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Post by Robin on Aug 3, 2009 10:26:26 GMT 1
Premiership:
Champions: Chelsea Runners-up: Man Utd 3rd place: Liverpool
Championship: Promoted: West Brom, Middlesbrough Play-offs: Ipswich (winners), Sheff Utd, Reading, Nottm Forest Relegated: Barnsley, Blackpool, Scunthorpe
League 1: Promoted: Leeds, Norwich Play-offs: Millwall (winners), MK Dons, Charlton, Tranmere Relegated: Exeter, Yeovil, Hartlepool, Stockport
League 2: Promoted: Rotherham, Bury, Notts County Play-offs: Northampton (winners), Chesterfield, Bradford, Port Vale Relegated: Darlington, Accrington Stanley
Blue Square: Promoted: Oxford Utd Play-offs: Luton (winners), Stevenage, Cambridge, Mansfield Relegated: Salisbury, Grays, Hayes & Yeading, Chester
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frag
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Post by frag on Aug 3, 2009 15:26:01 GMT 1
although in my lifetime no team has yet won 4 in a row. No team has ever won 4 in a row. Then again, before last season, no team had ever won 3 in a row twice.
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Tom
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Post by Tom on Aug 4, 2009 15:07:10 GMT 1
I'll concentrate on the Premier League next week but for now here are my predictions for the FL/Conference.
Championship
Last season i correctly predicted 3 of the teams that would fill the Top 4 places (overpredicting QPR). This season looks harder to predict, which should also make for a more interesting division. I'm unsure really but having signed Cox i'll go for West Brom to finish Top 2. As far as the playoffs go, Ipswich, Preston, Sheff Utd and maybe Boro look good bets.
As for those not already mentioned - Newcastle are difficult to predict but they're definitely more likely to go down than go up imo. Quite frankly they're in a complete mess and I can see them getting off to a bad start but maybe recovering once they eventually get a new manager in to finish lower mid-table. Forest another i'm unsure about but with the money they've spent and the number of signings they've made i expect them to finish top half, possibly as high as 6th. After losing Martinez Swansea will struggle and they'll finish bottom half imo, probably below mid-table.
I'll post my Reading thoughts in the other thread later in the week as i'm waiting to hear if we sign 1 or 2 players before the weekend which may alter what i say.
League 1
Gillingham - After finally sorting our their away form last season and with the non-league players they brought in a couple of seasons ago now more experienced i reckon they'll do ok and may finish mid-table. Simeon Jackson is one example of someone who they brought in from non-league, but Andy Barcham who they got from Spurs last season also looks class and could make a difference this season. Definitely expect them to stay up anyhow.
Swindon - Without Cox they're quite simply doomed. Not only did he score 30+goals last season a lot of them seemed to be crucial.
Brentford - Think they may struggle with Hamer returning to Reading after 2 seasons on loan in which he won the Golden Glove award for most clean sheets in League 2 last season. They have signed Bennett after his release by Reading following his loan spell last season as expected and that could prove significant though. In quite a few reports i read last season Hamer didnt have much to do, protected by a solid defence in front of him of which Bennett was a part of at centre-back. He also scored the goal which set them on the way to clinching the title.
League 2
For the first time in years i won't be following this division but the arrival of Sven at Notts County will certainly make things interesting!
Blue Sq Prem
Not really sure about Mansfield/Eastbourne but will say mid-table for both, Mansfield top half, Eastbourne bottom half.
Ebbsfleet are in real trouble and I really fear they could do a Lewes this season after releasing their whole squad bar 3 full-time pros (who have probably since been sold). They've also only recently appointed a new chairman following the departure of their previous one.
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Tom
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Post by Tom on Aug 4, 2009 15:15:26 GMT 1
You're all being very optimistic about Arsenal... You haven't seen my prediction yet lol! And one mate said he thought Arsenal would finish 7th/8th, but then he said similar about Man City too and he is a Spurs fan! You're all being optimistic about Reading too... for me it all depends on how well city gell and if arsenal actually buy someone that can play football now rather than in 5 year Which is exactly why I wait as long as possible before Prem predictions. Part of the reason why i'm leaving mine till next week.
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Tom
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Post by Tom on Aug 4, 2009 15:20:06 GMT 1
With current "squads", I think your putting Arsenal behind Spurs and ahead of Citeh is ludicrous, although we look like being a lot closer this season. If you sign a defensive midfielder I think you'll be fine. Arsenal are my dark horse for the title actually, no one has any faith in them and so many reckon City will overtake them for fourth, but Wenger knows what he's doing and you do have some fantastic players who unlike City, Utd, Chelsea and Liverpool are playing under no expectations to actually do anything. Eduardo to be in the leagues top 3 scorers, Vermaelen to be a revelation at the back and a relatively injruy free season! My brother-in law is also expecting Arsenal to do well this season, and he's a United fan!
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Post by Maximo Mark on Aug 4, 2009 20:28:29 GMT 1
Last season Arsenal were comfortably 4th.
Adebayor has gone, but Eduardo is more than capable of replacing him and scoring at least as many goals. Toure has gone, but for me he'd gone backwards in the last couple of years and he and Gallas didn't get on. Vermaelen can easily replace him. They have Arshavin for the full season. They have Rosicky back after he didn't play at all last year. Fabregas, Van Persie and Walcott both spent 3+ months injured last year, a huge blow and is lightning likely to strike twice? If it does then there's a deeper problem at the club.... Bendtner didn't get on with Adebayor, he might feel less pressure, especially if the fans get off his back. Gibbs, Ramsey, Vela and possibly Wilshire are likely to get more time and be improved on what they were last year.
I'm really not sure why there's quite so much negativity about them. They're a brilliantly run club and if I could pick how my club were to be run, I'd pick Arsenal every time.
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Post by Robin on Aug 7, 2009 10:25:39 GMT 1
I've modified my predictions by changing Barrow for Chester at the bottom of the BSP
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Tom
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Post by Tom on Aug 13, 2009 15:31:39 GMT 1
Premiership predictions. Thought i'd give the full 20 a go this time... 1 Liverpool - Last season i thought they would have won the title had Gerrard and Torres played more. Ronaldo's departure from Man Utd makes me even more certain they'll win it this time round 2 Man Utd/3 Chelsea - Not much to choose between these two imo (hence me writing a comment for both in one), the Community Shield confirmed it for me. This prediction may be swayed by my preference 4 Man City - Difficult to say, could be hit or miss, but i think if they don't finish in the Top 4 Hughes could be sacked.. 5 Arsenal - Close call, but their defence is the key for me (that and possible injuries). Think they may miss Toure (losing Adebayor to their main rivals won't help either) with Vermalen a bit of an unknown quantity 6 Spurs - I've overpredicted them in the past but with a full season under Redknapp and no European distractions i fully expect Spurs to finish in the Top 6. Would also say they've suffered from always seeming to start the season away, but Liverpool at home doesn't get much easier! Though i think they may get a result still.. 7 Villa/8 Everton - Not much to choose between these two for me, but i think Jagielka being out could prove crucial.. 9 Sunderland - Seems odd to place them in the Top 10, but Bruce is a good manager and they've made good signings. 10 West Ham - Not much different to last season really 11 Fulham - Think they'll struggle to match the success of last season with the demands of European football but should still finish mid-table. 12th Wigan - One of those teams (like Blackburn and Bolton below) that could go unnoticed, neither struggling or creating waves further up the table. Really like Martinez and his style of play and thats enough for me to put them higher than the two aforementioned clubs. 13th Blackburn 14th Bolton15 Stoke - Will struggle from 2nd season syndrome. May finish lower than this but i don't think they'll go down as there are worse, less well-organised teams than them. 16 Wolves - Their firepower will be crucial. Think they missed Ebanks-Blake when he was injured last season and the signing of Doyle has convinced me they'll stay up this year. May finish higher but Doyle is a doubt to start the season after having a hernia op and not playing much in pre-season. 17 Pompey - A bit lower than they would have been had i done this last week after hearing of a bust up between 2 players on their pre-season trip to Portugal and discovering the full extent of their financial problems, which could still see them struggling to name an 18 man squad for the start of the season if any more players leave. 18 Hull - The signing of Hunt may possibly be crucial if he recaptures his best form, but i've tipped them to go down after last season's dreadful form post Christmas combined with 2nd season syndrome. 19 Birmingham - Will struggle for firepower imo. 20 Burnley - Could see them getting one-off results against the better sides but they'll struggle to have the consistency needed to stay up imo. Plus as West Ham, Sheffield Utd, and Reading have shown in previous years, having the significant results against better sides whilst struggling in the relegation 6 pointers is always going to leave you in trouble. A lot of the positions from 9th-15th was based on guesswork!
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frag
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Post by frag on Aug 13, 2009 23:25:54 GMT 1
My prem predictions...
1. Chelsea - old, but strong and hungry. 2. Man United - suddenly look a bit light. 3. Liverpool - great XI, but no depth, and you KNOW rafa will rotate. 4. Arsenal - by a nose (see below) 5. Man City - signings refusing to gel? 6. Spurs - crouch for bent, sounds like a good deal to me. still no defence, but. 7. Everton - still a fairly solid but unspectacular team 8. Aston Villa - just not the same without barry/laursen 9. West Ham - very good pack of young players 10. Fulham - again, good defence and poor attack 11. Sunderland - slow building... 12. Wigan - depends on the new manager 13. Bolton 14. Blackburn 15. Stoke - a one-catapult team 16. Wolves - appear to be able to score goals. four worse teams. 17. Birmingham - players with PL experience, and three worse teams. 18. Portsmouth - lost too many key players to survive 19. Hull - continuing where they left off 20. Burnley - just not enough prem quality.
Like Tom, I can't think of anything to say about the boring 13th/14th north-west teams!
Arsenal v City was the toughest choice, partly because of where I'm standing. But I took their probably first XIs and chose thusly...
Almunia - Sagna, Vermaelen, Gallas, Clichy - Walcott, Fabregas, Diaby, Arshavin - RVP, Eduardo Given - Richards, Dunne, Toure, Bridge - SWP, Ireland, Barry, Petrov - Adebayor, Tevez
7 players to 4.
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Post by Shireblogger on Aug 15, 2009 22:43:02 GMT 1
Better late than never
1. Chelsea 2. Manchester Utd 3. Manchester City 4. Liverpool =============== 5. Arsenal 6. Tottenham =============== 7. Aston Villa 8. West Ham 9. Sunderland 10. Fulham 11. Everton 12. Blackburn 13. Bolton 14. Stoke 15. Birmingham 16. Wolves 17. Wigan ============== 18. Portsmouth 19. Burnley 20. Hull
1. Newcastle 2. WBA =============== 3. (Promoted) Cardiff
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Post by Panda on Mar 7, 2010 20:58:30 GMT 1
So how are our predictions looking now?
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frag
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Post by frag on Mar 7, 2010 21:44:58 GMT 1
I've probably got a good chance for 3/3 relegated teams... I've recently changed my mind about the title race; I think United will do it now, even though their team isn't as good as Chelsea's or Arsenal's on paper. It's very tight, though, all three will probably still have a chance in May.
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Post by Shireblogger on May 10, 2010 14:44:10 GMT 1
PREMIERSHIP RESULTS
I have unilaterally decided to award points as follows:- 4 pts if you got the position spot on 2 pts if you were + 1 place out 1 pt if you were + 2 places out
Here's the final scores:-
1. Earl Purple: 33 pts 2= Mister Hamster 32 pts 2= FourFourTwo 32 pts 4. Daz The Hammer 31 pts 5. frag 30 pts 6. paddy 28 pts 7= Maximo Mark 26 pts 7= Tom 26 pts 7= Shireblogger 26 pts 10. Thor 21 pts 11. Robin 8 pts
Nobody scored any points for Liverpool, Birmingham or West Ham.
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Post by Maximo Mark on May 10, 2010 20:02:35 GMT 1
At least my confident prediction that Arsenal cerainly wouldn't drop out of the top 4 and that if anyone fell out it would be Liverpool was correct.
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frag
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Post by frag on May 11, 2010 11:27:36 GMT 1
Last season Arsenal were comfortably 4th. Adebayor has gone, but Eduardo is more than capable of replacing him and scoring at least as many goals. Toure has gone, but for me he'd gone backwards in the last couple of years and he and Gallas didn't get on. Vermaelen can easily replace him. They have Arshavin for the full season. They have Rosicky back after he didn't play at all last year. Fabregas, Van Persie and Walcott both spent 3+ months injured last year, a huge blow and is lightning likely to strike twice? If it does then there's a deeper problem at the club.... Bendtner didn't get on with Adebayor, he might feel less pressure, especially if the fans get off his back. Gibbs, Ramsey, Vela and possibly Wilshire are likely to get more time and be improved on what they were last year. I'm really not sure why there's quite so much negativity about them. They're a brilliantly run club and if I could pick how my club were to be run, I'd pick Arsenal every time. Looking back on your points in order: Eduardo has been the biggest disappointment of the season for me, although in a system with one central striker, you probably can't afford to pick one who isn't firing so he never got a chance to play his way into contention. Vermaelen has proven himself, fantastic CB. Arshavin for full season - well, nearly. He managed 25 starts and 10 goals in the league, finishing as our 2nd highest league scorer (joint 2nd overall). He certainly started the season well and showed flashes of brilliance, but perhaps wasn't as excellent as hoped. Rosicky - 14 starts, 11 sub appearances, but hardly any impact. Another disappointment. Lightning sure did strike twice seven broken bones when the average is 1 per club per season. 26 starts for Fab, 14 for RVP and 12 for Theo. The fans have really warmed to Bendtner, and he went on a great run in the Spring, with a particular knack of late goals. He's risen from about 6th to 2nd-choice central striker. Gibbs - broken metatarsal in November, not seen again until May Ramsey - broken leg, out until Autumn, but showed his quality before that Vela - has hardly played 6 starts + 14 sub in all comps. Should go on loan to another Prem club next season. Newcastle? Wilshere - went on loan to Bolton, seemed to do well. I would like him to have another 6 months on loan somewhere, possibly Bolton again. With enough money, I'd replace Almunia, Fabianski, Silvestre, Rosicky and Eduardo for starters...
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