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HOW WILL THE LEAGUE LOOK AT THE END OF 2015/16?
HOW WILL THE LEAGUE LOOK AT THE END OF 2015/16?
1. Manchester City
Before the season started I would have backed Chelsea all the way, but I think the title is already out of their grasp. Manchester City have spent huge money throughout the summer, and the board will accept nothing less than another Premier League crown. I think they’ll end up winning with 3 or 4 games to spare.
2. Chelsea
Something just doesn’t seem to be right at Stamford Bridge. Jose Mourinho isn’t renowned for being overly positive or chirpy, but this season it appears like he doesn’t want to be there. I think at the beginning of the season most people expected Chelsea to run away with the title but, even at this early stage of the season, second place is now probably the best Blues fans can hope for.
3. Manchester United
A large portion of Red Devils fans seem to be of the opinion that Louis van Gaal doesn’t really know what he wants from his squad, and I can’t help but agree with them. The team doesn’t seem balanced, and there is a lot of emphasis on Wayne Rooney grabbing more than his fair share of the goals. I think third place would represent a fairly successful season given the players at Old Trafford, but I expect a backlash from supporters if they fail to challenge for the title.
4. Arsenal
All Wenger needed to do was buy a striker. ONE. TOP. STRIKER. And the league could have been theirs for the taking. Don’t get me wrong, I rate Olivier Giroud very highly, but to win a title you need more than one forward capable of tucking away those important goals (and Danny Welbeck is NOT that other striker). I think they’ll be close to the top for the majority of the season, but will fade around February/March.
5. Liverpool
Fifth might be a little generous for Liverpool, but I think they’ll finish ahead of Everton and Tottenham so it seems fairly logical to put them here. Rodgers has, once again, spent heavily – £32.5m for Christian Benteke and around £29m for Roberto Firmino – but a number of Reds fans don’t seem entirely satisfied by the purchases. Finishing in the Champions League spots is probably too big an ask this season.
6. Everton
I don’t know why I’m so positive about Everton’s chances this season, but I really think they’ll surprise a few people. The additions of Aaron Lennon, Tom Cleverley and Gerard Deulofeu should help bolster an already impressive squad, and ensure the Toffees give plenty of teams problems throughout the campaign.
7. Tottenham
Europa League is, once again, the best Spurs can hope for. Kane seems to have been found out a little and, without him bagging the goals, it’s difficult to see where the wins are going to come from. I’m expecting a season of relative disappointment at White Hart Lane, and could even see Mauricio Pochettino losing his job if the team goes through a poor spell around Christmas.
8. Stoke
Mark Hughes arguably pulled off two of the most impressive deals in the transfer window after securing the signatures of Ibrahim Afellay and Xherdan Shaqiri. They haven’t had a great start to the season, but I expect the team to improve drastically in the next couple of weeks. Finishing in the European spots isn’t an unrealistic expectation.
9. Leicester City
I was thoroughly impressed by Leicester at the end of the last season and, though the club’s hierarchy thought it prudent to change managers during the summer, that form seems to have continued into this campaign. Gokhan Inler will be a tremendous signing, as will Christian Fuchs, and I genuinely believe Leicester can achieve a top half finish this term.
10. West Ham United
Trying to predict how West Ham will perform from one week to the next is the work of a true clairvoyant, so trying to forecast how the Hammers will end the season is all but impossible. Bilic has made some very solid signings during the summer window – the return of Alex Song, in particular – but I’ve no idea how the players will gel. This one is a massive shot in the dark.
11. Newcastle United
Steve McClaren has been tasked with a top eight finish and winning a trophy this season. Unfortunately, the Magpies’ ambitious board won’t get either of those things. Newcastle have made some very good signings – Wijnaldum is a particularly astute purchase – but it’s still too early for Newcastle to have any realistic hope of finishing in the European spots.
12. Southampton
You just never know what you’re going to get with the Saints. One minute they’re tremendous, the next they look like a team stuck in the middle of a relegation fight. They are facing the unenviable task of attempting to top the success of last season, and I don’t think they quite have the squad to do it. However, I will admit I thought that last season, too.
13. Crystal Palace
Thirteenth is perhaps a little bit of a conservative prediction given the captures of Yohan Cabaye and Patrick Bamford, but I think Palace will need another season in the top flight before they can even think of finishing in the European spots. However, a top ten finish wouldn’t completely surprise me.
14. Swansea City
The Swans didn’t have a particularly exciting transfer window – Franck Tabanou, Kristoffer Nordfeldt and Oliver McBurnie, anyone? – but they’ve got enough in the squad already to ensure there won’t be any thoughts of relegation. Mid-table is probably the best Swansea can hope for this year.
15. Aston Villa
Tim Sherwood is finally getting the opportunity to build a Premier League squad, and boy has he taken to the task with relish. He added no fewer than 11 new faces during the summer transfer window, including large outlays for former Barcelona man Adama Traore and ex-Lorient forward Jordan Ayew. I think Villa will avoid any kind of relegation scrap, but it’s still too soon for them to be dreaming of a top half finish.
16. West Bromwich Albion
West Brom were my tip to go down in 18th, but the signing of Jonny Evans – if he stays fit – will keep them up. He really is that good an addition to the squad. The Berahino situation has left a sour taste in the mouth of Baggies fans, but he’ll be playing again in no time. The boy is known for his strops, but he’ll settle down and play at the Hawthorns again. I wouldn’t put it past him to sign a new contract.
17. Norwich City
I’m still touch and go on whether Norwich will actually survive. It’ll be close, and could possibly go down to the last couple of games, but they should be in with a shout of assuring Premier League safety right at the death. Aside from Youssouf Mulumbu I haven’t been too impressed with the Canaries’ summer transfer dealings, but we’ll have to wait and see.
18. Watford
It was either Watford or Norwich for the final relegation spot and, following the flip of a coin, it’s the Hornets that will be going down. Etienne Capoue was a terrific signing, as was Valon Behrami, but I just don’t think it’ll be enough to keep them up.
19. Bournemouth
As much as I want Bournemouth to stay up, I just don’t think it will happen. They don’t have the budget to compete with the bigger sides, and haven’t brought in the type of quality signing that will ensure Premier League survival. They’ll fight to the death, but I can’t see it being enough.
20. Sunderland
The Black Cats really deserved to go down last season but, somehow, they managed to escape the drop. Unfortunately for Sunderland fans, I just can’t see them doing it this year. I think they’ll go down, and they could well be dead in the water by as early as April.
