So the first weekend of the new Premier League season has been and gone. Today I’m going to run through my predictions for the coming season and to preview what i think will happen. So here goes:
Champions – Manchester United
This might be a controversial choice but i feel that Utd have a manager in Mourinho who has done it all before. He has the experience and knowledge about the league and knows what it takes to win the title. Along with the signings he has made in Pogba, Ibrahimovic, Mkhitarayan and Bailly, these players will add that bit of quality to a promising side. Won’t be an easy ride but think they will win the league. Just.
Top 4 – Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea
Guardiola will just miss out on glory in his first season in the English game. Yes his signings have been impressive but i feel they won’t be enough to take this team to a title win. Guardiola will need time to adjust to the league as well and given the injury problems to key men Aguero and Kompany it won’t be an easy ride for the boy’s in blue. Liverpool under Klopp will be a force this season. After having a full pre season with his players i think it’s now time for them to push on. Showed signs of promise last year and i feel they will do well this season. Chelsea with Conte is a hard one. I feel if they can replicate the way they were playing come the end of last season and take Conte’s style of play under their belts then they could be in with a shout of a Champions League finish. If they don’t it could be a long hard season for the team.
Relegated – Hull, Burnley and West Brom
All three of these teams have just not made enough quality signings to give themselves a chance of staying in the league. Simple as that. Hull has brought in no new players, no permanent manager and a owner who has caused problems since day one with the club. This only means one thing. Goodbye Hull. I like Burnley. I like their manager in Sean Dyche but i feel they just don’t have enough quality on the field to get enough wins which ultimately grants survival in this league. Andre Gray is the only chance they have of staying up. If he is scoring, well they could have a fight on their hands. West Brom is a choice i couldn’t decide on. The thing is Pulis usually guarantees you survival and has shown that in his history in the league but something just tells me that with the ongoing Saido Berahino saga dragging on and with no real moves being made to get new players in, it could be a long season for the team.
Surprise team of the season – Everton
It was either going to be West Ham or Everton that was my choice here but i have went for the Merseyside team. With Ronald Koeman coming in to replace Martinez as manager, the club has made a big statement of where they are looking to go this coming year. Giving the new owners at the club and the sale of John Stones it means there is money to spend at Everton. If Koeman continues to spend the cash well and can get Lukaku, Barkley and Deulofeu playing again, i predict good things for the club with a top eight finish and a cup run.
Player of the Year – Paul Pogba
Yes this might of been expected but i feel this guy is going to tear the league up. Once he finds his feet and starts to get to know his new teammates i think they will be no stopping this man. As i have said previously this guy has it all and with Mourinho at the helm big things will be expected.
Young Player of the Year – Alex Iwobi
The young Arsenal forward is going to make a name for himself this year after showing glimpses of what he could do last season. With 13 appearances and 2 goals last year in the league and an outing at the Nou Camp in the Champions League , this boy can only get better this coming year. I expect the 20 year old to improve and show what he can do when given the chance and to cement his place in the starting 11.
Top Scorer – Romelu Lukaku
Lukaku is going to one of the hottest strikers on the planet next year. In a poor Everton side he scored 17 goals which was a club best return in the Premier League era. I expect him to easily get past the 20 goal target and to get the Golden boot.
So there it is my short post about who i feel will do well come the end of the season. Let me know what you think and what your predictions are. Let’s see how if they are correct at the end of the year.
Post by Derek McAllister – writer for Footballs11blog
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