I see that in fine and deluded Mouse tradition, Liverpool loving Mug Jamie Redknapp has tipped the Mousers for 4th place this season.
I honestly can't figure out which of the prospective top five teams is not going to wind up in a CL spot. You would think it would have to be Man U or Liverpool, but they've both looked good, insofar as preseason means anything. On the other hand, the idea of Man City, Chelsea or Arsenal falling out of the top four seems almost unthinkable. Add to that the fact that if either Spurs or Everton can get into top gear and not let expectations drag them down, they have the talent to get a top four spot as well, and you have a chance for a very interesting season.
No one expected United to win the title last year- but no one would have thought it thinkable that they could drop out of the top four yet alone 7th. That said. City, Chelsea, and Arsenal are still my runaway top 3 for next season- they've widened the gap on everyone else over the summer. Liverpool, Utd, and Everton rounding out the top 6.
I thought it was more than possible that United would fall away(I said so) and I think its quite possible that they wont get back into the top 4 yet. It does not follow that Liverpool are a one season wonder, despite losing their teeth, so top 4 is very difficult to predict.
Liverpool have had a mid table defence for a few seasons. Add to that the loss of the striker who dug them out of countless holes last season and got Sturridge performing for the first time in his career. Hardly grounds for optimism even if Southampton's one season wonders have been bought for a king's ransom.
John Aldrdige was just on TalkShite, and he was talking like top 4 is in the bag for 'Pool, with the possibility of them winning the title. All of this means that Roy Rodgers is top dog for the first major sacking, when 'Pool start the season off as dead cert 7th/8th place finishers. I'm sorry, but no one seems to have recognised the simple fact that 'Pool flattered to deceive last season due wholly to Goofy being the best player in the world. Without him, 'Pool are and will be nothing.
Apparently, Moreno is "sad to be leaving Sevilla". He'll be even sadder the first time he walks back to his car in the pissing rain and finds the wheels missing
Come on you guys sack a manger every year. Sometimes two. Surely you are top candidates for first major sacking. Or do you not count as major? Top four is going to be a push for everyone this year.
I'm amused how before we sold Suarez he was "just having a freak good season", "a flat track bully", "overrated", "one trick pony", etc. As soon as we sell him, he's the best player in the world, and was the only thing keeping us from certain doom.
Goofy had the season of his career while he was playing for his dream move, that along with considerable cheating and conning of referees his influence on games was huge last season. He occupied defenders which created more space for Sturridge and Sterling to exploit, the fear factor will have gone now and there will be less panic amongst opposition defences.
Tut tut, weararedbraandpanties is using his codes again, "RS", there's nobody as "R"etarded as a North Wales manc trying to be smart.
It's obviously more important to him to get his bizarre digs in than to stay on this board. Our mods have already warned him and I am sure they wont put up with much more.
It's very tough to predict now - window is still open, unknown quantities (new players, managers) and we don't know who'll hit form and so on. Conceivably any of the top 6 sides, or even top 7 if you include both of yourselves and Everton could make a very convincing argument that they'll finish 4th or above. Who would have predicted Liverpool's season for instance? We have literally no idea what'll happen with us this time. We've improved the defence and hopefully will be able to cover Suarez's goals (Markovic, Lallana, Lambert, new striker + Sterling and Hendo stepping up). Will it be enough to finish top 4? Very much depends how everyone else does. At the moment, purely on paper I think its: 1) Chelsea 2) City 3) Arsenal 4) United 5) Liverpool 6) Everton 7) Spurs But then, we just don't know.
Everton have spent £30mill just to put together the squad they had last season(with Atsu in for that Barca winger and no backup striker). Generally teams that have done well and not added to their squad struggle the following season. I'd be very disappointed if we finished below them again.
