I was tempted to reevaluate this as Tony Pulis was a major part in my prediction for Crystal Palace - but I suppose that's the joy with football - at any moment in time, a random unexpected event can occur and suddenly things look a whole lot different. For what it's worth, if rumous of Sherwood taking over a true, I reckon they'll go down.
Alas - I shall continue with positions 11th through to 15th.
In 11th place I have put Southampton. A lot of people are expecting them to struggle having lost the likes of Shaw, Chambers, Lallana, Lambert and Lovren - but Koeman has bought well. He has brought in players that he knows, and players that will directly replace those that have left (Shaw - Bertrand, Lallana - Tadic, Lambert - Pelle). They could do with a new central defender though, as Yoshida doesn't appear to have what it takes.
My prediction for 12th place is Newcastle United. Again, I think they'll be relatively safe - though they have a habit of making it hard for themselves. They have brought in players on long term contracts which is a bit of a risk, and they still have a pretty hefty French contingent. Cabella looks a handy signing, as does de Jong. Provided Pardew keeps his cool, The Magpies should be pretty comfortable.
In 13th I have placed Sunderland. After a huge shake up when Di Canio came in, Poyet has worked miracles in order to steady the ship and he appears to have a very clear idea of what he's doing. They still lack a top quality goal scorer, but they have a decent enough team overall with a good amount of experience. They seem to have faith in their manager, and with Poyet at the helm they could actually push towards the top half of the table.
Leicester City are the next on my list, finding themselves in 14th place. After a hugely impressive Championship campaign last season, The Foxes decided against making wholesale changes to their squad. They brought in a few players early, and Ulloa coming in from Brighton will take the goalscoring burden away from Nugent and Vardy. They have been away from the Premiership for too long and it'd be a real shame if they were to head back down.
I think exploits in Europe will be detrimental to Hull City's season, which is why I have them down in 15th. I actually think Steve Bruce has put together a brilliant squad, full of young British talent - but I worry that they'll burn out towards the end of the season. Beating Inter Milan to the signing of Ince is quite a coup, as was bringing in Livermore on a permanent basis. I like Hull and I hope they do well, but if they go on a decent run in Europe they may struggle.
1. Chelsea
2. Manchester United
3. Manchester City
4. Arsenal
5. Liverpool
6. Tottenham Hotspur
7. Everton
8. Crystal Palace
9. Queens Park Rangers
10. Stoke City
11. Southampton
12. Newcastle United
13. Sunderland
14. Leicester City
15. Hull City
Monday 18 August 2014
Friday 8 August 2014
PL Predictions - 6th to 10th
So without further ado, I shall go through the next 5 positions.
In 6th place, I have gone for Tottenham Hotspur. Generally a team that is sniffing around the European places, but never quite making the step up to the big time - I think this coming season will be a familiar story for Spurs fans. A team who generally have ambitions higher than their potential, Tottenham are a double edged sword for any manager taking the reigns. In Potchettino, they have a gaffer with a growing reputation but this stint could determine whether he has what it takes. Tottenham do have a talented squad, and they will be tricky to beat, but they need Lamela and Soldado to really step up this season if they want to put any pressure at all on the top 5.
In 7th place I've put in one of the overachievers from last year, Everton. Martinez worked wonders there in his debut season, and he'll need more of that this year as their squad hasn't really evolved since then. Keeping hold of Ross Barkley is important for them, and signing Lukaku permanently was a real sign of intent - but I don't think it'll be enough. A team with quality players throughout, Everton lack the trickery of Deulofeu this season and don't have a great amount of depth. Being in the Europa League could be a bit of a distraction, and I think 7th is the best they can hope for.
From 8th-15th I think you can probably whack a number of the remaining teams in a hat and it'll be as accurate as any guess. I dont think any teams left have the quality to push the top 7, and all have the potential to be in a relegation fight so maybe 8th position is generous for my predicted team, Crystal Palace. Since Pulis took over, Palace transformed into a difficult team to beat and they play a decent style of football. They have signed two players with decent Premier League experience in Hangeland and Fraizer Campbell, and I think they'll be fine.
In 9th place I have put our first Premiership newbies - QPR. 9th is pretty high for a newly promoted team, but with Harry Redknapp at the helm, there is always the potential to overachieve. A completely remodelled squad from the team that got relegated a couple of years back, QPR have built their latest foundations on British talent and have worked miracles in the transfer market to get in Ferdinand, Caulker, Mutch and Chilean World Cup star, Isla. If they can keep Remy, he will essentially be a new signing and so they only really need a left back and a tricky winger to have a well rounded squad. I think they'll be safe this season, and with a good run of results should squeeze into the top ten.
The last team to make it into my top ten is Stoke City. Mark Hughes is a manager I have never really rated, but I can't ignore the fact that he did a brilliant job last year - particularly after having a disastrous stint at QPR beforehand. He has slowly changed the style of play at Stoke, and although their backline still essentially consists of 4 centre backs, they have a bit more creativity and pace in the final third. Bojan could be an inspired signing provided he copes with the physical side of the PL, and Diouf coming in from Germany is another decent piece of business. Stoke have options these days, rather than the long ball tactics that got them into the league in the first place.
So here's my top 10:
1. Chelsea
2. Manchester United
3. Manchester City
4. Arsenal
5. Liverpool
6. Tottenham Hotspur
7. Everton
8. Crystal Palace
9. Queens Park Rangers
10. Stoke City
In 6th place, I have gone for Tottenham Hotspur. Generally a team that is sniffing around the European places, but never quite making the step up to the big time - I think this coming season will be a familiar story for Spurs fans. A team who generally have ambitions higher than their potential, Tottenham are a double edged sword for any manager taking the reigns. In Potchettino, they have a gaffer with a growing reputation but this stint could determine whether he has what it takes. Tottenham do have a talented squad, and they will be tricky to beat, but they need Lamela and Soldado to really step up this season if they want to put any pressure at all on the top 5.
In 7th place I've put in one of the overachievers from last year, Everton. Martinez worked wonders there in his debut season, and he'll need more of that this year as their squad hasn't really evolved since then. Keeping hold of Ross Barkley is important for them, and signing Lukaku permanently was a real sign of intent - but I don't think it'll be enough. A team with quality players throughout, Everton lack the trickery of Deulofeu this season and don't have a great amount of depth. Being in the Europa League could be a bit of a distraction, and I think 7th is the best they can hope for.
From 8th-15th I think you can probably whack a number of the remaining teams in a hat and it'll be as accurate as any guess. I dont think any teams left have the quality to push the top 7, and all have the potential to be in a relegation fight so maybe 8th position is generous for my predicted team, Crystal Palace. Since Pulis took over, Palace transformed into a difficult team to beat and they play a decent style of football. They have signed two players with decent Premier League experience in Hangeland and Fraizer Campbell, and I think they'll be fine.
In 9th place I have put our first Premiership newbies - QPR. 9th is pretty high for a newly promoted team, but with Harry Redknapp at the helm, there is always the potential to overachieve. A completely remodelled squad from the team that got relegated a couple of years back, QPR have built their latest foundations on British talent and have worked miracles in the transfer market to get in Ferdinand, Caulker, Mutch and Chilean World Cup star, Isla. If they can keep Remy, he will essentially be a new signing and so they only really need a left back and a tricky winger to have a well rounded squad. I think they'll be safe this season, and with a good run of results should squeeze into the top ten.
The last team to make it into my top ten is Stoke City. Mark Hughes is a manager I have never really rated, but I can't ignore the fact that he did a brilliant job last year - particularly after having a disastrous stint at QPR beforehand. He has slowly changed the style of play at Stoke, and although their backline still essentially consists of 4 centre backs, they have a bit more creativity and pace in the final third. Bojan could be an inspired signing provided he copes with the physical side of the PL, and Diouf coming in from Germany is another decent piece of business. Stoke have options these days, rather than the long ball tactics that got them into the league in the first place.
So here's my top 10:
1. Chelsea
2. Manchester United
3. Manchester City
4. Arsenal
5. Liverpool
6. Tottenham Hotspur
7. Everton
8. Crystal Palace
9. Queens Park Rangers
10. Stoke City
Thursday 7 August 2014
PL Predictions - Top 5
I love a good prediction, and so I'm going to go through my predicted final standings of the PL for the upcoming season, starting here with my Top 5.
In first place, I have Chelsea. I think Mourinho has a squad full of depth and talent, having shipped out some deadwood over the past few months and he has a squad that should really be winning the title. They have two top class players in each position, though they do struggle a bit with strikers, but Drogba coming back to breathe down the necks of Torres and Costa should be enough to see them bang in a few goals. I'd love to see them play some of the younger forwards (Izzy Brown, Patrick Bamford) though I imagine they'll be sent out on loan instead. I think Fabregas is the signing of the summer, and will solidify a midfield that contains a huge amount of flair and skill.
Second place this yea I reckon will go to Manchester United. A new system and a new ethos this year will see a team itching to prove themselves. Louis van Gaal is a proven winner and has managed the largest clubs across Europe. Some of their current crop will have to adjust into their new roles - but once they find their feet, they'll be tricky to beat. I'd like them to bring in Cuadrado to play as a wing back, and perhaps an experienced central defender to give them options (Yepes?). rather than relying on Jones, Evans and Smalling. It will also benefit them hugely that they won't be playing in Europe this year when all of their competitors will be, and so I think it'll be a shootout between them and Chelsea for the title.
In third place I have the reigning champions. Manchester City will be there or therabouts - but I think they'll just miss out. Without Yaya Toure last season, they wouldn't have won the title, and I get the impression that he isn't as passionate this year as he has been in the past. They'll need more goals from the likes of Silva and Nasri to keep with the pace, and I think they'll run it close - but I just don't think they'll have the game changing moments to win it this time round. I also think they'll focus heavily on the Champion's League having not really impressed in Europe for the last few seasons, and if you compare squads with Chelsea, you can see that the depth for City just isn't quite there yet.
Fourth, and I believe a few points behind, will be Arsenal. They are comfortably the 4th best team in England and have been now for a few years. Alexis Sanchez is a great signing, and between him, Ozil, Walcott and Oxlade-Chamberlain they have some very skilled players - but they still lack a decent holding midfielder, and I reckon they could do with a whole new back line. Should Joel Campbell play to his potential in the PL they will do well, but otherwise they're relying on Giroud again and I don't think he's really up to it.
In fifth I have Liverpool. They have spent millions since Suarez left in a similar way to Spurs splashing the cash once Bale left - and I think it'll be a similar result. I don't think Rodgers will get sacked, but I also don't think Lallana, Lambert, Markovic, Can and Lovren are really inspirational signings. It is rumoured they are looking at Falcao, who would be an incredible signing but in reality it's not going to happen so I think a safe 5th works for them. They're better than the teams below, but won't keep pace with those above, and they will have Champions League football to contend with this season.
In first place, I have Chelsea. I think Mourinho has a squad full of depth and talent, having shipped out some deadwood over the past few months and he has a squad that should really be winning the title. They have two top class players in each position, though they do struggle a bit with strikers, but Drogba coming back to breathe down the necks of Torres and Costa should be enough to see them bang in a few goals. I'd love to see them play some of the younger forwards (Izzy Brown, Patrick Bamford) though I imagine they'll be sent out on loan instead. I think Fabregas is the signing of the summer, and will solidify a midfield that contains a huge amount of flair and skill.
Second place this yea I reckon will go to Manchester United. A new system and a new ethos this year will see a team itching to prove themselves. Louis van Gaal is a proven winner and has managed the largest clubs across Europe. Some of their current crop will have to adjust into their new roles - but once they find their feet, they'll be tricky to beat. I'd like them to bring in Cuadrado to play as a wing back, and perhaps an experienced central defender to give them options (Yepes?). rather than relying on Jones, Evans and Smalling. It will also benefit them hugely that they won't be playing in Europe this year when all of their competitors will be, and so I think it'll be a shootout between them and Chelsea for the title.
In third place I have the reigning champions. Manchester City will be there or therabouts - but I think they'll just miss out. Without Yaya Toure last season, they wouldn't have won the title, and I get the impression that he isn't as passionate this year as he has been in the past. They'll need more goals from the likes of Silva and Nasri to keep with the pace, and I think they'll run it close - but I just don't think they'll have the game changing moments to win it this time round. I also think they'll focus heavily on the Champion's League having not really impressed in Europe for the last few seasons, and if you compare squads with Chelsea, you can see that the depth for City just isn't quite there yet.
Fourth, and I believe a few points behind, will be Arsenal. They are comfortably the 4th best team in England and have been now for a few years. Alexis Sanchez is a great signing, and between him, Ozil, Walcott and Oxlade-Chamberlain they have some very skilled players - but they still lack a decent holding midfielder, and I reckon they could do with a whole new back line. Should Joel Campbell play to his potential in the PL they will do well, but otherwise they're relying on Giroud again and I don't think he's really up to it.
In fifth I have Liverpool. They have spent millions since Suarez left in a similar way to Spurs splashing the cash once Bale left - and I think it'll be a similar result. I don't think Rodgers will get sacked, but I also don't think Lallana, Lambert, Markovic, Can and Lovren are really inspirational signings. It is rumoured they are looking at Falcao, who would be an incredible signing but in reality it's not going to happen so I think a safe 5th works for them. They're better than the teams below, but won't keep pace with those above, and they will have Champions League football to contend with this season.
Joe's Top 5
1. Chelsea
2. Manchester United
3. Manchester City
4. Arsenal
5. Liverpool
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