So we are fast approaching the time of the year where the press and everybody else make predictions for who is going to win the League this season. This usually means that Arsenal fans instantly enter a state of depression as pundits all over the globe predict (yet again) that Arsenal will drop out of the top 4. So in order to cheer us up, I thought I would look at how the "Experts" (and I use the term very loosely) did last year. I did a general search and managed to find about 14 predictions of the top 5, including the BBC, Guardian, Sky Sports etc. Here is how they did on their top 5 predictions. Man City No one predicted Man City to win, that I could find. Five predicted 2nd place finishes, and another six 3rd place. The other three had them in 4th or 5th. Generally speaking Mancini was seen as the big doubt and even before September Tevez was moaning. Man Utd They were the most popular pick for the title. Twelve had them as champions and two had them second. General impression was that their signings were great and they had "Strengthened". Matt Le Tissier was the only "Name" that had them in second. Arsenal One pick had them for second place (but that was assuming Fabregas and Nasri stayed). Yahoo fans had them in third, but only 5 others had them in 4th. The rest saw them dropping to 5th or lower. Generally speaking though everyone had us in their top 5. Most people saw the departure of Fabregas as a huge blow. Most of the predictions were before Nasri had left. Some even said that if Nasri left, Arsenal would finish mid-table but I didn't register those. Spurs As insulted as Arsenal fans might have been (I suppose we are used to it) Spurs fans should be furious. Tissier again! and our own Charlie Nicholas were the only ones that had them in their top 5, both in 5th place. There was doubt that Modric would stay and Parker/Adebayor had not joined when most of the predictions were done though, so we should perhaps go easy on our pathetic pundits. Newcastle Yeah, well as you might have guessed, no one saw this coming. I was only recording the top 5 as I went through, but I swear I saw one clown, can't remember who, predicting they would be relegated. Chelsea Oh boy, this was the worst. Two predicted them for the title. In case you thought Le Tissier was a predicting god, he was one of them. Everybody else had them in the top 3. No one had Everton but as you might have expected Liverpool featured a lot. Eleven out of the 14 had Liverpool in the top 5. Two of the Sky geniuses had them in 3rd place. A few of the notables. http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,22707_7093069,00.html http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/philmcnulty/2011/08/my_premier_league_201112_predi.html http://www.livesoccertv.com/news/40...winning-the-league-tips-man-united-for-glory/ http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog football/series/premier-league-2011-12-previews So in this silliest of seasons my fellow Arsenal fans cheer up, I will predict (with a degree of confidence) that it isn't going to be as bad for us as the experts predict.
nice article...but if you're always right why can't you just predict we're going to win the title? Can't hurt....can it?
That comment was about the years on the title - I was worried that people might think I was predicting this years' results.
How I think it will finish 1. Man City 2. Chelsea* if RDT get his s**t together 3. Man Utd 4. Arsenal 5. Liverpool How I hope it will finish 1. Arsenal 2. Man City 3. Man Utd 4. Everton 5. QPR QPR? I am a West Londoner and my mum likes them!
I think there will be a predictions thread in the future, SupeJack, our welsh wizard and Piskie, will take care of it I am sure . This was just a cheer up thread. Patience chaps, you will get your chance.
My personal favourite from 11-12 was Mark Bright predicting Liverpool to win the league! MARK BRIGHT, BBC LONDON 1 Liverpool 2 Man Utd 3 Man City 4 Arsenal "Liverpool finished 22 points behind United last season but only Sir Alex Ferguson amassed more points than Kenny Dalglish since the 'king' took over from Roy Hodgson. "Why will they win it? The Reds have four players who could grace any team in the Premier League: Pepe Reina, Steven Gerrard, Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll, then add to the mix promising youngsters like John Flanagan, new faces like Charlie Adam and Stewart Downing plus team spirit, desire and 21 years of hurt." http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/14388154 Still cracks me up! I tend not to judge too much on preditions pundits make at the start of the season. They're designed to create debate and only done as a bit of fun but Mark "Bright" should've been sacked for that one. He's utterly, utterly clueless everytime he opens his trap.
