. Watford Us 12-14th I think we've a better team NOW than when went down, so I expect us to survive whatever the transfer window brings.
It could well be the case as I noted. But in terms of having a punt that's where my money would go. Not having CL is not something that should be underestimated. That said Wenger is stupid enough to still go for the Europa - in which case it would be a terrible bet. Conte and Chelsea showed last year how big a benefit it is to not play CL. When the CL came along and took something from the other teams, they just kicked clear, never to be caught. They do need that horrible midfielder though. In fact they are desperate for him. I do think Xhaka will progress a lot this season. He was really getting to grips with the league by the back end. Kolašinac, Gibbs, Holding, Mertesacker, Kocielny, Monreal, Chambers, Mustafi, Gabriel, Bellerin, Ox, Lacazette, Welbeck, Giroud, Sanchez, Ozil, Wilshere, Iwobi, Walcott, Cech, Ramsay, Cazorla, Perez, Debuchy, Maitland-Niles, Ospina, Elneny, Szczney, Coquelin, Jenkinson, Xhaka That squad has some quality and depth. Some will have to leave as that is 31! They don't need much after Lacazette. They just need a born winner in the middle of the park. They should have broke the bank for Kante the daft gets
Spot on mate I believe the same, it would be a catastrophe if we don't sign some more players (how bout a ****ing RB to go with Yedlin) but I do think we could scrape by. I think mitro and Perez both looked more suited to prem, Hayden will fit in nicely and we've got a magic hat. Would put us more 14th-16th with this team mind
And the other thing which will surely help us next season is our manager. We had Scheeve for most of that relegation season who got little in the way of good performances from most of his players, as well having nothing in the way of plan B. Agreed we could really do with a couple of big hitters, but I don't feel that we'll stay in the drop zone for most of the season.
Massive difference that makes, how good is it to start a Prem season with a manager we have faith in!? Hasn't happened since Houghton. I agree on the big hitters but I trust atleast a couple more signings to be made before season's start. Providing they're in the right positions, we'd be fine
They tightened up a lot at the back when switched to a 3 though. I also think it still comes back to the defenders getting exposed because they have no destructive midfield. I mean the idiot even tried Wilshere there at one stage. Mustafi, Holding and Kocielny looked good. Only thing about that Holding is he looked a bit slow like Mertesacker. I like Mustafi, I think he will be better again next year. The wing backs looked good, and in Bellerin they have the best in the league for me. They could probably offload Mertesacker and Gabriel, just buy one top class defender. Then you could just keep Holding, Chambers and Monreal as your back up. Only Spurs though managed to beat them in that run at the end, and that was only 2-0. In the 9 games (including FA Cup final) they only conceded 6 goals, and won 8 games. Of course its end of season stuff from some teams but not all. If Wenger hadn't been so stubborn they might have been in there swinging at the end. It took him so long to stop playing a formation that didn't suit his squad.
End of the season is a fairly crap yardstick for measuring a team's ability though, otherwise for the last 7 seasons we'd all be saying Sunderland are a top class team. If United had their personnel for mounting a title challenge, I'd be worried, not a single one of them is a leader or a winner.
That is the other issue which he does need to address. Mertesacker is a leader. Unfortunately he is also a complete carthorse. Cazorla displays leadership qualities, I'm just not sure where he is these days - rumours he may already miss all of next season too. I assume his career is over. Matic will be a big signing for your lot if it happens. He is the missing link to that midfield with Pogba and Herrera. Got to replace Ibra now of course but Morata would be a quality signing for that. Its pretty wide open again next year but I do think Pep will improve Man C. I think Sane and Jesus are terrific talents to have at your disposal.
City will most likely have the best squad by the time the window shuts, but it depends on whether Fraudiola can get them rocking. You can tell he thinks their fans are pathetic, there's always something brewing with that man. We need a few more, with Ibra and Rooney off we're left with two kids leading the line and whoever we manage to bring in. The Griezmann thing seemed a dead cert, but that's probably gone now at least until January. I'm already getting the impression that top 4 will be the objective for the season.
That's what I thought, let go of Mbabu aswell, but it's weird that I haven't seen one link to a RB. Chambers can fill in there but don't think we'll get him. Jesus Gamez as back up to Yedders will have me ****ting myself
The problem is he is so stubborn, I think he may find himself a bit like Wenger. Unwilling to adapt. Once that happens you are on a loser. Don't get me wrong Mourinho and Conte are stubborn too, but their styles are easier to adopt in this country. Wenger and Pep want to play a certain way and put their ideals above just winning. What I think they find here is the football is fully committed every week against every team at 100mph - sometimes you have to win a few games ugly and move on.
Well he got a wake-up call last season, made a huge mistake with Joe Hart by replacing him with that gimp Bravo. There's no doubt he's a good manager when he's got unlimited funds, but there's a lot of opposition in this league. He must have thought he was gonna walk it after the opening few games last season as well. A lot of top managers in this league next season, I can see the likes of Hughes and Shakespeare going first.
They did look solid i give you that. You have to remember though this is arsenal though. They always have a really **** november and feb/march. Then they storm it at the end. Think thats happened like 5 of the last 6 seasons or something stupid where they go on a run to scrape top 4. I'm not sure that is going to change for Wenger as it's his tactics and motivation that don't work throughout the season. No leaders in that team. Not sure matic is the missing link for the Mancs either. They already have 2 combative midfielders in Felleini (who can't pass forward) and herrera who is consistent but not massively creative (keeps the ball rolling brilliantly). I'm not sure there issue was defensively but more moving the ball quickly and being creative. Matic doesn't offer that as he's not great on the ball in my opinion.
I think Pogba will improve this season if you put a Matic alongside him. Personally I think you sell Herrera short. I think he is a terrific little footballer. Man U's problem is they aren't balanced. Its about getting the right player to get the best out of Pogba. He is caught in between at the moment because they don't have that player. He needs a bit of freedom. I accept the Arsenal thing and I have added quite a few riders to the betting on them. A lot will depend on Wenger biting the bullet and buying that horrible midfielder who will see you through the tough winter period. It will also depend on him being smart enough to drop the Europa altogether and just play younguns/reserves. I just think looking at the betting, they are a decent bet because not playing CL but having a CL league squad is a massive advantage over the others. At 11/1 or whatever they are, its not bad value.
Even at 11/1 in my opinion that is dead money. As for Matic/Pogba/Herrera. I think Herrera is very very good. Xavi-esque and aggressive. However i don't see him at that attacking creative force or the defensive lynchpin. He's like a poor mans pirlo, xavi, xabi alonso. That's not meaning to disrespect him as i think he's great and i would take him at chelsea and not many people are in the class of that lot but i think he plays in that playmaker role or box to box. Knowing Mourinho, he's not that true lynchpin in that midfield role ala busquet/matic/makelele. Therefore he has to go in that 2nd midfield role. However that is the spot Pogba should be taking. Pogbas got it all except for that innate ability to play the number 9 role imo. He doesn't have that feel for where the defenders are or how much time he has. He's great technically, great pass and shot and physicality but he's a box to box midfielder imo. I don't think that Pogba, Herrera and Matic combo is creative enough if thats your midfield 3.
1) Man United 2) Chelsea 3) Man City 18) Palace/Brighton 19) Burnley 20) Huddersfield Like others have said it's way too early to say really... though I'm confident my top 3 will make up the top 3 in some order. Suprised to see people putting Spurs so high, they were unbeaten at home last year and there's no way they'll repeat that at Wembley imo. Also think Poch will be under pressure to peform better in CL this time round.
