So the new 2008/2009 football season is almost upon us, that summer of pain almost to an end after the disappointment of the national team failing to make it to Euro 2008.
So I'll make a few pre-season predictions on who will finish where and who will achieve what this season.
Barclays Premier League Top six: Winners = Manchester United Runners up = Arsenal Third = Chelsea Fourth = Tottenham Uefa Cup = Man city and Liverpool Relegated: Stoke city Bolton Wanderers Newcastle United
Player Of The Season:
Cristiano Ronaldo / Manchester United
Top Scorer:
Dimitar Berbatov / Manchester United * / Tottenham Manager Of The Season: Sir Alex Ferguson / Manchester United FA Cup Winners: Arsenal League Cup Winners: Chelsea First Manager To Be Sacked: Kevin Keegan Champions League Winners: Inter Milan Uefa Cup Winners: Manchester City So there are my predictions for the new football season. These are exactly what they say on the tin ...Predictions, my personal opinion, I know I'd be more special than Jose Mourinho If all these predictions end up to be right, I just thought I would let you know my initial thoughts on who will finish where, who will win what and who will shine. Newcastle—I'm sorry but after last season, I can only see this one getting worse, KK will get the chop and Newcastle United will be playing Championship football next season . Manchester united look strong enough to take three premier league titles in a row and have a new potential top scorer in Dimitar Berbatov after offering £28 million to Tottenham .The fee looks set to be agreed on the same terms that saw Michael Carrick switch from spurs to united , 18 million pounds up front with a further 10 million based on success and apperances . I'm not sure about two Champions League titles in a row for my beloved reds, I truly hope we can win back to back European Cups but somehow i see that honour going to Inter Milan And special one Jose Mourinho in his first season in charge at the San Siro. Yes im Mad, I have Manchester City to win the Uefa Cup, and why not, they have a fantastic new manager in Mark Hughes, look at what he did at Blackburn in so little time, I feel better times ahead for the Blues. I really do think Arsenal will be strong this season, yes they had a poor season last season but I think after Eduardo's horror injury the whole team seemed to be affected by it. I see them winning the FA Cup and reaching the last eight of the Champions League, as well as being Premier League runners up. I see another quiet season for Chelsea in terms of impact on tournaments, I think they will avenge last seasons Carling Cup defeat by winning it back again and they will also reach the last eight in Europe. I've got Spurs to upset the top four by moving Liverpool out of there, this may seem somewhat optimistic given that Spurs have almost sold prized asset Berbatov, however I feel Juande Ramos may feel success in terms of league position this year. I have Liverpool down for a miserable season, no trophies I feel and out of Europe before the last eight. And I think they will have to settle for a Uefa Cup spot in 2009/2010 season due to Spurs finally breaking the top four. I think Stoke City's stay in the Premier League will be a bit like Derby County's last year, only I don't think they will suffer as badly as Derby did. But still I see them relegated as well as Bolton Wanderers, their biggest mistake was not doing everything to keep Sam Allardyce, it was a big mistake, I have respect for Gary Megson but I don't think he can get the most out of Bolton like Allardyce could. Full 20 teams Final standings 1. Manchester United (C) 2. Arsenal 3. Chelsea 4. Tottenham 5. Liverpool 6. Manchester City 7. Aston Villa 8. Everton 9. Portsmouth 10. Blackburn Rovers 11. Sunderland 12. West Brom 13. Middlesbrough 14. Wigan Athletic 15. Fulham 16. Hull City 17. West Ham United 18. Newcastle united (R) 19. Bolton (R) 20. Stoke city (R) I can't wait for the new football season to start as I'm sure every fan in the country can't either, its going to be another nail biting end to end season. So am I right? Am I wrong? Or have I lost the plot entirely with my predictions? Do let me know. Please don't forget to star this article as you see fit just below, and POTD if you feel like it up near the picture. And do keep an eye out as I'll be doing a similar article to predict how I think the lower league teams will fair this season. * Still a Tottenham player with deal on its way through .Today's Must Reads
comments (41) write a comment »
write a new comment
about 1 month ago
Wow.. Newcastle relegated? Bold prediction mate. But, I second your opinion about Arsenal, so I have no issues on that front!
from about 1 month ago
hey shyam . i know its bold to predict newcastle down , but at least you didnt go mental like some people . people need to understand that this is just predicting ( a bit like the lottery , you predict but you dont win ) .
However i can see arsenal doing quite well this season . i think you will win the FA cup , 2nd in the league , and i reckon you will have the title in the 2009 / 2010 season .
People are Perceiving me as a typical nited fan who hates every club Except united . this is not the case , the only team i hate AND i mean really hate are leeds united .
I dont hate liverpool , i dont hate arsenal , i dont hate chelsea and i dont hate man city .
And wouldnt it be a bit boring if i predicted
1. man u
2. arsenal
3.chelsea
4. liverpool .
Plus the 3 new teams to be relegated , its the same old same old , i just wanted to be different .
cheers shyam .
about 1 month ago
Dean Windass: top goalscorer.
Ok, just kidding.
But I expect some good football from the Hull City star.
from about 1 month ago
Dean windass is a soldier , ithink he will benefit hull in the premier league As he has the experience and he has been there before . Sad they have parted company ith Jay Jay okocha i think he would of been beneficial in the top flight to hull .
about 1 month ago
Newcastle to go down?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3y3QoFnqZc
about 1 month ago
Newcastle will dance on the edge of relegation, and while no team has the divine right to stay up, I think there are 3 worse teams in the league than Newcastle. Not sure Ronaldo will be around long enough to be player of the season. Can't see Fergie parting with 25-30 million for Berbatov.
I think Arsenal will be a little closer this year - they faded really badly last season. Chelsea - despite their star-studded squad - will unravel a little this season, esp. if Drogba, Lampard and Carvalho walk. Shinawatra will prevent City from finishing higher than mid-table.
Surprise package for me will be Sunderland, perhaps! They secured their survival last season, and with a bit of money and that extra year's experience, Keane will get them further up the table.
from about 1 month ago
Its only 18 million we have to pay for Berbatov up front , then another 10 million based on success , the fee has been agreed , and the terms , its all down to Berba now if he passes the medical and agrees personal terms .
im not stonewall saying this is whats going to happen , its jut what i feel MAY happen .
Arsenal yes , they will come good this year , last seasons no show wil inspire fabregas and the rest of the young guns into action .
chelsea are gong to struggle if Lampard And Drogba go , i think carvalho is on his way to Inter milan already .
Man city , i prediced them to win the eufa cup , i know this may not happen ( probably no chance at all actually ) But i said that because someone special to me who isnt here aymore was a die hard cityfan and id like to see them win something , plus a few of my mates have come through the ranks at city , one is in the premier league this season with west brom . the moston menace .
Yes Sundeland i would love to seedo well , keano is a great manager and he has got that squad performing , and i think 11th is a fair prediction for sundrland , if they can get 11th ill be very impressed .
Thanks for the comments .
about 1 month ago
if Bolton can stay up last year given the upheavals I don't see how you can predict them going down this year when they are in a much stronger position. wishful thinking i would suggest.
from about 1 month ago
Come on Robert , Bolton had a disastorous campaign last year , they were near the bottom all year , they survived the drop .......barely !!!!!
They are not in a better position for me , Gary megson OR sam allardyce !!!!! Big sam was the man for bolton , and bolton was the team for big sam .
Maybe they will prove my PREDICTION to be wrong and if they do then good for them . i just dont see bolton being strong with a man who couldnt turn it around at leicester .
i like bolton myself and will i be glad to see them relegated ??????? HELL NO .
Its just a Prediction .
about 1 month ago
Spurs haven't sold Berbatov yet mate.... not saying we wont, but, nothing is decided. in fact he played for Spurs in a friendly last night.
I also think Spurs have a better chance of winning th Uefa then etting 4th. Those are my predictions, yours are perfectly valid though!!
about 1 month ago
Newcastle will not go down, not a chance. Mate did you actually watch the games Keegan had in charge when he finally sorted Fat Sam's mess, Keegan to be first to be sacked....hmmm NOOOOO!
So your telling me with a straight face that Sunderland, West Brom, Middlesbrough, Wigan, Fulham and Hull are all better then Newcastle!
Blatantly a Manure fan....
from about 1 month ago
yeah of course im a man utd fan !!!! i stated that in the article " i cant see my beloved reds getting back to back euopean crowns " i said .
man united have agreed a 28 million deal with spurs for berbatov , 18 million up front and 10 million depending on success , exactly the same sort of deal as we did for carrick . google it you will see that its been agreed .
i never said that sunderland , west brom , boro , wigan , fulham and hull were better than newcastle , its just my PERSONAL PREDICTIONS !!!!!!!!!!
about 1 month ago
Hull, Stoke and Bolton to go down. Anyone but United for the title. Spurs have no chance of 4th.
about 1 month ago
Portsmouth down in 9th? Can't see that happening, they have strengthened already and have a very sound squad, I see top 6 for Harry's men, especially if Villa and Everton fail to strengthen a great deal between now and the end of August.
Many people seem to be predicting 4th for Spurs, with either Arsenal or Liverpool missing out, exactly the same has been happening for about the last 3 years, and it hasn't happened yet, I see no reason for that to change. Spurs will be better and are top 6 material, but a CL place would be out of their reach even with the combined talents of Mario Zagallo, Brian Clough, SAF, and Bob Paisley in charge.
Can't see Man City winning the UEFA either, Hughes was pretty poor in Europe with Blackburn, and although City have more potential, I can't see them making that dramatic an impact, not with the likes of AC Milan in the tournament.
Newcastle for relegation is bold but not completely ridiculous, they have thus far failed to strengthen sufficiently to think anything other than bottom half, but like others I feel they will be too strong to go down.
Bolton will be bottom 6 but again I think they enough to stay up.
I will be making my own prediction in the week before the big kick off, when the squads will be more finalised and so predictions more sound to make.
about 1 month ago
Newcastle go down?? Most if your biased predictions are based on transfers that have not taken place as yet nor is there any guarantee they will!! How you can say spurs will finish higher than Liverpool, that astonishes me, as does your boldest of ludicrus predictions NEWCASTLE to go down, I would be less amazed if they were to finish in or around Villa, Spurs or City come the end of this campaign.
Sort it out fella!!
about 1 month ago
A utd fan picking Liverpool to do terrible and Utd to clean up......I would never have guessed it
about 1 month ago
I DIDNT SAY UNITED WILL CLEAR UP !!!!!! HOW ON EARTH IS ONLY WINNING THE PREMIER LEAGUE CLEARING UP ?????? IF YOU LOOK AT IT THEN I HAVE UNITED DOWN FOR A LESS SUCCESSFUL SEASON THAN LAST !!!!!!
WE WON 2 TROPHIES LAST YEAR I HAVE US DOWN FOR JUST 1 THIS !!!!!! .
I WANT TO SAY AGAIN THESE ARE PREDICTIONS NOTHING ELSE .
PEOPLE ARE TOO QUICK TO START RANTING AT PEOPLE ON THIS SITE < WHEN EVERYONE IS ENTITLED TO THEIR PREDICTION AND OPINION .
WHY NOT MAKE AN ARTICLE COUNTERING MY PREDICTIONS INSTEAD OF CALLING ME A BLATANT MAN U FAN .
about 1 month ago
Actually you said Utd to win the league, Ronaldo to be player of the year, berbatov to be top goalscorer and Fergie to be manager of the year.
Some people may view that as cleaning up!
Like you said everyone is entitled to their opinion
about 1 month ago
Yeah but in terms of trophies i dont have united to clean up . The premier league thats it .
Fergie is more or less always manager of the year so no change there .........
Ronaldo , lets face it is the best player on the earth right now , so that prediction isnt ludacrous ........
And berbatov scored LOADS of goals for spurs last year ( 5 in one game at 1 point ) So imagine what he could be like with rooney , tevez and ronaldo around him !!!!!! So him being top scorer isnt really the worst prediction i could make , i could of said ronaldo again but even i know last seasons 42 was a on off ...........
I dont have a thing against liverpool , i dunno if i can see them lifting a trophy just YET . Next season possibly , Torres will certainly try and prove me wrong along with stevie G and the rest of the boys . i think it was a mistake to let riise Go to roma , he is a class player and he is good in the champions league ( except for his own goal ) . Maybe it will be the same top 4 again , but im fed up of making the same old boring predictions .
your right we are all entitled to our own opinion , and ill more than likely be wrong but its made a nice change .
about 1 month ago
I agree with you that sometimes it's good to go out on a limb and make some bold predictions, and I feel some are very bold that's all.
Utd for the league is a easy one, as much as it pains me to say it they were the best team in Europe last year and the benchmark for everyone.
As for Ronaldo, well he is out for 3 months and who knows if he will be back at all with utd!
Berbatov is a great player but not really a pure goalscorer like a Torres or Tevez. Utd also need to sign him first!
Spurs could do well but I think their back line is weak, I think the biggest threat to 4th could come from Villa, City or Portsmouth.
As for relegation.....the usual suspects Hull, Stoke and West Brom/Fulham
about 1 month ago
yeah mate and they are what you think and i respect those decisions . we was the best in europe last season and we went unbeaten , but we all know how hard it is to getto the semi finals in europe , i dont see man u being there this year , i hope to god we can , but i cant see it .
yes they are very bold my predictions but thats what makes the world spin , is difference of opinion .
Ive gone bold with spurs in 4th definatly , but you know what , i would like to see them break the top4 , if they do amazing , they have a decent defence i think , woodgate isnt all that bad , ledley king is strong , they have mudric and dos santos in midfield , a few more tweaks and i can see them etting up there , providing they have a better start than last year .
the only team i think i may of underestimated is Aston Villa , i have them 7th , but they could threaten the top 5 possibly yes , only if they keep hold of gareth barry tho . Pompey i think could do ok too .
i think stoke down yes , West Brom , i cant bring myself to say they will go down as an old friend of mine plays for them and he is a strong striker . thats why i put them high up the table , wishful thinking i know but im backing a friend . Fulham will have to fight again thats certain .
about 1 month ago
How about;
1 Aston Villa
2 Arsenal
3 Chelsea
4 Everton
5 Man utd
6 Man city
7 Liverpool
8 Pompey
9 Newcastle
10 Spurs
11 West ham
12 Bolton
13 Fulham
14 Sunderland
15 Hull city
16 West Brom
17 Blackburn
18 Boro
19 Stoke
20 Wigan ath
from about 1 month ago
That's very similar to the current PL table on the bbc site. And that's just in alphabetical order!
about 1 month ago
I really dnt think you have a clue do you? Yes nufc did have bad season last year,but lets not forget we did have seven game unbeaten run at the end which almost saw us pip spurs to 11th. not forgetting we smashed them 4-1. If you know anything abot football you would have seen KK finaly turning things around at the end of last season.
from about 1 month ago
No Your Right i dont have a clue..........Ha ha Yeah ok.........but you would say that , i guess your a newcastle fan then ..............michael these are just my personal opinion , personal prediction , no one said these were right or wrong, its just what i think is going to happen , they are bold and optimistic predictions That we all know probably wont happen , i wanted to have a change , people on this site fail to grasp the meaning of the words PERSONAL OPINION and PREDICTIONS . so i dont see your problem , unless of course your a newcastle fan , then ill understand why u have a problem .
Like chris's Comment above yours , he has put villa top , liverpool 7th , man united 5th , its just personal opinion .
about 1 month ago
Mark - I agree notlob will never reach the heights they did under Big Sam but I just can't see them having a worse season than last year.
Megson may not be a world beater (by the way he was hardly at Leicester to make any impact) but he constructs teams hard to beat. his buys in the january transfer have tightened up the back four and Matty Taylor was starting to improve after a slow start. whether Elmander proves a worthy replacement for Anelka we'll have to wait and see but I predict a mid table position for the trotters this year. as for relegation, it's usually two from the promoted teams and one other.
My predictions are Hull to stay up (managed by a Big Sam clone - Phil Brown) and Blackburn to struggle (their predicament is very similar this season to bolton's last and for me the jury is still out on Paul Ince as a top class manager)
about 1 month ago
Yeah ill Buy your Argument , its a fair Point And i know they more than likely stay in the premier league , i just thought id shake things up a bit . , Big sam Was the man for Bolton , that was by far and away the worst shock for me that he left for newcastle , i dont agree with the NUFC fans putting the blame on allardyce , they was a structurally weak club Before he got there . Gary Megson isnt the worst manager in the world but i just get a sense of steve maclaren in him ( dont ask why i dont know ) . Matty taylor is a class player , and letting anelka go to chelsea was a BIG mistake , look how bolton did with him , then look at where they was without him .
i do believe hull will stay up and west brom , Stoke i dont think they have the resources at this time to handle the premier league whereas west brom have been there a few times , and hull look pretty good for it .
Blackburn to struggle WOW , im not sure , we will have to see what Paul Ince is really made of as a Gaffer . We Will indeed see if he is the Guv'nor !!!!!!!
about 1 month ago
You dont agree with us blaming Allardyce? You've shown yourself up there mate. Allardyce was shown up at the toon. He tried to play a system that the crowd hated. Not only that but he played a system week in, week out where he did not have the personnel to do so. After he left, a lot of thep layers said (for all big sams bravado regardign sports science) that they always felt really unfit. He angered the crowd, he angered the players, it was entirely Sams fault that he messed up.
about 1 month ago
Eh !!!!! how do you work out that ive shown myself up ???? maybe with the newcastle fans because your bound to say that adam . but i know that sam allardyce was a very good manager before he went to that sinking ship up north . the foundations were alread in place for NUFC to be shit 10 years ago . so dont blame Big sam For the mess that Keegan( 1st Spell) , Roeder And pearson Made in the past .
Look at what Big sam Did at Bolton , they were in europe under sam i think you will find .
Its just your lot on them terraces didnt give him enough time to do his job , how can he take on a task when hes got a stadium full of halfwits belittling him ?????
Its The FANS fault that newcastle are in dire straits because your all too hard on managers , give the bosses a break and you might just win a game this year !!!!!
Hartlepool best in the north East
from about 1 month ago
Mark, I have no fight with you, you seem like a decent guy.
But I don't think you have any knowledge of Newcastle, Keegan left no mess, he left his entertainer squad which was to go and finish second that year. Roeder wasn't given enough funds and the fans never turned on him but on Sheperd, Pearson was in charge for 2 matches in a year! Robson had us in the CL, so how can you say the foundations were their to be crap?
Halfwits on the terraces, right you blatantly have somethinf against NUFC, what we saw was crap! and we let mike ashley know about it, the only place we were headed under allardyce was the championship not europe. He played one up front v Derby...TWICE! Who plays defensive against the worst ever Prem team!
We gave Robson time even though we were 11th and we went and came 4th, 3rd and 5th. He actually showed us improvement and a few goals hence he was given patience.
Im fairly sure under Keegan, we'll win a game this year and maybe just maybe we might beat your prediction by coming in the top half...
from about 1 month ago
Out of order. Absolute rubbish.
about 1 month ago
mark my son brillient article thanks for giving arsenal some respect. I think that some of your prodictions are bold but i looked at the stats and they may be right. only two issues so grab your tissues.
Player of the season will be Cesc Fabregas i know i might be a little biast but after his successe with spain i realy think he can produce. You have made some bold statements so hers mine it could be Theo Walcotts time to shine.
Top Goal scorer could be berbatov but i think it will be interesting to see if robinhio goes to chelsea and if adebayor repets last seasons feat.
One thing is for sure, we can all prodict but finding out will be the real fun
from about 1 month ago
Hey Benjamin .
No worries , i see a good season ahead for arsenal , Strong team , Plenty of young fresh talent . Wenger is a top Gaffer as we all know . Last Season after Eduardo Got his ankle Broke , i Think That Affected The Mindset of the players , It wasnt there Faults , it was horrific to watch .Especially Cesc Fabregas Who was right there in front of Eduardo , that Must of stuck in his mind . his year they have Got it out of the mind , eddy is on the mend .
Cesc Fabregas Could well end up Player of the season as you said , He had a Big Boost by winning the Euro 2008 , He will now have a taste for medals . Theo Walcott if he gets a good strong start to the season will definatly be a contender , he is a good striker , with some good assistance he will be great , he reminds me of Thierry Henry In so many ways .
I Havent ruled out adebayort For top scorer , i had 3 in my Mind , Adebayor , Berbatov and ronaldo
Finding out will indeed Be fun , Good luck To every team i Say !!!!
about 1 month ago
Ok Ok marc , i see your point i was a bit hasty in my comments , i dont hate newcastle and ive nothing against you , or your team , you took on alan smith like he was your own , so you guys cant be that bad .
i do know what im talking about with football tho , I Do know for a fact that half of my predictions WONT come reality , i just wanted to be different in my predictions coz everyone will have " The big 4 " to finish in the top 4 as usual . I Know KK Wont get sacked 1st either because i dont think you ( Newcastle fans ) Will let that happen , he is hero to you Right ? i just Wrote this on a whim .
If any of these do come true then i should go to the bookies In future !!!!!!!
I Understand you being a bit hacked off tho . ill lay off the toon .
about 1 month ago
woah woah woah there are some big calls there mark!! haha! not sure about the liverpool in fourth i have to say, third is my prediction for us!
from about 1 month ago
Ha ha , well at least you didnt go mental .
I Dont think any of these will come true tho Barney mate , i Was just making a few strong Predictions , I Know everyone else will be making the usual top 4 predictions , with the new 3 to be relegated . i wanted to be different .
It would be a hugely Surprising season if my Predictions came in .
Its got me almost a thousand reads anyway :-) .
My true thoughts that i really think will happen are the same top 4 , Man u 1st , Gunners 2nd , l,pool 3rd , scum ( chelski) 4th , spurs 5th , villa 6th .
Cheers for your calmness barney . not all liverpool fans would of been polite
about 1 month ago
i don't want a lot from spurs. i just wish good league table results and one league trophy, that's all. but it'll be good if we qualify for UEFA Champions League.
ps; Glory Glory Glory Tottenham Hotspurs!!!
cheers mate!
about 1 month ago
Hey Nymkhishig ,
i have a couple of mates who are Spurs fans , ive seen the carling cup final highlights on you tube Toooo Many times , due to my friends tryin to rub it in , i just put the Euro final on and they shut up ha ha .
It was a big moment for you guys tho , i understand that , i see happy days ahead at 6 point lane :-)
23 days ago
you fucking prick newcastle wont be relegated you fucking cunt kevin keegan being first sacked your a fucking idiot im sorry newcastle under kevins management has always been its best 1996 and 1997 newcastle was 2nd in the league you fucking idiot after last season when fucking sam left he was the reason they started winning you know what i think your a fucking idiot you stupid cunt what the hell is wrong with you newcastle will be top 8 with the way there playing in preseson games NEWCASTLE IS THE GREATEST TEAM EVER YOU FUCKING CUNT PISS OFF YOU WANKER!
from 23 days ago
bobby , before getting wound up and hurling abuse , read my REAL predictions list , this is not a serious article , my other one you will find newcastle top half of the table .Go to my real one before you start hurling abuse , i wrote this one because im bored of the same top 4 and same bottom 3 all the time .
4 minutes ago
Lets start by saying well done to the newcastle fan that dismissed the idea that kevin keegan wouldnt get sacked!! and i think somebody owes mark here an apology!! also the people who looked at marks predictions and ripped them apart, for example the man city prediction, well i think mark has landed firmly on his feet with this prediction, as the shock signing of robinho leaves man city in the position to fullfil predictions such as marks lol.... so two "mad" predictions so far mark has amazingly got spot on with developments of man city and "Kevin the legend, not so much keegan"...or maybe just used a bit of common sense was used......id like to say at this point that im a west brom fan....hahahaha yeyeyeye jokes over!! basically any football fan that looks at our squads rating knows that writing us off as relegated this year is stupid!! mainly because we matched arsenal for possesion and football, and out played everton and bolton, ok we have striker issues but we still have players out injured. one thing we have got is a midfield that plays better football or as good standard of football as the premiership offers, hence west brom being THE highest scoring side in this country out of all divisions last year. ye ye ye we was in the championship!! which is actually a harder place to play FOOTBALL due to scrapy players and bad challenges. in the prem u get more time on the ball and that will benefit us. anyway enough of that.
basically looking at how the season has started, before judging, i think you all should back off when it comes to marks predictions, mainly because the shape has shown that he isnt going to be far wrong!!!
Newcastle to be relegated lol we can only hope ur right mark! stick up for yourself son, these idiots are easily letting lose with their tongues, lets hope we get a message back from the NUFC fan that wrote this, and i quote "Keegan to be first to be sacked....hmmm NOOOOO!"
these newcastle fans accuse mark of knowing nothing about football hahaha i would look closer to home!!
write a new comment