I reckon we've got a bye this season, no real expectations on us other than doing no worse than last season tbh. We've got a new manager, new coaching set up, new tactics and new players, so this season is a transition from 22 years of Wenger. I just want to see an improvement on last season and a better attitude and work rate from the players.
If I had to make a prediction for top 4 I'd go with this: 1. Man City 2. Liverpool 3. Man Utd 4. Tough to call. One of Chelsea, Arsenal or Spurs. That said, Maureen looks like he's on the cusp of another meltdown so Utd could implode at some point, opening the door for a couple of the London clubs to grab a top 4 spot. Also reckon Everton could be in with a shout too.
Can’t be arsed to do my own research. Is Mourinho’s third season always a disaster or has that been exaggerated? Much as I have no love for Spurs, Arsenal or Chelsea, a tragic mid-table finish á la Chelsea a few years ago for United would be Not606 gold.
In all seriousness, its a little exaggerated, but not completely baseless, I would say. At Inter he bailed before the third season started as he had fallen out with the chairman and was being tapped up by Real Madrid.So that was an exaggeration I guess. At Chelsea (at least the second time around) and Real Madrid, his third seasons were disastrous. In his first Chelsea stint his third season was okay on the pitch (we finished second and won the FA Cup), but off it, Jose and Roman fell out big time, because Roman forced him to sign Shevchenko instead of Eto'o, and then appointed Avram Grant as Director of football. Jose DID last into the next season, but was gone within 10 games. At Real in his third season he won nothing, and finished runner up in every competition, La Liga, Copa Del Rey and Champions League. Which doesnt sound too bad for any normal club.....but to win nothing with Real Madrid is bad. Mourinho himself described that season, at the time, as the "Worst of his entire career".....little did he know what was to come His third season with Chelsea (second stint) is well documented and was a complete disaster on every front. He started in pre season, complaining that the board were not coming up with the signings he needed, and that the players were not rested enough or were not fit enough, and that the medical staff were not up to snuff. Then came the Eva row, where he publicly humiliated her for running on to the pitch during a game to give treatment to Hazard, because we were drawing and it was near the end of the game and we needed a win, and **** hazard and his injury........The rest is history......we got 11 points from our first 12 games and finished 10th. Jose was sacked again!
Can't see any viable excuses for Liverpool if they fail to win it this season. They've signed the best players in the world in every position so Klopp simply has to deliver the title, early April it should be dusted off mathematically. United will probably finish 9th because most of our players are ****e.
City and Liverpool to challenge for the league. Brighton to finish in the top half Everton to battle against relegation.
Arsenal will probably finish anywhere between 6th and 11th imo. They have awful defenders and the lads they've signed look like a similar standard. I can see them handing 4-6 points away to all/most of the top 6 teams.
We play City and Chelsea first two games of the season and I’m not expecting much from those two games. We looked suspect defending again pre season, and it’s going to take a while for any improvements and new tactics to bed in. This season is a transition for us, no expectations tbh. I don’t think we’ll finish lower than 6th, but any improvement would be welcome.
We’ll likely have a bit of a slow start (as per) mainly due to many first XI players only returning this Monday from WC breaks, so I can’t imagine we’ll be firing on all cyclinders immediately. Plus we’ll also have to adjust to the new stadium. If we can bring in a couple of CMs (Grealish and Kovacic would be ideal) and a good CB to come in and challenge Vertonghen and Sanchez once Toby leaves, I think we’ll have another solid season.
Whoever signs Love Island Grealish will win it. No one can do a Cruyff turn against Barnsley like that lad.
