Ok. With the curtain-raiser to the new season a week on Sat'day, I'm sound to throw up this years PL predictions. Can't see this COVID market-changing my views as of now to any significant degree-
So, with the caveat that this is the first set subject to any slight change, my 2020-21 entry into out little prediction game-
1. Liverpool.
Outside of City, nobody's remotely getting close to the defending Champions. We're SO far ahead of everyone on most every level right now, with still levels to go as we continue to evolve, it's frightening. Thiago is just the cherry on the cake. All the squad intact and improved by quality addition. Both additions this summer and a fully healthy and raring to go Kieta, Oxo-Chambo and Brewster. Along with Minamino prepared to what to expect from this mad league and our standards.
I personally think we're set to beest the league again and come out flying. Our pre-season didn't start Saturday. It effectively started as soon as the league was officially confirmed as he used the last 7 games of last season to heavily rotate and try new things. Now with the break, they've come back fresh and raring to go again.
As the manager says, we aren't going out to defend the title. We're going out to attack the next one!
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2. City.
Last year I had the top two in that order with the caveat that it could go either way as there was literally nottin' to split them. Honestly thought that I'd be saying the same again this summer but now the gap has grown and they're the ones scrambling to keep pace with ourselves.
You'd never fully write them out of course as they're a wonderful team still but their defensive issues alone (good luck Aké helping out to that end. And the wonderful Fernandinho naturally slowing down at this stage of a stellar career), along with Pep's steadfast refusal to even slightly alter the way they play the more teams negate it just has you thinking they'll struggle to keep pace with L'pool again.
I have them a nice gap off first, but a
gigantic gap again off the rest.
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3. Wolves.
Best set-up and squad of the rest for me and with no European football to hinder them in this upcoming mad, truncated season, I think they'll take the next step and add CL football.
And they have every chance of being there to stay for a good while's given the horrible state of everyone else. Super manager and a really well run football club from top to bottom who continue to make real astute signings.
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Here's where it gets REAL tricky. The rest of the European places.
I think one thing that will really show for clubs like Arsenal, Chelsea and Utd will be the total inexperience of their managers in how to handle rotation and keep everyone in the squad up for it when they are left out and not playing. They don't need that at all in a season like next year where heavy rotation will be
KEY.
I really think there's a good opening for one or two surprise clubs to break into the European slots given the state of the traditional big players that is all over the place in differing degrees. All of which is too much to mention at the respective individual clubs or we'd be here all day.
So, for the purpose of having to predict places, I'll go with-
4. Chelsea.
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5. Leicester. (SURELY they can't have a historic collapse like last years disgrace again?
SURELY?!!!!!)
6. Utd.
7. Southampton.
But in truth, any one of those plus Arsenal, Tottenham, and even someone like Sheff. Utd or first-timersLeeds under Bielsa could make up or miss out on the European slots. In
ANY order.
All those teams are just much of a muchness on a similar level going nowhere fast IMHO.
As for the relegation spots-
18. Palace.
19. Fulham.
20. Villa.
Though it'll probably 3 from 5/6 with the likes of West Brom, Newcastle and West Ham in the mix.
And let's not forget Everton strengthing their hold on 10/11th.
The very definition of mid-table mediocrity.
NO threat to the European places.
NO threat to the relegation places. Just meh.
Nobody's quite sure exactly what the purpose of the 'meh's' are in this mad football game. But congrats to them in advance regardless for the brilliant 'meh' consistency they continue to show.
Oh, I'll throw a new addition into this year's predictions-
POTY. Nabby Kieta. If he stays healthy, which he now is and has been the only issue with that one, he'll be highlight reeling your review shows most matchday's.
Naby Lad. Remember the name!
Again, I reserve the right to change some of those over the rest of the window but I honestly don't think that need will arise.
Roll on a week Sat'day tea-time and the CS curtain raiser! As mad as it already is to to have the new season back so soon.
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