Manchester United Managers matter. They really matter. I was fairly confident that United wouldn't do anything last year with Moyes in charge, regardless of the fact that he more or less had the same team that walked the league the year before. This year, I am fairly confident that they will do a lot better even though they are more or less the same team that tanked last year. But, it is easier to go down than up, and pulling this team up the table might take a year or two. Even LvG is going to be happy with a top 4, I expect. If they get a few injuries, they might not even get that high. As everyone points out, no European football will help, but I still don't think they currently have the firepower, or the belief that they can win it all. They will have to keep RVP fit to do better than 4th and that is a big ask! Prediction - 4th Manchester City This team is dependent on the spine of Kompany, Toure and Aguero. When those 3 are not fit, then they do badly, when they are playing well they are unbeatable. There are a few signs that these 3 are losing that fire that keeps them ticking. They are getting older, they seem to have a "down" season after they win one. It is very easy to predict that the holders will win again, but they seldom do. I just think that they are struggling to find the energy to win again, and they don't have the fresh faces that will provide that spark. Prediction - 3rd Chelsea Chelsea are the popular pick of the pundits, apart from the United dreamers, and the ones that have no imagination always picking the champion from the previous year. The special one is a decent manager, even if he can be a bit of a t**t sometimes, and he has added some talent up front, so they will score some goals, but going the other way might be a problem. I'm going to go out on a limb and predict a relative train wreck here. Cahill and Terry will not be up to it, Luis and Matic will not be good enough to cover them in the middle, and Hazard and Oscar are not going to be able to help cover back for the fullbacks. I also think it is going to take Costa a year to settle into the PL. I think they are going to struggle. Everyone will be shocked at every bad result, but it isn't going to gel for them. Perhaps it is wishful thinking, but I just don't like what Mourinho is doing these days. He really seems to have run out of ideas. Prediction - 5th Liverpool So they lost Suarez. I don't think that will be as big a deal as everyone is making out. He was great, yes he scored a lot of their goals, but we have seen (with RVP) that it almost makes you stronger when the focal point of your offense leaves. I don't like the club, I don't like the supporters and I don't like their manager, but despite all that, they have a pretty well-rounded team. They have CL football this year which will hurt them, and I am not sure that the can get another good season out of Gerrard, but I think they will piss us off and have another decent season, then cheer us up by not winning anything again. Prediction - 2nd Spurs, and Everton I think that they will perform their usual tricks and finish just in behind the top 5. They really just can't compete financially with the rich clubs even with FFP. Arsenal fans who doubt the success we have had over the last 15 years, this is where we were before-Wenger. Praying for a miracle every season, and looking at our team of home-run swings and hoping that three of them would come good at the same time. That miracle might occur, but no one can bet on it with any real hope. Prediction - 6th & 7th Arsenal I think our players are going to stay fit. The commentators and pundits are going to be in tears. I think there is a confidence and an energy at Arsenal that is irresistible right now. In too many positions we have the best player in the league. Sanchez, Walcott, Ozil, Ramsey, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Szczęsny, could all easily be considered the best player in the entire PL at their position. Cazorla, Campbell, Gibbs, Ox, and Debuchy are all candidates for the top 5 at their position, and there are several more players that are coming on strong. There are just too many players here that can hurt the opposition. There are starting World Cup players that might only make our bench! Too much speed, too much guile, too many options to worry about, for the other teams to cope. There is depth everywhere in the team, and this year they have less pressure. Also, the other top 4 are not going to produce a clear challenger and will take a lot of points off each other, just like they did last year. Prediction - 1st (by a wide margin)
I will get a life size face of Daniel Levy tatooed on my back if Chelsea finish 5th Not saying they'll get top 4 but I think Tottenham will be better than most people are saying
Okay I'm going to take a punt: 1. Arsenal 2. Chelsea 3. Man City 4. Man Utd 5. Liverpool 6. Spurs 7. Everton
Tbh with the massive whole in the man u defence and loss of experience from vidic, evra and ferdinand without any replacements yet and an unbalanced midfield and a captain who cant stick to a position. I personally cant see them improving to such a degree thst they overtake all the other improving sides to a top 4 place. Let alone challenge
Phil McNulty has got Arsenal down to finish 5th. I'm pretty sure both of those predictions for 5th are way off.
I admitted that I'm going out on a limb with Chelsea 5th, but I predicted RVP as top-scorer in 11/12 - and I was called crazy, so I get lucky occasionally.
1. Arsenal/Chelski/Citeh 2. Arsenal/Chelski/Citeh 3. Arsenal/Chelski/Citeh 4. Manure/Liv 5. Manure/Liv No sitting on the fence over here....
I can't see Chelsea finishing 5th though, I reckon they'll be top 3 with us and City. If we can keep all of our players fit and I think we still need to add a holding MF player, then I reckon we could win the title. What will be interesting is the battle for 4th this season, because I think it will be between Utd and Liverpool
That fence is 5 times as thick as any other fence. It's not even a fence, it's a reinforced bomb proof wall.
Moureens tea will be getting mysteriously poisoned with plutonium while staying in a London hotel if Chelsea finish 5th.
They would've gone through 3 managers if there was ever a threat of them finishing 5th, Moaninho would be history if they're not within 6 points of the top at Xmas
TBF he does mitigate it with this "Signings such as Calum Chambers and Mathieu Debuchy have fleshed out the squad, but they are still short of that title quality and not yet challenging the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City over a whole season, unless a commanding defender and high-class central midfield can be added before deadline day." I think we will still get top 4 without these additions and if there are no long term injuries we can challenge for the title. I still think winning it will be a stretch to far.
