Premier League Table Prediction
1. Manchester City:
An obvious pick, but also an easy one. I predicted City to win the title each of the last five years and they've pulled it off twice in that period. But after last season's incredible display, I feel with the Premier League there for the taking, City have the best squad, the best manager and the most individual quality. Aguero is the best striker in the league, De Bruyne and Silva are the two best attacking midfielders, Kompany is the best central defender, so it's just about building the connective tissue around their core players to turn this side into title winners again.2. Arsenal:
Yes haha Arsenal finishing higher than 4th very funny. But other than City, Arsenal have the best rounded squad. Their midfield is absolutely stacked, they have quality in every area of the pitch, the best fullbacks, and once Koscielny Ozil and Giroud are back, they will have one of the best starting 11s in the league. Yes they have problems in the centre-back and centre-forward areas, but Koscielny and Giroud can plug those areas, and I'd be surprised if Wenger didn't sign at least one more defender or striker this window. No they won't win the title, because they're Arsenal but I think with the rest of the pack off the pace, they'll capitalise again.
3. Liverpool:
I think Liverpool have the capacity to make a real run at the Premier League. Vast improvements in the back end of last season, removing a lot of problematic deadwood from the squad and smart signings over the course of the summer mean that there's every reason for Liverpool fans to be optimistic that there'll be a huge improvement on last season's performances. And of course, the Klopp factor.
4. Man United:
I was really tempted to say United won't make top four. I think their squad is vastly overrated, they've been playing poorly, they've bought mediocrely and as much as I think Mourinho is an incredible manager, that isn't saying what it would have been saying 24 months ago. Moreover, I think it will take him time to bed in the squad. But that said, this is a team littered with world class individuals. De Gea, Smalling, Martial and Mhkitaryan are all seriously good players. Put them together, and United could be explosive.
5. Spurs:
Spurs undoubtedly have one of the best starting 11s in the Premier League. But as we rarely saw the best 11s of the four teams above them play regularly because of injuries, it's difficult to gauge if they're better than the teams above them and you'd have to say that if the other four teams have a similar injury record to Spurs this season, then Spurs have the biggest drop down. One injury to Kane or Dier (or Dembele, or Alli, or Eriksen, or Lamela) KO's their season. Overall, I think they'll struggle to deal with Champions League.
6. Chelsea:
A lot of people are tipping Conte's Chelsea to go far this season, and certainly like Liverpool they'll be bolstered by lack of Europe. But this Chelsea team were in total disarray for large periods of last season, they're an aging squad and although they've bought well, Conte is not one of the best managers in this league and like United and City, he will take time to bed in his team.
7. Leicester City:
It seems weird to say, but I think Leicester could be the dark horses of this Premier League campaign. Whilst all signs point to an imminent implosion, they nevertheless have largely the same core of players that did so well last season and I expect the teams above them to all struggle. Whilst I've put them 7th here, if they can hold onto Mahrez then I could see them penetrating the top four again.
8. Southampton:
Once again, it's a summer of rebuilding from Southampton, as they lost their manager, and two of their top players. But once again, you expect them to bounce back. They sign smart, they look good, they're hard to beat and on their day they can take anyone down. Expecting them to challenge for Europe again.
9. West Ham:
West Ham feel they have the capability to turn last season's 7th into a springboard into a sustained challenge on the current top teams. The reality is that despite their swanky new stadium and a core of good players, you can't turn into a superpower overnight, and their dismal failings in the transfer market to sign a top striker reflect that. They'll do very well but there are at least six or seven teams in the league better than them.
10. Stoke:
Stoke are in a really good position to finish in the top ten again this season, keeping all of their key players and buying smartly, especially if they can secure the signing of Saido Berahino from West Brom. It'll be a tough battle for them, but often consistency can be a huge bonus, with a lot of instability in a lot of the clubs around them.
11. Everton:
Everton have brought in Koeman, and so much of their season will depend on whether or not they can retain their big stars. John Stones has already gone, and I'm basing this rating on the premise that Romelu Lukaku leaves as well. So far they've been plucking decent players from mediocre teams to really cement their mid-table position, as Bolasie, Kone and Williams are all looking to come in, as well as possibly Wilfried Bony. They're replacing their best players with decent players, but at least they've improved their manager.
12. Middlesbrough:
Boro are shaping up to be this season's shock team. They have an excellent core of players, have bought some big names with Premier League and international experience and I think that they will really upset the apple cart this season, finishing ahead of the likes of West Brom and Palace.
13. West Brom:
As long as West Brom have Tony Pulis at the helm, they'll be fine. They've not lost any key players, and if they can snatch Christian Benteke out from under Crystal Palace's noses, then they shouldn't be close to the relegation dogfight. Either way, West Brom in decent shape.
14. Bournemouth:
Bournemouth are another team that are in decent shape, having avoided being raided so far this summer, and making smart signings. With major players hopefully fit this season, Bournemouth will be once again aiming for survival and should achieve that aim comfortably.
15. Watford:
Watford have two aces up their sleeve. Troy Deeney and Odion Igahlo. Their refusal to sell those two for any money at all may just be what keeps them in the Premier League again this season. They showed in the opening half of 2015/16 that they shouldn't drift into trouble.
16. Swansea:
The alarm bells have to be ringing at Swansea, selling their best central defender, as well as shipping out almost all of their goalscorers and gambling on Llorente from Spain, a striker who is a bit one dimensional and not actually all that good at scoring goals. But Swansea finished 11th last season for a reason, have quality players and Guidolin is a class manager, so they should be fine.
17. Crystal Palace:
Palace are a side in decline. Pardew is a painfully average manager, they're selling Bolasie and unless they sign Benteke I could see them getting relegated. They have key players in key positions who simply aren't Premier League quality and although I think they'll hold on, they could run into trouble.
18. Burnley:
Burnley are a good side, with a lot of good players, but I suspect that the current standard of the league will be too high for them, particularly as you suspect they're ripe for having their best players picked off in January. Andre Gray and Sam Vokes will be huge for them.
19. Sunderland:
How long can one horribly average side cling to Premier League status before they finally drop out? With David Moyes at the helm, a man who may seriously struggle with the size of the challenge ahead of him, I suspect that without Sam Allardyce, Sunderland are in real trouble.
20. Hull:
Hull have a real, real chance of beating Derby for the worst team ever in the Premier League. They are an absolute trainwreck, having lost their manager, their entire squad is injured, the owners are hated and they just are all around terrible. Could be a long and hard season for them.
Final Table:
1. Manchester City
2. Arsenal
3. Liverpool
4. Manchester United
5. Spurs
6. Chelsea
7. Leicester
8. Southampton
9. West Ham
10. Stoke
11. Everton
12. Middlesbrough
13. West Brom
14. Bournemouth
15. Watford
16. Swansea
17. Crystal Palace
18. Burnley
19. Sunderland
20. Hull
I cannot wait to be proved horribly wrong (but not about Hull, they're not winning the league, sorry Joe).
Olympic Watch
- Fiji were absolutely incredible in the rugby sevens final, but Team GB did well to even get into the final and will take the silver.
- How awesome were Granger and Thornley? Another crew for whom silver is a serious acheivement.
- And there was also a silver for Hounslow and Florence, retaining their medal from London 2012.
- But the stars of the day were the Jason Kenny, Callum Skinner and Phillip Hindes, who went one better and pulled off an insane gold medal at the expense of favourites New Zealand.
- Meanwhile, flag bearer Andy Murray and golfer Justin Rose keep their own hopes alive. Big names.
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