Around the start of every season after the summer transfer window has closed, I try to predict how the final league table will look as well as how we’ll do in the cups.
I also conduct match-by-match result predictions, both at the start of the season and then pre-match.
First of all, here’s that very prediction piece from September 2023 (click this link if you wish to see it).
Here’s how I did
Final League Table 2023-24:
1st Manchester City SPOT ON!
-------------------------------------------------
2nd Arsenal SPOT ON!
3rd Liverpool 1 place out (had ‘em down for 4th)
4th Aston Villa 4 places out (had ‘em down for 8th)
-------------------------------------------------
5th Tottenham Hotspur 2 places out (had ‘em down for 3rd)
6th Chelsea SPOT ON!
-------------------------------------------------
7th Newcastle United SPOT ON!
-------------------------------------------------
8th Manyoo 3 places out (had ‘em down for 5th)
9th West Ham United 3 places out (had ‘em down for 12th)
10th Crystal Palace 4 places out (had ‘em down for 14th)
11th Brighton & Hove Albion 3 places out (had ‘em down for 8th)
12th AFC Bournemouth 1 place out (had ‘em down for 13th)
13th Fulham 2 places out (had ‘em down for 11th)
14th Wolverhampton Wanderers 2 places out (had ‘em down for 16th)
15th Everton 3 places out (had ‘em down for 18th)
16th Brentford 6 places out (had ‘em down for 10th)
17th Nottingham Forest 2 places out (had ‘em down for 15th)
-------------------------------------------------
18th Luton Town 2 places out (had ‘em down for 20th)
19th Burnley SPOT ON!
20th Sheffield United 3 places out (had ‘em down for 17th)
Any comments to be had there?
As you can see, I didn’t think there were many or even ANY surprises, really, in the top-7. I suppose being 4 places out with Villa does suggest a little shock and, in hindsight, perhaps I should have given them more credit for a higher finishing position than 8th. I think I simply thought that some of the teams around them would be a bit stronger than the Villans.
Speaking of which, I know I got Chelsea ‘spot on’ with my predicted finish of 6th but for a long, long time I looked WAY off and only a late, really good surge of positive results saw them thrust up the table. In fact, they finished the season the 3rd-best form side. Despite that, in the end as we all now know, it couldn’t stop the club and their manager parting company. Funny ol’ game…
There weren’t too many surprises elsewhere for me and I think it’s about the best predicted season I’ve ever had, with regards to the league table at least. However, a big standout miss is Brentford who finished 9th in the previous season. They became a tough outfit to face on their day that season and they earnt the respect of a lot of fans of other teams.
So, I saw them having a similar season to the previous one but it just wasn’t to be. In addition to banned striker Ivan Toney; something was missing in the season just gone and at one point, about two-thirds of the way into the season, they were sinking like a rock and in real danger of getting dragged down into a relegation scrap. Thankfully for them, some teams below / around them couldn’t buy a win; others were having points deducted and they managed a few wins themselves in the final few weeks.
As you can see, I wasn’t at all shocked about seeing Luton & Burnley face the drop. However, having already had Everton down to join them BEFORE any of us knew they were about to face a points deduction; I became even more convinced that they would be playing their 2024-25 league football in the Championship. Huge respect, then, to Sean Dyche and his team of players for what they achieved on the pitch while a tornado was swirling around them off it.
Looking at our fixtures both pre-season and then pre-match?
Pre-season: 68.42% results correct.
Pre-match: 73.69% results correct.
Once again, I think that’s about the best I’ve achieved over the years of doing this season prediction piece.
As for the cups…
League Cup - Predicted quarter final.
2 rounds out (knocked out in the 3rd round)
F.A. Cup - Predicted Quarter final.
2 rounds out (got to the final but lost ☹)
Champions League - Predicted the final and, therefore, possible winners.
2 rounds out (got to the quarter-final but lost on penalties)
Not so good with my cup predictions this season. 🤷♂️
Thank you for taking the time to read and, as is often the case, this piece does seem like it’s late being published. This is usually due to me first writing my very long players & manager ratings piece, which is then often followed by a week’s holiday.
Next up is likely to be a piece on our new kits, once all-3 have been released; unless there’s something particularly big worth commenting on City-wise…or whether I fancy dipping my typing fingers into the world of the England men’s football team and the Euros.
No comments:
Post a Comment