You know how we do. Let's have at it. And let's pray that COVID doesn't trouble us, here and in more important things.
1. Liverpool. Some concern about fatigue and title hangover, but they're here based on the strength of their back four. No other contender can match it.
2. ManU. A full season with Bruno, Marital, Rashford & co. I think they have the quality to bank more points than any of their rivals.
3. Chelsea. Will all of these acquisitions mesh? They have such numbers that Frank will have a whole season to hit on the right combo. Still not sold on their defence.
4. City. With those players and Pep they can win the whole thing, but I'm not feeling it. Ake is not enough to shore up the defence. Foden's emergence is a great thing but they will miss Dilva. If they bring in Koubliay (sp?) or others then this could be higher but for now I put them here. Of course all bets are off with Messi.
5. Tough between Arsenal and Spurs. I never thought Jose was a good fit for Spurs but Doherty and Hojberg, while not glamorous, are exactly the kind of solid players he needed. I like what Arteta has done at Arsenal but on the balance I have to go with Spurs.
6. Arsenal.
7. Everton. Claiming the Everton Trophy as their birthright. As usual I can claim that they've won the offseason with James, Allan, and Docoure. There is a legit criticism that after the midfield was a dumpster fire, they overloaded there, left themselves with a lot of deadwood that needs clearing out and neglected problem areas elsewhere - a lack of pace and width is a concern. But they won't be ripped apart in the middle of the park anymore, and with Allan's ball-winning ability, Doucoure as the energetic box-to-box guy, and James as a creator, the DCL/Richarlison partnership up top looks very promising - they did pretty well last season with the likes of Tom Davies, the corpse of Gylfi Sigurdsson, and the one-legged Andre Gomes (not) supplying them, so with good service they could run wild. (I secretly hope for higher if everything clicks, but I don't want to bait Zomp).
8. Southampton. Saints were dreadful at the start of last season, including a 9-0 thumping by the Foxes, but Ralph turned it around and this is a solid squad. Hojberg will be missed, and they're counting on Ings to repeat a career season, so there are some ifs here. Still I think this is the squad with the best feeling about it out of the remaining sides.
9. Sheffield United. Love what Wilder did last season. Ramsdale is a good addition. Not enough firepower to go higher and I think the league has figured them out, but this is a coherent side that fights hard and is a tough nut to crack.
10. Leicester. Vardy's another year older, Chilwell is gone, Barnes and Maddison are good but not great, they looked awful down the stretch. Not enough here.
11. Wolves. With Doherty gone and Nuno's penchant for running the same XI into the ground, I think they tire out.
12. Newcastle. Now with more Bournemouth! The quintessential mid-table team. Decent, not threatening to be more than that.
13. Leeds. They ride the excitement of being back. Could go higher.
14. Brighton. Now the clubs start to run together. Ben White is a great addition. Lalanna too IF he has anything left. The man-mountian that is Lewis Dunk is to be reckoned with. They'll stay out of the drop zone.
15. Palace. Eze and Michy back from loan are a shot of adrenaline. They ended poorly but there's enough there to stay around this area of the table, mostly because what's below them is worse.
16. West Ham. Feh.
17. Aston Villa. If Grealish stays. If not they go down.
18. Burnley. Anti-football.
19. West Brom. Hello Goodbye.
20. Fulham. See West Brom.
1. Liverpool. Some concern about fatigue and title hangover, but they're here based on the strength of their back four. No other contender can match it.
2. ManU. A full season with Bruno, Marital, Rashford & co. I think they have the quality to bank more points than any of their rivals.
3. Chelsea. Will all of these acquisitions mesh? They have such numbers that Frank will have a whole season to hit on the right combo. Still not sold on their defence.
4. City. With those players and Pep they can win the whole thing, but I'm not feeling it. Ake is not enough to shore up the defence. Foden's emergence is a great thing but they will miss Dilva. If they bring in Koubliay (sp?) or others then this could be higher but for now I put them here. Of course all bets are off with Messi.
5. Tough between Arsenal and Spurs. I never thought Jose was a good fit for Spurs but Doherty and Hojberg, while not glamorous, are exactly the kind of solid players he needed. I like what Arteta has done at Arsenal but on the balance I have to go with Spurs.
6. Arsenal.
7. Everton. Claiming the Everton Trophy as their birthright. As usual I can claim that they've won the offseason with James, Allan, and Docoure. There is a legit criticism that after the midfield was a dumpster fire, they overloaded there, left themselves with a lot of deadwood that needs clearing out and neglected problem areas elsewhere - a lack of pace and width is a concern. But they won't be ripped apart in the middle of the park anymore, and with Allan's ball-winning ability, Doucoure as the energetic box-to-box guy, and James as a creator, the DCL/Richarlison partnership up top looks very promising - they did pretty well last season with the likes of Tom Davies, the corpse of Gylfi Sigurdsson, and the one-legged Andre Gomes (not) supplying them, so with good service they could run wild. (I secretly hope for higher if everything clicks, but I don't want to bait Zomp).
8. Southampton. Saints were dreadful at the start of last season, including a 9-0 thumping by the Foxes, but Ralph turned it around and this is a solid squad. Hojberg will be missed, and they're counting on Ings to repeat a career season, so there are some ifs here. Still I think this is the squad with the best feeling about it out of the remaining sides.
9. Sheffield United. Love what Wilder did last season. Ramsdale is a good addition. Not enough firepower to go higher and I think the league has figured them out, but this is a coherent side that fights hard and is a tough nut to crack.
10. Leicester. Vardy's another year older, Chilwell is gone, Barnes and Maddison are good but not great, they looked awful down the stretch. Not enough here.
11. Wolves. With Doherty gone and Nuno's penchant for running the same XI into the ground, I think they tire out.
12. Newcastle. Now with more Bournemouth! The quintessential mid-table team. Decent, not threatening to be more than that.
13. Leeds. They ride the excitement of being back. Could go higher.
14. Brighton. Now the clubs start to run together. Ben White is a great addition. Lalanna too IF he has anything left. The man-mountian that is Lewis Dunk is to be reckoned with. They'll stay out of the drop zone.
15. Palace. Eze and Michy back from loan are a shot of adrenaline. They ended poorly but there's enough there to stay around this area of the table, mostly because what's below them is worse.
16. West Ham. Feh.
17. Aston Villa. If Grealish stays. If not they go down.
18. Burnley. Anti-football.
19. West Brom. Hello Goodbye.
20. Fulham. See West Brom.
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