Title Challengers - What they need?

Hi guys,

At work, bored again so another thread.

So, with this season getting under way in a couple of weeks, I want to assess the top 4 clubs and see where their strengths and weaknesses lie and see what they will need to give them the edge. Lets start with us: (Predictions are subject to change when new signings are annouced).

CHELSEA:

Mourinho has much more work to do to this squad than he did with Chelsea 2004 squad in his first stint as manager, he arrived after Ranieiri had spent 100m + the season before on building our team.
Schurrle, Schwarzer and Van Ginkel have been added and it is widely reported that we are after a new No. 9 type player after the disappointment of Torres in recent season (albeit he did show improvement last year).
Cavani and Lewandowski were tipped as targets early on, but both are no longer options, so it appears Mourinho has his sights on Wayne Rooney.
De Bruyne and Lukaku are tipped to figure prominently for Mourinho after being promoted from the fringes and making decent pre season appearances and Essien has also returned.
I have made this known before but I am still not convinced that our central defence is rock solid. JT is getting old, Luiz I am still unsure of in a purely defensive role and Cahill appears very error prone.
I have heard people speak of our young defenders brightly, but are we really prepared to entrust our defence in unproven hands?
I think Lukaku and De Bruyne will step up this year and show their talents and I feel that we are placing too much emphasis on our attacking options when I feel it will be defence that lets us down if anything.
My prediction: 2nd (but hopefully 1st!)

MANCHESTER UNITED:

Last years Champions have also had a change of manager. Whether this will galvanise them and allow them to continue their history of success or will let them on a downward slide remains to be seen. I wont comment much more on that because it really could go either way.
Squad wise Man Utds weakness has been its midfield for the last couple of seasons, and that continues to be the case.
With RVP, they are good for goals and their defence seems pretty solid, but they are often bossed in the middle of the park by the better teams in the league, as Chelsea showed last season.
Fabregas, Modric and Fellaini have been touted as possible fixes for this and either of these 3 would strengthen their squad and therefore their title chances.
Even if this happens, there is still the "NO FERGIE" factor to deal with, so while only an idiot will write them off, my feeling is that a top 3 spot is probably going to be the smart bet
My prediction: 3rd

MANCHESTER CITY:

Another new manager. City have made some decent signings and have a very good squad, my personal opinion was that it was always the incompetence of Mancini that stopped them from dominating. Now they are rid of him, they may be able to truly make get a grip on the league. Even still, like United, a new manager is always a risk, especially, as in this case, he is also unknown to the Premier League. A lot of Citys hopes will be pinned on how quickly he can adapt to the league.
Regarding their squad. I think they are as good as anyone else in Europe and I think they will be up there. I cannot think of any real stand out weakness to be honest.
My prediction: 1st

ARSENAL:

This is the hardest one to call, purely because they havent signed anyone of note, which they promised they would.
Arsenal seem to have money to spend, but like always, seem very reluctant to part with it. Spending was promised, as they require at least 3 very good players to have a hope of challenging, otherwise its another season battling with their North london rivals to scrape 4th place.
The other thing people have questioned, is Wengers' winning mentality, which he appeared to have in droves early on in his Gunners' career, but seems to have faded since Arsenals "invincibles" season. The Premier League seems to have evolved, but Arsenal have been too stubborn to change with it. You may have been able to win the league with £6 million signings 10 years ago, and with only a transitional, post-Beckham, Pre-Ronaldo Man United to contend with, but since the billionaires descended on the league, that **** isnt gonna fly Mr Wenger.
My prediction: 4th if they spend, 5th or 6th if they dont.

 

Its all over bar the shouting . CFC PL champs 13/14 season!

 

Good summary.

Smart money is on Chelsea, United and City for top 3 again but in what order is anyone's guess; especially with all 3 with new managers.

City and Chelsea have both improved in the player and manager departments where as United have got worse with no Fergie and no signings thus far. All points to a much closer title race though one key signing (like RVP last year) could tip the balance.

 

Quite a lot of shouting left to be fair.

 

Why has the OP included Arsenal in a thread about title challengers?

They have no chance of winning the title, and will clearly struggle to even finish in the top 4.... again.

 

And you'll have trouble getting top 6 when Bale ****s off to Madrid.

 

Thing is Sandy this is the worst Arsenal team for a decade and they have also spent millions on new stadia yet they alway's see your piss poor side off. Liverpool will finish above you this year.

 

+1

 

I will take the hate from my fellow Chelsea fans

Bale leaving could be great for them.

85m pounds, which is the lowest they will get, could build them a team.

Paulinho and if he joins, Soldado, are good signings. A left back would make them a very good side

 

I reckon Spurs will pip Arsenal to fourth but I don't fancy United to do well at all tbh. Can see them finishing 3rd but at a push from Spurs and Arsenal.

As for the winners... It'll be very tight... Heart says Chelsea... Head says City... Depends if we get a new striker imo.

 

Spuds have had their best team for a decade and Arsenal their worst for a decade yet the yids can't make the next step. Once the chimp goes to Real to bathe in Euro's they will be lucky to bother Liverpool, Villa & Everton.

 

We were a one-man team last season, according to some. So, if Bale leaves, we're bound to be relegated.

 

Poor old Sandy, still making predictions that come back to haunt him. You have to conclude that he is either a Gooner in disguise trolling the spuds as no real spurs fan with any intelligence or dignity would say these things.

Or that he is in fact a very dense and shameless spud, that having been rinsed within an inch of his life after making the same ill formed prediction last season, still hasn't learned that it always ends up with him in tears throwing a wobbly, when it comes back to bite him on the arse.

You have pity the poor ****er,
he is like the proverbial idiot who keeps touching the fire to see if it's still hot.

 

So, PISSTAKE, are you predicting Arsenal to win the title?

Little bit deluded of you, wouldn't you admit?

 

Guys, can you seriously take your gay love affair somewhere else. I am sick of threads being de railed by your bullshit.

 

Same top 4 as last year but in a different order. Only prediction I will make until September.

 

Seriously, can you get your mods to get that Arsenal wum off my back? Please!

 

I agree with this. I am totally sick of it now to the point I go days without even coming in here, and I feel quite angry for the OP's. It must be very frustrating for them. I don't often post atm mostly read for out of season info etc

 

The WUM who can dish it but can't take it, but instead sheds crocodile tears to the mods,
you sir, are a coward.

 

Is Piskie, so less of the abuse please. You've already been asked to tone it down.

And where am I predicting Arsenal to win the league ? I'm laughing at your prediction that we will
'struggle to finish in the top 4' I seem to remember you making the same prediction last season.

how did that one turn out for you ?