Premier League Predictions. What do you think?
I do this every season and get some of it right and some of it wrong. Let me know who you support and your own 'hot takes'.
1) Arsenal
I feel like being brave, and I am going with the Gooners. Zubimendi is an excellent player and raises the level of their midfield. Viktor Gyökeres is exactly the striker that they needed. Yes, he has never played in a major European league at 27, but he has done very well in the Champions League. Arsenal's defence is superb, and they retain possession well. As long as key players Saka and Odegaard stay fit and on form, I think they can do it. Second place three seasons running but their squad has never looked better or more balanced. Now is the time.
2) Liverpool
League champions and betting odds favourites. They've enhanced an already impressive squad seemingly by playing Football Manager on cheat mode and building an awesome-looking squad. They have the best players, and the talent level they have is only matched by PSG or Real Madrid in the whole of Europe. However, there is a LOT of change. Change brings disruption and means that it will take time to make the best of this. Slott did great, winning the league in his first season, but this season he has more to do. Having the best players does not make the best team. See Real Madrid signing Mbappe and getting worse. However, Liverpool is a well-run club, and I do think this will work out for them. I think their ceiling is massive, and if they get it right, they will be major Champions League contenders. However, the Community Shield defeat shows that this will take time, and this is a brutal league.
3) Man City
A super-club in transition. They are dealing with the problem that so many of theor treble winning side aged at the same time. Guardiola is a genius and their new signings are talented. Unlike others, they look to be building for the future. They could win the league, but I think it's a stretch. They will get more points than last season but I don't think they are ready. Evem with Pep.
4) Chelsea
In spite of Boeley's insanity, they have a pretty damn good team. I am predicting they will start well and be in title contention up until Xmas. Winning the Club World Cup will give them confidence. However, it will also give them fatigue. Come January, Cole Palmer and other key players like Cole Palmer will be exhausted and they don't have the elite-level backup to rotate at this level. Playing in the Champions League means tougher fixtures too.
5) Brighton
After a couple of disappointing seasons, I think they will do it. One of the best run clubs in Europe and not playing too many games. Weaknesses elsewhere give them a shot of the Champions League places. Two players you have never heard of will become top-level players this season because it's Brighton.
6) Aston Villa
They have PSR issues and thin squad but still have quality. Emery is the perfect coach for them.
7) Tottenham
Frank will make them a LOT harder to beat than Kamikaze Ange, but they will be less effective up front. Maddison's injury is an issue. Still, a better season beckons.
8) Newcastle
They have had a crap transfer window, and Isak may leave. However, Howe is a top coach and they still have a quality side. However, don't think they have the player resources to qualify for the Champions League in the season that they play in it.
Mid-Table
There is such little difference between these teams that predicting is a waste of time. Man United will be mid-tablel, though, and their fans should treat this as progress, given how bad they were last season.
Relegation.
The obvious bet is for the three newly promoted teams to go down because it is what has happened in the last two seasons. However, I think Sunderland will surprise people. They have done brilliant business in the transfer window and have a smart counter-attacking coach. Leeds won the championship and has a decent squad, but their coach, Daniel Farke, struggled badly when his Norwich teams got promoted. In addition, a few established Premier League clubs (like Brentford, Notts Forest and Bournemouth) have lost a lot of players. West Ham also looks potentially vulnerable
As on my team (Burnley), I want to be optimistic, but we have lost key players. The signings made by the club have been decent, but this league is brutal, and it's hard to see us getting 35+ points.
So I'm predicting Burnley and Leeds to go down, along with one other.
1) Arsenal
I feel like being brave, and I am going with the Gooners. Zubimendi is an excellent player and raises the level of their midfield. Viktor Gyökeres is exactly the striker that they needed. Yes, he has never played in a major European league at 27, but he has done very well in the Champions League. Arsenal's defence is superb, and they retain possession well. As long as key players Saka and Odegaard stay fit and on form, I think they can do it. Second place three seasons running but their squad has never looked better or more balanced. Now is the time.
2) Liverpool
League champions and betting odds favourites. They've enhanced an already impressive squad seemingly by playing Football Manager on cheat mode and building an awesome-looking squad. They have the best players, and the talent level they have is only matched by PSG or Real Madrid in the whole of Europe. However, there is a LOT of change. Change brings disruption and means that it will take time to make the best of this. Slott did great, winning the league in his first season, but this season he has more to do. Having the best players does not make the best team. See Real Madrid signing Mbappe and getting worse. However, Liverpool is a well-run club, and I do think this will work out for them. I think their ceiling is massive, and if they get it right, they will be major Champions League contenders. However, the Community Shield defeat shows that this will take time, and this is a brutal league.
3) Man City
A super-club in transition. They are dealing with the problem that so many of theor treble winning side aged at the same time. Guardiola is a genius and their new signings are talented. Unlike others, they look to be building for the future. They could win the league, but I think it's a stretch. They will get more points than last season but I don't think they are ready. Evem with Pep.
4) Chelsea
In spite of Boeley's insanity, they have a pretty damn good team. I am predicting they will start well and be in title contention up until Xmas. Winning the Club World Cup will give them confidence. However, it will also give them fatigue. Come January, Cole Palmer and other key players like Cole Palmer will be exhausted and they don't have the elite-level backup to rotate at this level. Playing in the Champions League means tougher fixtures too.
5) Brighton
After a couple of disappointing seasons, I think they will do it. One of the best run clubs in Europe and not playing too many games. Weaknesses elsewhere give them a shot of the Champions League places. Two players you have never heard of will become top-level players this season because it's Brighton.
6) Aston Villa
They have PSR issues and thin squad but still have quality. Emery is the perfect coach for them.
7) Tottenham
Frank will make them a LOT harder to beat than Kamikaze Ange, but they will be less effective up front. Maddison's injury is an issue. Still, a better season beckons.
8) Newcastle
They have had a crap transfer window, and Isak may leave. However, Howe is a top coach and they still have a quality side. However, don't think they have the player resources to qualify for the Champions League in the season that they play in it.
Mid-Table
There is such little difference between these teams that predicting is a waste of time. Man United will be mid-tablel, though, and their fans should treat this as progress, given how bad they were last season.
Relegation.
The obvious bet is for the three newly promoted teams to go down because it is what has happened in the last two seasons. However, I think Sunderland will surprise people. They have done brilliant business in the transfer window and have a smart counter-attacking coach. Leeds won the championship and has a decent squad, but their coach, Daniel Farke, struggled badly when his Norwich teams got promoted. In addition, a few established Premier League clubs (like Brentford, Notts Forest and Bournemouth) have lost a lot of players. West Ham also looks potentially vulnerable
As on my team (Burnley), I want to be optimistic, but we have lost key players. The signings made by the club have been decent, but this league is brutal, and it's hard to see us getting 35+ points.
So I'm predicting Burnley and Leeds to go down, along with one other.
41-45, M
