Paul Merson predicts final Premier League table for 2016/17 Last Updated: 08/08/16 4:18pm please log in to view this image Who has Paul Merson selected for his top six - and in what order? Leicester's amazing title triumph proved anything can happen in the Premier League. Following the arrival of big-name managers such as Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, Jose Mourinho at Manchester United and Antonio Conte at Chelsea, this season is looking more unpredictable than ever. Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson is never afraid of a challenge - so we have asked him to predict the final Premier League table from top to bottom. Read on for his thoughts and have your say on our vote if you disagree... I would always rather make a prediction than sit on the fence, but I think this is the hardest ever season to predict. The top six could be in any order. I wouldn't be shocked if Man City came sixth and Tottenham won the league! I'm not saying that because of what Leicester did last year, I'm saying that because I don't think there's much between these teams. please log in to view this image Merson has made his predictions for the 2016/17 Premier League season I'm going for Chelsea (1) to be champions on the strength of the manager, Antonio Conte, and Eden Hazard. The Belgium international had a terrible campaign last season, but could still be the best player in the league. If he gets going again then the Blues could sneak their way to the top. I'll put Man City (2) second and I could make a case for Manchester United (3) winning the title with Jose Mourinho in charge. They have a big squad full of big players. If Arsenal (4) had bought a world-class centre forward and centre half, I would have picked them for the title, but they haven't. It would probably help them in the long term if they didn't finish in the top four for one season because it would force them to make some changes - but I expect them to be around fourth. It wouldn't surprise me if Liverpool (5) finish in the top four and Tottenham (6) won't be far off either because they already have a team while everybody else has had to buy a team. I like West Ham (7) and with their new stadium they should be playing Champions League football within four years because of the money they should turn over. I like Ronald Koeman a lot, but if Everton (8) let Romelu Lukaku and John Stones leave without replacing them they would drop from eighth to 12th in my predicted table. Southampton (9) are a steady club and I think they'll be able to cope with the loss of Sadio Mane, while Stoke (10) are a team with good footballers. There's a fairly clear top seven in the Premier League and they'll be right near the top of the "other league" along with Southampton and Everton. I think Leicester (11) will be in for a hard season, but they'll definitely be in the middle of the table. I certainly wouldn't expect a relegation battle at all, but with Champions League football each week it will be hard for them to finish high up. Crystal Palace (12) are one of those teams who will win a streak of games and then lose a streak of games. Alan Pardew will win seven on the trot and then lose seven on the trot and he needs to break that trend. If he can do that then there's no reason why they can't get into the top eight. I like the look of Middlesbrough (13) and I think the Riverside Stadium will be rocking in the Premier League this season. I think they could have a similar season to what Bournemouth had after being promoted last year. David Moyes is a good manager and this is a perfect job for him without the pressure of a club like Manchester United. He will make Sunderland (14)hard to beat and they will collect good results along the way I have put Swansea (15), Watford (16) and West Brom (17) in the bottom six and all three of them could finish in the bottom three. I would be surprised if there's more than three points between those sides at the end of the season. Will Troy Deeney and Odion Ighalo score the goals to keep Watford up for a second season in a row? Have the rest of the team got much to bring to the party? Some people might be shocked by this, but I think Bournemouth (18) might go down. They play good football, but at the end of last season teams were getting used to the way they were playing and became a lot cuter against them. This season they could struggle. Hull (19) have not had a good summer with Steve Bruce leaving. I thought Ryan Giggs might have got that job and that might have lifted them and made a difference. I like Burnley (20), but they haven't invested enough and I'm interested to see if Andre Gray can step up from the Championship to the Premier League. We've seen centre-forwards struggle to step up in the past and it'll be interesting to see what they can do. They will have to work hard every week to get a result and that could take its toll. It will be tight at the bottom, though, and I don't see anyone getting cut adrift.
Like Nads say's, that's a about right. Would I take it? Nope. He who dares Rodney, He who dares my son!
I'd argue that's about right. However any predictions made before the close of the transfer window is a bit pointless IMOOC
I honestly believe we are only 3 or 4 decent signings away from being a comfortable 10th Problem being, take those 'imaginary' signings away.. It's another long hard slog With that in mind I'm currently happy to take 14th and give Moyes another transfer window or 2 to fully implement his way of playing and build.
We will finish above the Boro and Palace. Man c champions, Arsenal 2nd, Man u 3rd Liverpool 4th but they could finish anywhere as they slip up against lower opposition far too often. Chelsea won't will the title this season finished too low and need rebuilding and I don't think Lakaku is anywhere near £75 m. Everton will be interesting if Koeman gets £120 m to spend on players (and not Kone !), they might be a top 6 team. Gateshead win the non league, F A cup Chelsea, league cup Spurs, Johnsons paint trophy Millwall.
I would like us to finish above Boro, but would be happy if we both survive without the customary traumas. The North East needs three teams playing successfully in the premiership. I would love to see this happen, and for our great supporters to behave themselves and set an example of which all of us can be proud.
14th? Yes please! Any progress from last season would be much appreciated! Season after that then we can aim for 10th.
In short yes, I'd take it quite happily. Reason being is that we're a months preparation (if not longer) behind the rest of the league in terms of transfers. 14th and a cup run would do me nicely, as it's an improvement on previous seasons which is what we need, progression.
