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Football predictions for new season
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08-08-2007 1:06pm#1
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I think the league will be won by Chelsea or United.
I would not be hugely surprised to see Arsenal up there for a lot of the season, but ultimately fading off towards the end (largely due to defensive problems) I wouldn't be surprised to see them not challenge at all but put in a good run after Christmas.
I would be genuinely surprised to see Liverpool up there by Christmas time.
In terms of United, I think we have made one major signing this summer, and that's Hargreaves. The games we lost last season were in a large part due to being overrun in midfield. Hargreaves will really add some bite in there. I think our top 11 has not changed much, and personally, if I had to choose between having Saha fit and Tevez fit for the start of the season, I'd pick Saha. What we have done is add depth, which will really help us out, especially after Christmas. Instead of Richardson we have Nani, instead of nobody covering Scholes we have Anderson, instead of Smith we have Tevez, instead of O'Shea (in DM) we have Hargreaves. That's real improvement, but I don't think we can do much better next season. If we can get ahead of Chelsea early on, I think we can win it. If we go behind, that could be it. I'm kinda hoping Liverpool take points off them in week 2
Chelsea have improved their depth where there was none before. Adding Alex and Ben-Haim are great signings which will add real depth. They are still weak in the RB position. Adding Malouda gives them Robben, Malouda, Joe Cole and SWP vying for the wing positions. That's a great squad, especially with SWP finally starting to reproduce his Man City form.
The real change is their reversion to 4-3-3, which was shockingly effective. They will be very very strong, and imo, are favorites for the league. I think their squad is as good as Uniteds but their style of football makes them more effective and more likely to win the league. I think both United and Chelsea are incredibly good at the styles of football, and have the perfect squads for it, but I think Chelsea's football is just more effective.
In terms of Arsenal, I think they are quite the bogey team. If they get going, and that's a big if, I think they will be a scary as **** team. Van Persie and Eduardo I think will light up the premiership next season.
Obviously they are lacking some quality in the left wing position, and imo, are weak defensively in the left back position (Sagna should do well, he was voted best right back in the french league last year), but there depth is very impressive. Gallas and Toure could well be the best CB pairing in the league. Gilberto and Fabregas are great in midfield, with Denilson providing good cover, although I think a little more cover could be useful.
Most importantly, there seems to be a change in attitude, largely shown by Gallas (who I think might be made captain because of this).
Winning is more important than playing beautiful football.
Coupled with this is the attitude that it's easier to win with attacking football, and it's better to win with it. I think there will be less passing around the goal, and more shots, and I think Eduardo is a natural finisher. This is the change which I think gives them a chance to break through, a change in style to make you more effective (something that I don't think Liverpool will do)
I really look forward to watching them next season.
I don't see why people are predicting a huge decline for Arsenal against Liverpool. Last season Liverpool were tied on points and got 2 goals more than them. Last season Henry was missing for most of it and Van Persie was missing for a small bit of it. Henry is gone this season, and is replaced with Eduardo. If anything they must improve next season after Henry leaves.
In terms of Liverpool, I think they have one of the easiest starts of the top 4 (Villa, Chelsea, Sunderland, Derby, Portsmouth, Wigan)
I think in order to win they will have to shift their emphasis towards more attacking styles, which will expose the fralities in their defence, especially in terms of cover.
Furthermore I don't think there attack is up for it, particuarly on the wings and up front.
If Gerrard switches back to the center I think they will be too dependent on him as when he plays there the team imo plays well or poorly based on how Gerrard plays. This is a pretty good tactic and will win you cups, but it will never win you a league unless Gerrard actually has the best season he ever plays. If he stays out on the wing, they have a good chance, but ultimately, they are missing another good striker, and are weak in quality depth in defence and on the wings.
I think in order for Spurs to break through, either Liverpool or Arsenal will have to underperform. I think Spurs will need to get out in front of them early, and then stay there, especiallly post-March where non top 4 clubs drop away. I think they could do it, and if I had to guess at the expense of, I'd say Liverpool.
Finally, I think the league will be won on around 85 points rather than 90+, because of the general improvement in the rest of the league and the increased pressure from more top teams.0 -
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Premiership winners: Manyoo
Premiership runners-up: Liverpool
Premiership 3rd: Chelsea
Premiership 4th: Tottenham
Premiership 5th: Arsenal
Premiership 6th: Man City
FA Cup: Arsenal
League Cup: Liverpool
Premiership relegated: Sunderland, West Ham, Derby
Championship promotions: i don't care
Scottish Premier winners: i don't care
Scottish Premier runners-up: i don't care
Scottish Cup: i don't care
Champions League: Real Madrid
UEFA Cup: Atletico Madrid
Serie A: AC Milan
La Liga: Real Madrid
Bundesliga: Bayern most likely
Ligue 1 : Lyon, also - death and taxes
Euro 2008 winners: Ireland
Euro 2008 runners-up: England 0 -
Premiership winners: Man United
Premiership runners-up: Chelsea
Premiership 3rd Liverpool
Premiership 4th: Arsenal
Premiership 5th: Tottenham
Premiership 6th: Man City
FA Cup: Arsenal
League Cup: Liverpool
Premiership relegated: Wigan, Fulham, Derby
Championship promotions: Sheffield United, Charlton, Wolves
Scottish Premier winners: Celtic
Scottish Premier runners-up: Rangers
Scottish Cup: Rangers
Champions League: Real Madrid
UEFA Cup: Bayern Munich
Serie A: AC Milan
La Liga: Barcelona
Bundesliga: Bayern
Ligue 1 : Lyon
Euro 2008 winners: Italy
Euro 2008 runners-up: HollandKingp35 wrote:No League One predictions?
Not Leeds. 0 -
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I'm pretty happy with my predictions
Two things I defo got wrong this year:
Clichy is a ****ing brilliant left back, both defensively and offensively.
United didn't play as nice as theydid last year but were more effective.0 -
Over-egged the Arsenal CB pairing also!I'm pretty happy with my predictions
Two things I defo got wrong this year:
Clichy is a ****ing brilliant left back, both defensively and offensively.
United didn't play as nice as theydid last year but were more effective.
Still, you got more right than you got wrong, particularly with regards to a shift in Arsenal’s mentality to becoming more ruthless/effective (although that largely went down the swannie at Birmingham when Gallas lost his head and Eduardo lost his leg), so well done I suppose!0 -
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I don't know mike, Toure and Gallas were really something else in the early season But yeh, they were 2nd best in the league certainly, until Toure went off to Africa and came back ****e.
Desf, I haven't actually, it's just a very subtle distinction.
Attacking football is extremely important. Arsenal didn't play attacking football though, they played beautiful football. Pass move pass move pass move, no goal. They needed to be more direct and less beautiful. Which they did.0 -
Mr.Nice Guy wrote: »Premiership winners: Manchester Utd
Premiership runners-up: Chelsea
Premiership 3rd Liverpool
Premiership 4th: Tottenham
Premiership 5th: Arsenal
Premiership 6th: Everton
That's what I get for doubting Arsene Wenger and believing in Tottenham.
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