Who is in it and who will get it this season?

Chelsea - I think you will say they are a given after last season's title win and I know it may seem hard to believe but I do believe that trimming their squad down hasn't affected them as much as I thought it would. I don't think they will miss Ballack at all and I think Essien back is a bonus for them. Getting rid of sicknote Cole and replacing him with Benayoun puts them stronger in my books. Although losing Carvalho has weakened them at their back but Terry-Ivanovic-Alex-Mancianne doesn't look too shabby as a unit. The two PlayStation scorelines to start the season would have given them a boost.

Manchester United - United have added Hernandez, Smalling and Oliver Twist into the squad and while United fans would say that the team was just one wrongly awarded goal away from a title win and adding cover for Rio and Rooney would have strengthened the team but Fulham away showed that with Rooney and Rio out, we look quite fragile at the back and toothless up front. Of course Hernandez looks a prospect for Mexico and will need time to bed into the squad but with Rio suffering niggling injuries from time to time, Scholes, Giggs, VDS and Neville one season away from retirement, it would not be inaccurate to say that United are one Rooney injury away from being out of the title race and history shows that he will have an annual one month out with an injury every other season. Call me knee-jerk but Hargreaves is not a squad member in my books.

Manchester City - When I look at their squad, words fail me. They could literally put out three teams that would be in the Premier League. And to think that Jo (their 100th choice striker was once a record signing for them)!. I have no idea how Mancini intends to use his squad or how he will keep them happy but I don't think that will be an issue to City at all. As seen with the Ireland and Bellamy fiasco, if good players are not happy, they can be loaned out to other clubs, traded for transfer targets or just sent home. I think Mancini can and will be able to keep his 25 happy and while I have my reservations as to whether new signings can make an immediate impact but I think regardless of the players' motivation, I think out of the 10,000 players they have, I have little doubts that at least 16 of them will be motivated enough to bring one of the top 4 places home.

Arsenal - They may have won 6-0 against Blackpool but after two games, I've not been convinced. I wouldn't trust Almunia's hands with a baby and apart from Fabregas and sicknote van Persie, I honestly don't see any quality at all in the team. Walcott's hat-trick compounded my belief that he's a tier below Arsenal's level. He'd do right well for a Top 10 BPL team but nothing more for me. Wilshere, I think will be good enough but I still have reservations as to if he will be ready this season for Arsenal.

Spurs - I think Spurs made an excellent signing with Gallas. He is right what they needed. Some Champions League experience and quality at the back for them and you know with King and Woodgate in their squad, he will have games! Gareth Bale from the tail end of last season has carried his remarkable form this season and personally I quite fancy a midfield of Bale-Modric-Huddlestone-Lennon but I really do think that Redknapp needs to pick Pavlychenko more regularly.

Liverpool - They are lucky that Aston Villa and Everton are having an absolute garbage start to the season and while Liverpool have yet been able to capitalize on, losing Mascherano will be a big blow to them. N'gog is still not good enough IMHO and if your season season depends on Lucas in midfield and Torres up front (Ronaldo MK II), I wouldn't have much hopes at all. I'll agree that having Arsenal and Manchester City as your first two fixtures aren't the easiest but even against lesser sides, I still don't see Liverpool being able to irk out results on a weekly basis.

Aston Villa - Martin O Neill may have done well with Villa but really, I think he has had his mini Rafa-esque signings as well which have placed them in a place where they are and where he is.

My predictions:
1. Chelsea
2. United
3. City
4. Spurs
5. Arsenal
6. Birmingham
7. Liverpool
8. Everton

Thoughts?

This post has been edited by kobe8byrant: Aug 24 2010, 07:41 PM

1. Chelsea
2. United
3. City
4. Arsenal
5. Spurs
6. Liverpool
7. Fulham
8. Blackburn ( I don't know why but I feel it )

i dare not make such call now, its only GW2
probably can make better judgement into GW10 or something
if i were to rate base on 2 GW

then its:

Chelsea
Arsenal
Man City
Spurs
MU
Liv

I chose Birmingham for the same reason you chose Blackburn. Gut feeling. I like Foster and McLeish seems a genuinely hardworking manager whom I'd like to see succeed. And Foster playing well for Birmingham would show United fans that their new keeper would need to be given time.

it feels like spurs will be relying on bale for goals this season ... as much as i'd hate to admit it, the strikers in tottenham is shit ...
on paper, the team is kinda gay ... injuries will screw us up real baad ...

1. Chelsea
2. Spurs
3. United
4. Arsenal
5. City
16. Liverpool ... nothing against u guys, but things are not looking good for u guys atm

i guess i need to pray real hard for an injury free season ...

This post has been edited by spursfan: Aug 24 2010, 08:02 PM

for me

1-Manchester United
2-Chelsea
3-Manchester City
4-i think Tottenham or Arsenal.i don't mind either of them though
6-Liverpool
7-Birmingham/Everton
9-Fulham
10-Blackburn/Stoke City or Aston Villa

as for me...top 3 place will be as usual;

1. Chelsea
2. Man United
3. Arsenal

only 4-7 place dat quite hard to predict..but

4. Man City
5. Spurs
6. Liverpool
7. Newcastle (if they keep playing like they did vs Villa..who knows)

Good read and thread, but Im speaking only for myself , I have mixed feelings about this due to the biasness of certain section of supporters from certain teams. and each set of supporters will rank their club to be NO 1 without giving out reason's that you gave.yes no doubt we can have a intellectual discussion by ignoring those posts, to each their own and everyone is entitled to their own opinion just my 2 cents...

@KB seriously Birmingham above Liverpool?

1-Chelsea
2-Manchester City
3-Manchester United
4-Arsenal
5-Spurs
6-Liverpool
7-Everton
8. Aston Villa
9-Fulham

Im thinking of this for now ..

1. Man U
2. Chelsea
3. Arsenal
4. Man C
5. Spurs
6. Liverpool
7. Birmingham

Chelsea's squad is too small to last the whole season. Injury and fatigue will set them back if they dont have replacements. Arsenal is ranked 3rd maybe 4th .. due to the fact that AW still have faith in "FlappyHandski" and almunia. If schwarzer comes in then my list will be :-

1. Arsenal
2. Man U
3. Chelsea
4. Man C
5. Spurs

hm, this is my prediction:

1)Chelsea - The team have been together for quite long and the chemistry is there. Furthermore, the depth of the squad is quite good. Chelsea got the man to cover every position in the team except one, the goal keeper. An injury to their GK will cause them to struggle

2)Man Utd - The addition of Hernandez to the team add a new dimension to their line-ups. The chemistry between the team member is also very good. But from my point of view as a Chelsea fans, they should not rely too much on Rooney. The lad is very good but he is not a machine. Somehow, I see improvement in Berbatov style of play. The progres of the team also relies on their trio of unpredictable player, Nani-Valencia-Carrick. If these three guys perform really well, then Man Utd willl mount a really serious challenge to the defending champion.

3)Man City - The talent is there. Main concern is how Mancini going to keep his star player happy, especially Balotelli. They should realize when any of the star is not happy, it can disrupt the morale of the entire team.

4)Spurs - No comment on spurs hehe their midfielders is awesome. If Bale and Modric can stay injury free then they will be among the top four. And stop clowning with the lesser opponent!!

5)Arsenal - A team that is full with the power of youth is indeed very good. But you also need a careful blend of experience to guide and to hold the team together in time of need. Surely it is a bless to see your 'little mozart' up and running again and hopefully he stays injury free. Pray hard that Almunia will not become a part time clown in between the posts.

6)Liverpool
7)Aston Villa
8)Everton

I'm sleepy already zzzz

1.chelsea
2.M.U
3.Man.City
4.Spurs





18.Liverpool

This post has been edited by nouruddines: Aug 25 2010, 12:43 AM

I'm sure if we pray hard enough, 18th is a possibility.

edited already

1. Arsenal
2. Man city
3. Chelsea
4. Man Utd
5. Everton
6. Spurs
7. Liverpool
8. Birmingham
9. New Castle


relegate will be Wigan, Blackburn and blackpool

This thread began on a serious note so I'm guessing that it's the tone and manner we should adopt. I do agree that Liverpool are relatively weaker but 18th? Any logical, non-emotional reason why you think we'll be relegated? In all seriousness, I think 6th is a distinct possibility. I'm forecasting that the ownership situation will be resolved come January and we'll be bolstering our squad for a strong run come the second half of the season. I do agree with most however that Spurs and Man City are stronger sides. I don't think Birmingham will scale the same heights they did this season. Am going for Newcastle to break into the top 8.

My prediction..

1-Chelsea - they got what they need..and they can get who they want...
2-ManCity - they might out of top 4 before winter transfer..they will buy!
3-ManUnited - Rooney off form..and too many depend on Riggs, Scholes, VDS..
4-Arsenal - they seem like a top 4 team..enough depth to make it to the top 4..
5-Spurs - they try all their best..but City push them down this time..
6-Liverpool - better than last time..i mean the squad..
7-Newcastle - Happy and humble manager...always perform..
8-Everton - they able to hold their key players..
9-Birmingham - okey lah..
10-Fulham - Hughes is good manager...and he good a decent squad..

I'll say Man City replaces Liverpool as the Big 4 component this season. Chelsea, Man United, Arsenal & Man City.

In general, none of Chelsea, MU or Arsenal lost influential parts from their previous season. So, they are as strong as always. I'm not sure about Chelsea, but MU and Arsenal bought a few solid players to their squad. Man City's continuous buying spree, even by blindly picking players up, add tremendous squad depth.

The rest of the lots are improving but I don't fancy them going to CL.

As usual it will be 2 horse race between Man Utd and Chelsea or maybe Man City if Mancini can get the squad right.

People that think Spurs / Arsenal / Liverpool can win it or even say Liverpool will finish below 10th place is just bias toward their team

This post has been edited by Sifha238: Aug 25 2010, 12:00 PM

I would say..

1-Chelsea
2-Arsenal
3-Manchester United
4-Man City
5-Liverpool
6-Spurs
7-Blackburn
8-Fulham

if Arsenal player stays injury free for most of the season, i dont care if MU and Chelsea has rooney drogba etc
bring it on!, we are in for a fight
if we lose that way i have really no complaints at all, unfortunately Arsenal player to stay injury free, that would be a blessing from heaven gift
no i am not being bias to think that Arsenal has chance to win BPL this season,
but like i said its only GW2
if you guys can predict the standings after GW38 with now only at GW2, ill bet my entire property on it already