No star player Rookie-wet-behind-the-ears manager Transfer embargo Absentee mad dog owner It's not looking good, Bluey. I think you will survive, though.
A lot can change between now and August, but my gut feeling is: 1. City 2. Liverpool 3. Spurs 4.... 4th is a toughie. I'm not convinced by OGS at United, but they have enough attacking quality to get them through most games. They are also still beneficiaries of SAF's trophy-laden tenure because they are a commercial powerhouse and have lots of money to attract big players to the club. Whilst that strategy hasn't worked effectively yet, it's only a matter of time before they get it right, in my opinion. Chelsea will struggle because they've lost Hazard, who was capable of winning matches single-handedly. Players like that are invaluable. With the transfer ban too, they can't sign anyone to replace him, so will rely heavily on the old guard + their youth players. Sarri leaving hasn't helped because they look like replacing him with a relatively unproven manager in Frank Lampard. He did a decent job with Derby, but it was his first season in management and the pressure on him at Chelsea will be totally different. It's a huge risk. Personally, I would be surprised if they get into the CL next season, but they've proven me wrong before. Arsenal have the hardest task because we've already had 3 consecutive years outside the Champions League, we are struggling to offload the deadwood because of their obscene wages, our big-name players are also earning unsustainable levels of money thus impacting our transfer activity, we've lost out on significant transfer money by letting players leave on frees, we have an ageing squad...yet we have a rumoured <£50m budget (before player sales) to turn our fortunes around. It just doesn't seem like it's likely to happen. At a push, I would say United will edge 4th, but I wouldn't put money on it.
City Liverpool United Spurs Bournemouth Newcastle Sheffield United More in hope than expectation with United, only based on what I imagine/hope will happen in the transfer window than anything else. If we sort/get rid of Pogba and get rid of and replace Lukaku we've half a chance.
Depending on what happens in the summer window, but there could be a surprise for top 4 next season. With Arsenal, Utd and Chelsea all looking susceptible, it could just open the window for a team like Wolves, Leicester or Everton to sneak in there.
Dead rubber in the last game of the season. That result will have no impact/bearing on the following season.
I predicted that Wolves would finish above Arsenal, last season. No one else called it, and as it turned out I wasn't far off. I think Arsenal, Wolves and Chavs will be fighting it out for 4th, 5th and 6th spots. United could get dragged into that hustle, unless they sort themselves out before the season begins.
Why are people so confident Spurs will get Top 4? Is it because they are the best of a bad bunch? Or because Poch will likely get the team playing well enough to get Top 4? Or something else? Personally, I think they were pretty **** for the 2nd half of the season and there's nothing at this point to suggest the trend won't continue. The squad still lacks depth and many of their better players are progressively getting worse.
Okay, I'll bite... I'll give you a handful of reasons. Poch will still be in charge All key players will be fit We'll get in at least two new key players to strengthen We no longer have the distraction of being homeless We have the best football theatre in the world The entire club has been in an upward trajectory since Poch took over Apart from City and 'Pool, we don't really have any rivals I'm sure others will be able to add to that little lot.
I wouldn't say confident but they are likely to be the best of a bad bunch, again. Arsenal are ****e, we're massively in transition/**** and Chelsea will have a novice manager forced to work with no transfers having lost their best player. The rest will not break into top four, regardless of what people 'think'.
