What teams will improve/decline next season?

Man Utd could go either way, it all depends on what happens in the summer. Players like van der Sar, Neville, Scholes, Giggs and Solskjaer will all be a year older. They will start to decline and will not be able to last an entire season. How we manage that will be key.

 

Improve:

1. Liverpool - with $$ to spend now. It'd help more if they win the CL, helps to attract top talent.

2. Arsenal - the young talent will be more mature and ready for a charge to the title race. + Henry and van Persie will be back.

3. West Ham - if somehow they cheat their way staying in the Premiership this season. The mini-version of "Chel$ea" can only get better with the players they got.


Decline:

1. Bolton - they were overachieved under big Sam. new manager may not be able to bring the best out of them.

2. Reading - like Ipswich, Wigan at the past, the "second year-wall" may come to haunt them. teams now learned how to deal with them.

3. Spurs - it's their tradition that after taking a step forward (last season), they would go on and move 2 steps backward.

4. Man U - they relied too much on Ronaldo. can't afford an injury to their key man. besides, the team is probably overdue for a transition period, Scholes and Giggs aren't getting any younger.

 

Spurs will be improved next year for sure.

Berbs is not going anywhere, the Big 4 can drool over him all they want.
Defoe COULD go, but I really think he'll be there next year.

Combine our top 3 strikers with some new aquisitions in the midfield and defense with the amount of match experience we had this year (and MJ figuring out how to balance league and cups) and Spurs could move up.

Also, we played like 19 more matches this year than last and most without our best defender (King) and with a extremely weak left side. And for all of the praise towards Berbs: remember, he didn't get adjusted until almost halfway through the season. Next year he'll lead the league in goals.

 

Improve

1. Villa- O'Niell is sorting them out and with some more money and a few good players they could certianly be in Europe next season
2. Blackburn- I think Hughes will sign a few more players in the summer as I think the Domestic Cup runs and playing in Europe really took a toll on their League performances
3. Newcastle- Big Sam should organize the defense and he will have money to spend as usual at St. James Park
4. Everton- Moyes has done a nice job and has played most of the season without one his best players, Tim Cahill. Throw a few new players in the mix, perhaps Joey Barton, and things could get interesting on Merseyside
5. West Ham- if they survive, I cant see them going through another season like this. They must keep hold of Tevez though.

Decline
1. Bolton- with Big Sam gone, could be trouble up mill for the Trotters
2. Reading- the second year is so much harder, just ask Wigan
3. Boro- although they have some good young players, they have plenty of players the wrong side of 30. Could be trouble if they get off to a slow start.
4. Fulham/Sheff Utd/Wigan- whoever stays up from the pack will be right back down their next season
5. Man City- depending on who leaves and if their is any new investment in the club

 

Improve
West Ham- I see big things ahead if they keep Tevez

Blackburn- Mark Hughes. enuff sed
Newcastle- I agree Owen nd Martins will be deadly(PLus Ameobi as backup). Add sibierski, Dyer and hopefully a rejuvinated Duff. with the help from big sam, they can start moving up the table

Decline
Reading- you all know why

ManU- Obviously not drastically but maybe 2nd or even 3rd. They need to start rebuilding soon. Giggs, Neville,VDS nd scholes arent getting younger and who knows how long they can keep up their form

Bolton- some key players may leave with Big Sam

ManC & Fulham- dont see much in their squad that will say they're can move up

 

I believe we've been hearing a version of this for the past what, 20 years? I'll believe it when I see it.

 

agreed

 

Teams that should improve:

Arsenal - A young squad will be a year more seasoned, and you can't expect that TH and RvP will both be injured for massive periods again.

Aston Villa - A good manager and carte blanche from the owner usually means the quality will improve.

Newcastle - Huge limb I'm going out on, I know but they can't be this injured, and maybe they'll hire a manager who's not in over his head.

Teams that should see a decline:

Fulham - Unless they get the right manager, I think they're likely to find the drop.

Bolton - Big Sam made this club over the last eight years, and there's bound to be some level of drop-off.

Portsmouth - Kanu's a year older, Campbell is a year older, Johnson's going back to Chelsea and they're likely to sign Titus Bramble. The last one alone should set off alarm bells.

 

Bellamy and Defoe? Are you off your tits?



To improve:
West Ham - nailed on for UEFA position next season.
Arsenal - as the team gels and Henry returns. Look for Wenger to start losing the plot around early March though.
Chelsea - simply because we surely won't suffer as much from injuries


To decline:
Liverpool - Benitez will chop and change AGAIN and it will be to their detriment
City - WILL go down
United - only a tiny bit, but hopefully enough

 

Improve:
1. Newcastle - love the strike duo if Owen can stay healthy
2. Blackburn - good season, there's more in them
3. Fulhman - I think they'll come around if they can get a good manager.

Disprove:
1. Reading - I don't think they'll go down, but can't repeat early success.
2. Bolton - Might miss Europe.
3. Man Utd - They're on a high, and bound to come down a bit. Not far.

I'm not drinking the Aston Villa Kool-Aid yet. We'll see what happens. I left Arsenal off the improve list, because they're my own club

 

I agree with you. I am hoping Ferguson will bring in some key players. Definitely Hargreaves and hopefully Berbatov and Gareth Bale.

 

I think this run of seasons where 90 plus points have been the norm for the Premiership winners will come to an end with both Utd and Chelsea coming down to the low to mid eighties and Liverpool and Arsenal in much closer proximity. So:

Up: Liverpool, Arsenal and West Ham (if they stay up)

Down (a little); Utd and Chelsea with Bolton dropping towards relegation.

The Premiership next season will be a four team fight.

 

IMPROVE:

Chelsea - Hate to say it, but the disappointing 80-odd-point "failure" of this season is a blip. There seems no reason not to expect them to be a pace-setter next year. The notion of United, Liverpool and Arsenal all keeping up is wild-eyed optimism, IMO.
Aston Villa - I think O'Neill can do better than 11th with a chance to pick a few new players. Again, hard to see why not.
Sunderland - Keane won't be afraid to remake his team quickly to deal with the pressures of the Premiership, and has the clout to do so. Somehow, despite his lack of experience, I have more confidence in the Mackems than the "new and improved" Newcastle club that will surface.

DECLINE:

Bolton - No way they do as well as they did this year, when they had basically the last credible non-big 4 CL challenge (which admittedly, was not that credible). They overperformed this year, and without their manager, they'll be in some trouble.
Sheffield United - Do they even have a plan for staying up? Worse at the end of the season than at the beginning, which is never a good sign. Did a good job of making the most of their opportunities to beat bad teams this year, but I see fewer bad teams next season.
Middlesbrough - Got some good wins this year, but I don't have much confidence in Gareth Southgate to keep them from turning into a relegation candidate. I'd mention Fulham instead, but they were just so bad this year that I'm not sure "worse" is really appropriate. All in all, they're probably looking more drop-bound than Boro though.

 

Improve
Chelsea
WestHam
BlackBurn
Newcastle
Sunderland/Birmingham(may pull a wigan/reading)

Roughly the same position
Spurs
Everton
Arsenal
Portsmouth
Liverpool

Decline
Bolton
Fulham
ManC
Reading
Middlesborough


I'd put ManU either in Decline or Same position depending on signings.

I really don't see much in the Arsenal squad and situation that may suggest they may improve. From reports, I dont think they'll prepared as well for the new season as other teams will in terms of transfers. I predict a 4th again position and maybe the season after that they may come stronger, but you never know.

 

To be honest, I think Bolton will be relegated within the next three seasons, and will be in administration within ten.

 

I think Reading have a bit more quality about them than what Wigan and Ipswich have had in previous years. They also have a very astute Manager so I think they will stay about where they are. In Seol Ki-Hyeon they have one of the most underated players in the Premiership.

Teams that will do better:

Tottenham (As long as Berbatov stays) and if they can sign a quality Central Defender I think they will be knocking on the door for a Champions League spot.


Arsenal I'm still not a fan of Lehman. But with Henry and Van Persie back they should be able to score enough goals (Attack is the best form of defence! So hopefully Lehman wont be too much of a factor) to get in the top 2.

My Top 4 at the end of next season (I've probably jinxed them all now!!):

Chelsea
Arsenal
Liverpool
Tottenham


Teams that wont do as well:

Man Utd in terms of The Premiership because I think Sir Alex will be more concerned with European Glory (Though I doubt they will win with the players they currently have). Man Utd could do with a Central Midfielder with a bit of flair to complement Ronaldo on the right. Scholes is good but still not the player he was. I also don't think Hargreaves is the solution (A bit too similar to Carrick).


Portsmouth I just can't see them doing as well two seasons in a row.

 

having Henry and RVP isnt just enough for the gunners, they need to get more quality players. Possibly another striker(proven) and a goal gettin midfielder. And they need to be more consistent and have good backups incase of injuries to be in the top 2. Their major weakness is their lack of money to buy good player and may be outpriced by the likes of Manu and Chelsea.

Dont count manu out that quick. They know they need to rebuilt and that's what they've been doing. with another striker, Rossi back, and a creative central midfielder with possibly Nani and another defender, they can chase the premiership title again.

Tottenham need to fix a few things. They are one of they best attacking teams but need to sort out their defence. a CL spot may be realistic.

Finally on Pompey I'm not sure but if we sign more players to cover much needed positions then we're set for a UEFA cup place. Our main priority is a striker. 2 quality strikers, possibly Defoe and Yakubu could fire us to europe.

 

Improve......

Spurs - Wont sell anyone and will bring in better players like they always do.

Newcastle - If Sam is there they will improve.

Fulham - Good manager.

Chelsea - Jose will make sure.

West Ham - will stay up and are bound to improve.


Decline........

Arsenal - They have no English players.

Aston Villa - A joke of a manager.

Bolton - No Sam.

Everton - Due their bad year.

 

I think a lot of it depends on who they buy to bolster their midfield. If they get Danielle De Rossi, then I believe they will be looking very good next year. The Ronaldo-Rooney formula will grow even stronger too.

 

Well, on the showing of the last few months, I'd have to say that Bolton will definitely be relegated next season. Our squad is atrocious, our defenders have no pace and can't mark anyone, our midfielders have no pace, we can't string two passes together. Our best players will leave and we'll never find anyone to replace them. Without Allardyce the only way is down. The strain of the Uefa cup will be the final nail in the coffin.

 

you are way off .spurs will sell defoe i think berbatov will leave.mark my words allardyce will not be newcastle coach. fulham dont have a good coach my honest opnion of sanchez . mourinho IS OUT. i only agree with west ham. arsenal will not decline bc of no english players . martin o'neil is niot a joke of a manager. i agree with bolton struggling . everton wont struggle with the league with europe like they did last season

 

Arsenal will improve. They played a lot of young guys this year. Losing Van Persie really hurt, he was having a great season. With him and Henry back, as well as the matured young talent, they will be righ tin the mix for the title. Plus, they should get some good signings in the summer.