So, football finally came home , [THANKYOU LIONESSES] and with that, it's now time for a brand new season in the Premier League which will be played across two halves, with a world cup in the middle of it. Strange.
So, without further delay, here is how I think the Premier League table will look, come the end of game-week 38.
1) LIVERPOOL - Recruited well, although how big a loss Mane to Munich will prove, remains to be seen but in the door they've bought well, and look to have a couple of star players, in the near future, and beyond in Darwin Nunez and Fabio Carvalho. Couple this, with emerging players already there, such as Diego Jota and the left and right backs [Robertson, Alexander-Arnold] There doesn't seem to be any weak links here, although how far in the cups, and champions league, may also play a factor.
2) Manchester City. Should be a closely fought battle, which will likely go to the final game of the season again [jolly good] ! Now, in getting Haaland, it is possibly the greatest transfer in the history of the premier league, but the issue that still plagues them is defensively. They've also lost some depth off the bench in Jesus and Zinchenko [both to Arsenal], and perhaps the only quirk is many defenders can play multiple positions, but if any of them go down, and City will be already starting the season without their best CB [Laporte] it could be a difficult start, which may prove to be too hard to overcome in the end.
3) Tottenham . Bare with me here, I can see those eyebrows are raised. In the door have come Richarlison, Perisic, and Bissouma, three players which definitely add an extra dimension, and more options in game management, and with Richarlison, Spurs can stop relying on Harry Kane so much, and perhaps, have different ways to win. Joining these plays, on loan is Lenglet from Barcelona, and while he's not the frightening centre back he was projected to be in his early career, he's still going to add a bit of steel to the back line. They've also spent big on bringing on Djed Spence. I don't think they have the squad to handle the league, plus European adventures, but they are much better off, and this is the best they can hope for this campaign. They aren't far off though !
4) Arsenal. There were times last season that they were really going to kick on and start to challenge for honours, but of course, there were also times which looked like their world was collapsing. With the additions [mentioned previously from Manchester City] they've added a little more grit, determination and quality that has so often been found wanting especially in front of goal. Not only is it more quality, its two very good players, who have the mentality of winning things, which is desperate for the Club. No premier league this season, but they have gotten closer, and will be in the champions league again in 2023.
5) Chelsea . A strange call you may think, but Thomas Tuchel isn't the manager Chelsea thinks he is. I can see a world, where he's finished by Christmas, but let's assume that he isn't. Instead of playing games in the transfer market, with other premier league clubs, focus on what you need, and they have done that to an extent, adding quality options in Raheem Sterling[ Manchester City] and Carney Chukwumeka [from Aston Villa]. At time of writing, left back, which has been an issue, talks are progressing to the signing of Marc Cucurella, and if they can also get the deal for Wesley Fofana over the line too, this could edge arsenal back out of the top 4. As it is, this is what will be a key season for the brand new owners of the club, and if they see enough to keep the faith.
6) Leicester . There or there abouts since they shockingly won the league, will always be a threat on any given weekend, but sadly for them, not enough throughout the cause of the season. If they lose Tielemans, and/or Fofana at any point then there top 6 chances drastically reduce, and having just lost Goalkeeper, Kasper Schmeichel, some might say, they might have already seen there best days. What will never change, is they have an owner, that cares about the club, community and doing things the right way, and this can never be forgotten, especially after the tragedy of their former chairman losing his life, after a game in 2018, he has built an amazing legacy.
7) Manchester United. Yes, you've read this correctly. Ten Hag, isn't going to immediately fix whatever's been wrong at Old Trafford, since Sir Alex Ferguson hung up his managerial suit. Seemingly, the first thing he has to do, is try to move the media circus on from CR7. He's bought really well however, but there are still some questions as to who can put the ball in the net, if CR7 doesn't fancy playing, and there will of course be issues at defence, until Harry Maguire remembers how to defend again.
The mid table places will be very hard fought, and the next entries could well finish in any order within a few points, or goals of each other.
8) Aston Villa. Yep, the club ive followed and supported since before I could talk, will have an astronomically amazing season, but fall just short of the European football the fanbase craves so much, by a couple of points, by carelessly throwing away a win at Old Trafford, in late April. Amazing signings, and some more to come, and some terrific sales, the club, for the first full season under Gerrard ball, the sky is the limit for this club once again. UP THE VILLA !
9) Newcastle. Will be a tussle between Newcastle and Aston Villa for a rise up the ranks, and with a key fixture between the two in Mid April, the winner of that will probably just hold the advantage. Linked with a fair few players, and bought really well, the key will be keeping their wing backs healthy, and if they do that all season, they could well finish higher than 9th !
10) Wolverhampton Wanderers. Slow but steady progress under Nuno's successor, and same again really this time out. Finished 12th last season, and are well placed for a slight improvement and consistency grows, but with the pre season injury to talismanic striker Raul Jimenez, could prove an early hurdle to this, as well as trying to coax more consistency out of livewire Adama Traore too.
11) Crystal Palace . If you thought last season was tight in the mid table, then get ready for an even tighter one this season. Solid squad building from Patrick Viera, and it could be key that the most important player to leave was on loan Connor Gallagher who at times was simply unplayable, and lit up the highlight reels. With the early game against Arsenal tonight, it will be key to see how they approach the threats and how they plan to play.
12) Brighton and Hove Albion. Not much to say about Brighton, perhaps they'd fare worse if they didn't team up with Hove to form a club, but all kidding aside Graham Potter is performing minor miracles with this team, although [at time if writing] one of their star players last season has been linked with a move all summer, first to Manchester city, and most recently to Chelsea. Should that finalise before the first game kicks off [although there's a few weeks left in the window] it's going to be no easy task to replicate last campaign, and there will be some drop off and only a few less points, will see a few positions lost on last season. Nothing to worry about ,[yet] for the Seagulls.
13) West Ham United. Yes. Not a chance they repeat what they did last time out, and their heroics in the Europa league will catch up with them, although David Moyes has a very coherent squad at his disposal, and they play a certain way. It's always a case of what next for this team, and trying to put Dimitri Payet in the rear view mirror, there's a strong case of de ja vu about this team. They'll continue to make life difficult for whoever they play every week, but they'll lose a few that last season they narrowly won, or drew at worse.
14) Southampton. This is possibly the riskiest placement, and they aren't really doing much in the transfer window, and have a very young squad, is it too young? Perhaps not, but the enthusiasm they will play with at times, will often leave the team short if they aren't careful, but they shouldn't be any danger of being in a relegation battle either.
Teams here, and below will be in a relegation battle for all/ most of the season.
15) Everton. Same issues plaguing Frank Lampard as for portions of last season, especially under his predecessor Rafa Benitez. Injuries. Everton will be starting the season without DCL , and that could be key especially as they are trying to recruit more in the attacking areas. The Everton fans, are going to need to dig deep to carry their team through. Slight increase in results from last season but will never be lacking in performance.
16) Brentford. Thomas Frank's side aren't fooling me. Before Christian Eriksen rocked up, Brentford were suffering, and second season syndrome is a real thing that they will experience, but Ivan Toney, if fit, will have enough about himself to hold their head above water, but the loss of Eriksen on a free is a massive blow, which dampens the creativity of a tense game that Eriksen gave them. Will do enough as a squad, but need serious investment, and transfers either later this season, or in areas in January to players that may have got frozen out at their current clubs.
17) Nottingham Forest. Cutting it close, but a successful campaign to avoid relegation and some very shrewd business in the transfer market, and after a 23 year absence from football's top flight, Forest are simply raring to go, and it will be good to hear the fans of Premier League Nottingham Forest once again. Likely aren't finished in the market, but Jesse Lingard now calls Nottingham his home. Mad !
18) Leeds United. Jesse Marsch was able to steer Leeds towards safety last season, after Marcelo ball came to an untimely? end, but with a full season ahead, I'm not sure they can avoid relegation back to the 2nd tier. I think the best thing about the season ahead is Leeds new away shirt. Key players have left in Kalvin Phillips and Raphina and have yet to be adequately replaced, could be a long struggle, and perhaps a few managers through the door. Will spend 2023/24 in the Championship.
19) Bournemouth . Marcus Tavernier has arrived on the south coast, for a fairly modest fee, and aside from a couple of fringe players at other clubs, still needs a few players and can be considered on the light side. Fans will have fond memories of their previous tenure in the Premier league, and Eddie Howe[ now at Newcastle] showed a brand of exciting football but Scott Parker, although a promising manager, might not have enough Premier League experience to steer them to safety this time.
20 ) Fulham. Would be tempting to just say, see you in two seasons, but had Carvalho not left for Liverpool, it might be an interesting call as to who will go down instead, but i think without that threat that he can deliver, Fulham will be valiant in their efforts but will come up short. Bright side, Mitrovic will be allowed to do what he does and net double digits in goals, but will all be too late to make a difference in the end.
So, that's my first predictions column in the books, let me know what you think, and ill be back in May to revisit these and see how accurate I was. Thankyou so much for reading feel free to leave yours below.
