You get it. 20/21 Premier League.
I didn’t do too bad two seasons back.
And I did worse last time out.
So let’s buck the trend, yeah.
Come on, guys.
I dannae ask for much.
Here we ga.
ARSENAL
They’ve done their season off and now they need to get back in the saddle. Settle under Mikel, keep PEA knockin’ about, keep bringing up them youth, and invest in rock; rock like Gabriel and Willian.
They might not ride right into the corral, but they can comfortably park their mare outside the pub as the build continues.
Key Player: PEA. Don’t just keep him about, keep him firing. Maitland-Niles is gonna have a banger n’all.
Prediction: 4th
ASTON VILLA
Deany trying to build, but I dunno if Matty Cash and Ollie Watkins’ll be enough. Outstanding players last season, but brilliant individuals do not a good team make. IF they can build on what they have, keep the likes of Mings and Grealish, while getting their wings in check and sorting their defensive philosophy, they could survive more comfortably than last time out, but that was a big ‘if’, wannit?
Key Player: Jack Grealish. Gots to keep him. Gots to.
Prediction: 16th
BRIGHTON
A nice svelte Seagulls squad. Pretty much everyone has a role, no chances. The debate is whether they can do that job efficiently enough. They be solid enough, but are rarely great, and the signings reflect that. The likes of Veltman and Lallana look to consolidate what Brighton have, but with the new boys, that might not be enough.
Key Player: Ben White. Could be Dunk, but after the hubbub of keeping Benny, Potter has to show he can bring out the talent that Bielsa did.
Prediction: 17th
BURNLEY
They don’t need to add, and they don’t need to subtract. They’d love to multiply their points via divide and conquer, but will the same old tactics go again for Dychey and the boys?
Of course they will. I ain’t getting burned again.
Key Player: Nick Pope. A starting point for Burnley’s style. The figure of their soft reset.
Prediction: 12th
CHELSEA
The superstar club for the new season, Chelsea have all the big names and the pressure’s on. But when even your back-ups are world-beaters, you gotta be in with a chance. I just reckon the talent, no matter how long they take to gel, with Lampard’s light-handed approach to involvement, will get ’em near the tippity-top.
But it is the gel that might not hold.
Key Player: N’Golo Kante. They’ll need that chain to keep the team together, and it’d be a blessing to have him back.
Prediction: 3rd
CRYSTAL PALACE
There are redeeming qualities in this Palace side, and they’re tight-knit and well-managed. If they went into this season with the same squad as last season, I’d have ’em down. However, Batshuayi and Eze aren’t enough to change that, and they cannot galvanise themselves with the likes of McArthur, Zaha and Dann. They’ll scrap, but they’ll run out of gas, and ideas.
Key Player: Wilf Zaha. Has to be their creative force going forward. Guaita’s gotta keep being the old-school save-machine as well.
Prediction: 18th
EVERTON
When will they do well? When will this team come good? Each season, the signs seem to point that they will, and each season, they fall short. The highest of expectations may have been reserved for this season though. Ancelotti, James, Allan, all joining Richarlison, Digne and Coleman, this team should have enough quality and enough depth to finally come great.
Key Player: James. Could just be that galvaniser for the team.
Prediction: 6th
FULHAM
Their mistake last time they came up was buying too much unproven talent and wasting millions on ’em. This season, it may be the opposite. Scott Parker ain’t dumb though, he’ll know his first team from the Champo last season needs some more spice to really sizzle. Tete and Aina will come in and may provide the tang, but they might just need another flavour or two, otherwise, their bland Premiership run will continue in the basement.
Areola is a cracking signing for any team as well, but did Fulham need him when they have Rodak? Don’t be making your goalkeeping carousel mistake again Fulham.
As has been said about ’em, they won’t lack in imagination, but might do in execution.
Key Player: Tom Cairney. A lot on him to create.
Prediction: 19th
LEEDS
They’ve mostly kept the lads that won ’em the Champo, and they’ve been selective with their signings, with Rodrigo and Robin Koch joining the first team. The quality is good enough to compete and I believe, survive, in the Prem, but it might take ’em a while to slip proper into gear. Bielsa’ll make sure it ain’t too long though, and Leeds’ll slot right back in after 16 years gone.
Key Player: Kalvin Phillips. The defence’ll be paramount for the Yorkshiremen, and with them being solid, Kal can aid the forward push from there. Ayling deserves some love n’all, mind, embodies a Leeds United the fans love.
Prediction: 13th
LEICESTER
One full-back out, one full-back in, and that’s the stretch of the changes in The Foxes’ first XI. They still be bringing through their youth though, and they’ve got a squad they can rely on, even if it’ll be tricky to deliver another top-five finish. Rodgers’ll need some flexibility, but he’s a regular in the yoga class, so he’ll be reet.
Key Player: Ricardo Pereira. Commands a solid back line and inspires when getting forret.
Prediction: 7th
LIVERPOOL
Everyone has ’em shaking this time out, and it’s kinda the same issue as Leicester in that they might be worked out ‘cos they ain’t changed much, but here’s the thing: we know how earthquakes work, it don’t stop ’em being devastating. Some teams might have better defences against ’em though, and that might tell, but if it sees ’em topple, it won’t see ’em topple far.
Key Player: Jordan Henderson. The link can’t go missing.
Prediction: 2nd
MANCHESTER CITY
They’ve got a bit of depth noo, even if they could still use a spare striker to cover. But Pep’s got his lads in and his image is still one with plenty of trophies painted within.
The combo of power and precision might just be undeniable, especially after a frustrating season which saw their balls go the same colour as their shirts.
Key Player: KDB. Got a hand in everything, especially with David gone.
Prediction: 1st
MANCHESTER UNITED
They brought in Donny Boy, but I think there’s somet else needed. It’s a feeling… And I worry that Ole and the boys might be getting close to their ceiling, psychologically. The legacy of the club still hangs over them casting a longer and longer shadow, and the sugar in this current side doesn’t stop you tasting the salt.
The sweetness will be present, but it’ll only drive ’em most of the way.
Key Player: Bruno Fernandes. Ready to strike, ready to set-up, ready to keep this team ticking.
Prediction: 5th
NEWCASTLE
This is a weird one. On paper, the signings are smart and the squad is solid. Under Bruce however, the players are almost immaterial, but efficient. This is the gamble Newcastle must make though; they’ve seen managers come in and try to force through change, and it’s lead to heartbreak. Bruce’s way might be the way for The Toon Army to build and progress, but some players may fall by the way-side as collateral damage and end up giving Newcastle a sense of deja-vu come the season end.
Key Player: Callum Wilson. Needs to be the man to deliver goals to St. James’ Park.
Prediction: 14th
SHEFFIELD UNITED
Bar Dean Henderson, they’ve kept what made ’em work, and that’s that hard-working, spectacular defence. Even then, they’ve replaced Hendo with two fresh goalkeepers. While they may continue to stop goals, I don’t think they’ll show much progression in scoring them. So their duck’s-arse qualities will see them survive, but their duck’s-feet qualities will make sure it ain’t too comfortable.
Key Player: Aaron Ramsdale. Needs to keep a stellar defence in check.
Prediction: 15th
SOUTHAMPTON
The fans are happy and the squad is settled. Two majors for this fresh season. They’ve trimmed some of their overrated talent and Ralphy has bought players whom he likes and is sticking to it. They ain’t gonna touch the stars yet, but there’s a feeling that they’re building a rocket to go marching in.
Key Player: Danny Ings. Give him a chance, you’ve got a goal.
Prediction: 11th
TOTTENHAM
I dunno if folk have been a bit blindsided by the doc, ‘cos I reckon they be overrating Spurs for this coming season. Mou can do. We know he do. But not with this squad. There is one stellar XI amongst these players, and Mou’s mission will be to push them, to keep them fit, sure, but to get those others up to snuff. He’s gotta get Danny Rose onside, get Ben Davies back in the picture, get Foyth up to match-level, get Hojbjerg living up to his forever-inflated billing, etc. etc.
Spurs’ll have to cripple themselves to reach the top four, and I don’t think they’ve got that in them.
Key Player: Son Heung-min. Game-changer, game winner.
Prediction: 8th
WEST BROM
They’ve locked in last season’s Champ standouts and they’ll be strong, but at their strongest, they’ll be Burnley-lite. From there, their flash ain’t clean enough and their experience ain’t old enough.
Bilic’ll give it all he’s got, but he ain’t got enough.
Key Player: Semi Ajayi. Needs his strength and then some.
Prediction: 20th
WEST HAM
Hammers fans seem a bit pessimistic about this season, and I can see that, I really can. But I also see a big chance to make a mark. I don’t reckon it’ll be a long-term thing, but if their guns are stuck to and they don’t retreat too early, West Ham can be starting something.
Moyes has his own philosophy. Folk might not love it, but the players were working with it and working with it well. He got the players he wanted playing the positions he wanted them in, and, quelle surprise, it was the positions they played best in. The philosophy is simple, but with a firm hand and a firm application, Moyes, Soucek, Antonio and the boys could shock a few this season.
Key Player: Michail Antonio. Keep that form and keep scoring goals when nobody else will.
Prediction: 10th
WOLVES
The Portuguese national team will make another run up the table this season, but not as spectacularly as they have previously. They’ll build a bit this season; players’ll come good in waves and they’ll be ready for next time out, but they’ll be pushing, and they’ll still be taking victims for a mid-season holiday to The Algarve.
Key Player: Conor Coady. He’ll boss ’em through this period.
Prediction: 9th
— —
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
Yeah, that’s about right.
My bet is placed.
Gotta better -56 and definitely -72, but I got a good feeling.
And I hope you do too. If not, I’m always here to talk.
Enjoy the season, and keep it streets ahead,
C.L.R.
