The Best Of The Rest

[chivers!]

Still a lot to be settled before the start of the new season, but right now, who do you think will be our main competition in the fight for a top four place (outside the current top four, obviously)?

Another ex-Spur at Pompey, ominously quiet at Everton, not much happening at West Ham, all change at Rovers, Bolton and City, will it be Villa...?

 

[werty]

I think Pompey will do well this season providing they keep their best players(which they probably ill). They looked pretty solid last year and I think Crouch and Defoe will score alot of goals for them(if benjami can anybody can).
Not sure about Everton and Villa will have to improve their squad so I can't see them challenging for much this year. City could do well because Hughes is a good manager I don't really see Blackburn, West ham or anyone else will do anything special.

 

[joey55]

I think so much depends on who clubs sign in the coming weeks. At the moment the only threats to us are Pompey and Everton, but if City sign Ronaldinho and 1 or 2 others, then they could challenge aswell.

 

[Kyras]

I can see Pompey struggling with four in midfield, they will have to work out how to play a four, as it's pretty much totally foreign to them, and they will be lacking there. Everton will be solid as ever, but I think there are more classy teams this year that might be their undoing, and Blackburn look like losing their best players, so Villa could be a very good shout.

 

[dontcallme]

Pompey are very solid nowadays and players are starting to view them as a good team to join, 2 years ago there is no way they'd have been able to get Defoe and Crouch.

Everton have built themselves to be a consistently very good side, they've got a couple of good young players with a bit of experience now who i think will up their game this season so their lack of signings so far won't be a major issue.

Martin O'Neill and Aston Villa are proving you don't need top superstars to compete and I expect them to improve further.

Blackburn are losing players rather than gaining and I think they've reached their peak, Man City will not reach the heights their chairman unrealistically expects and I predict that club will start having problems in the next couple of seasons and West Ham will buy a couple of injury prone players, whine when they get injured and finish lower mid-table.

 

[joey55]

I can see Pompey struggling with four in midfield, they will have to work out how to play a four, as it's pretty much totally foreign to them, and they will be lacking there. Everton will be solid as ever, but I think there are more classy teams this year that might be their undoing, and Blackburn look like losing their best players, so Villa could be a very good shout.

I thought they played 442 pretty much every time Defoe started.

 

[kishman]

Yeah Pompey are looking stronger and have a brilliant manager in Twitchy. Everton are currently the best of the rest so they'll be up there. Villa and Citeh both have good managers and depending on who they bring in will prove a threat to us. Newcastle as always will be shit but will still manage to do the double over us.

 

[robbiesavagehasbreasts]

Yeah Pompey are looking stronger and have a brilliant manager in Twitchy. Everton are currently the best of the rest so they'll be up there. Villa and Citeh both have good managers and depending on who they bring in will prove a threat to us. Newcastle as always will be shit but will still manage to do the double over us.

God, I hate that.

 

[paulspursman]

we really should be finishing ahead of Villa, Everton, Newcastle and West Ham

think Pompey will be dangerous though

 

[Khilari]

everton, pompey, villa and potentially man city

 

[Supersonic]

God, I hate that.

Fuck Ive just realised thats actually true. Wankers.

I think Portsmouth are the main ones as they are strong all round, their strike force and midfield is very good.

Man City are good, not too fusse about the rest

 

[spurslenny]

this is how i see it

pompey = best squad-----------along with everton, our nearest rivals for 5/6 place

villa = best manager---------small squad will hold them back towards the end of the season

everton = best squad/manager combo----------see pompey

spam = forget it!-------------unambitious manager, too inconsistant

toon = get real!-------------mid table, at best

citeh = the dark horses, will either fly or flop-------if hughes gets them going, could be a danger. Then again, may get a repeat of last season

 

[guy]

crouch and defoe will score a shit load of goals, they are a dangerous combo. If they get injured pompey will struggle

otherwise i think man city will be dangerous with hughes in charge and the bags of money. Jo could be a big hit in the premiership.

everton will again be a dnger but they havent bought anyone yet have they? if they get a good striker in they will be hard to beat to 5th let alone 4th spot

 

[KentuckyYid]

I think Boro with Alves goals are going to have a good season (for them).

Might push for a uefa place.

 

[Subs]

As others have said, Villa, Everton, Man City & Pompey for me. Newcastle will probably be lurking in that bunch somewhere as well. A lot depends on the signings made in the coming weeks, but I think this will be a tough season for us.

 

[Bonjour]

Newcastle will crash in the 2nd half of the season. They'll be of no concern to us.