MOTD predicts - the premier league

[hbk4894]

 

[Super_horns]

Don't think Man U will be 2nd..

 

[mistermagic]

Since this thread is so popular I'll use to write some pre-season/opening day thoughts having reviewed every squad.

I think Chelsea won't be hungry enough to win it a second year in a row. They have managed this very hard feat only once and that was when Abramovich bought the club and Chelsea's squad was just far superior to everybody else's. They basically have the same squad than last season except they strengthened Arsenal by sellling them Cech (although Begovic is a very good goalkeeper) and finally let Drogba go and replaced him with Falcao. Not saying that the same squad can't win the league 2 years in a row but the other contenders have strengthened and will be hungrier having not won it last season.

This is Arsenal's year. I know this sounds very "If Carlsberg did retards" but they really have a good squad strengthened by a world class keeper who has won everything there is to be won at club level. That's it however as the rest of the squad hasn't changed at all but have we ever seen this squad injury-free? Nope. It all comes down to this: if Arsenal are lucky with injuries, they'll win if they're not they'll be mightily close. A lot of my acquaintances are questioning the lack of real goal poacher (Benzema is a name that has been shouted out but I don't believe that for a minute) as they don't rate Giroud but Arsenal still have Walcott who is pretty damn good #9 with he has two legs.

Manchester United have done averagely in the transfer market. Rafael is gone and has been replaced by what looks like a very able RB/RW who can also play in a 352. Depay is another solid buy. I do question the thinking behind buying Schneiderlin and Schweinsteiger though. I don't think buying those two was necessary (especially the latter). I think Morgan will do great at Old Trafford but I reckon it's a little too late for Schweini who's best years are behind him.
My biggest concern for United it the CF position though: they don't have one. Rooney is an AM and putting him upfront on his own is such a waste of talent. I think it's quite risky by LvG to have gotten rid of Falcao and sold van Persie and only getting Hernandez back from his loan spell at Real Madrid. Especially now that United have Europe to contend with. They don't seem to be that eager to buy another CF which is quite worrying.

Man City have also been ok but I was expecting more from them. First of all I can't believe Pellegrini is still at the club. The performances last season were well below par and the non-sacking is sending the message that it's ok to get knocked out in the 1st KO stage of the CL, play bland football and not win anything. I would be pretty pissed if I were paying Etihad prices. I'm not though.
As said in the transfer thread, I don't think Delph is a player who is meant to fill the british quota or whatever it is. I think City genuinely lack personel in that area of their squad as Lampard has gone back to New York and Milner has left for Liverpool. This leaves City quite short in the centre of the pitch especially since Touré looks a bit off these days. City do possess the best CF in the world though. That's pretty cool.

Liverpool were right not to sack Rodgers though. Had he any pride he should have left after Liverpool's biggest defeat since I'm alive but the transfers have adressed problems and look like good fits. Clyne is a younger version of Johnson (yes, despite what everyone says, Glen Johnson was a very decent footballer in the years of yore), Milner will do wonders in the middle of the park, Firmino is a superb footballer and Benteke scores goals which is something you seldom need to do when playing football games. Origi is proper dogshite though. I can see Liverpool loaning him out in January so that he gets game time.
But Liverpool are a horrible, horrible club for buying Ings and then Benteke a couple of weeks later. It's just so unfair on the lad who'll just want to play and won't get the chance.
Watch him start every game now that I've said that...

I'm just gonna stop before mentioning the very good markets that Swansea, Villa and Sunderland have had as this is starting to look like an essay.

 

[johnnytodd]

load of shite alert watch too much sky alert brainwashed by pundits alert

 

[Hank]

18th they're being very optimistic.