PREDICTIONS FOR THE 2011-12 SEASON!

The new season is less than 2 weeks away, and it is time to gaze into the crystal ball and see what awaits us in the coming months.

Premier League champions– Manchester United. Been there, done that, got the t-shirt. United may have lost experienced pros in Scholes, Neville, Van der Sar but they have invested cleverly in youth and should have enough to clinch their 20^th title.

Runners up– Man City. City have the strongest squad and will run their neighbours close but I have the sneaky feeling United`s experience will just see them over the line.

Final Champion League Spaces– Chelsea and Liverpool. Chelsea have made no major signings and with their pensioners a year older its difficult to see them finishing higher than third. Liverpool by contrast have invested heavily and as mentioned by this writer before they should have enough to clinch fourth.

5^th place/Europa League– Arsenal. Still no leader, no world class centre half or goalkeeper means this is the year Arsenal fall out the Champion League spaces, particularly as those around them have strengthened more meaningfully.

Relegation– Norwich, Swansea, Wigan. A real shot in the dark this one but I`ll have a stab at it. The new teams will find it hard and this may just be the year that perennial survivors Wigan fall out. Don’t bet on it though.

F.A Cup– Liverpool. Its been a while since the Reds won a trophy, expect King Kenny to end that barren run.

Carling Cup– Chelsea, not exactly what Abramovic wants but oh well.

Premier league top scorer– Rooney. Big season this one for Shrek,  and the United man is my pick to carry on his good form in the last few months and pick up the golden boot.

Player of the season– Luis Suarez. The uraguyan has been electrifying since January, and was brilliant in South America. He now has the whole season to light up the prem.

Signing of the season– Sergio Aguero. Huge price tag, but general feeling is the Argentiniean will be a hit. If you want the bargain of the summer, then look no further than the outstanding Roger Johnson.

Surprise Package of the season– Fernando Torres to prove us all wrong and start firing again.

Flop of the season– Fernando Torres to prove us all right and carry on playing like he is blind deaf and dumb at the same time.  

Champions League– Barcelona. Not as obvious as it seems as no team has won back to back European Cups since Milan in 1990. However this is the year Barcelona strengthen their claim as the greatest of all time.

Champions League dark horses– Man City. Totenham had a fantastic debut season in Europe, City with their squad will expect the same.

Europa League– Hopefully an English team, other than that who cares?

N.B- These predictions are made before the transfer window closes, so this writer reserves the right to change his mind depending on further developments. (A kop out I know, but that’s life)

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