sweyid
Well-Known Member
- Jun 25, 2011
- 2,963
- 3,854
Seeing as we've had a thread like this previous seasons we might as well have one now too.
This season will be pretty special I reckon, what with Fergie retiring from the manager position, Mourinho coming back to Chelsea, Pelligrini going to City and Arsenal not strengthening this far in the transfer window.
Our main competition for 4th (or higher) will be the same as last season: City, United, Chelsea and Arsenal. Liverpool may have an outside shot at the top 4 if the Suarez situation get settled (which I don't reckon it will be) and they get their defense sorted.
As far as transfers go, I'd say that we and City are the ones who have strengthened the most this far. City will most likely be up there challenging for the title if they can get their team to really click. With Nastasic, Kompany and Hart they've got a very solid defense and Yaya in the middle is probably the best midfielder in the league (or even in the world, he's just massive). Chelsea will be a threat too, with their excellent attacking three of Mata, Hazard and Oscar. Adding Schürrle and a strike force of Torres, Ba and Lukaku they will be dangerous too and Mourinho can probably get the most out of them.
United will be a bit of a question mark imo. Will they get through due to an experienced squad or will they fall from grace without Fergie? They're best players (RvP, Carrick, Vidic and Ferdinand) are all getting old and injuries may well hamper their season and with the Rooney situation they may have a bit of an unsettled squad. Will Moyes get them through?
Arsenal... jammy ****s. I'd hate to see us slip up one more time and lose 4th by one point. Last season their defense really stepped up and Koscielny and Mertesacker really seemed to click. Can't see Vermaelen having another dreadful season, but their fullbacks aren't really up to par with their central defense. And as usual they will be an attacking threat with Cazorla and Walcott. If Podolski and Giroud step up their game they've got a pretty good starting XI, but their squad lacks depth and with a few key injuries they may well be in a world of trouble if they don't strengthen.
As for Spurs, this is the time for us to really go at it. Soldado coming in is a real relief, we've added some massive depth in midfield and gotten rid of some surplus players and if the media and ITK got it right we may still count on new additions. A new LB, some creativity in midfield and that possible Bale replacement is what we need to really challenge. Possibly some more depth in the CB position, but if we can get a full season out of Kaboul and Vertonghen keeps on performing we're looking very solid at the back, especially with Lloris in goal. As it stands we've got two major goal scorers in Soldado and Bale, but hopefully Chadli can get a few goals too and I hope Siggy will live up to the quality we saw him have in Swansea, which could mean up to 10 goals from him, but I still reckon that we need another goalscorer for the front three (if AVB intend to play 4-3-3).
I firmly believe that United will not be the same force as they've been under Fergie and that they will struggle a bit this season, but still finish in the top 4. City and Chelsea will battle it out for the title, leaving us, Arsenal and United to fight for the top 4 and I believe we'll finish ahead of Arsenal this year.
COYS!
This season will be pretty special I reckon, what with Fergie retiring from the manager position, Mourinho coming back to Chelsea, Pelligrini going to City and Arsenal not strengthening this far in the transfer window.
Our main competition for 4th (or higher) will be the same as last season: City, United, Chelsea and Arsenal. Liverpool may have an outside shot at the top 4 if the Suarez situation get settled (which I don't reckon it will be) and they get their defense sorted.
As far as transfers go, I'd say that we and City are the ones who have strengthened the most this far. City will most likely be up there challenging for the title if they can get their team to really click. With Nastasic, Kompany and Hart they've got a very solid defense and Yaya in the middle is probably the best midfielder in the league (or even in the world, he's just massive). Chelsea will be a threat too, with their excellent attacking three of Mata, Hazard and Oscar. Adding Schürrle and a strike force of Torres, Ba and Lukaku they will be dangerous too and Mourinho can probably get the most out of them.
United will be a bit of a question mark imo. Will they get through due to an experienced squad or will they fall from grace without Fergie? They're best players (RvP, Carrick, Vidic and Ferdinand) are all getting old and injuries may well hamper their season and with the Rooney situation they may have a bit of an unsettled squad. Will Moyes get them through?
Arsenal... jammy ****s. I'd hate to see us slip up one more time and lose 4th by one point. Last season their defense really stepped up and Koscielny and Mertesacker really seemed to click. Can't see Vermaelen having another dreadful season, but their fullbacks aren't really up to par with their central defense. And as usual they will be an attacking threat with Cazorla and Walcott. If Podolski and Giroud step up their game they've got a pretty good starting XI, but their squad lacks depth and with a few key injuries they may well be in a world of trouble if they don't strengthen.
As for Spurs, this is the time for us to really go at it. Soldado coming in is a real relief, we've added some massive depth in midfield and gotten rid of some surplus players and if the media and ITK got it right we may still count on new additions. A new LB, some creativity in midfield and that possible Bale replacement is what we need to really challenge. Possibly some more depth in the CB position, but if we can get a full season out of Kaboul and Vertonghen keeps on performing we're looking very solid at the back, especially with Lloris in goal. As it stands we've got two major goal scorers in Soldado and Bale, but hopefully Chadli can get a few goals too and I hope Siggy will live up to the quality we saw him have in Swansea, which could mean up to 10 goals from him, but I still reckon that we need another goalscorer for the front three (if AVB intend to play 4-3-3).
I firmly believe that United will not be the same force as they've been under Fergie and that they will struggle a bit this season, but still finish in the top 4. City and Chelsea will battle it out for the title, leaving us, Arsenal and United to fight for the top 4 and I believe we'll finish ahead of Arsenal this year.
COYS!
