1. Chelsea. Look best placed to win the title this year, unfortunately. They will miss Drogba and Essien from January 10th-31st on African Nations duty but should cope. Need to keep Terry or replace him with commanding centre-half.
2. Arsenal. Arsenal's young team to come of age this year - Rosicky and Eduardo back, Arshavin for the whole season, Adebayor gone... Wenger still needs to buy a defensive midfielder, and possibly another striker to replace Adebayor (Bendtner is a late substitute at best) if they are to mount a serious title challenge.
3. Man Utd. Will struggle without Ronaldo, Michael Owen will only be a bit-part player. They will become too reliant on Rooney, not enough goals or quality in midfield.
4. Man City. Will finish no higher than 4th, no matter how much they spend. Mark Hughes is incapable of handling such a squad of superstar players and their egos. He should be managing a mid-table club at best, or fighting relegation.
5. Liverpool. Alonso will be a massive loss next season when he inevitably leaves. He was the glue that held them together. Need to buy a left back, striker, left midfielder, and a replacement for Alonso (I don't rate Mascherano at all, can't understand why Barca are reportedly interested). Don't think they have the money to do that (unless they reinvest any proceeds from the sales of Mascherano/Alonso wisely), and they will struggle this year despite the best efforts of Gerrard and Torres.
6. Everton. Toss-up between Everton, Villa and Spurs for 6th-7th-8th, instead of 5th-6th-7th this year. Top 4 now the Top 5.
7. Villa

18. Burnley. This year's West Brom - nice pretty football, but ultimately not good enough.
19. Portsmouth. Fire sale currently on at the south coast club. Johnson and Campbell gone, Crouch and Distin going. No talk of replacements, not enough quality in the squad to stay up. Need to get ownership issue sorted ASAP or they will be heading towards Southampton.
20. Hull. Can't sign anyone because nobody wants to go there. Phil Brown's ego to take a battering next season.

nocky (Wexford) - Posts: 2059 - 19/07/2009 19:36:59    351860

juan Veron

Liverpool are nothing without Torres and gerrard, I do understand that statement but they are still there, so unless both of them disappear to an island somewhere this comment is irrelevant.
plus Torres missed about 15 games last year in the league and they came second, they beat Chelsea and united without either of them. So your statement may be a little biased.

I regards to the actual post, Arsenal and united are currently weaker than they were last year, Chelsea are marginally better and Liverpool have added to the squad and are a little stronger assuming they hold onto their players. I think fergie is a liar and they will buy someone really big yet like Villa or Young but until that happens they are in the running for 3rd place.

1/2 Chelsea/ Liverpool
3. United

If they started tomoro, it would have to be Liverpool
relegated: I dont care, I'm just so so happy Necastle went down last year.

gottabetrue (Tyrone) - Posts: 300 - 20/07/2009 11:55:14    352809

The Vermin wont have another year where EVERYTHING and i mean everything will go as well for them. United coming back from Japan and playing twice a week for most of the season after february. Chelsea in bedlam with a coach who wasnt wanted etc. Arsenal wont be as poor. City nay have a bigger say.

Liverpool had their chance last season and they blew it. 7 point turn around in as many weeks. Dont Forget United were pretty unispiring last season uncharacteristicly relying on defence as Attack struggled. Ronaldo is a big loss but the team will set up a different way now more balanced and i fancy Valencia to surpirse alot of people, Owen will also get more goals than Tevez did last season.

1) Manchester United
2)Chelsea
3)Liverpool
4)Everton
5)Arsenal
6)Aston Villa
7)Manchester City

Samsforthehills (Donegal) - Posts: 1075 - 22/07/2009 00:10:23    356255

Liverpool and arsenal-no chance,It'l be a shootout between Man u and CSKA Fulham. relegation for Hull,wolves and Birmingham.

fredrickwood (Roscommon) - Posts: 2871 - 22/07/2009 15:27:49    357006

In hindsight, How do ye all feel about your predictions?

JuanVeron (Westmeath) - Posts: 1866 - 18/03/2010 21:49:21    592095

I don't think I'm too far wrong anyway Juan.

I got the top 3 right, predicting Arsenal's strong season and Liverpool's poor one. Some posters were very wrong here, predicting Arsenal to finish way down and Liverpool to win it all.

The final order of the top 3 we won't know hopefully until the last weekend of the season. I stand by my comments about the top 3 as well, although Chelsea coped admirably without Drogba and Essien (even though Essien is missed), and Rooney has carried United better than I expected. Still feel Wenger should have strengthened his squad, as when anyone gets injured they struggle (squad not as strong as Chelsea/United).

Man City are still looking good for 4th, and Hughes is gone. Alonso left, and Liverpool have missed him massively. I overrated Everton slightly, although they were badly effected by injuries, and underrated Spurs, but apart from that I think I was pretty spot on.

Think I also got the three for relegation correct, if not necessarily the order, and feel my comments were pretty accurate. If only I'd put money on my predictions!

nocky (Wexford) - Posts: 2059 - 19/03/2010 13:03:46    592433