Transfer window now closed, it’s time to try ‘n’ predict how this season is gonna go.
As usual, I’d never do this piece until the transfer window closes due to the obvious fact that teams can either strengthen or get weakened by incoming & outgoing players.
Firstly, my predicted end-of-season league standings:
1st Manchester City
-------------------------------------------------
2nd Arsenal
3rd Liverpool
4th Aston Villa
-------------------------------------------------
5th Chelsea
6th Tottenham Hotspur
-------------------------------------------------
7th Manyoo
-------------------------------------------------
8th Brighton & Hove Albion
9th Newcastle United
10th AFC Bournemouth
11th West Ham United
12th Crystal Palace
13th Fulham
14th Brentford
15th Nottingham Forest
16th Wolverhampton Wanderers
17th Ipswich Town
-------------------------------------------------
18th Everton
19th Leicester City
20th Southampton
Notable points about that predicted, final table for the 2024/25 season with regards to us, initially:
There were a few of our players, some of ‘em key, who didn’t travel to the Euro 2024 finals and / or who didn’t feature much. There were also a small number who didn’t last TOO long in the competition with their various international sides. All of that, I believe, will help us and, indeed, HAS helped us so far – a fully rested Erling is on fire right now! Savinho is a very useful-looking new asset and the surprise addition of Ilkay is a midfield-boosting bonus for sure. We’re looking pretty good, squad-quality-wise. 👍
We know Arsenal are strong and they’ve made a few additions – they will continue their relentless pressure on us and other challengers.
Liverpool have changed a Klopp for a Slot and they have a very good squad also; one where a lot of their players have played together for some considerable time now and, like us, have enhanced their outfit with an attacker / winger. They too pose a serious threat. However, what I would add to that just as a side bar is that the top Dutch league, where Arne has only ever managed, is a WORLD away from the Premier League and that might just start to tell over an entire season.
Villa will be strong once more and perhaps even stronger in their third season under Unai Emery. I can see them matching their 4th-place finish from last season.
Huh…Chelsea. Who knows?! The largest squad in the division, I think goes without saying, so ‘how will they all knit’ and will they be able to keep “big names” happy, is something that’s crosses my mind. They certainly have some talent in there and, yes, they might improve by one position on last season’s 6th.
Spurs have a decent manager / side but they still look vulnerable at times and do a good impression of a team who haven’t quite discovered what they’re about. They’ll be ‘there or there abouts’, for sure, and they will take important points from teams in and around ‘em.
Just like Chelsea, Manyoo are another quandary – massively enhanced with new playing staff in the summer and with some decent-looking individuals throughout. However, as a team under ten Hag they still look like a ‘work in progress’. They could improve one place on last season IF they get their act together after another poor start to a season.
I know it looks like an ‘easy hit’ but I honestly see two promoted sides, in Southampton and Leicester City, going straight back down. Ipswich, on the other hand, might just have enough guile to survive. Everton, however, just look like a club destined to spend their first season at their new stadium in the Championship to me. They’re in a mess both on and off the pitch.
City and the cups?
Finally, here’s how I think we’ll do in the other three competitions:
League Cup - Quarter final.
F.A. Cup - Quarter final.
Champions League - Final and, therefore, possible winners.
I get the feeling, this season, that with the change in format of the Champions League which has thrown up some extra-tricky, early ties (that’s how it looks to me at least) plus a no-doubt-strong push to make it FIVE Premier League titles in a row; it’s the domestic cups that are likely to suffer. I could, of course, be wrong on that and as long as it doesn’t scupper our league defence, I would love us to reach Wembley in one of the two domestic cups once again.
To ‘sign off’…
As far as the league goes, I think it’s going to be another, very tense, very close and competitive battle at the top. The scrap at the bottom will be equally or even MORE edgy; as a half-a-dozen or more sides are very capable of finding the self-destruct button all too often and can do a good impression of a stone being dropped from time to time.
Now that the Champions League fixtures have been slotted in and I see that there’s already a struggle to fit in a 3rd round League Cup fixture against Watford; I’ve already shaken my head several times as I looked again and again at the packed fixture list which includes THREE international breaks before Christmas. It’s just crazy.
But, as Pep would say, ‘it is what it is’ and if you love your football and especially your football team then you should have no reason to moan, I suppose. It’s far more understandable for someone to moan who detests football in all its forms.
Thanks, as always, for taking the time to click on and read and I hope you enjoy the season ahead.
No comments:
Post a Comment