Next seasons surprise package?

[derfblade.3]

Well last season it was us, so i would guess if we do the same again it wont be seen as much of a surprise. So who will be the new kids on the block? My guess for a good go at the top 6 would be Southampton with the way they finished last season. Their top players have all signed on the dotted line but the one downside for them is losing Hojbjerg to Spurs who ran the midfield last season and got rave reports. Will Leeds recruit strongly enough and can Wolves go again? Your thoughts.

 

[Flatulent_Bob]

Us. We’ll be listed as favourites with several sources to be surprise relegation candidates with 2nd season syndrome thrown in, along with not really spending on big names or players with “Premier League experience”. Then when we finish considerably higher it will be another shock that we’re higher than Villa and Leeds again.

 

[bromtom]

Not for top 6, but West Brom

Think they'll be quite good, have some good players and a motivational manager and they play a good style of football when they're at it, if they can fill some of the loan gaps and add a few players they'll do well.

Leeds seem to having as much trouble signing players as we do, read about 3 or 4 of their targets signing for other clubs, and Brighton are holding on to Ben White it seems.

 

[Shanks]

Newcastle, I know most will disagree but I think they will have a good season, capable keeper who is prone to mistakes but made a lot of saves last season, They have decent players up front so with two or three good additions & using last seasons experience I can see them in & around a Europa spot or maybe a cup final.
I’ll get ready for next Mays face egg wash

 

[8lade]

My predictions about various things have been coming in well recently so I want to predict United but I can't (in all good faith), I see us settling into mid/lower mid table.
At the top I'm calling it a three horse race with Manchesters and Liverpool.
Then it's Chelsea, Spurs, Arse, Wolves.
Bottom the 3 promoted teams plus Villa, Brighton.
Then there is a huge jumble in the middle of the other 8.
I don't see there being a surprise package of any sort next year.
Of course this will change if somebody outside the top couple of groups buys a brace of world class Brazilians or Argentinians or something.

 

[HeySethUTB]

I expect Chelsea’s defensive problems to continue, wolves may have a better chance of breaking into top four with no europa league fixtures. The Fa’s Project West Ham may get going and finish in a solid mid table position along with us and southampton. Relegation battle - Brighton, Fulham, West Brom and possibly Leeds and Burnley.

 

[guancheblade]

Nobody seems to be talking about Palace. Poor end to the season, fan base growing tired, can see a season long struggle to avoid the drop.

Wolves will be charging for top 4 with no European distractions.

Brighton to continue improving under Potter.

Hate to say it but I think Leeds will be comfortable.

My dark horse pick for Europe - Southampton

My dark horse pick for the drop - Leicester! A bad start could see nerves set in.

Top 4 - City, Manure, Liverpool, Wolves

Bottom 4 - Fulham, West Brom, Palace, Villa

 

[bladesmanluke]

Us. We’ll be listed as favourites with several sources to be surprise relegation candidates with 2nd season syndrome thrown in, along with not really spending on big names or players with “Premier League experience”. Then when we finish considerably higher it will be another shock that we’re higher than Villa and Leeds again.

Only if we get some players over the line. We'll miss Henderson too regardless of who we get in net

 

[Rodley]

Leeds - Bielsa is different class

 

[HeCanDoMagic]

Leeds - Bielsa is different class

I think he is a good manager, and understand his pedigree etc etc.

But what makes him 'different class'? I wouldn't put last seasons Leeds side in the top 10 of promoted teams we've ever seen go up. Just don't understand why the 'Bielsa factor' is so strong when people make their predictions etc.

 

[Liaminho9]

Well last season it was us, so i would guess if we do the same again it wont be seen as much of a surprise. So who will be the new kids on the block? My guess for a good go at the top 6 would be Southampton with the way they finished last season. Their top players have all signed on the dotted line but the one downside for them is losing Hojbjerg to Spurs who ran the midfield last season and got rave reports. Will Leeds recruit strongly enough and can Wolves go again? Your thoughts.

Hassenhuttl is a class manager too.

 

[Flatulent_Bob]

Only if we get some players over the line. We'll miss Henderson too regardless of who we get in net

 

[Espania blade]

My predictions about various things have been coming in well recently so I want to predict United but I can't (in all good faith), I see us settling into mid/lower mid table.
At the top I'm calling it a three horse race with Manchesters and Liverpool.
Then it's Chelsea, Spurs, Arse, Wolves.
Bottom the 3 promoted teams plus Villa, Brighton.
Then there is a huge jumble in the middle of the other 8.
I don't see there being a surprise package of any sort next year.
Of course this will change if somebody outside the top couple of groups buys a brace of world class Brazilians or Argentinians or something.

I'd agree with that, not much change in the top six, not sure Wolves will be in there but they will continue to do well,
If we get our recruitment right (bearing in mind we have absolutely no idea who will come in - despite what some itk think!)
I think we will be in the top eight - that would be my prediction for us, could CW surprise us with more superlatives and finish sixth??
As for "surprise package" my tip would be Leeds, yes the scaby Leeds! I think they have a really good manager in Bielsa, i'm a great admirer, of course the media will be all over them - because they are a "big club" unlike "little old Sheffield" (their words not mine),
who of course will be the perennial favourites for relegation - once again we will prove them wrong!!

Onwards and continually upwards

 

[Grecian2000]

Man U to win the league.
First team ever to get a pelanty in every half of football played and a VAR goal either awarded or chalked off for the opposition per game. 3 goal start per game will see them win it on goal difference (if level, pelanties to count double).

 

[Boxer Blade]

I know people are not expecting Brighton to do anything except a season of struggle but I think they could have a good season and have a top half finish and end up being the surprise package

 

[KoppedOff]

No real foundation for this, but I think Everton will struggle. Theyre just absolutely “meh” as a football club and Ancelotti just seems way too big a fish to be stuck there. Just doesnt fit to me. Could definitely see him jumping ship for a far bigger job when the inevitable European Big Boys managerial merry go round happens. Not saying they'll drop, but can see some drama there.

 

[HeCanDoMagic]

No real foundation for this, but I think Everton will struggle. Theyre just absolutely “meh” as a football club and Ancelotti just seems way too big a fish to be stuck there. Just doesnt fit to me. Could definitely see him jumping ship for a far bigger job when the inevitable European Big Boys managerial merry go round happens. Not saying they'll drop, but can see some drama there.

I think you have a great foundation for that view when you consider the points you make and their displays last season. They were awful. When we lost against them I was gutted more than any other defeat of last season.

 

[8lade]

My hope for next season more than anything else is that VAR actually pulls itself together and reduces errors. As a bonus start applying the laws for fouls so that it looks like football again rather than a slow mo' ambush scene in a war film.

 

[KoppedOff]

I think you have a great foundation for that view when you consider the points you make and their displays last season. They were awful. When we lost against them I was gutted more than any other defeat of last season.

Agreed.

He just looked bored to tears every time I saw him. He’s a serial winner and big time player. He’ll soon be bored of finishing mid table and hoping not to lose to Liverpool twice a season. Any elite big club finds themselves in need of a safe pair of hands, surely he’ll be on their shortlist?

Wonder what the odds would be on David Moyes being Everton manager by the final game of the season?

 

[HeCanDoMagic]

Agreed.

He just looked bored to tears every time I saw him. He’s a serial winner and big time player. He’ll soon be bored of finishing mid table and hoping not to lose to Liverpool twice a season. Any elite big club finds themselves in need of a safe pair of hands, surely he’ll be on their shortlist?

Wonder what the odds would be on David Moyes being Everton manager by the final game of the season?

If I was an Everton fan I'd be finding it really hard to get excited for next season.

They have a long lost of players who

A - have stagnated; Sigurdsson, Walcott, Delph,
or
B - don't perform consistently; Bernard, Iwobi, Gomes, Kean, Keane, Davies

Even some of their youngsters, who previously offered a chink of light, looked a bit out of their depth towards the back end of the season.

*Everton qualifying for Champions League incoming.

 

[DifferentClass]

Wolves will win the league.

YHIHF.

 

[Tarqs]

I think he is a good manager, and understand his pedigree etc etc.

But what makes him 'different class'? I wouldn't put last seasons Leeds side in the top 10 of promoted teams we've ever seen go up. Just don't understand why the 'Bielsa factor' is so strong when people make their predictions etc.

Most people come to that conclusion because they've been brainwashed by the media into thinking Bielsa is some kind of oracle when it comes to coaching.

Draw your own assumptions, the promotion last season is the only think of note he's won since 'half a season trophy' with Velez Sarsfield about 25 years ago.

 

[CopenhagenBlade]

Most people come to that conclusion because they've been brainwashed by the media into thinking Bielsa is some kind of oracle when it comes to coaching.

Draw your own assumptions, the promotion last season is the only think of note he's won since 'half a season trophy' with Velez Sarsfield about 25 years ago.

Also Pep said it, so the media have jumped on that too. I think that they will struggle but survive, though they might start well but then run out of steam

 

[Tarqs]

Also Pep said it, so the media have jumped on that too. I think that they will struggle but survive, though they might start well but then run out of steam

Yes, THE PEP who continues to overthink things on the big stage.

Lyon this season have finished not far off mid table..... So why he reverted to a back three with 2 defensive midfielders and left all his creative spark (KDB aside) on the bench was utterly bizarre.

 

[bypassblade]

I'm uncertain what to call on Newcastle if the takeover had happened they'd have been spending like no tomorrow, I feel it could well have knocked their ducks off. As for United I'll settle for top ten again but we have to be more ruthless, I know it's not in our game but fall over when someone farts they all do it.

We just seem too gentlemanly at times also got to get our shit together in opponents box and need to score at least 15 more goals this season. We had 1 pen last season I may be wrong, Man Utd had 22 in all comps VAR favours the rich teams I'll not say big.

Chelsea at times were shite people ought to realise FL is not the fucking messiah, I'm going for Liverpool again for league the break for Corona virus really did for us. I kind of see this season like our 2nd season in Championship we won't win it, but feel we will improve.

If I had to pick a surprise package then West Ham surely they can't be that bad again.

 

[bongleblade]

brighton as surprise package for me...

theyve given potter time and resources, feel 20/21 could be maupay’s breakthrough season, also if they keep hold of webster and ben white and on top of this continue to make shrewd additions including the deals theyve already completed with lallana and veltman, they could be quite the force to be reckoned with

 

[sufcboy95]

Can see Brighton challenging top 10, also may not be a surprise package but Everton have got to have a decent season sooner or later with Anchelotti and the money they’ve got

 

[Badger Blade]

I'd go along with Southampton getting a European spot as long as Ings stays fit, when they all turn up they're a really good side. Jug Ears seemed to spark into life back end of the season too, typical that he scored against us but we always knew that'd happen.

Palace to go down but that'll hardly be a surprise if Zaha was to leave, they've not got much else. Woy to get the sack and drift off into retirement, BT to bring him out for Arsenal kids vs Malmo. Fulham to go straight back down too with one of Villa, West Brom or Newcastle

Not to wish ill on Aubameyang but I'd be fascinated to see how Arsenal do without him.

 

[saintquin]

I'd be worried if I was a Palace fan, Especially if Zaha leaves.
Everton seem to be going backward for what seems to have been quite a while now.
West Brom are the proverbial yoyo club and can't see that changing. Not for more than one season anyway.
Leeds, I don't have a clue. Kind of hope they have at least a bad season though as that may shut up the big headed fans I know.
Wolves are going to be interesting after last year. If they finish in a Euorpean spot would be a great season.
I think it would be a good season if yourself's finish in the top 10 again. Also think the same if Saints did.
As for the rest, will be a bit of lottery I think.
Mind, I've never been very good at predictions though!

 

[Antonb]

southampton is my shout to be the dark horse for this coming season