After 3 months of long wait the Premier League is back. Liverpool and Stoke will commence the start of another season on Saturday and now is the time where the talking stops, the betting starts on bwin, and the football takes centre stage.
It has been a summer of intense transfer talk with Luis Suarez, Gareth Bale and Wayne Rooney taking most of the newspapers space. It seems like Bale is on his way out whilst it seems Liverpool have won their little battle to keep Luis Suarez despite Arsenal are set to make a bid close to £50 million pounds while Wayne Rooney’s future is still unclear.
This year we will trying to get into more interesting discussions with you about real football, we won’t be posting match day reports any more but we’ll be focusing on controversial issues, predictions, specific teams and players, potential transfers and so on.
My first idea was to post my predictions for the forthcoming season, asking you to share your predictions as well. Mine are as follows taking into account what stands so far with transfers, things however could change for example Suarez could still go to Arsenal, Rooney to Chelsea, Bale stays and so on.
1. Manchester City
2. Chelsea
3. Manchester United
4. Arsenal
5. Spurs
6. Liverpool
————————————-
18. Stoke City
19. Crystal Palace
20. Hull City
These are my predictions for the forthcoming season, what are yours? Can Jose turn on his magic again? Can Manuel Pellegrini engineer his City side to a Premier League title? Will Moyes be able to retain the crown? Or maybe Arsenal could finally pull it off?
Feel free to share your predictions and your opinions on this summer transfers (or lack of transfers if we talk about Arsenal).
Edd the Red
August 16, 2013 at 22:39
1.Chelsea
2.Manchester City
3.Manchester United
4.Tottenham
5.Liverpool
6.Arsenal (unless they sign someone decent)
7.Everton
8.Swansea
9.Norwich
10.Southampton
11.West Brom
12.Newcastle
13.Fulham
14.Cardiff
15.Sunderland
16.West Ham
17.Aston Villa
18.Stoke
19.Crystal Palace
20.Hull City
My predictions, I seriously believe that Arsenal will struggle if they don’t sign anyone but I guess that could change. We have kept Suarez for now and we are in talks with Willian who would be fantastic in my mind, though I’m not sure that would happen. Think the Mourinho effect will get Chelsea the league. I think Palace won’t do as badly as people are thinking but will still struggle to stay up and I think Stoke will join them and Hull in the championship next year.
Saying that, they will probably now beat us tomorrow :p
Gaurav Chaddah
August 17, 2013 at 08:42
I can’t see Arsenal finishing so low TBH… Year on year despite lack of signings Wenger does manage to pull it out the bag, I reckon he may do it again and scrap that 4th position,I cannot see them finishing below Liverpool at the moment however if Suarez does stay what could happen now then he could fire Liverpool up the table, going to be interesting to see who finishes 4th.
Edd the Red
August 17, 2013 at 16:04
I just don’t think they have a better team than us, I think Wilshere is the only Arsenal player who I would want at Liverpool. Obviously Wenger is the more experienced coach which could make the difference but their squad is stale and needs reinforcements.
Gaurav Chaddah
August 18, 2013 at 09:55
Fair point but the problem I see with Liverpool last season is the inconsistency and the ability to dominate so many games and not win them a bit like yesterday where they were excellent but it should have been more than 1 however Begovic was outstanding.
Johnny Karp
August 16, 2013 at 22:43
I agree with Edd, I see Chelsea as champions this season. But as an Arsenal fan I am quite fearful ahead of this campaign, seems we’re heading towards another year of disappointments. But I’m looking forward to seeing Ryo Miyaichi in the Arsenal shirt, that kid could become a huge hit. Also if Sanogo turns as good as he was in FM, we’ll be in for some glory days :)
Gaurav Chaddah
August 17, 2013 at 08:46
Chelsea or City for me, just depends whether Chelsea get Rooney or Mourinho gets the best out of Torres and whether City’s signings all blend together.
I think Arsenal fans will be very disappointed they’ve bought no one in bar Sonago especially considering they’ve been close to signing Gustavo in the last few days and have been linked with Suarez and Rooney and had bids rejected.
Bmwdestroyer
August 16, 2013 at 23:00
1 City
2 United
3 Chelsea
4 Arsenal
18 Stoke – Dont rate Mark Hughes as a manager atall
19 Cardiff
20 Hull
Really hope palace stay up especially as I have a season ticket there :P
Think if spurs loose Bale then they will finish really low
Gaurav Chaddah
August 17, 2013 at 08:48
Agree with the top 4, bar the top 2 which could be different in terms of order. Same with the 3 going down, think Hughes his a piss poor manager but I think Cardiff will survive and despite my love for Hollaway I think Palace will be going down.
If Spurs lose Bale then I think they’ll still be up there, just depends if Soldado can score the goals.
Ben
August 16, 2013 at 23:15
1. Chelsea
2. Man City
3. Man United
4. Spurs
5. Arsenal
6. Liverpool
18. Sunderland
19. Hull
20. Palace
I think Mourinho will get Chelsea the league, if they did end up buying a striker there would be no doubt for me. United will struggle as they actually don’t have a great squad, I’m still struggling to see how they can win a league with the midfield they have and Danny Welbeck. Even without Bale, Spurs will be 4th. Soldado will score enough goals and Chadli and Paulinho are very good signings in my opinion. Despite being an Arsenal fan, I worry for us this season. We have manager who has no idea what he’s doing and a squad that other than Wilshere, Walcott, Cazorla and Podolski is distinctly average. But we will still be better than Liverpool who haven’t strengthened at all really.
Palace and Hull are two awful teams, Palace are Championship standard and that will be shown over the season and Hull just won’t score enough. Sunderland also don’t impress me and I really want to see Di Canio muck it up, he annoys the hell out of me!
Gaurav Chaddah
August 17, 2013 at 08:50
It will be interesting to see who finishes 4th, I’m going to back Arsenal however if Bale makes a u-turn then I could see Spurs possibly challenging Manchester United for 3rd.
Sunderland was one I was thinking about, their season could go 2 ways… All the new signings could blend and they have a shock season or they do awful and go down, I hope for the latter ;)
Ben
August 19, 2013 at 13:26
I’ve changed my mind, Arsenal will be 6th and knocked out of the CL by Fenerbache, the opening day made me realize just how bad our squad is! I think Southampton will be one to watch and being 7th or 8th isn’t out of the question for them.
Gaurav Chaddah
August 19, 2013 at 15:47
Yeah wouldn’t be surprised, Arsenal looked awful. What is even worse is today Wenger had bid for Cabaye… £10 m. haha, that in my view is a joke of a bid.
Ben
August 20, 2013 at 00:23
Completely agree mate! Whilst I don’t think Cabaye is of a good enough standard for what we need, he is just a better version of Arteta who is awful, that bid is a joke. In the market nowadays, he is worth at LEAST £20m in my opinion. P**s take
Darren Smith
August 16, 2013 at 23:41
Like most I think Mourinho will have the magic touch and United’s warn midfield will struggle for the creative edge that the rest of the top flight enjoy…I just feel like Fergie knew how to use what he had whereas Moyes, needs reinforcements…
1. Chelsea
2. Man City
3. Man Utd
4. Spurs
…………………
18. Cardiff
19.Hull
20. Crystal Palace
Gaurav Chaddah
August 17, 2013 at 08:52
Yeah I agree, bar Carrick that United midfield lacks anything special and it seems they’re going to miss out on Fabregas.
I don’t know if Spurs could finish 4th without Bale but if Soldado does manage to score goals then they could.
Joel
August 16, 2013 at 23:57
1. Man City
2. Chelsea
3. Arsenal
4. Man Utd
5. Spurs
6. Liverpool
—————-
18. Crystal Palace
19. Stoke
20. Hull
Gaurav Chaddah
August 17, 2013 at 08:53
TBH I couldn’t see Arsenal finishing above United, United’s team might not be brilliant but they have some world class players still, something Arsenal are lacking at the moment unless they’re able to sign Suarez which is seeming doubtful now.
saltwater
August 17, 2013 at 01:03
1. Chelsea
2. Man City
3. Man Utd
4. Spurs
5. Arsenal
6. Liverpool
7. Swansea
8. Everton
………………………….
18. Stoke
19. Crystal Palace
20. Hull
The Mourinho factor will play its part and the Portuguese is the only one with any experience of winning the League (or in the case of Moyes, winning anything). Talking of the scot, I’m really disappointed that after years of working on a tight budget, all the money has gone to his head at United and instead of making shrewd signings after intense scouting, he has just stalked any player with a massive price-tag and not actually analysed the gaps in the team and the real deals in the market.
Arsene Wenger has, expectantly, made a mockery of any Arsenal fans that still support him, letting all their rivals strengthen without doing any business himself and investing in an unknown Frenchman who is unproven at League Two level, let alone the Prem. Fair play to him though getting rid of Gervinho, that should gain them about 5 points…
Big supporter of Ian Holloway but sadly they have a Championship squad, Hull limped into the Premier League and don’t have enough firepower, and Mark Hughes’ managerial ability is still unproven to me despite a good spell at Fulham and I don’t feel the players he has have the ability to suddenly change their playing style and pick up wins.
Gaurav Chaddah
August 17, 2013 at 08:55
I pretty much agree with everything there, seems like Chelsea fans think alike ;)
I think Wenger has lost it this summer, if I was a Arsenal fan I would have been very excited, they’ve bid for 4 players, 2 went to other clubs and 2 have been rejected and they’ve been linked to so many others, they really need signings or this could be the season they finish outside the top 4 and don’t get their 4th place trophy.
Paris
August 17, 2013 at 11:33
1. Man Utd.
2. Chelsea
3. Man City
4. Arsenal
5. Tottenham (if Bale not leave the club)
6. Swansea
7. Liverpool
Gaurav Chaddah
August 18, 2013 at 09:57
Disagree with that, United were very good yesterday but cannot see them being so consistent, especially away from home. I think United will finish 3rd and couldn’t see Swansea being so high up especially considering Europa League commitments.
Pedro Fontan
August 17, 2013 at 17:56
1. Chelsea
2. Man City
3. Man Utd
4. Arsenal (they always finish 4th when they’re not supposed to xD)
5. Tottenham
6.Liverpool
7. Norwich (just a cheeky one as i don’t actually believe they’ll finish above 10th)
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
18. Sunderland (or Stoke unfortunately)
19. Crystal Palace
20. Hull City (or Tigers now apparently)
With Mourinho i truly believe Chelsea have a chance! He always seems to win the leagues in his first year in charge xD!!
I Really hope Stoke stay up but with Mark Hughes in charge i’m not too confident in all honesty!
Also finally i think most of us want Crystal Palace to do well!!! After all Holloways are somewhat legendary
Gaurav Chaddah
August 18, 2013 at 09:58
I agree with pretty much everything you’ve said their, would love to Palace survive. I personally hope Stoke go down, just don’t like them.
Pedro Fontan
August 18, 2013 at 12:38
i don’t get why so many people dislike Stoke!!! Probably their style of play doesn’t suit everyone xD
Ben
August 19, 2013 at 13:28
I think it’s that, I hope Stoke go down, all they’ve done since being up is boot the ball up in the air and kick teams off the pitch. And when you’re an Arsenal fan like me, you have to look for some sort of an excuse! lol
Gaurav Chaddah
August 19, 2013 at 15:49
Yeah, I really dislike Stokes style of play. On Saturday there was a few less long balls attempted however and they did try to get the ball down and play when able to but I guess they’ll be a club I’ll always have a disliking for even though they have some pretty good players.
Varun Chaddah
August 18, 2013 at 14:35
1. Chelsea
2. Man Utd
3. Man City
4. Spurs
………………
5. Arsenal
6. Liverpool
………………
18. Stoke
19. Hull
20. Sunderland
Gaurav Chaddah
August 19, 2013 at 15:50
I agree with that top 4 bar City and United switched. Also I only think one of Stoke or Sunderland will join Hull with Palace being the other.
Jack
September 2, 2013 at 17:16
1. Manchester United
2. Manchester City
3. Chelsea
4. Arsenal
5. Tottenham Hotspur
6. Liverpool
7. Swansea City
8. Everton
9. West Ham United
10. Stoke City
11. West Bromwich Albion
12. Fulham
13. Aston Villa
14. Newcastle United
15. Norwich City
16. Sunderland
17. Cardiff City
18. Southampton
19. Hull City
20. Crystal Palace
Thomas
September 10, 2013 at 22:36
Looks good that table to me.