Premier League 2011/2012 Prediction

Prem Preview 2010/2011

The Premier League returns for it's 20th season this weekend. Last season ended up with a familiar outcome as Man Utd lifted the title again. Arsenal managed to sustain somewhat of a challenge up until the last few weeks, after which they faded and Chelsea became the only contenders to challenge the Red Devils.

"What is going to be different this season?" you may be asking. Well, the answer is most likely not very much. Expect the same teams once again to be competing for the league. This time Man City will run United all the way along with Chelsea under their new manager; Portugal's Andre Villas-Boas. Speaking of new managers, Liverpool have their messiah back but I don't see them as serious contenders for the league title this year. Arsenal look to be losing two of their key players in the ongoing Fabregas transfer, and Sami Nasri looks as though he may add to Man City's ever improving squad.

Why do I think United will win the league again? They managed it last season despite something they lacked - depth - and this summer they have strengthened wisely. Personally I still have questions over their new goalkeeper David de Gea, who appears to have a weakness of shots outside the box. But in Ashley Young, and Phil Jones they have acquired players who will without question make their squad stronger. Fringe players like John O'Shea and Wes Brown have now moved on, unsurprisingly but the new signings could easily be first team regulars.

Down at the bottom, unbelievably there were five clubs on the final day all fighting to keep themselves among the elite. I don't expect that scenario again anytime soon. I expect all three promoted clubs to struggle this time around. QPR would have the best chance financially but they haven't quite brought in players to keep them comfortably away from the bottom three. Wolves have strengthened their backline, in adding Roger Johnson from relegated Birmingham and permanently signing Jamie O'Hara. The biggest movers I expect outside of the top 6 will be Sunderland, who so far have signed 10 players, so while they may not make the best start they should be strong in the final reaches of the season. Again Everton haven't done much business as finances for David Moyes are tight, as a result I expect them to fall a few places. Blackburn, who a number of the pundits have tipped to go down (including former midfielder Robbie Savage, Sky's Jeff Stelling and Terry Butcher) following last seasons debacle and despite Venky's promise of substantial amounts of money haven't managed to splash the cash, and have rookie Steve Kean in his first full season and an incomplete boardroom structure after many of the faces that kept the club on sound financial footing over the last number of years. Fulham, West Brom and Stoke should all be comfortable, whilst Wigan will most likely again struggle.

Well, here's to the thrills, spills and twists & turns for the coming season. Let's hope the 20th edition of the Premier League is the most exciting yet. 


Table Prediction

1.Man Utd
2.Man City
3.Chelsea
4.Arsenal
5.Liverpool
6.Spurs
7.Sunderland
8.Bolton
9.Fulham
10 Stoke
11 West Brom
12 Aston Villa
13 Everton
14 Newcastle
15 Wolves
16 Blackburn
17 Wigan
18 Norwich
19 QPR
20 Swansea

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Prem Preview 2010/2011 The Premier League returns for it' s 20th season this weekend. Last season ended up with a familiar outcome as Man Utd lifted the title again. Arsenal managed to sustain somewhat of a challenge up until the last few weeks and after which they faded and Chelsea became the only