Official Football Discussion Thread 2011/12

[Doink]

It's nearly the time for the new season to begin.

What are your predictions and opinions for the new season?

Personally, I think Man Utd will retain their crown this year followed by Man City, Chelsea and Liverpool.

Man Utd have spent wisely this summer with the signings of Ashley Young, Phil Jones and David De Gea. They are going to be tough to beat this year.

Down the other end of the table, I think that Wolves and Swansea will find it tough this year and I think that Blackburn will also struggle this year. Norwich have bought in a good few players and I think they will survive and Q.P.R will look to their playmaker Adel Taarabt to keep them up this year. In my opinion if they lose him to a bigger club, they will struggle to survive.

My Full table prediction:

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

Your thoughts?

 

[Troy]

This year I am actually going to follow a team, QPR. My dad followed them and for years I would check to see what division they were in. Finally they have made it back to the big time and even though I am told the manager is a dick I want them to stay up. I think that Man United will win the title again, they have only made their team stronger. Arsenal I see dropping down the table as they keep losing big names and I don't think they will replace them. I am unsure how Man City will go with no Tevez up front.

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

 

[Keith]

At the moment I would make Utd favourites, because after scraping by with a avenge team last time, they have made good buys to strengther. The only thing I would say is that there are question marks over a couple of their signings, Young is a good buy, but how good are Jones and the new keeper, and are they more for the future or will they make the step up straight away. It also depends on who the likes of Chelsea, City and Arsenal buy, there are still a few weeks left after all.

 

[Prodigy]

De Gea has been in fantastic form this pre season and he looks like a good signing. Our back up keeper Ben Amos is also playing great so no worries in the Keeper department at the moment and with Macheda and Owen proving themselves up front in pre season it looks like the squad has a great depth and Fergie will have many good options.

I think we will win the title with more ease than last season which was difficult. My dark horse bet this season is that Q.P.R will finish in the top ten and Aston Villa will get Champions League Football over Liverpool and Arsenal.

My relegation predictions are Swansea, Newcastle and Wigan.

 

[Andrew]

Newcastle, Stoke and Norwich for relegation for me.

QPR - Keep a good eye on them, expecting them to be Reading of 07 where they finished 5th.

Man U will win again, we got some good buys

 

[Keith]

Well I would bet my house on Villa more likely being in the lower half of the table, than pushing the top four, but hey you never know!

As for the QPR making the top five, the days when newly promoted sides make that sort of impact are long gone, it is a sad fact of the modern game, that there are three different divisions within the PL, and that the money factor protects the top four or five teams, and makes it very difficult for even a decent mid-table team to crack them. Don't get me wrong with a manager like Warnock, the strong support, some talented players and the money at the club, I can see them being dark horses, and gaining a mid-table position like Newcastle last year, but much beyond that at this stage is unrealistic.

 

[TheZig]

Yeah a newly promoted team cracking the top 4 is laughable in this day and age but i do see them doing fairly well. Im predicting United will take the title again with Chelsea and Man City clawing behind, Im looking forward to seeing how Uniteds young player will do...We seem to have a mixture of youth and experience which is what Arsenal has lacked the past few years.

 

[Andrew]

Is everyone forgetting that Reading made fifth place a few years back after being promoted?

QPR has a chance to do the same thing and mind you, for the past ten years they've been spoken about as the next English team to be on the rise. Their time is now and I do see them sticking in the EPL for a few years.

I do believe Manchester United will finish first but City is looking as a good threat this season, not too sure about Chelsea however.

 

[Doink]

I see QPR sticking around for a few years but definately not more than a mid table position. Man Utd, Man City, Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal, Tottenham, Everton and possibly Fulham will all finish above them so I think their best possible position is 9th.

 

[Andrew]

Tottenham is a wild card this year, I reckon they could just clinch into the 3rd spot this season.

For some reason I am not rating Chelsea or Arsenal as a top four this season

 

[Doink]

LOL, Im definately rating Chelsea, maybe not so much Arsenal

 

[Andrew]

I just believe Tottenham & Everton will do better. I see Chelsea losing some matches in the season and not being as strong as you'd want them to be. Arsenal will be up there but I reckon Tottenham will get the one up on them on the ladder. Manchester City should produce heavily and be up in the top 3.

This is how I see it.

Manchester United
Manchester City
Tottenham
Arsenal
Chelsea
Everton

That is my top 6.

 

[Troy]

First round is this weekend. I am really looking forward to this season and will be watching a few of the games this weekend. Who does everyone think will win?

Blackburn vs. Wolves
Fulham vs. Aston Villa
Liverpool vs. Sunderland
QPR vs. Bolton
Tottenham vs. Everton
Wigan vs. Norwich
Newcastle vs. Arsenal
Stoke vs. Chelsea
WBA vs. Man United

 

[Doink]

Andrew where you rating Liverpool?

 

[Andrew]

Rating Liverpool down half-way. Don't see them making much impact like last season tbh.

Blackburn vs. Wolves
Fulham vs. Aston Villa - DRAW
Liverpool vs. Sunderland - DRAW
QPR vs. Bolton
Tottenham vs. Everton
Wigan vs. Norwich - DRAW
Newcastle vs. Arsenal
Stoke vs. Chelsea
WBA vs. Man United ​