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
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