It’s been a topsy-turvy sort of season, Chelsea were many people’s favourites to win the league and they started very well indeed but now seem to have have hit a blip, with defeats to Newcastle and Tottenham seeding doubt in the minds of players and pundits alike. Southampton, West Ham and Swansea have kept the pace with the ‘big six’, surprising many commentators, and the gaps between certain clubs in the table are smaller than you might think. Only 25 points separate eighth place Liverpool with last place Leicester and all of the 10 clubs in the bottom half of the table are at risk of relegation. Here are a few pontifications about the season so far – and some predictions about who will make the Champions League spots… and who will plummet to the Championship.
CHELSEA WON’T WIN THE LEAGUE
At the start of the season everybody was saying that The Blues were a shoe-in for the title – now those banging the drum for Mourinho’s boys aren’t so sure. I was sure at the start of the season that Manchester City would pip them to it and, with City in ascendancy and Chelsea seemingly in decline, it looks as if it’s going to play out that way.
HULL ARE GOING DOWN…
…As are Burnley and QPR – though I expect last place Leicester to beat the drop and live to fight another day (in the Premier league that is).
THE TOP FOUR WILL LOOK VERY DIFFERENT TO HOW IT DOES NOW
Arsenal last finished outside the top four in 1996, almost two decades ago. Therefore it would only be a fool who questioned their ability to finish within the coveted Champions League spots once again (especially given how strong the attacking end of their squad is). Write Liverpool off at your peril as well, they finished second last season and although they lost Suarez, they strengthened their squad considerably. I expect the top four, come season’s end to be as follows; City first, Chelsea second, Liverpool third and Arsenal in forth.
MANCHESTER UNITED CAN’T RIDE THEIR LUCK FOR MUCH LONGER
A preposterously expensive squad, a very talented manger, a massive fan base, one of the world’s richest clubs and sitting pretty in forth place – their problems must be over right? – Wrong! It’s almost unbelievable that they have managed to stay in the top four this season. They have played abysmally (to put in mildly) and they don’t have the sheer willpower of Sir Alex Ferguson to pull them over the line anymore. Expect this season to be the beginning of a long period of decline for England’s second most successful club.
SOUTHAMPTON ARE BRILLIANT AND ARE HERE TO STAY
The south of England has been sadly underrepresented in top-flight football when London is taken out of the equation and so it’s great to see The Saints doing so well. Although they’ll probably end up in fifth or sixth come the end of the season, missing out on the Champions League spots, it’s clear that they’ll be pushing the bigger clubs for seasons to come.
THE VANITY OF TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR CONTINUES TO ASTOUND
The tens of millions of pounds wasted every transfer window, the grandiose statements, the megalomaniac chairman and the surprise when it all comes to nothing. Spurs must be wondering where it all went wrong. Southampton will finish above them this season because they relish their status as underdogs and it motivates them to succeed – Tottenham however want to be treated like a great club despite their mediocrity in recent years and their (only) moderate success in the past. They desperately need to start over and should begin by getting rid of Daniel Levy.
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