It’s been lonely here at the TOP, but luckily I’ve had the entertainment of the Premier League to keep me company, along with the fire of talent to keep me warm.
Ten months ago, I put my balls on the line and made my prediction for the final table of the 2018/19 Premier League season with all the confidence I could muster.
To remind you of my predictions in-depth, you can go here, but in the end, I went with this:-
1.Manchester City
2. Liverpool
3. Tottenham Hotspur
4. Arsenal
5. Manchester United
6. Chelsea
7. Everton
8. West Ham
9. Brighton
10. Leicester City
11. Newcastle United
12. Burnley
13. Southampton
14. Wolves
15. Fulham
16. Bournemouth
17. Watford
18. Huddersfield
19. Crystal Palace
20. Cardiff City
A solid start, but then we tail off into… Wrongness. A lot of my predictions were wrong and a lot of what I said was wrong; here’s the actual final table for comparison:-
1.Manchester City
2. Liverpool
3. Chelsea
4. Tottenham Hotspur
5. Arsenal
6. Manchester United
7. Wolves
8. Everton
9. Leicester City
10. West Ham United
11. Watford
12. Crystal Palace
13. Newcastle United
14. Bournemouth
15. Burnley
16. Southampton
17. Brighton
18. Cardiff City
19. Fulham
20. Huddersfield Town
Not awful, but just… Not really right in so many places. Here’s the side-by-side view:-
NOW, FOR THE 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 Huddersfield finishing 18th, they finished 20th, that’s minus-2 off my score.
Got it? Good. Lesgo.
ARSENAL
Predicted Finish: 4th / Actual Finish: 5th
Ten months ago I stated that Arsenal’s new signings under Unai Emery would prove themselves at the highest level, and that was correct, Stephan Lichtsteiner shone as bright as Prince William’s ginger locks. No, it was their existing squad that seemed to let them down. Injuries, lack of commitment and no desire seemed to hamper The Gunners’ top four push, and though there’s the potential of a Europa League trophy, a finish outside of the top fifth will be seen as a disappointment.
Score: -1
BOURNEMOUTH
Predicted Finish: 16th / Actual Finish: 14th
I love the philosophy and set-up of Eddie Howe at Bournemouth, and I don’t know why I keep expecting them to slide off. As one of the most secure set-ups in England, they may be too set in their ways, plateauing in mid-table with a barely-wavering number of points for the fourth season on the bounce. But a black-and-white, hot-and-cold season outdoes my expectations and once again gives The Cherries something to build on.
Score: -2
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION
Predicted Finish: 9th / Actual Finish: 17th
The problem with playing in Brighton is that it’s hard to avoid the allure of the beach. Which is where most of their players were this season. Last season made me believe that there was nowhere to go but up for Chris Hughton’s men, and that was only right in the sense of none of them turning up. The players seem good enough to perform, but they just couldn’t mesh; so much so that The Seagulls are no longer Chris Hughton’s men…
Score: -8
BURNLEY
Predicted Finish: 12th / Actual Finish: 15th
A rough start for The Clarets came with an unfortunate exit from Europe and a shocking first few games in the league. But the return of Tom Heaton was followed by enough form to see them worm themselves away from relegation and provide a challenging opponent for the rest of the league. Here’s me thinking that their form in the previous season could be built upon, but instead, an early start scuppered Sean Dyche’s league plans.
Score: -3
CARDIFF CITY
Predicted Finish: 20th / Actual Finish: 18th
I slagged off Cardiff and Neil Warnock quite a bit in my predictions, but they asserted themselves in the league; they just didn’t do it often enough. New signings didn’t turn up enough, and the rest of the players showed fire and desire, but occasionally let themselves get burned.
Credit to Colin though, he pushed his squad to their limits, but just couldn’t get enough out of them.
Score: -2
CHELSEA
Predicted Finish: 6th / Actual Finish: 3rd
Reading the dirtsheets would have you believe that Chelsea finished in 16th. In League One. How can a manager’s job be under threat with a 3rd place finish, a Capital One Cup final and a Europa League final? Chelsea need to cool their jets. I thought shit would go a bit cray at Stamford Bridge, but Sarri smoked out all the issues and though the season might be a bit dry when it comes to positive highlights, one can’t sniff at a top four finish and two cup finals.
However, if Sarri does decide to leave, Kepa the Keeper looks set to take the reins.
Score: -3
CRYSTAL PALACE
Predicted Finish: 19th / Actual Finish: 12th
These lot got me. I saw their signings and I was impressed, but it just spelled out desperation to me. I got these lot and Fulham mixed up, and that’s because Roy Hodgson played who was right for him and wasn’t pressured into playing ever major signing he’d made. After January, The Eagles were one of the most feared teams in the league, and Selhurst Park housed gems that one just wouldn’t expect to find there. Palace have impressed this season, and while a lot of my predictions have been wrong, this one is filled with the most wrongness.
Score: -7
EVERTON
Predicted Finish: 7th / Actual Finish: 8th
I dunno what it is, but it really doesn’t seem like Everton should have achieved as good a finish as they did, ya know? Like the negatives outweighed the positives. But saying that, young ‘uns have been getting runs out, both Richarlison and GYLFI were on fire, and they glued up the defence towards the end of the season, it’s just that nothing was spectacular.
Some will leave for next season, but some will come back, and Marco Silva, with all his naysayers, has steadied the ship and structured sturdy foundations at Goodison.
Score: -1
FULHAM
Predicted Finish: 15th / Actual Finish: 19th
Question: How much does it cost to get a team relegated?
Answer: Over £60,000,000 and Maxime Le Marchand.
Yeah, I’d predicted Fulham to struggle to gel, but, come the end of the season, have their quality tell. Instead, a load of Premier League-unproven hammered the nail in the coffin for Fulham. They tipped the scales too much and should have stopped short of stocking up on so many top-flight virgins.
Scott Parker looks as if he’s steadying the ship in that respect, but this was a harsh lesson for any team coming up from the Championship: just because something’s shiny, it doesn’t mean it’s gold.
Score: -4
HUDDERSFIELD TOWN
Predicted Finish: 18th / Actual Finish: 20th
Rough. Just rough. One could’ve never questioned the will and desire of this side, but the quality wasn’t there, the tactics weren’t there, and the skill just wasn’t there. I did predict second-season-syndrome to strike due to their diminished attacking prowess (summed up by the fact that Karlan Grant, whom they signed in January, finished as their top scorer), but I don’t think anyone could have envisioned such a rough ride for The Terriers.
Credit to the Huddersfield fans though, who kept their spirits high in spite of hellish form.
Score: -2
LEICESTER CITY
Predicted Finish: 10th / Actual Finish: 9th
I love Claude Puel. The understated tactician was understated quality at Leicester, but Brendan Rodgers has come in and everybody has a little spring in their step. Maybe he was brought in just a little too late to make a big difference on their league finish, but Leicester did manage a lot of bright sparks, just not often enough; be it Jamie Vardy’s form, Tielemans’ electricity, James Maddison’s vigour or Ben Chilwell’s endeavour, the only way is up for this side.
Score: -1
LIVERPOOL
Predicted Finish: 2nd / Actual Finish: 2nd
My first correct prediction! Not that Liverpool didn’t try everything to make it wrong. 97 points a no title? One loss all season and no title? Two of your players winning the golden boot and no title? All the effort, all the hard-work, commitment and drive for a second place finish. Liverpool did fantastically, and there aren’t enough superlatives to describe their season, but in spite of all that, it just wasn’t enough. They drew quick…
Score: 0
MANCHESTER CITY
Predicted Finish: 1st / Actual Finish: 1st
But these lot drew quicker. My second and final correct prediction comes off the back of an insane end of season run that saw 14 straight wins stretching from the start of February to May. Liverpool chased them down and didn’t let up an inch, but City weren’t prepared to give them one. An outstanding season solidifies a generation of talent who show that the Blue Moon has well and truly risen.
Score: 0
MANCHESTER UNITED
Predicted Finish: 5th / Actual Finish: 6th
The power of a caretaker manager must be bottled and sold because it is a mighty elixir. Almost as if a caretaker forever promises hope that a golden goose could be coming over the horizon any moment to take the reigns, and so this temporary acolyte will live dangerously, as if every match is his last.
But then they move in permanently, they don’t leave, and the hope that the players had of witnessing a golden goose cannot be transferred to someone they viewed as merely a pawn.
The hope is within him, he just needs them to see it.
Long story short, uninspired under Mourinho, crackin’ under temporary Ole, back to careless under permanent Ole.
Score: -1
NEWCASTLE UNITED
Predicted Finish: 11th / Actual Finish: 13th
The Toon Army’s symmetry between this season and last was incredible.
Rafa Benitez said that consistency was key for Newcastle, and if we only knew how serious he was. Above, after 35 games, no improvement, no decline, and I don’t know if that’s fantastic or frustrating.
This could be the rest of Newcastle’s life, groundhog day-ing the Premier League, never leaving, but never winning.
However, in the last three games, they managed to finish one point higher than the season before, as well as scoring three more goals (conceding one more as well), yet still finish three places lower. And that does not sound like it should make sense.
Score: -2
SOUTHAMPTON
Predicted Finish: 13th / Actual Finish: 16th
The Alpine Klopp has avoided the moniker of Alpine flop by revitalising a Southampton side that should never have been that way. Talents such as Nathan Redmond, James Ward-Prowse and Shane Long never should have been stifled or sullied, but somehow they were. Ralph made the easiest decision of his life by pumping them back up and putting them to work. He’s still got a lot to do, but the foundation is set, and now Hasenhüttl can build.
Score: -3
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Predicted Finish: 3rd / Actual Finish: 4th
It was all or nothing for Spurs this season. ‘NO DRAWS’ declared Mauricio Pochettino, ‘WE WIN OR WE LOSE, DO OR DO NOT’. With only two draws all season (one on the final day of the season), Spurs proved that they could put away their chances do claim victory, or fall victim to a variety of strike forces and flop in defeat, there was minimal middle ground.
I would say that a total of zero signings is the reason for their number of losses and missed opportunities, but it’s hard to argue with a top four finish and a Champions League final. Poch has got it down.
Score: -1
WATFORD
Predicted Finish: 17th / Actual Finish: 11th
This is maybe the prediction I am happiest about being wrong. For the first time in a long time, Watford displayed the one quality they had been missing over their Premier League seasons, the one quality that when introduced, really made the team go.
Stability.
Maybe not in results, but in structure, in set-up, and on the pitch. Everything seemed to come together, and the play of the team reflected that. It was easy to tell that it was still a foreign concept that they were getting used to as they could flip-flop between being absolute world-beaters to being a pub team who’d been on the lash the night before.
If they can harness that stability on the pitch, you’ve got some dangerous Hornets.
Score: -6
WEST HAM
Predicted Finish: 8th / Actual Finish: 10th
They kept hold of Arnautovic, worked on their depth, stayed fit, and it worked. Far from a newsworthy season, The Hammers displayed a calmer and refreshing demeanor under Pellegrini, one that, if they carry on like it, can see them go far. New signings have gelled, old dogs have learned new tricks, and with solidity across the pitch, a tinge of consistency is all West Ham need to make next season newsworthy.
Score: -2
WOLVES
Predicted Finish: 14th / Actual Finish: 7th
Alright, I was wrong here. I put them in the same boat as Fulham, reckoning they’d signed too many new, unproven Premier League virgins. But a lot of these lads had already been getting to grips with the team the season before, and adding a bit of shine to fill in the cracks just secured an already solid Wolves side.
They proved me wrong, finding consistency and key performances at right times, as well as making so many players vital to their form. The likes of Doherty, Boly, Coady, Jimenez, Jota and others made sure that not only will Wolves be around for a few years in the Premier League, but that their howl will be heard.
Score: -7
— — — —
FINAL SCORE: -56
— — — —
Yeah, not stunning. I think the lowest score is like -200 or something, so I was only a quarter of the way there, and a I was only one or two off with a lot (‘a lot’ being the majority).
RIGHTEST
Manchester City, Liverpool — 0
WRONGEST
Brighton & Hove Albion — -8
It could have been worse, but, as always, the Premier League season couldn’t have been better, with drama, thrills, chills, twists and turns, along with a title race for the ages.
Come next season, we say goodbye to Cardiff (and Colin), Huddersfield and Fulham, but we welcome in Norwich, Sheffield United, and (at the time of writing) either Derby or Aston Villa. Yes, either Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole, or John Terry and Glenn Whelan are going to be promoted to the Prem.
Congratulations to Manchester City for your title, but to all the teams as well, for doing what you love with all the passion you can muster.
See y’all next season, and if you’re gonna get off, get off at the TOP.
Keep it streets ahead,
CLR
