Premier League Predictions for 2011-12

TITLE CONTENDERS

1) MANCHESTER UNITED: It’s hard to pick a team with a 20-year-old in goal to win the title, but a strengthened squad and a lack of improvement from the challengers give Sir Alex title No. 20.

2) CHELSEA: Not far off the Red Devils and if Villas-Boas can avoid the midseason slump the Blues had under Ancelotti, Chelsea may squeeze a title out of their aging squad.

3) MANCHESTER CITY: An unsettled starting 11, a fractious dressing room and the challenge of Champions League play keeps the noisy neighbors from advancing on last year’s achievements.

4) LIVERPOOL: King Kenny’s additions, along with a healthy Andy Carroll, get Liverpool back into the Big Four. Defensive frailties keep them from a title challenge, though.

EUROPEAN CONTENDERS

5) ARSENAL: Arsene Wenger’s failure to strengthen his squad (particularly in defense) finally comes back to cost the Gunners dearly.

6) TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR: Lack of offensive firepower keeps Spurs out of Europe altogether for another season.

7) EVERTON: Same squad as last year, same question as last year. Can David Moyes avoid the disastrous start to the season that has plagued Everton for years?

8) STOKE CITY: Tony Pulis’ addition of some offense to a rock-solid defensive unit makes the Potters a dangerous, up-and-coming squad.

9) WEST BROMWICH ALBION: The Baggies were a solid squad once Roy Hodgson took over, and a full season at the helm should push them forward.

SAFELY MID-TABLE

10) SUNDERLAND: Steve Bruce has rebuilt his squad, and that should be enough to steady the waters for the Black Cats.

11) FULHAM: Another European adventure for the Cottagers, and a solid enough squad for Martin Jol to rehabilitate himself in England.

12) ASTON VILLA: Darren Bent and Charles N’Zogbia should be enough offensive firepower to keep Villa safe, but Alex McLeash has a lot to prove to the Villa fans.

13) BOLTON WANDERERS: Injuries have already started to bite the squad hard, but Stuart Holden’s return should help stabilize the club.

RELEGATION CONTENDERS

14) NEWCASTLE: There should be money to spend, but a disastrously mismanaged team leaves them on the wrong end of the table.

15) QUEENS PARK RANGERS: They won the Championship comfortably, and there’s enough money in the club to invest as needed.

16) NORWICH CITY: A strong team ethic and a pragmatic style should keep the Canaries in the top flight for another season.

17) WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS: If Wolves improve their form against the teams around them, the end of the season shouldn’t be as traumatic as 2010/11.

THE DOOMED

18) BLACKBURN ROVERS: Too much going wrong, insufficient strength of management and no plan going forward sends Blackburn to the Championship.

19) SWANSEA CITY: Blackpool 2.0. They’ll be fun to watch, but they don’t have the horses to play the kind of football they want to and stay in the top flight.

20) WIGAN ATHLETIC: Wigan has played with relegation fire for years, and this is the year they finally get burned.

PREVIOUS RESULTS

(One point for every place off from a correct prediction for each team. So, predicting fourth for a team that finishes sixth scores two points. Lower the score, the better)

2010-11

44 points

3/4 Champions League 

1/3 relegation

2009-10

50 points

3/4 Champions League (including all top three in order)

2/3 relegation