Top 4 next season

[Judge Jules]

The league will be more closely contested than last time IMO but I still see us having a great chance. Citeh have a lot of new players to bed in and I'm not yet convinced they're all title quality. The Arse will keep falling short without a top striker and it remains to be seen whether Gyokeres, decent as he is, is of the right class. Newcastle are a good side but not quite as good as the usual Big Three/Four, especially if Isak's unsettled. Tottenham will be better than last season with Thomas Frank in charge - there are some good players in that squad and he'll bring more in - but will be tested by having to cope with the CL as well as upping their league performance. The Mancs may improve but it won't be enough, not this season anyway. The Chavs will be buoyed by their "World Cup" win, but whether that squad will cope better than last time with a league campaign remains to be seen.

 

[Gerry_A_Trick]

I think the other three will be confident going in. Arsenal are the most settled and have consistency for a few years, which should be a big advantage. Chelsea look the most improved and have a big squad. City will just be better, last year was an outlier.

We're likely to be worse, given we were a bit lucky last year, and it looks like we're losing some regulars so will take time to settle new guys in, as well as AFCON impact.

I'd put Arsenal as favourites for the league, but they're Arsenal, so they probably won't win it.

 

[Hansern]

Arsenal are managed by Arteta. That alone means they’re not winning it.

 

[peterhague]

I think we'll win it as long as we sort out the striker position reasonably well. No idea about the top 5 because there are so many good teams now.

I think Spurs will be good and will make a reasonable fist of challenging for top 5, and that Utd will still be shit and Amorim won't last the season.

 

[Hansern]

Yeah, I think Spurs could have a good season. Playing in the CL might affect them though.

 

[Fabio]

None of those players score enough goals, so they aren’t great in defense or attack.

Maignan is a marginal improvement and sideways move, not marquee.

It's not necessarily about scoring a ton of goals each, it's about enough improvement across the front line. I think Pedro and gittens add improvement.

If they actually stick with a settled defence then there's every chance that will improve, with or without a new keeper.

Just don't think it's wise or sensible to discount them completely

 

[Hansern]

It's not necessarily about scoring a ton of goals each, it's about enough improvement across the front line. I think Pedro and gittens add improvement.

If they actually stick with a settled defence then there's every chance that will improve, with or without a new keeper.

Just don't think it's wise or sensible to discount them completely

Agreed, just don’t think they’ll win it in the end

 

[SummerOnions]

I was thinking about how hard it will be then I remembered we just signed one of the best players on the planet. Curious how quickly Wirtz will settle in

 

[Hansern]

I was thinking about how hard it will be then I remembered we just signed one of the best players on the planet. Curious how quickly Wirtz will settle in

I was nodding in agreement reading this until I saw that you didn’t write Woodman.

 

[Al_Gatto]

In terms of dynamics, I think Jotas loss will really galvanise the Liverpool squad. Slot is such a calm perfectionist, I'm confident he'll build on last years coaching and he's clearly moving on players he doesn't trust. Maybe too much churn but best get the squad surgery done. Wirtz sounds amazing but we really need a top striker and a CB still. If the plan is to play a box MF with two tens and no striker, we'll suffer.

Guardiola looks knackered and I think the Shitty squad knows it. Haaland will bang goals in but he looked a bit half arsed even before his monster contract. Then there's the 115 charges that has to hit sometime.

Chelsea have insane squad numbers and Maresca moaned about it last year. Can see disharmony hampering them, plus UCL where they can't play the reserves like last season. Dodgy keeper to boot and the CWC looked draining.

Arsenal look the part but they've been with each other a while and won nothing. If they have an iffy spell, which Arteta has avoided recently, I can see the pressure coming to a head.

Spurs will do better, especially if they get Gibbs-White, but they're not brimming with quality or depth to sustain it, especially with UCL.

Newcastle haven't really added much yet. Elanga is quality but they've lost Wilson. Isak is great when fit but don't trust him.

Forest will dip badly if they lose their best players. Don't see any surprise new entries as the gulf is getting ever wider between top and bottom.

 

[Frogfish]

We won't sell Konate or Diaz. We'll get a good striker in.

City are much weakened from 2-3 years ago regardless of end of season form. The Pub WC (and CL league) will see both them and Chelsea suffer fatigue and injuries the longer the season goes on.

I like Arsenal's business. I like ours better.

Liverpool
Arsenal
Chelsea
City

 

[LarryHagman]

Might regret this but I'm not so sure about Arsenal's business.
A defender who won't get in the team barring injuries.
Zubimendi to help them control games - they already control most of the games they play in, it's killing teams off/turning draws into wins that they don't do.
Bloke from Brentford - meh.
Madueke - slightly above meh.
Striker from Portugal - danger signs all over that.

Some depth there I suppose but it's not exactly edge of the seat stuff.

 

[Fabio]

Citys business have made them the favourites for me. Arsenal (bar actually getting a striker) arguably haven't improved (for me). Chelsea could go either way. Newcastle could be problematic, but CL could cause issues.

Going to be a fucker of a league this year