No idea who'll win the Prem title, but with just 8 games gone, the table has settled down into somewhat familiar territory. The split between top half and bottom half looks pretty well set along the lines that most would have expected, with just the odd exception. Who will shift either side of the dividing line as the season progresses? For me, the only club that will finish outside the top half they currently occupy are Hull. Not sure who will tak their place though. The obvious contender is Swansea given their progress this past two seasons, but is there another club that can break out of that lower echelon? This isn't about Cardiff before anyone starts, but if you do think we could do it, fair enough. I personally thought West Ham was a strong contender at the start of the season, and they could still challenge when they get Carroll back. Love them or hate them, Allardyce and Carroll are both brutes who won't back off.
Of course, I would say the Swans, but other than us, I would say Aston Villa Villa have a tough one today at home to Everton, but after that they have 4 games in November, which they could be looking at maximum points, or there abouts. They should go unbeaten at least. That's not a slight at you guys though. They have had a tough start to the season, but even then, they haven't been playing that badly, and they could surprise some teams.
Swansea would be the obvious choice, but this european adventure imo will be a bad distraction, can still see them finishing about 12th though. Villa is a very good shout, I still think Norwich could climb the table and get into the top ten (after today) still a very good side just not clicked yet. West Ham i hope they get relegated !!!!
To be fair, Southampton have performed better than most expected, but from what I've seen of them, it's no fluke and they deserve to be up there. I'd have had Villa and them in swapped places by now to be honest, and I wouldn't bet against Villa coming good as the season progresses. Big game for us at their place week after next.
DJ - not sure about Brom. I watched the West Brom/Swansea game a few weeks back and Brom were bloody clueless. Swansea outplayed them and made them look like a Sunday pub team. If Clarke does pull that rabble together, he'll deserve a bloody medal. Admittedly they've been better of late, but that win at Man U flattered them. Apart from that, they've generally taken points off bottom clubs - good enough to keep them up, but no more than that.
To me Sparkey the top 7 will be the same as last year. (in no order) Arsenal, Spurs, Chelsea, Everton, Liverpool, Man U & Man City From there on it's anybody's guess.
West brom for me, although with a little improvement, we could climb the table, whether or not we get to 10th is another thing, personally i think the Swans european adventure will take its toll at some stage, much the same as Newcastle last year. Hopefully we can both stay up and do well.
Hull are doing the usual thing of starting well at the beginning and you can include southampton in this but so have other teams in past season like Blackpool,reading and a few others. they tend to slide down the table towards the second half of the season, As for my team then with all the extra games we are playing then that may affect our standing this season. You will find that come january you will see who is safe and who has work to do but probably safe and who are fighting for their lives..its to early yet to see anything concrete..
