Disclaimer: please do not use this as a basis for investment at the bookmakers.
Scarcely believable we know, but the new domestic season arrives on Saturday. And after all the success and emotion of the London Olympics, football’s got some work to do to win people back over.
It’s hard to see overindulged players suddenly becoming inspiring role models, but we’re hopeful that the football itself will entertain and slowly bring back the fans.
And it only seems right and proper to have a few predictions about what might happen over the next few months. We’re conscious of keeping up with trends at CollinsBeans too, and now that it seems most things must be reduced to 140 characters, we’ve kept all our views inside this limit as well.
Please read on for some short, sharp opinions on what may happen in the Premier League 2012/13. Championship edition to follow shortly.
TOP OF THE LEAGUE
James Platt:
1. Manchester City
Very strong squad, no key players lost & now the experience of winning a title. Strong CL run may distract them but are the team to beat
2. Manchester United
No doubt desperate to reclaim title & will surely be up there. But no big additions to squad & centre midfield looks a bit light
3. Chelsea
Jury still out on RDM but deserved chance after CL win. How quickly Hazard settles + the form of Torres key - not many other options up top
4. Arsenal
Always dangerous to write them off for top 4. Giroud & Cazorla look decent signings. Ultimate cliché here, but centre defence seems suspect
Matthew Snelling:
1. Manchester City
They don’t need to have spent big this summer, they already have the best squad PLUS their players now have the winning mentality
2. Chelsea
Let’s be bold, exciting new attacking signings could be creative delight or unbalanced nightmare. He deserved the job, but RDM needs to step up
3. Manchester United
Massive cliché but never count them out. Kagawa interesting signing, but aging limbs and continued weak centre midfield could be their undoing
4. Everton
Call me crazy BUT tidy squad, great manager & Pienaar back + teams around them looking highly fallible = an unheralded outside the box shout for 4th
BOTTOM OF THE LEAGUE
MS:
18. Norwich
2nd season syndrome too clichéd? Hughton a solid hand but will miss Lamberts tactical flexibility which allowed him to get most of limited squad
19. West Brom
It’s when a Yo-Yo club achieves ‘stability’ you worry. Steve Clarke has fine reputation as a coach he could be out of his depth as the main man
20. Southampton
A meteoric rise but squad looks light on Premier League quality. Defence/goalkeeper look shaky and can Lambert & 7 million man Rodriguez get the goals?
JP:
18. Swansea
Hard to see repeat of last year. Manager gone, key players lost & teams now aware of them. Laudrup a good appointment but tough ask for him
19. Norwich
Prime candidate for 2nd season lapse. Lambert seemed integral to previous success. Bad start could spell disaster. Forwards may struggle
20. Southampton
Thin squad low on quality. Strike force looks a bit Championship: hard to see where goals will come. Lack of top flight experience all round
TOP GOAL SCORER
JP:
Fernando Torres
Went with Torres last year & it was laughably wrong. But now he’s clearly first choice, with no Drogba around. Rooney & Aguero will be up there
MS:
Sergio Aguero
Explosive in his first season while still acclimatising, now he is fully settled with a happy(ish) Tevez beside him. The goals should flow
FIRST MANAGERIAL SACKING
MS:
Sam Allardyce
You never think the Allardyce/West Ham marriage is a happy one. Early struggles, fan pressure and it won’t take much for vile owners to send P45
JP:
Steve Clarke
A hunch but Clarke is unproven as No1. If WBA start badly pressure will be on. Outside chance of AVB if he destroys unity of another team
PLAYER TO WATCH
JP:
Santi Cazorla
Very Arsenal-type player & fans will hope he does bit better than Arshavin. Exciting to watch, scores goals from wing + excellent free kicks
MS:
Oscar/Hazard/Mata
Will Chelsea be the new Spain? Diminutive attacking midfielders looking to create chances, which if doesn’t work, punt it up to Torres
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