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Post by Hammersmith Hardman on May 31, 2016 5:47:27 GMT -5
AFC Bournemouth (Last Season - 16th) Manager: Eddie Howe (Since 2012) Key Players: Callum Wilson, Matt Ritchie, Benik Afobe. Ground: Goldsands Stadium Nickname: The Cherries
Arsenal (Last Season - 2nd) Manager: Arsene Wenger (Since 1996) Key Players: Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil, Petr Cech. Ground: Emirates Stadium Nickname: The Gunners
Burnley (Last Season - 1st in Championship) Manager: Sean Dyche (Since 2012) Key Players: Ben Mee, George Boyd, Andre Gray. Ground: Turf Moor Nickname: The Clarets
Chelsea (Last Season - 10th) Manager: Antonio Conte (Since 2016) Key Players: Cesc Fabregas, Eden Hazard, Diego Costa. Ground: Stamford Bridge Nickname: The Blues
Crystal Palace (Last Season - 15th) Manager: Alan Pardew (Since 2014) Key Players: Yohan Cabaye, Yannick Bolasie, Wilfried Zaha. Ground: Selhurst Park Nickname: The Eagles
Everton (Last Season - 11th) Manager: Ronald Koeman (Since 2016) Key Players: Romelu Lukaku, Ross Barkley, John Stones. Ground: Goodison Park Nickname: The Toffees
Hull City (Last Season - 4th in Championship - Playoff Winners) Manager: N/A Key Players: Curtis Davies, Mo Diame, Abel Hernandez. Ground: The KC Stadium Nickname: The Tigers
Leicester City (Last Season - 1st CHAMPIONSf*ck off mark) Manager: Claudio Ranieri (Since 2015) Key Players: Wes Morgan, Riyad Mahrez, Jamie Vardy. Ground: King Power Stadium Nickname: The Foxes
Liverpool (Last Season - 8th) Manager: Jurgen Klopp (Since 2015) Key Players: Daniel Sturridge, Phillip Coutinho, Roberto Firmino. Ground: Anfield Nickname: The Reds
Manchester City (Last Season - 4th) Manager: Pep Guardiola (Since 2016) Key Players: David Silva, Sergio Aguero, Kevin de Bruyne. Ground: Etihad Stadium Nickname: The Citizens
Manchester United (Last Season - 5th) Manager: Jose Mourinho (Since 2016) Key Players: David de Gea, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Wayne Rooney Ground: Old Trafford Nickname: The Red Devils
Middlesbrough (Last Season - 2nd in Championship) Manager: Aitor Karanka (Since 2013) Key Players: Adam Clayton, Viktor Fischer, Alvaro Negredo. Ground: The Riverside Stadium Nickname: Boro
Southampton (Last Season - 6th) Manager: Claude Puel (Since 2016) Key Players: Virgil van Dijk, Dusan Tadic, Charlie Austin. Ground: St Mary's Stadium Nickname: The Saints
Stoke City (Last Season - 9th) Manager: Mark Hughes (Since 2013) Key Players: Xherdan Shaqiri, Marko Arnautovic, Bojan. Ground: Britannia Stadium Nickname: The Potters
Sunderland (Last Season - 17th) Manager: David Moyes (Since 2016) Key Players: Lamine Kone, Jan Kirchoff, Jermain Defoe. Ground: Stadium of Light Nickname: The Black Cats
Swansea City (Last Season - 12th) Manager: Francesco Guidolin (Since 2016) Key Players: Ashley Williams, Gylfi Sigurðsson, Andre Ayew. Ground: Liberty Stadium Nickname: The Swans
Tottenham Hotspur (Last Season - 3rd) Manager: Mauricio Pochettino (Since 2014) Key Players: Toby Alderwiereld, Christian Eriksen, 'Arry Kane. Ground: White Hart Lane Nickname: Spurs
Watford (Last Season - 13th) Manager: Walter Mazzarri (Since 2016) Key Players: Troy Deeney, Odion Ighalo, Heurelho Gomes. Ground: Vicarage Road Nickname: The Hornets
West Bromwich Albion (Last Season - 14th) Manager: Tony Pulis (Since 2015) Key Players: Craig Dawson, Darren Fletcher, Saido Berahino. Ground: The Hawthorns Nickname: The Baggies
West Ham United (Last Season - 7th) Manager: Slaven Billic (Since 2015) Key Players: Michail Antonio, Mark Noble, Dimitri Payet. Ground: The Olympic Stadium Nickname: The Hammers
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Post by Markw on May 31, 2016 7:02:54 GMT -5
Leicester City (Last Season - 1st CHAMPIONS f*ck off mark)
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Post by Brunt's Left Foot on May 31, 2016 8:00:58 GMT -5
Shaping up to be a good season. I honestly have no idea how the title race/top 4 will shape up.
Bottom three though I'm going for Burnley, Hull and Bournemouth.
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Post by Markw on May 31, 2016 8:34:00 GMT -5
1. Manchester United 2. Chelsea 3. Manchester City 4. Arsenal 5. Tottenham 6. Leicester 7. West Ham 8. Liverpool 9. Everton 10. Southampton 11. Bournemouth 12. Swansea 13. Sunderland 14. Stoke 15. Burnley 16. Crystal Palace 17. West Brom 18. Middlesbrough 19. Hull 20. Watford
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Post by Brunt's Left Foot on May 31, 2016 8:58:17 GMT -5
Might as well take a stab at a full table for sh*ts and giggles:
1. Arsenal 2. Manchester City 3. Manchester United 4. Liverpool 5. Tottenham Hotspur 6. Chelsea 7. Everton 8. Leicester City 9. West Ham United 10. Southampton 11. Stoke City 12. Swansea City 13. Middlesbrough 14. Sunderland 15. West Bromwich Albion 16. Crystal Palace 17. Watford 18. Bournemouth 19. Burnley 20. Hull City
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Post by Hammersmith Hardman on May 31, 2016 9:41:34 GMT -5
1. Manchester City 2. Arsenal 3. Manchester United 4. Chelsea 5. Liverpool 6. Tottenham Hotspur 7. Southampton 8. Leicester City 9. Everton 10. West Ham United 11. Stoke City 12. Sunderland 13. West Bromwich Albion 14. Middlesbrough 15. Swansea City 16. Crystal Palace 17. Hull City 18. AFC Bournemouth 19. Watford 20. Burnley
So, congrats to Burnley on winning the 2016/17 Premier League!
Think Bournemouth were found out towards the end of last season and can see that Howe doesn't really have a Plan B which will see them in trouble, Watford I don't know what they want to achieve but one of these days one of their managerial appointments will blow up in their faces and can see that being with Mazzari's appointment. I like Sean Dyche, very loyal to his small bunch of players but I can see the same happening as last time.
Regarding the top, I don't know. Think Europe will affect Leicester and West Ham whilst I can see Southampton sacrificing it again to focus on the league. City have the best squad as of today so it's hard not to favour them for the title. Whilst I think Mourinho will have a bit of hard work with that squad but can easily see them back up fighting for the league the following season. Chelsea will easily get Top 4 because of no distractions imo.
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Post by Brunt's Left Foot on May 31, 2016 10:23:50 GMT -5
I went for Arsenal to win the title because I think the stability will help as it did this season, plus they finally broke the monotony of 3rd or 4th every year. Also it seems they're taking the transfer window seriously by signing the likes of Xhaka and possibly Rodriguez. Man City have a very good shot at the title with their squad plus Guardiola. Man Utd I wouldn't have even back to finish top 4 if they'd kept LVG, but with Mourinho they should finish comfortably within that range.
The 4th CL spot is the hardest thing to predict imo. I could easily see any of Chelsea, Liverpool or Spurs getting it. I've gone for Liverpool though because I think lack of European football will give them and Chelsea the edge, but unlike Chelsea they don't look a broken team. Their Europa League run showed they're capable of great things and with full focus on the league, they should finish in the top 4. Chelsea need serious work and I'm not sure one season is enough to get them back in the CL, especially with all this competition and a new manager.
My placings for Leicester, Southampton and West Ham depend on how far they get in Europe. I think all three will have a good crack at it but the longer they're in the competition, the lower I can see them finishing in the Prem. All three could finish anywhere from 7th-14th.
I fully expect Middlesbrough to be the best of the three newly promoted teams. The five teams I see in danger of relegation are Burnley, Hull, Bournemouth, Watford and Palace. The first two because they seem too good for the Championship but not good enough for the Premier League. The other three because their form in the 2nd half of the season was really poor and I can't see them hiring a survival specialist like Pulis or Allardyce to save them if they need it.
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Post by Red Dragon on May 31, 2016 13:59:54 GMT -5
Early prediction, I'll try and make another just before the Season starts:
1. Manchester City 2. Arsenal 3. Spurs 4. Chelsea 5. Manchester United 6. Leicester 7. Liverpool 8. West Ham 9. Stoke 10. Southampton 11. Crystal Palace 12. Middlesbrough 13. Swansea 14. Everton 15. Burnley 16. Bournemouth 17. Sunderland 18. West Brom 19. Hull 20. Watford
City to win, Pep will whip them into shape with some signings and in Aguero they have a striker who will smash them in. Arsenal to never threaten but end up second. Spurs to have a good season but knocked out of CL early. Chelsea will begin to look like their old selves. Despite supporting Utd, I still see them finding their feet with the new manager. Really undecided with Leicester but you gotta think CL will affect them. Liverpool, Hammers and Stoke to finish top 10. Middlesbrough to have a good first season. Hard to tell with Everton since they have no manager. The rest of the teams at the bottom will struggle. Dunno WTF is going on with Watford since they sacked their manager.
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Post by Brunt's Left Foot on May 31, 2016 16:35:12 GMT -5
Early prediction, I'll try and make another just before the Season starts: 18. West Brom 19. Hull 20. Watford Unless Pulis backs his bags, I doubt we'll go down. Even if we only score 12 goals all season.
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Post by Brunt's Left Foot on Jun 2, 2016 7:53:12 GMT -5
Also I'll go with Newcastle, Villa and Brighton to get promotion.
EDIT:
1. Newcastle 2. Villa -------------- 3. Derby 4. Norwich 5. Brighton 6. Ipswich -------------- 22. Burton 23. Blackburn 24. Rotherham
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Post by Markw on Jun 2, 2016 15:25:24 GMT -5
May as well add the football league to this thread, there are enough fans of Championship clubs on here now.
1. Newcastle 2. Derby 3. Ipswich (Promoted) 4. Norwich 5. Wigan 6. Brighton
22. Barnsley 23. Nottingham Forest 24. Rotherham
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Post by Brunt's Left Foot on Jun 3, 2016 15:53:18 GMT -5
Vardy to Arsenal and Koeman to Everton seeming very possible right now.
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Post by Red Dragon on Jun 3, 2016 18:51:02 GMT -5
Zlatan to Utd? If so that will bump their title chances dramatically.
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Post by Hammersmith Hardman on Jun 4, 2016 3:07:27 GMT -5
Newcastle, Derby & Villa to go up. Rotherham, Barnsley and Burton to get relegated. In League 1 I fancy, Millwall, Sheffield United & Coventry to go up. Bury, Oldham, Fleetwood and Shrewsbury to go down. In League 2, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Doncaster & Leyton Orient to go up. Newport & Barnet to get relegated to the Conference. Vardy to Arsenal and Koeman to Everton seeming very possible right now. Everton arguably have a better team but he's building something at Southampton, I'd be pretty annoyed if I was a Saints fan.
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Post by Himmy! on Jun 8, 2016 2:41:36 GMT -5
Aubameyang to City looks like it's happening. Him and Aguero up front sounds very tasty.
Honestly see next season being the best ever competitively. Can't wait.
I really hope Leicester can hold onto their title winning squad and add some more quality to it.
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Post by Brunt's Left Foot on Jun 8, 2016 8:33:04 GMT -5
Aubameyang to City looks like it's happening. Him and Aguero up front sounds very tasty. Seems to be only really Sky/Di Marzio reporting it, every other reliable/semi-reliable source is saying there's interest but nowhere near a deal being done.
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Post by Hammersmith Hardman on Jun 8, 2016 10:28:50 GMT -5
Think Aubameyang and Gundogan (well, maybe another centre half) would be all that needs to win the Champions League imo. Once again, Pep gets what he wants with a click of his fingers.
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Post by Himmy! on Jun 8, 2016 13:49:21 GMT -5
Aubameyang to City looks like it's happening. Him and Aguero up front sounds very tasty. Seems to be only really Sky/Di Marzio reporting it, every other reliable/semi-reliable source is saying there's interest but nowhere near a deal being done. ... But I want it to happen .
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Post by hbkjason on Jun 8, 2016 14:18:26 GMT -5
It pains me to say it, but I think next season might be the season Arsenal get their crap together. I am not a fan at all and I find it crazy how people are not more harsh on Arsene for the amount of money he has pissed away the last decade. I think the current squad with Vardy up front to smash them in could be freaking lethal for the next year...... But I thought the same thing when he signed Podolski and he shoved him out on the wing.
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Post by Brunt's Left Foot on Jun 8, 2016 14:48:06 GMT -5
It pains me to say it, but I think next season might be the season Arsenal get their crap together. I am not a fan at all and I find it crazy how people are not more harsh on Arsene for the amount of money he has pissed away the last decade. I think the current squad with Vardy up front to smash them in could be freaking lethal for the next year...... But I thought the same thing when he signed Podolski and he shoved him out on the wing. Before 2013, Arsenal's record transfer was £15m. They've spent a pittance over the years compared to the likes of Chelsea, City and United. Yes they haven't won the title since 2004 but for them to consistently be in the top 4 (in fact the only "big" team not to miss out on the CL in the last 10 years) while having to compete with the other teams' budgets and rebuild their Invincibles squad with youth academy products and no huge money signings, I think Wenger has done a good a job as anyone would have. I honestly believe no manager in world football would have done as well with Arsenal from 1997-2013 than Wenger did. Yes the last few years have been disappointing considering the money he's now been allowed to spend, but I think he's earned a few years to get it right. And he's still managed to win 2x FA Cups since 2013 which is more than United or Liverpool have won in the same time period.
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