i said where THE 20/21 PREM was gonna end up — But was I right?

18/19 I did alright. 19/20 was a little worse. This time I got confidence it could be my best ever.

That being said, I haven’t looked at these predictions since I jotted ’em down here, so I could easy have done a shite tonne worse.

Let’s see!

Below is where I had ’em. And here’s what I said about ‘em.

1. Manchester City
2. Liverpool
3. Chelsea
4. Arsenal
5. Manchester United
6. Everton
7. Leicester
8. Tottenham
9. Wolves
10. West Ham
11. Southampton
12. Burnley
13. Leeds
14. Newcastle United
15. Sheffield United
16. Aston Villa
17. Brighton
18. Crystal Palace
19. Fulham
20. West Brom

Here’s where they actually ended up.

1. Manchester City
2. Manchester United
3. Liverpool
4. Chelsea
5. Leicester City
6. West Ham United
7. Tottenham
8. Arsenal
9. Leeds United
10. Everton
11. Aston Villa
12. Newcastle United
13. Wolves
14. Crystal Palace
15. Southampton
16. Brighton
17. Burnley
18. Fulham
19. West Brom
20. Sheffield United

Did I do better than -56? Surely better than -72…

For scoring, the aim is to get as close to 0 as possible, starting from 0, with any difference in positions coming off my score.
For example, my beginning score is 0, I had Sheffield United finishing 15th, they finished 20th, that’s minus 5 off my score.

I think the worst I can do is like -200, so let’s see where I landed.

ARSENAL

Prediction: 4th / Actual: 8th
A frustrating season for The Gunners where there were just too many games where too many players didn’t turn up. Signings feel like paper over the cracks as they wait for youth to be fully integrated, and it’s costing them.
The thing is, either road they take now could be damaging. To ship out a load of players and wait for what’s left (and added) to settle could be costly, but to persist looks as if it could be catastropic right now.
They showed their class at points, mind, so it’s never that far away, it’s just about harnessing it.

Score: -4

ASTON VILLA

Prediction: 16th / Actual: 11th
I underestimated the building job here. Along with Watkins and Cash came Bertrand and, perhaps most importantly, Emi Martinez. Even Ross Barkley chipped in. To go along with a solid core of Mings, Konsa, and Luiz, this is exactly what Villa needed, and for a shimmering few moments, a top ten finished looked on the books. 11th ain’t far off though.
Injuries to key man Grealish no doubt affected them, but it might actually set ’em up well to know how to cope without him going forward, which is better than relying so heavily on one low-shin-padded fella.

Score: -5

BRIGHTON

Prediction: 17th / Actual: 16th
We can only bemoan finishing for so long. It’s easy to say that if they took their chances they’d be right up there, but that’s true about any squad. If it was an issue that plagued a small fraction of their games it would be bad luck, but the fact that it’s been over an entire season means it’s a failing.
I’m all for the narrative that Graham Potter is a good manager, because he is, but the squad at his disposal are temperamental going forward and if they’ve been working on that, they haven’t been doing it in the right way. Something needs to change before they end up with spoiled goods littering their fridge.

Score: -1

BURNLEY

Prediction: 12th / Actual: 17th
They’re just trying to prove me wrong. Their style constantly looks good enough to keep just enough teams below them, and any more than that is a failing on the opposition’s part. It’s unfair to say they never change things up, it’s just more subtle — but it might need to become more obvious to press on and breach the top half once again.

Score: -5

CHELSEA

Prediction: 3rd / Actual: 4th
Tuchel secured ’em, and while there were a few doubts going in, he could well be the man to carry them forward. Especially if he finds success in Portugal at the weekend.
Players seemed to start popping again, but we can’t forget the job Lampard did getting a few of these players integrated, a few players that now form the core of the squad. Lampard set it up, and Tuchel can hammer it home, so to speak.

Score: -1

CRYSTAL PALACE

Prediction: 18th / Actual: 14th
They’ve been a hard watch at points this season. They possess quality flair players that don’t have the chance to spin their game, only to show off individually in the hope it will lead to… Something.
There seemed to be a lack of game to them, a side content with consolodating what they’ve got at the expense of progress. Living legend Roy Hodgson will be missed, but it’ll be exciting for Palace fans to see who’s next and what they will bring.

Score: -4

EVERTON

Prediction: 6th / Actual: 10th
It looked on for Carlo and the boys for a bit, but then The Toffees did what they’ve always done over the recent seasons. Stacked it.
They always seem like they should be great, but never get more than good. A hot start was cooled and players billed as the new excitement became background extras. There’s the base for something at Goodison, they just can’t keep buying their bricks from their merchant anymore.

Score: -4

FULHAM

Prediction: 19th / Actual: 18th
I said in my prediction that their mistake last time they were up was buying too much unproven talent, and that this time it would be the opposite. And it kinda was. They didn’t make broad enough changes to adapt to the Premier League, and anyone who watched them (as well as WBA) in the Championship last season could probably see that things weren’t gonna work out.
But it was touch and go. Signings like Aina and Adarabioyo shone, and January signing Josh Maja, who looked to be a galvanising presence, arrived too late in the day. There’s still something to build on here, it might just be a soft reset.

Score: -1

LEEDS

Prediction: 13th / Actual: 9th
What a great time to be a Leeds fan. Like with their fellow promotees, I reckon a lot of folk knew what they were getting with Leeds in the Prem. Their style coming up was aggressive and tireless and stood out across the land, I think many were just surprised it worked so well at the highest level.
Entertaining in victory, defeat, or rare draw, you couldn’t blink when Leeds were playing, and I, for one, am psyched to see how they press on next season after a comparatively tighter end to the season.

Score: -4

LEICESTER

Prediction: 7th / Actual: 5th
They’ve had another cracker as they come to terms with competing face to face with the greedy six. They’ll be disappointed to miss out on Champo, of course, but there are plenty of positives to take from their season.
They may need to start adapting a little up top, and additions will arrive. They’re shrewd when it comes to this kind of thing… Almost cunning…
Any hunger they had this season will be doubled for next season, as a solid squad continues to cement itself.

Score: -2

LIVERPOOL

Prediction: 2nd / Actual: 3rd
When the champions have a blip, it feels like they should be finishing 10th or 11th, but Liverpool managed to get their shit together enough towards the end of the season and post a more than respectable 3rd place finish. Of course, it’s gonna seem like a failure because they’ve just been champions, but when half your squad’s laid up, there ain’t much can be done.
I hope this doesn’t spell the end of their era though. Alisson is picking up in form, Trent and Andy are still firing, Fabinho is fire, and the front three are still massively capable — they just need some of their mates back, and maybe some fresh ideas, and they could be tasting gold again.

Score: -1

MANCHESTER CITY

Prediction: 1st / Actual: 1st
The midfield stepped up, and when they were already top rung, that means they were playing among the stars. The likes of Silva, KDB, Foden, and Gundogan covered attack when they needed to, all the while commanding the middle of the park. Combine that with the likes of Ederson, Stones, and Ruban Dias holding down the fort, and you can stick an Ali Dia in each full back position and still win the league.
This wasn’t without it’s sticky moments, but in true champion style, these were overcome within the season — and they became the heroes of their own story.

Score: 0

MANCHESTER UNITED

Prediction: 5th / Actual: 2nd
Probably the most inconsistently inconsistent side in the league. One week they could look like world beaters ready to fulfill their potential and return to the top. The next, they’d look clueless in vital areas.
Many have said The Red Devils are just missing a key signing or two, that they’re missing the ruthless streak that their cross-city rivals have. Those could well be the answer to good, consistent form, but they’re not trying to be good; they’re trying to beat the rising of the blue moon. And if they’re not sharp, they could be on the verge of an eternal night.

Score: -3

NEWCASTLE

Prediction: 14th / Actual: 12th
12th seems too generous. This was a team that grafted and tried hard — I just don’t know what at sometimes. And I don’t think they did either. This feels like all Newcastle can do. I’ll lump them in with Burnley and Palace, and say that these sides were fighting for consolodation at the expense of progress. That’s what some sides need though. Sure, they’re not pushing for Europe, but they are consistently surviving in the best league in the world, and maybe the thriving will come after.
At the moment, the ‘thriving’ chapter seems a little far away for the Toon Army. But will they take a high-risk, high-reward style over what they’ve got now?

Score: -2

SHEFFIELD UNITED

Prediction: 15th / Actual: 20th
They couldn’t do anything to not get worked out this season. As expected, they didn’t show progression in scoring goals and often looked powerless going forward, becoming joint record-holders of fewest goals scored in a Prem season; only avoiding sole bottom spot on the final day. So it would be at the back where they would have to excel again.
And they didn’t. Simple as. Fresh signings weren’t assertive enough, injuries didn’t help, and those left over were exposed. Aaron Ramsdale did what he could, but this is one that I should’ve seen coming really. Even if Rhian Brewster did come good, I don’t think it would’ve been enough.

Score: -5

SOUTHAMPTON

Prediction: 11th / Actual: 15th
If I was a Saints fan, I would have been happy at the start of this season; optimistic. At points of the season, this optimism would have been well placed. But the prevailing feeling instead was… Confusion…?
It feels like this side should be cracking on. Like all the pieces are in place. Instead, it’s like you’re decorating a cake, and you keep adding a dash here, and a dash more there, and suddenly, you’ve ruined the cake.
Something has gone wrong at Southampton, and it has caused flounders to fly from the sea to the pitch. I’d say there could be trouble next season, but it’ll more likely just be more confusion.

Score: -4

TOTTENHAM

Prediction: 8th / Actual: 7th
I said their key player would be Son ‘cos I think I just wanted to take some of the load off of Kane.
Obviously it was Kane, and he ain’t gonna carry shit no more, ‘cos he wants out. And can you blame him? It’s been a frustrating time to be a Spurs fan for the last most of their existence. But this season with the Mourinho issues and the Super League shit, they seem to have finally become what they’ve always merely looked like — a kid sitting at the adult’s table.
This needs to be a new era for Spurs. Know who you are. You’re not European elite, so stop acting like you are. Be humble. Work for it. Don’t put the cart before the horse. Don’t run before you can walk. Is this enough platitudes for you?
Denounce the greedy six, Spurs. They’re not your friends, they just keep you around so they can laugh at someone.

Score: -1

WEST BROM

Prediction: 20th / Actual: 19th
As I said for Fulham, if you watched their Championship campaign, they weren’t ready as a team. No signings would have helped, including in the dugout, and it was just too soon for them to come up. The squad is at the point of minor overhaul; let’s call it a trim, and there are a lot of talented youngsters ready to come through under new, and hopefully solid, guidance and leadership.

Score: -1

WEST HAM

Prediction: 10th / Actual: 6th
I said Moyes had his own philosophy he was building at West Ham, I just didn’t expect it to be so effective. I thought they’d fall by the wayside of richer sides, but West Ham held their own with some nice business, as well as the most advancement in certain squad members I’ve seen for them (Cresswell, Rice, Antonio). It feels like players have a place again. They’re not just holding down the fort until the next signing or stopping by for some top flight football — they’re starting to feel like a squad that want to pull on the shirt of West Ham.
It may well just a one season jolt into Europe, but a solid foundation is something that West Ham have been needing for a while. And I’m gonna stop there and not go into the future, ‘cos The Hammers should be enjoying the right now.

Score: -4

WOLVES

Prediction: 9th / Actual: 13th
The promise was there from the off and then Raul suffered that horrific injury that saw him done for the season. Since then, Wolves didn’t get back into gear. They weren’t good to watch, there was a gloom, and you wouldn’t be forgiven for forgetting they were there.
Now, they’re not a one-man team. But there’s no doubt it was a turning point, and a team cannot let that happen, obviously. I can’t see a standout moment or player, the club’s gonna be the victim of a few cherry pickers in the Summer, and I’m not seeing the path at the moment. Though I’m sure there are a few Portuguese people on it.

Score: -4

— —

And so comes the end of another season in the top flight of English football. A quieter season than most, and let’s admit it, it doused some excitement. The sound of fans will be a welcome addition next season, and one I cannot wait for.

Congratulations to Manchester City on your title victory, to all the sides that qualified for Europe, and commiserations to Sheffield United, West Brom, and Fulham — I’m sure we’ll be seeing you all again soon, further on down the road.

As for me, my final score ended up at…

-56

Again?

2018/19 — -56
2019/20 — -72
2020/21 — -56

At least it’s an improvement on last year, and I didn’t get anyone wrong by more than five places, so that’s somet.

MY BIGGEST WINNERS — Manchester City — 0, West Brom, Tottenham, Liverpool, Chelsea, Fulham, Brighton — -1
MY BIGGEST LOSERS — Sheffield United, Burnley, Aston Villa — -5

Maybe next season, eh? I’ll see you there, hopefully in the crowd.

Keep it streets ahead,

C.L.R.