Strength of the Premier League next season...

[KentBlue]

Dippers and Arse being put forward as possible challengers/winners, but I don't see that. Both Bingo and Arteta are too highly strung: both are prone to outbursts of extreme anger and childish tantrums, often over the most trivial of things. We've seen Bingo throw hissy fits pretty much week in week out, and now it appears that Arteta is beginning to react to the pressures of Premier League management in a negative and churlish way.
Both sides played far less games than we did in the season just gone, and both these managers spent much of their time throwing exaggerated tantrums and behaving like spoiled brats.
The pressure was way too much for Arteta and predictably enough the Gooners did a Spursy and disintegrated when the finishing line was coming into view.

Both Chelsea and Spurs have a point to prove after equally disappointing seasons, Newcastle will be keen to want to consolidate their standings within the footballing hierarchy, and Brighton will show once more that they are where they on merit: no Hollywood signings, no trumpet fanfares, no ticker-tape parades with a new signing, just good, attacking football and an extremely formidable coaching staff.


It'll be a great season, with so many twists and turns it would have given Agatha Christie migraine for a week. There will be the usual highly controversial decisions to help the rags along the way, there will be freakish results and their will be managers being hired and fired.

It will be our national sport back again, business as usual: and I for one am so looking forward to it.

 

[bluemoon32]

We will really miss Gundo, lets see how that goes

 

[TinFoilHat]

If it was a proper sports league we'd have the league wrapped up by Feb.

PiGMOL and VAR will make sure the scum and others are relevant as the brand comes first over sporting integrity.

 

[IronsideKozuch]

Sorry for a long post, but done longer one for a language purposes;)

Premiel League 2023/2024 preview and a forecast:

Man City - third time in a row PL Champions (5 in last 6) and Treble Winners, still with the Goat at the helm. Massive changes within a squad makes any prediction hard enough, Gundogan and Mahrez were great players, Bernardo Silva's future is up in the air. Maybe we re gonna witness a bit of dip in form, many says standards like to decline after a spectacular success. Also Gundogan > Kovacic, important thing is to keep Bernardo Silva. Great signing with Gvardiol, hes 21 and a rock of the defender.

Arsenal - my feeling is they will battle it out for a title with City and maybe Liverpool/Man Utd. They are clearly on the rise and made some good summer business when also have not lost anybody: Rice and Timber have enormous potential, maybe Havertz comes up over expectations. Trouble for Arsenal is some kind of inferiority issue against City - lost 14 recent league fixtures against the champions, has been literally demolished in a clash at the Etihad on April, 4-1 was still flattering for Arsenal in comparison to run of play.

Man Utd - as Arsenal they re getting better under proper manager, but still not entirely convinced over their transfer business. Its been long time since we witnessed prime Mount, who should be essential to improve United's ability to dominate a play. Onana for De Gea looks like an utmost time, but Hojlund is a very young lad and will find himself under loads of pressure as an almost lonely recognised striker for such a massive club (Martial looks done with all injuries). Transfer window is open and they still need a player to enhance middle of the pitch - Fred and McTominay are probably gone, Amrabat looks like a good bet for a middle of the park.

Newcastle - so far only Sandro Tonali is a proven reinforcement in a team, that exceeded all expectations last season under Howe. They are still one the market though and have a great financial support. Funnily, its allegedly not that simple to buy new players for them due to tight FPP restraints - as a "new top club" they need to increase revenues. I reckon its going to be hard for them to repeat last season, especially since theyre gonna play twice a week with Champions League football.

Liverpool - as opposite to Newcastle, LFC definitely underachieved last season, landed ultimately in the Europa League. Jurgen Klopp apparently ordered a midfield revolution: Henderson and Fabinho have been sold, Keita and Millner released, all for Mac Allister and Szoboszlai. Will be a threat to everybody as usually, but to be a challengers again their midfield must click on from the start and defense be back to their best, especially Van Dijk.

Tottenham - Spurs cant catch the break for sure. All moves post Pochettino hardly brought improvement on the pitch: Mourinho, Nuno Santo, Conte and they are out of UCL again. Additionally quite a dilemma on Daniel Levy's hands - whether to sold Kane or not when hes entering last year of the contract. Its interesitng, because Kane want trophies and to break a Shearer's PL goals record (Shearer - 260; Kane - 213). If Tottenham's CEO (famous Daniel Levy) reject him a move to Bayern this summer, he would go to PL rivals next summer (arguably Man Utd). I like their new manager though, Australian mate!

Aston Villa - sat 16th in the PL when Unai Emery was installed in November as a new coach instead of Gerrard. Finished 7th and as so qualified to Conference League. Should be a decent run for Villa, their incomings looks really promising: Moussa Diaby from Bayer Lev. (higly valued, many top teams were in the running), Pau Torres, Tielemans on top of the existing potential released laready by Emery. Top 5 is possible, Top 4 just too much.

Chelsea - since Todd Boehly took over preety much 15 months ago they bought players for around 700 mln pounds! Finished 12. last season, what is absolutely incredible and shows actaully a strength of Premier League. You can have all the money in the world, but still at the end 11 players must be a cohesive unit rather than 11 individuals. For a positive note - obviously it cant get worse, so it must be better. Pochettino should be enough for a noticeable progress, maybe even great progress in terms of league position regarding that lack of european cups should allow them to bring all focus on the league and domestic cups.

My prediction:
1. Man City
2. Arsenal
3. Liverpool/Man Utd
4. Liverpool Man Utd
5. Newcastle/Aston Villa/Tottenham/Chelsea

 

[Betterdeedthan red]

Sorry for a long post, but done longer one for a language purposes;)

Premiel League 2023/2024 preview and a forecast:

Man City - third time in a row PL Champions (5 in last 6) and Treble Winners, still with the Goat at the helm. Massive changes within a squad makes any prediction hard enough, Gundogan and Mahrez were great players, Bernardo Silva's future is up in the air. Maybe we re gonna witness a bit of dip in form, many says standards like to decline after a spectacular success. Also Gundogan > Kovacic, important thing is to keep Bernardo Silva. Great signing with Gvardiol, hes 21 and a rock of the defender.

Arsenal - my feeling is they will battle it out for a title with City and maybe Liverpool/Man Utd. They are clearly on the rise and made some good summer business when also have not lost anybody: Rice and Timber have enormous potential, maybe Havertz comes up over expectations. Trouble for Arsenal is some kind of inferiority issue against City - lost 14 recent league fixtures against the champions, has been literally demolished in a clash at the Etihad on April, 4-1 was still flattering for Arsenal in comparison to run of play.

Man Utd - as Arsenal they re getting better under proper manager, but still not entirely convinced over their transfer business. Its been long time since we witnessed prime Mount, who should be essential to improve United's ability to dominate a play. Onana for De Gea looks like an utmost time, but Hojlund is a very young lad and will find himself under loads of pressure as an almost lonely recognised striker for such a massive club (Martial looks done with all injuries). Transfer window is open and they still need a player to enhance middle of the pitch - Fred and McTominay are probably gone, Amrabat looks like a good bet for a middle of the park.

Newcastle - so far only Sandro Tonali is a proven reinforcement in a team, that exceeded all expectations last season under Howe. They are still one the market though and have a great financial support. Funnily, its allegedly not that simple to buy new players for them due to tight FPP restraints - as a "new top club" they need to increase revenues. I reckon its going to be hard for them to repeat last season, especially since theyre gonna play twice a week with Champions League football.

Liverpool - as opposite to Newcastle, LFC definitely underachieved last season, landed ultimately in the Europa League. Jurgen Klopp apparently ordered a midfield revolution: Henderson and Fabinho have been sold, Keita and Millner released, all for Mac Allister and Szoboszlai. Will be a threat to everybody as usually, but to be a challengers again their midfield must click on from the start and defense be back to their best, especially Van Dijk.

Tottenham - Spurs cant catch the break for sure. All moves post Pochettino hardly brought improvement on the pitch: Mourinho, Nuno Santo, Conte and they are out of UCL again. Additionally quite a dilemma on Daniel Levy's hands - whether to sold Kane or not when hes entering last year of the contract. Its interesitng, because Kane want trophies and to break a Shearer's PL goals record (Shearer - 260; Kane - 213). If Tottenham's CEO (famous Daniel Levy) reject him a move to Bayern this summer, he would go to PL rivals next summer (arguably Man Utd). I like their new manager though, Australian mate!

Aston Villa - sat 16th in the PL when Unai Emery was installed in November as a new coach instead of Gerrard. Finished 7th and as so qualified to Conference League. Should be a decent run for Villa, their incomings looks really promising: Moussa Diaby from Bayer Lev. (higly valued, many top teams were in the running), Pau Torres, Tielemans on top of the existing potential released laready by Emery. Top 5 is possible, Top 4 just too much.

Chelsea - since Todd Boehly took over preety much 15 months ago they bought players for around 700 mln pounds! Finished 12. last season, what is absolutely incredible and shows actaully a strength of Premier League. You can have all the money in the world, but still at the end 11 players must be a cohesive unit rather than 11 individuals. For a positive note - obviously it cant get worse, so it must be better. Pochettino should be enough for a noticeable progress, maybe even great progress in terms of league position regarding that lack of european cups should allow them to bring all focus on the league and domestic cups.

My prediction:
1. Man City
2. Arsenal
3. Liverpool/Man Utd
4. Liverpool Man Utd
5. Newcastle/Aston Villa/Tottenham/Chelsea

Do you have anything to back up the rags having a proper manager now.
I haven't seen anything to suggest he's any better than olly at the wheel

 

[deano ou812]

Do you have anything to back up the rags having a proper manager now.
I haven't seen anything to suggest he's any better than olly at the wheel

He won a league cup,does that count as an improvement,they should be aiming to win the league this season ( although they won’t )and no more bullshit mentions of transition with what has been spent now..

 

[IronsideKozuch]

Do you have anything to back up the rags having a proper manager now.
I haven't seen anything to suggest he's any better than olly at the wheel

1. i watch Utd quite regularly over years (an many other teams), they are not quite up there surely yet, but progress is certain in my book,
2. Ten Haags CV is good, als learnt from the best at Bayern;)
3. United are a bit of a mass for years now, tough circumstances to operate is my guess,
4. you can try to listen what players, staff, other managers who worked with him upon years have to say, including Pep - thats the best source of info, not Yours or mine intuition:)
5. won a cup title already

 

[Betterdeedthan red]

1. i watch Utd quite regularly over years (an many other teams), they are not quite up there surely yet, but progress is certain in my book,
2. Ten Haags CV is good, als learnt from the best at Bayern;)
3. United are a bit of a mass for years now, tough circumstances to operate is my guess,
4. you can try to listen what players, staff, other managers who worked with him upon years have to say, including Pep - thats the best source of info, not Yours or mine intuition:)
5. won a cup title already

Won a cup.
Yep the lowest ranked one in England.
His cv is good.
Why what's he done .

 

[IronsideKozuch]

Won a cup.
Yep the lowest ranked one in England.
His cv is good.
Why what's he done

So bottom line is "a proper manager" is not really a reach;) hes done many good things with teams of various resources

+ i was really impressed that he defeated Barcelona in EL, my feeling was Barcelona had much better team, but he was smarter than Xavi this time around

Thats being said its not like i am hear to defend Ten Haag, prefere many, many others and not a United coach. It was barely kind of an attempt to look forward to PL 2023/2024 from neutral poinf of view, if something like that exists;)