Who will punch above their weight? Palace (Top 8) Who will flirt with relegation like Everton did last season? Saints possible with EL. Who will flirt with top 4 when no one expected them to? Stoke aka Barca 'D' team.
Bournemouth are going to punch above their weight, then flirt with relegation, before finishing in the top 4? Should be quite a season for them!
I think Bournemouth are going to be safe. Eddie Howe is a very good manager, and he has a team that believes in him, and that works very hard for him. I'm not saying that they're going to set the Prem on fire, merely that they are not going to be the relegation-fodder that a lot of pundits will assume them to be.
They're the new Chelsea. They've got a rich Russian backer and he's happy to back the manager, who seems to have a lot of potential.
Interested to see how Stoke do this season. They had a decent campaign last time and they've added some interesting players. I think they could be up there in the mix with Liverpool and Spurs for the 5th, 6th, 7th spots this season. Swansea are another team to watch. Expecting Everton to do better, but I think Newcastle will again flirt with relegation. Mike Ashley doesn't really seem to give a **** about Newcastle, as long as they stay in the premier league and rake in some TV money. He's one of the least ambitious Chairmen out there. I think Southampton will struggle to maintain the form of the last couple of seasons now that they've lost Schniederlin. Who will flirt with top 4 ? I think the top 4 will be the same clubs as last season, in a different order. I don't see any of the others breaking into the top 4, none of them are anywhere near the top clubs, apart from Liverpool I suppose who should be doing better given their resources and spending power, Brenda is a Lemon though and he's never going to take them any further. They might flirt with top 4 for a while, as might Spurs, but I don't see either finishing in the top spots.
I expect the three who came up two of them will go back down. Norwich who have recent experience of the premiership are the ones i expect to just survive at the expense of Sunderland....
I never thought they would. I was just taking the piss out of HIAG's power shift theory as West Ham finished closer to Spurs last season, which by HIAG's logic was a 'shift'
Okay. So, when you say something stupid, it's only a joke, but when I do the same I genuinely believe it because I'm that stupid, right?
Think Newcastle will surprise the PL this season and Sunderland also think Man City and Arsenal will contest the title, Chelsea a comfortable 3rd and Man U, Tottenham and Liverpool for 4th, 5th and 6th. The reason for Man U fighting for 4th is even though they have made some good signings there is still something missing, maybe its the manager or they need another CD or CF but the spark is still missing for them to challenge for the title, though that could change up until the end of transfer deadline.
Cannot see Arsenal being as competitive as they were last season, bearing in mind the fact that Wenger seems to be intent on not strengthening in those positions where they are weak. Plus, I see Walnut being a massive flop, and failing to live up to the huge expectations placed on him, despite the fact that Wenger will give in and let the little scroat play as Arsenal's main striker, even though he is far too much of a lightweight in that role. Yes, they'll be in with a shout for 4th, but they are going to be in a dog-fight with several other sides, including us and 'Pool.
The great thing about history, is that it is being written continuously. Some believe that Spurs are standing on the edge of a new era, one in which the power shifts in North London, from The Library to The Lane. I, myself, remain undecided on the subject.
Not when it comes to Spurs it isn't. We've been hearing you spout the same crap about overtaking us for the last 20 years
Nothing stays the same, PISKIE; everything changes, and it changes all the time. It is only an illusion that things stay the same.
Anyway, we don't need another thread about how Arsenal dominate Spurs, that much is obvious. Let's keep this on topic about the surprise teams this season.
Who will punch above their weight? Stoke, I can see them doing what Southampton did last year and have a year around the sort of Spurs and Liverpool level (you know the hoping one of the big 4 mess up to give them half a sniff of a champions league spot). No doubt one of the three promoted sides will do well but I wouldn't like to guess at which one. Who will flirt with relegation like Everton did last season? West Brom, don't rate them think they'll be in trouble this year and I think Swansea might be due a dodgy season as well though don't think they'll go down. Who will flirt with top 4 when no one expected them to? Spurs and Liverpool will no doubt get themselves all deluded and think that they can break into the top 4, as I've said above I wouldn't be surprised if stoke end up like this as well.
Who will punch above their weight? Bournemouth (Top 12) Who will flirt with relegation like Everton did last season? West Ham. Who will flirt with top 4 when no one expected them to? Liverpool
