What have Crystal Palace and Newcastle done to demonstrate that they're a shoe-in for survival? Neither of them are any less likely than us to go down and I would be shocked if we did.
Evidence? For a prediction for the upcoming season ? Sorry I'm a bit short of evidence for my prediction. My view, Benitez is an excellent manager, palace have a great front line, finished well and above us and are strengthening nicely under a new manager. WHU have added Hart and Hernandez goals will guarantee their survival.
No you're not. That was your evidence on which you based your prediction. Better late than never then.
Who have Newcastle actually signed to make them nailed on to stay up? As far as I can see they have done fa
It's more Benitez's reputation more than his squad that people think the squad will stay up. As it stands the squad is subpar with an excellent manager. Based on his tenure with Newcastle while they were in the Prem they nearly stayed up in almost no time left with him after looking cack all season.
I have just Tweeted Paddy Power and at the moment they are putting some odds together for a single bet of: Top 3 1 Man City 2 Chelsea 3 Man Utd Bottom 3 18 Burnley 19 BAHA 20 Huddersfield
RMy point was that it's perfectly reasonable to list the three you think will go down without explanation but, if you're gonna say "no way" to x,y and z, then maybe that does require a bit of explanation. Anyway, here are my three for the drop again (and with explanation). 20th. Huddersfield. Don't really think they've got the set-up for the big time and they squeaked into the promised land with a goal difference of -2 and without scoring a goal in regulation or extra time in the play-offs. Bizarre really. 19th. Burnley. Survived last year with an 'all hands to the pumps' bunker mentality and an equally bizarre home v away record. Carried along by the 'Mr Dyche inspired' team spirit. That can only take you so far though. Very little class. A faltering home record and cheerio this time. 18th. Swansea. Seriously lost their way since the Martinez/Rodgers/Laudrup tika-taka days. Became the Gylfi Sigurdsson show. No more Gylfi (at some point soon), no more Swansea. Paul Clement is a good, pragmatic, head coach but it won't be enough. Cheerio Swans too then.
I think Huddersfield have recognised that their squad was weak and acted quickly to bring in some good players (and a few I'd never heard of!). I think they'll surprise people. I find it bizarre that so many of you have written off Burnley. They showed last season that they're not out of their depth and while I would expect them to be in the mix I think they have enough about them to stay up again. My 3 for the drop (on current squads/mangers): 1. Us - until we sign a new striker and a winger there's not enough pace or natural finishing abilty. Hopefully this will be rectified soon. 2. Brighton - had a very good season but haven't added enough yet. Isn't Glenn Murray their main source of goals? Enough said. 3. Swansea - about to lose Sigurdsson one would have thought. They were so utterly reliant on him last season it's hard to see how they could possibly replace him. They might get a hefty fee but who of the same calibre could they convince to join?
It's too early to make any predictions. Let's see what everyone's squads look like the day before the season starts
I think you have to wait beyond the start of the season - it's only on 1 September that the shape of each clubs squads are clear. Last season Anya and Vydra both made PL appearances for us in August.
Very hard to judge at this time, but at the moment probably Brighton/Huddersfield, Burnley and us. Burnley I think are certs to go, **** team, overrated manager and won't be able to produce title winning home form a second year in a row to save themselves. Brighton and Huddersfield will be alright at home but can't see them picking up many points on the road. At the MOMENT i'd say we're pretty much nailed on for relegation, we were probably the worst team in the league after Sunderland and Boro the last few months of last year and we've not really improved on the pitch. We've actually signed players in the only two positions we were relatively ok, which is central midfield and right back, they are good signings don't get me wrong, just not priority. I don't think we actually have a winger or striker of a premiership standard at the moment and can't really see us causing any teams much trouble as we quite frankly, lack any real pace or quality in the final third. Defence should be okay, although I would be horrified if we don't sign a left back as we clearly need one badly. Keeper... meh. We should of had deals lined up for a GK, Striker, and left back minimum long before this window and i'll be pretty horrified if we go into the Liverpool game without any additions. Pozzo's usually do get it right late in the window and hopefully Marco is at this moment stating we're close on some deals in his press conference. But it is pretty alarming how slow we are at getting things done in comparison to our rivals as every point really does matter for a team like us in this league. I am actually certain Marco wouldn't have joined us if this is the squad he expected to be managing so I expect to swap us out of my predictions sooner rather than later.
Same fear I have. Even having what I believe is now an excellent central midfield selection, arguably the best outside the top 7 especially with Pereyra back, I fear it could be much the same as last season in that we just do not have enough attacking bite to trouble teams, whilst the defence is only passable and little more. I don't advocate going out and throwing money around like it grows on trees, but the fact is without 3/4 good quality, astute signings, we could very well be in trouble this year. Get Ghezzal, Carrillo, Gibbs and another striker in and I'll be feeling far more comfortable.
What we all know is the teams that score the most amount of goals win the most number of games. The teams that score the least go down. Even with others chipping in we are still woefully short of goals and need at least 2 more strikers
Interestingly, the year after Manchester City won the old First Division in 1937 scoring 107 goals, they were relegated - scoring 80 goals - the most in the division! Sadly they let in 77, the third worst.... Would make a great story if this was to happen to Chelsea this season. Probably more unlikely than Leicester's feat last year.
After yesterday Palace have got to be an option - They were absolutely dreadful. Huddersfield were good, but Palace were completely useless. Loftus-Cheek looks a great player though.
Go onto the palace forum and there are already Deboer out demands. They think wholesale change of tactics doesn't fit their players. I put money on them last year and cashed before their end of season upturn and have put money on them again. Don't get why the pundits think they will be mid table, they hardly finished much above us did they?
We won't go down. Other than that I have literally no idea who will this season. Nobody stands out as obvious candidates.
If I remember correctly Hull beat the then league champions Leicester on the first game of last season & look what happened. Means nothing at the moment, but personally I would definitely would put a bet on Swansea to go this year. One thing I do know for sure is that the PL is the best league in the world.
Watched Brighton on motd yesterday and they looked absolutely woeful. Albeit against one of the best teams in the league. But still, their positioning was awful and that would reflect the score in any game they play (if they carry on like that)
Players are so slow they looked like they were wading through a pool of marmite Sent from my G8141 using Tapatalk
I know it was Man City they played which any team would struggle against, but Brighton looked so slow and misplaced a lot of passes in dangerous positions.
I really don't think we'll be anywhere close to the bottom three, our midfield is just too good. As for who will, god knows. It's nothing but a knee jerk reaction after one game but palace losing 3-0 at home to Huddersfield is quite something, can you imagine the reaction if that was us? But they have a new manager and it may take 5-10 games for his philosophy to kick in, far too early to judge really. Brighton looked terrible yesterday, and Newcastle haven't bought anybody. Rafa can't be happy about the backing he's had and if they're down they're after a few games I don't see why he'd risk his reputation for that fat ******* Ashley.
I can't see Newcastle staying up with their current squad, they'll need some big signings to survive. Brighton looked weak going forward yesterday but will be interesting to see how they play against a weaker team. Can't see Swansea staying up if Gylfi leaves. If we play anything like we did yesterday consistently and don't get too many injuries we shouldn't be near a relegation battle.
They looked ok defensively today until voldemort got sent off but they had absolutely nothing going forward. Putting money on relegation now as they don't seem to have a lot.
Shelvey really is thick to get sent off like that. First 3 names being Elliot, Dummet and Clark has relegation written all over it. On the plus side Atsu looked better than I remember him. Newcastle seriously need to strengthen.
Huddersfield look to have certainly profited from getting all their transfers done before pre-season even started. All 3 goals were classic training routines involving new signings. Getting that 3-6 point head start on their relegation rivals could well keep them up. Brighton and Newcastle, on the other hand, are still scrabbling for players and didn't look ready.
