I thougt it might be interesting to see who everyone thinks will be challenging for the title this season. Who everyone thinks will be fighting for a top four spot and which teams will miss out and end up in the europa spots? I'll start of by saying I think Chelsea, City and Arsenal will challenge for the title. Whether one or two fall away before the end I don't know but I expect all three of them to be there or there abouts for large parts of the season. Then I think Utd will comfortably take fourth spot. I cant see them quite competing with the top 3 this season (not for lack of players I just think LVG is stubborn and makes strange decisions that will cost them points). But I also can't see any of the teams below putting in a proper challenge for the top four, i think it's pretty nailed on the teams who will make the CL spots. Which leaves Spurs and Liverpool in the Europa spots for me. I don't see them doing any better or worse than that. Spurs are at about there level when sitting in 5th-7th and Liverpool with Brendan at the helm will find a way to fall short. Who this seasons Southampton will be though I have no idea. Will Everton return to the fight near the top? Will Swansea push on? Or will Southampton for a second year running threaten the staus quo?
Unless Arsenal sign a striker and DM I can't see them finishing above second. City for fourth for me. Spurs, Liverpool and the rest miles behind.
Can't see the top 4 being any different this year. Although the order might change a bit. I think Arsenal will give Chelsea a better challenge this season, but as for City and Utd, I think they might find it difficult to be consistent as both Arsenal and Chelsea have fairly settled squads now. What gives me hope that Arsenal will offer a better challenge this season is that our squad has had another year to gel, we won another trophy and the squad are developing a winning mentality. Last season we saw players like Bellerin, Sanchez and Ozil really light up the premier league. We're much more solid at the back and with the addition of Cech in goal it should solidify that further. Chelsea will be the team to beat again this season though, they barely slipped up at all last season and we need to match that consistency if we're going to challlenge. City and Utd will battle each other, but I have a feeling that Pelligrini might not last the season. As for the others, I think 5th - 8th will be between Liverpool, Spurs, Swansea and Southampton. As one Spurs fan said the other day, they stumbled to 5th last season. That was mainly on the back of Liverpool having some absolutely horrendous results and Southampton falling away too. Swansea could be the surprise package this season, they had a very decent campaign last time around. Spurs and Liverpool should be doing a lot better given the amount of money they have both spent on their squads, but Brenda can't seem to organise a piss up in a brewery and Spurs just can't find any consistency mainly due to them hiring and firing so many managers.
United, Chavs and £ity for the main title contender. Arsenal, 'Pool and us for 4th. Whatever the order, those teams will form the top 6, again.
Don't see last years top4 changing (though maybe different order), Chelsea to win it again, I don't see Arsenal challenging if they go with just Coquelin in DM. Can't decide what way City will go this year. Spurs/Liverpool for 5th/6tth. Below that I see Swansea having another good year, also think Stoke could have a good year, Hughes has quietly been building a good team there. Everton will be better I imagine as well. How we do will depend on our progress in the Europa, fail to make group stages and I could see us maybe challenging Spurs and Liverpool again, if we reach group stages an maybe beyond I reckon 8th-12th. Also think West Ham might have a good year, again depending on the EL.
Depends how quickly our signings settle. Each addresses a problem area from last season and I expect one or two more. Pre season has shown the players now fully understand what van Gaal wants and they have been able to implement it. Our intelligent pressing is going to be a nightmare for the opposition on the rare occasions they have the ball. I doubt we will have the same issues against sides that park the bus. These were the games that hampered us last season nor will we be left as exposed at the back. We will be in the mix.
UTD have sorted out its midfield, so I would go with a top 2 with 3rd at a push ££££ and Chavbus have not been in the market as such so can they keep the pressure up this season. for a 1-2? Arsenal anything could happen with them for 1st to 4th The Spuds will get 5th and Liverpool 6th
Chelsea havent really improved. As we all know, this is a dangerous policy and often leads to the current champions failing to retain the title. City are the worst of the top 4 and seem to buy players to make them even worse. Arsenal have finally sorted the keeper spot though. Thats massive for them. They do lack defensive cover and a DM though which will be costly if they rack up injuries.
Fairly positive start. Lots of attacking flair in the midfield in theory with Chery, Hoilett, Thomas and Luongo.
Stoke will be challenging for the title after the first week, goal difference being a major factor, but I expect they will fall away after that.
Good shout on Everton and Stoke. I think they'll both do okay this season. Basically Everton can't have as bad a season as last time around. Martinez is a decent manager and the addition of Cleverly is a shrewd move. Also getting Deulofeu back on a permanent contract is a good signing, he's a product of the Barca academy and showed some brilliance when he was at Everton before. Along with Swansea and Southampton, I think Everton and stoke could give Liverpool and spurs a challenge for those 5th and 6th spots.
I fancy Everton to have a piss poor season and think they're great value at 15/8 to finish bottom half.
Then again you categorically stated Di Maria would be last years player of the season. You're now about to lose 15 million on him in 11 months so forgive me if I don't trust your knowledge or predictions....
You want to ask PISKIE that question, Red. Anything you might express as an opinion is written in stone by him.
Where is the word 'could' ?? You could always embarrass yourself by locating the posts in question but me thinks you wont....
To be fair, 100, only PISKIE is sad and desperate enough to actually bookmark posts, on the off-chance that he can use them years later to taunt people with his "coming back to haunt you" jibe.
