OH SWEET BABY JESUS IT'S NEARLY TIME!!!!111one

[mshankb]

This could've possibly been linked with the other teams thread but I thought it might get a tad cumbersome, so here 'tis.

Predictions for the coming year? From general points to league tables, what do y'all reckon?


1 Chelsea (possibly tempting fate, and on the proviso that the diamond is dropped by mid-late September)
2. Manchester United
3. Arsenal (Eduardo is back, breakthrough season for Vela, still not enough steel)
4. Everton
5. Liverpool
6. Fulham
7. Manchester City
8. Aston Villa
9. Sunderland
10. Tottenham Hotspur
11. Blackburn Rovers
12. West Ham United
13. Stoke City
14. Portsmouth
15. Birmingham City
16. Bolton Wanderers
17. Wigan Athletic
18. Wolverhampton Wanderers
19. Hull City
20. Burnley


That's what my 50p's going on.

[Rman3349]

1 Chelsea
2 Manure
3 Liverpool
4 Everton
5 Man City
6 Arsenal
7 Aston Villa
8 Fulham
9 Blackburn
10 West Ham
11 Spurs
12 Wigan
13 Stoke
14 Sunlun
15 Bolton
16 Birmingham
17 Wolves
18 Pompey
19 Hull
20 Burnley

[yasik19]

I was wrong the last 3 years, so no predictions for me this time around.

[Portugeezer!]

1 Liverpool
2 United
3 Chelsea
4 Everton
5 Man City
6 Arsenal
7 Aston Villa
8 West Ham
9 Spurs
10 Fulham
11 Blackburn
12 Sunderland
13 Wigan
14 Stoke
15 Bolton
16 Birmingham
17 Portsmouth
18 Hull
19 Wolves
20 Burnley

[lobomojo]

1 Chelsea
2 United
3 Arsenal
4 Liverpool

5 Everton
6 West Ham
7 Man City
8 Aston Villa

9 Fulham
10 Spurs
11 Bolton
12 Wigan
13 Sunderland

14 Wolves
15 Blackburn
16 Stoke

17 Birmingham
18 Portsmouth
19 Hull
20 Burnley

well I always pick Chelsea first; Utd and Arse perhaps to compete, with us I hope (I fear too many draws for us this year), for the title. Scouse to drop a tiny bit, Everton to threaten 4th and Zola Clarke on the rise, heck of a battle for Europa places.

[mshankb]

1 Chelsea
2 United
3 Arsenal
4 Liverpool

5 Everton
6 West Ham
7 Man City
8 Aston Villa

9 Fulham
10 Spurs
11 Bolton
12 Wigan
13 Sunderland

14 Wolves
15 Blackburn
16 Stoke

17 Birmingham
18 Portsmouth
19 Hull
20 Burnley

well I always pick Chelsea first; Utd and Arse perhaps to compete, with us I hope (I fear too many draws for us this year), for the title. Scouse to drop a tiny bit, Everton to threaten 4th and Zola Clarke on the rise, heck of a battle for Europa places.

Yep, that's what's gonna make it a great season, like the last couple of years in fact but to an even greater extent this time out - from positions 4-12 is almost interchangeable.

[hudson hooligan]

1. Chelsea
2. Liverpool
3. Arsenal
4. Manchester United

5. Manchester City
6. Everton
7. Aston Villa
8. Fulham

9. West Ham
10. Wigan
11. Tottenham
12. Sunderland

13. Stoke
14. Portsmouth
15. Hull
16. Bolton
17. Wolves

Relegated:
18. Blackburn
19. Birmingham
20. Burnley

Promoted:
+ Newcastle
+ Reading
+ Sheffield United

TBH, I'm fairly confident about this season. As I see it, with the exception of Chelsea and Man City, all the EPL teams have either lost significant players are have not yet done anything significant to bolster their squad from last season (there's still time left in the transfer window obviously). Liverpool without Alonso in midfield is what will make the difference between 2nd place and title contention. Arsenal without any additional experienced players will perform no better than last season. And Manchester United without Ronaldo and an impact sub like Teves is a team I'm not worried about winning the premiership for the fourth year running.

The fact that we've kept our core players and added the likes of Sturridge and Zhirkov makes me believe that Chelsea may stroll it this year. The only element I worry about is Ancelotti... if the diamond formation doesn't bear fruit, will he (in a Scolari-like demonstration of arrogance) insist on keeping the formation and cost us points?

[yasik19]

If we don't win the league this season, I'm going to come back to this thread and neg rep everyone who made a prediction and jinxed us.

[SoundersBeliever]

1. Chelsea
2. Liverpool
3. Man United
4. Man City

5. Everton
6. Arsenal
7. Aston Villa
8. Tottenham
9. Fulham
10. Wigan
11. West Ham
12. Stoke
13. Portsmouth
14. Bolton
15. Sunderland
16. Wolves
17. Birmingham

18. Hull
19. Blackburn
20. Burnley


Promoted: West Brom, Sheffield United and Cardiff

[Kerry Dixon's Boots]

My annual prediction (based on hope as much as anything - still yet to get part 3 right after all this time sadly):

1 Chelsea

2-19 Showers of shite

20 Sp*rs

[Bruckner283]

1. M Utd
2. Chelsea
3. Arsenal
4. Liverpool

5. M City
6. Tottenham
7. Everton
8. A Villa
9. Fulham
10. Sunderland
11. West Ham
12. Blackburn
13. Hull
14. Stoke
15. Wigan
16. Burnley
17. Birmingham

18. Bolton
19. Wolves
20. Portsmouth

Golden Boot: Arshavin

Champions League: Barcelona

I have been tweaking this list throughout August and now that transfer window has shut here is how I see the season playing out. I think the points separating 1st from 4th will be less then 10.

[Hauler]

1. M Utd
2. Chelsea
3. Totteham
4. Liverpool

5. Arsenal
6. M City
7. Everton
8. A Villa
9. Fulham
10. Sunderland
11. West Ham
12. Blackburn
13. Hull
14. Stoke
15. Wigan
16. Burnley
17. Birmingham

18. Bolton
19. Wolves
20. Portsmouth

Golden Boot: Arshavin

Champions League: Barcelona

I have been tweaking this list throughout August and now that transfer window has shut here is how I see the season playing out. I think the points separating 1st from 4th will be less then 10.

Fixed that for ya. Your welcome. :)

[mshankb]

Fixed that for ya. You're welcome. :)

Fixed that for ya. You're mental. :p :D

[juanca]

THE TOP4 WILL REMAIN JUST AS IT HAS BEEN.

all 4 are still miles stronger than any other of the would-be contenders.

its a 38 game season, not 37 and certainly not 30 as spurs and villa have learnt.

That said, IMHO, liverpool are the most likely team to drop out of the top4 if any. How long can they continue to ride the gerrard/torres train? how long can carragher remain there 1st choice CB? there other 2 CB's are crocked, there new 20million CM is crocked. The spanish contingent is getting smaller and smaller, and rafa really seems to be on borrowed time this season.

If i had to make predictions, i'd go like this...

1st- Chelsea
2nd & 3rd- arsenal & man utd
4th-6th- Liverpool, City, spurs
7th-1oth- everton, fulham, west ham, aston villa
11-20th THE REST:cool:

[Jfranse]

THE TOP4 WILL REMAIN JUST AS IT HAS BEEN.

all 4 are still miles stronger than any other of the would-be contenders.

its a 38 game season, not 37 and certainly not 30 as spurs and villa have learnt.

That said, IMHO, liverpool are the most likely team to drop out of the top4 if any. How long can they continue to ride the gerrard/torres train? how long can carragher remain there 1st choice CB? there other 2 CB's are crocked, there new 20million CM is crocked. The spanish contingent is getting smaller and smaller, and rafa really seems to be on borrowed time this season.

If i had to make predictions, i'd go like this...

1st- Chelsea
2nd & 3rd- arsenal & man utd
4th-6th- Liverpool, City, spurs
7th-1oth- everton, fulham, west ham, aston villa
11-20th THE REST:cool:

i have to say, i think i pretty much agree with this. i do think chelsea look the strongest, and as much as i hated the diamond at first, it's started to grow on me. the key will be how we adjust as the season goes on.

i think people are underestimating arsenal right now. granted, 4 games in, but still, they bossed Man U, who look hit or miss right now. through the first half, arsenal will be pushing the strongest competition.

and hate to say it, City are showing some grit. something i didn't think they had. getting a few 1-0's.

[Ben7021]

Arsenal have looked good so far, but they always seem to start hot and then fade off after Jan-Feb. I'm still a little skeptical about them. I still think they lack the experience to get through those tough late-season stretches.

[lobomojo]

Arsenal have looked good so far, but they always seem to start hot and then fade off after Jan-Feb. I'm still a little skeptical about them. I still think they lack the experience to get through those tough late-season stretches.

Hate to disagree with you, really:), but if Vermaelen stays healthy, and how easily has he stepped into the League so far:eek: and Gallas keeps his newfound old Blue form, with their wealth of attacking options, I now think they are the main competition for the title ahead of ManU, who I think will have to live or die on Rooney's foot near alone. Midfield a bit soft but so is ManUre's and though as you say their tendency is to fade while Rednose's to push on late, they were mostly pretty good last spring except against Guus:D and in the CL.

Think I also may have sold City short above, who are showing some grit has Franse points out, still early days though, and oversold West Ham, with their dwindling resources Zla-Clarke have a tougher job.

[Ben7021]

Hate to disagree with you, really:), but if Vermaelen stays healthy, and how easily has he stepped into the League so far:eek: and Gallas keeps his newfound old Blue form, with their wealth of attacking options, I now think they are the main competition for the title ahead of ManU, who I think will have to live or die on Rooney's foot near alone. Midfield a bit soft but so is ManUre's and though as you say their tendency is to fade while Rednose's to push on late, they were mostly pretty good last spring except against Guus:D and in the CL.

Think I also may have sold City short above, who are showing some grit has Franse points out, still early days though, and oversold West Ham, with their dwindling resources Zla-Clarke have a tougher job.

Oh, I'm not saying they aren't a great team, I just am not sure they can keep up this form all year. Last spring when things got tough they had that big implosion with Gallas and the captaincy issue. Then 2 seasons ago (or maybe 3) when they were top of the table very lon time and then dre like 7 out of 8 or something rediculous like that. I'm just not sure if it comes down to the wire that they can pull it off.

That being said, I do agree that they are our main competition as of right now. Man U will get better I feel, and Liverpool are not as big of a threat at the moment but they have enough talent with Gerrard and Torres to make a decent push.

[lobomojo]

Oh, I'm not saying they aren't a great team, I just am not sure they can keep up this form all year. Last spring when things got tough they had that big implosion with Gallas and the captaincy issue. Then 2 seasons ago (or maybe 3) when they were top of the table very lon time and then dre like 7 out of 8 or something rediculous like that. I'm just not sure if it comes down to the wire that they can pull it off.

That being said, I do agree that they are our main competition as of right now. Man U will get better I feel, and Liverpool are not as big of a threat at the moment but they have enough talent with Gerrard and Torres to make a decent push.

"great team", well let's not get carried away, we are the only Great Team, and I'm not entirely convinced of our chances yet;):D

I think its going to be an interesting more competitive season all around in the end, really would not be surprised by a variety of final standings, even objectively I do like our chances best though.

[Ben7021]

I think its going to be an interesting more competitive season all around in the end, really would not be surprised by a variety of final standings, even objectively I do like our chances best though.

Yeah, should be close at the top. I like our chances too, but as well as Carlo is doing so far, I'm not going to proclaim us the victors until he proves he can adapt better than Big Phil did after his first couple months.