Post by grumpyminer on Aug 6, 2009 1:17:44 GMT
Who's gonna win what?
Who will struggle?
In the Premier League I can't see any further than Man U. They may have lost Ronaldo and Tevez but they still have plenty of depth. Michael Owen may prove to be the steal of the summer.
Chelsea aren't getting any younger and with very little business coming their way I don't think they will be strong enough to mount a serious challenge.
Liverpool, after weeks of speculation have just lost a very influential player in Alonso. Whether Alberto Aquilani is good enough to replace Alonso could well be the key to the Scouse challenge.
Arsenal, up to now have not shown much in the transfer market, Thomas Vermaelen could be a good acquisition. Wenger has got a good young side but are they ready? I don't think so.
Man City!
Have spent loads and brought in some real talent but they don't appear to be much of a team, looking at their pre-season. They need to gel quickly or it could be a very difficult time for Mark Hughes. Gareth Barry may prove to be the important piece in this team's all too lightweight midfield. Plenty of punch up front not unlike Keegan's Newcastle side and I expect a similar outcome. But you never know....
Villa, Everton, Tottenham and possibly Portsmouth (for Paul Hart) and West Ham I feel will be the best of the rest. With an almighty melee to stave off relegation for Birmingham, Burnley, Hull, Wolves and Stoke. And the likes of Bolton, Wigan, Fulham and Sunderland not far above them.
That leaves Blackburn and I just don't know. Big Sam has been quiet but he builds strong teams. They could challenge with the best of the rest or they could be in the dogfight. Mid-table obscurity beckons!
In the Championship, you have to look at Reading, West Brom and Middlesbrough to be challenging. Bristol City may be a good each-way bet. Preston, Cardiff and Swansea challenged last season but have all suffered key losses.
Newcastle may be up there if they sort things out early on, otherwise it could be a long hard struggle. Forest have spent money and improved their midfield and attack but are still lacking at the back, which could hamper their assault on the title/play-offs.
At the bottom I would expect to see Barnsley, Plymouth, Peterborough, Palace and Scunthorpe and maybe Coventry as candidates for the drop.
I do expect s similar situation to last season with everyone beating everyone else to make it a close and unpredictable season.
League One has some big names. But with the exception of Leicester, the recent big name teams to drop this far down haven't found it easy to get out. Norwich, Leeds, MK Dons and Millwall are my tips for the top end. Charlton need to get a good start as their rapid demise from top flight to level 3 must hurt. Southampton cannot be written off, but they too need a good start as they have 10 points to claw back before they can think about mounting a promotion challenge.
In League Two, Notts County have Sven and the money, so they must be amongst the favourites for top spot. Along with Darlington, Rotherham, Shrewsbury and Chesterfield. Northampton and Crewe will be looking for a quick return to League One. Burton Albion and Torquay will be hoping their is not a return ticket and I expect them both to survive. Macclesfield, Grimsby and Dagenham along with Accrington and Aldershot are the teams I think will struggle.
In Scotland, put your annual salary on the SPL title going to a team from Glasgow ;D
Who will struggle?
In the Premier League I can't see any further than Man U. They may have lost Ronaldo and Tevez but they still have plenty of depth. Michael Owen may prove to be the steal of the summer.
Chelsea aren't getting any younger and with very little business coming their way I don't think they will be strong enough to mount a serious challenge.
Liverpool, after weeks of speculation have just lost a very influential player in Alonso. Whether Alberto Aquilani is good enough to replace Alonso could well be the key to the Scouse challenge.
Arsenal, up to now have not shown much in the transfer market, Thomas Vermaelen could be a good acquisition. Wenger has got a good young side but are they ready? I don't think so.
Man City!
Have spent loads and brought in some real talent but they don't appear to be much of a team, looking at their pre-season. They need to gel quickly or it could be a very difficult time for Mark Hughes. Gareth Barry may prove to be the important piece in this team's all too lightweight midfield. Plenty of punch up front not unlike Keegan's Newcastle side and I expect a similar outcome. But you never know....
Villa, Everton, Tottenham and possibly Portsmouth (for Paul Hart) and West Ham I feel will be the best of the rest. With an almighty melee to stave off relegation for Birmingham, Burnley, Hull, Wolves and Stoke. And the likes of Bolton, Wigan, Fulham and Sunderland not far above them.
That leaves Blackburn and I just don't know. Big Sam has been quiet but he builds strong teams. They could challenge with the best of the rest or they could be in the dogfight. Mid-table obscurity beckons!
In the Championship, you have to look at Reading, West Brom and Middlesbrough to be challenging. Bristol City may be a good each-way bet. Preston, Cardiff and Swansea challenged last season but have all suffered key losses.
Newcastle may be up there if they sort things out early on, otherwise it could be a long hard struggle. Forest have spent money and improved their midfield and attack but are still lacking at the back, which could hamper their assault on the title/play-offs.
At the bottom I would expect to see Barnsley, Plymouth, Peterborough, Palace and Scunthorpe and maybe Coventry as candidates for the drop.
I do expect s similar situation to last season with everyone beating everyone else to make it a close and unpredictable season.
League One has some big names. But with the exception of Leicester, the recent big name teams to drop this far down haven't found it easy to get out. Norwich, Leeds, MK Dons and Millwall are my tips for the top end. Charlton need to get a good start as their rapid demise from top flight to level 3 must hurt. Southampton cannot be written off, but they too need a good start as they have 10 points to claw back before they can think about mounting a promotion challenge.
In League Two, Notts County have Sven and the money, so they must be amongst the favourites for top spot. Along with Darlington, Rotherham, Shrewsbury and Chesterfield. Northampton and Crewe will be looking for a quick return to League One. Burton Albion and Torquay will be hoping their is not a return ticket and I expect them both to survive. Macclesfield, Grimsby and Dagenham along with Accrington and Aldershot are the teams I think will struggle.
In Scotland, put your annual salary on the SPL title going to a team from Glasgow ;D