English Barclay's Premier League 2011-12 Season Predictions

Frank WagnerAug 10, 2011

This Saturday, the new Premier League season will descend upon us (granted the rioters don't continue to do the same).

The top and the bottom of the league appear to be more crowded than they have been in years. The "top four" has been replaced with the "top six," and the bottom nine are set up to have a struggle to avoid relegation that will make last year's final day seem ho-hum.

What follows is my prediction for each team's final position in the table, listed in ascending order.

20. Wigan Athletic

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New rule of thumb. If your team is joyously tossing their manager in the air on the final day of the season after securing a 16th place finish, don't get your hopes up too high for the next season.

This season, Wigan falls under this category.

Key to the season: Finding goals. In the 2010-11 campaign, Wigan's 40 goals ranked them 19th in the Premier League. The loss of front man Charles N'Zogbia does not inspire belief that this statistic will improve.

Without much threat in front of goal, it will be a difficult task for Wigan to once more celebrate staying up.

19. Swansea City

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Of the past five winners of the Championship playoff, four have been relegated the next season.

The only exception is Hull City, who were relegated the next season.

Swansea look to buck this trend this season.

Last season, Swansea scored 68 goals, ranking just eighth in the Championship.

Key to the season: Playoff hero Scott Sinclair is back and must play huge, but with no new threats in front of goal and the EPL defenses being much tougher, I can't see them finding a way to stay up.

18. Newcastle United

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Trouble seems to be brewing at Newcastle.

After selling Andy Carroll last season and Kevin Nolan this summer, the question about this season was where Newcastle's goals would come from this season.

With the probable sale of Jose Enrique, the question became one of how the team's gameplay would function.

Now, after Joey Barton's tirade about the management, the subsequent reports of his release and finally the acceptance that he is still on the team, Barton's productivity will be stinted and the club will be distracted.

So, in the course of six months, the team that finished 12th in last year's campaign will either have lost its four best players or have lost its three best players and have one big distraction.

This is not a recipe for success.

Key to the season: Unless the Barton issue is fixed, I cannot see Newcastle surviving relegation.

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17. Blackburn Rovers

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Last season, 15th placed Blackburn conceded 59 goals. Of clubs that were not relegated, only three conceded more.

With the loss of soon-to-be England superstar defensive midfielder Phil Jones, this number doesn't look much like improving.

Key to the season: Numerous rumors have linked defender Chris Samba away from the club.

The loss of Samba would be a blow to Blackburn that could easily push them into the relegation zone.

16. Wolverhampton

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Wolves may have finished last season just one point clear of the drop zone, but the signing of defender Roger Johnson (pictured) to shore up a leaky defense could be just enough to keep them up one more year.

On the other hand, Johnson's coming off of a relegated season with Birmingham City, and Wolves had the second-worst goal differential of teams that stayed up (one better than Wigan).

Key to the season: Defend!

15. Norwich City

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Norwich City was in League One for the 2009-10 season.

Two years and two promotions later, they're playing with the big boys.

Key to the season: Their success has mostly been due to their sublime strike force (including the Championship's second top scorer in Captain Grant Holt), the wonderful play of Irish midfielder Wes Hoolahan and the managing Paul Lambert.

The Premier League will be a whole new level of competition for Norwich, and surviving relegation will be a struggle. However, if the strikers and manager keep up the positive play, they may just have enough to pull it off.

14. West Bromwich Albion

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West Brom did quite well for their first season after promotion. In fact, an 11th place finish on the table makes many experts tip them as a favorite to stay up again.

However, after few changes to a team that conceded a whopping 71 goals last season (only behind relegated Blackpool), I foresee a slide down the table that may see them in a struggle to stay up.

Key to the season: Peter Odemwingie's ankle. The Nigerian striker was the club's top scorer, but if he cannot come back strong from his ankle injury, West Brom's season is bleak.

13. Queens Park Rangers

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Last season's Championship title saw QPR concede just 32 goals, 10 fewer than second in that category.

To go along with that incredible statistic came a more than respectable 71 goals.

Key to teh season: New strikers stepping up. The competition may be tenfold this season, but after adding dangerous strikers DJ Campbell and Jay Bothroyd, QPR should be able to fend off relegation.

12. Bolton Wanderers

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Bolton had a pretty respectable season last year.

However, the loss of Daniel Sturridge and Johan Elmander will put extreme pressure on Kevin Davies (pictured) to score a boat-load of goals.

Key to the season: If American Stuart Holden doesn't come back from injury strong, the Wanderers may suffer a crippling start to the season.

11. Sunderland

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Here we are at the team predicted to finish No. 11, and this is the first team not in danger of relegation.

Sunderland finished 10th last season but lost goals after Darren Bent left for Aston Villa.

Key to the season: Up the scoring. Scoring only 45 goals in a season usually spells trouble for a team, but Sunderland should have enough talent to see another finish in the middle of the table.

10. Stoke City

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Last season's bottom half finish masked what was a very successful campaign for the Potters.

Underscoring this success was Stoke's FA Cup final appearance.

The squad is talented enough to move up into mid-table.

Key to the season: Trinidadian striker Kenwyne Jones led the team in goalscoring with nine league goals, but for the team to threaten to move up in the top half, Jones will need to up that tally.

9. Fulham

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As Martin Jol takes over as manager of Fulham, he inherits the likes of USA's Clint Dempsey as the leader and top goalscorer.

Key to the season: Will Martin Jol's tactics mesh with Fulham's players' style? From the looks of it, it's not a match made in heaven. The beginning of the season may be a bit rocky, but I think the team will come together by the end.

This may not be the season for them, but a top-half finish is still probable.

8. Everton

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Phil Neville, Mikel Arteta, Tim Cahill, Leighton Baines, Louis Saha, Phil Jagielka, Tim Howard and Marouane Fellaini are all very good players, but with money tight for the Toffees, the question is how many will be around come Sept. 1.

Even with one or two going though, the Toffees are a formidable side on any given day and should find their way into the top half.

Key to the season: Well, not giving up too many valuable players despite the low budget.

7. Aston Villa

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After failing to keep Birmingham in the Premier League last season, Alex McLeish switches clubs to bitter rivals Aston Villa.

With Darren Bent pouring goals in and summer signing Charles N'Zogbia looking to do the same, Villa are poised to have a strong offensive showing.

Key to the season: Villa need to bolster their defense. Their offense may pour in the goals, but failing to improve a defense that conceded 59 goals last season will hold them back from making a push for the top of the table.

6. Arsenal

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Yes, that's right. I have Arsenal missing out on all European competition next season.

Why?

Well, if Cesc Fabregas is finally sold by Sept. 1, then maybe the season can be saved. (You know, unless Samir Nasri causes a fuss.)

Key to the season: What to do with Fabregas and Nasri. On talent alone, Arsenal is a top-four team. However, if they hold on with white knuckles to wantaway captain Cesc Fabregas, who seems to be less and less interested and professional with every day he stays, chemistry problems will haunt the team.

If Fabregas goes, the loss of him, Gael Clichy and potentially Nasri this summer, coupled with the addition of no one of note begs the question of if the remaining players are enough.

Looks like Arsene Wenger needs some magic.

5. Tottenham

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The common read on Tottenham's summer is unsuccessful because they failed to sign anyone new besides Brad Friedel.

My read on Tottenham's summer is successful because they succeeded in not losing anyone they already had.

You have to remember, this is the same team that made the top four two seasons ago. The same team who made a statement in the Champion's League group stage and who, despite key injuries (including one that all but ended superstar Gareth Bale's effectiveness for the season), finished fifth in the league and made the Champion's League quarterfinals last year.

Key to the season: Hanging on to Luka Modric. Keep him and they challenge for the title; lose him and they have no one to feed Rafael van der Vaart and slip to mid-table. So, split the difference and you get fifth.

4. Liverpool

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In the short time he has been there, Kenny Dalglish has done a wondrous job with Liverpool.

Adding the likes of Luis Suarez (pictured) and Andy Carroll creates a strike force that could compete with any in the league.

Key to the season: Dirk Kuyt.

No, in seriousness, it's how they decide to use Steven Gerrard. If they feature their style around the oft-injured midfielder, it may be more to do with what he's done for the club in the past rather than what he can do.

Either way, without the distraction of European competition, Liverpool could find themselves bound for the Champion's League once more.

3. Manchester City

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I don't care how much money you spend.

I don't care how many top players you throw on the same field.

You're just not winning the title when you have no soul.

For the past few years, despite spending all the money and assembling all of the star players, Man City had the soul, and it's name was Carlos Tevez.

Whether he stays or goes now, Tevez has given that up by requesting out...over and over and over again.

Sure, theirs is the most talented team, but just as we saw in the Community Shield, there is just that something special missing.

Key to the season: Finding their personality. Who leads this team? When things are going wrong, who will pull them together?

Oh, and keeping Mario Balotelli from driving Roberto Mancini totally insane.

2. Chelsea

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Chelsea usher in the era of the Andre Villas-Boas this season.

The Portuguese manager comes over from Porto after winning a European trophy last season.

Just read that last sentence, and images of Jose Mourinho dance in your head. He sure has something to live up to.

Key to the season: Who are the strikers? What this question really means: who runs this club? Is it the manager or chairman Roman Abramovich?

It is no secret that Abramovich wants his super-expensive asset Fernando Torres playing as much as possible, but if he continues to miss the net, Villas-Boas must step in.

It's not like Chelsea is lacking in backup plans. Didier Drogba has been amazing for them in the past and has yet to reach ineffectiveness. The same goes for Nicolas Anelka.

However, the best option to me is the long-term one with 21-year-old former Bolton striker Daniel Sturridge. Sturridge's nose for the net will soon make him a star for Chelsea and England. If Villas-Boas turns to him, a championship is within their grasp and a "new Special One" is born.

1. Manchester United

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Yep, it's a repeat for Man U.

With goals coming aplenty from Wayne Rooney and newcomer Chicharito, the Red Devils seem to be near to unstoppable.

In fact, the biggest knock on United seems to be that they did not find a suitable replacement for Paul Scholes. You know, that old man who started 10 games last season.

Key to the season: Can Manchester United lure Wesley Sneijder away from Inter? Odds are that they are going to win the title even if they can't, but if they get Sneijder, the league could be a runaway.

I mean, in 2010, Sneijder was the best player in the world. (Yes, better than Messi. Look at Sneijder's performances for Inter in the Champion's League and Netherlands in the World Cup vs. Messi's performances for Barca in the Champion's League and Argentina in the World Cup).

Sneijder is a really good replacement of 1999 Scholes. However, again, because Scholes had lost a step, Sneijder would'nt be a replacement but merely an addition to a league champion and Champion's League finalist.