Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool to fail again, United to complete treble
Last season’s Premier League was a two horse race up until almost the last kick; had Chelsea not conceded that 91st minute goal to Wigan, if they’d managed to hold out 2 more minutes at 4-3 against Spurs, and if Paul Scholes had been rightly red carded for his body check against Wigan at 0-0 on the last day of the season it could and would have been a different story.
Those ifs and buts are what made it the most thrilling conclusion to a Premier League race in years, two teams going at it until the last kick, brilliant! The last time that happened was in 1968, that year United were pipped to it by another team in Blue, Man City!
So can we hope for the same again? Steven Gerrard says “I don’t want to look back and say I was never in a title race.” Will Liverpool finally answer his prayers and put another side in the frame in 08/09? Not according to the experts.
When Helen Chamberlain gave me her predictions for this season she was more excited about the Blue Square Premier than the top flight, and went so far as to say the Premier League is as boring as the SPL these days. Same winners, same contenders, every season. She may have a point, the last time a team outside if “The Big 4″ won the league was back in 1995 (when I paid £73 for a season ticket to watch top flight football at Loftus Road) when Blackburn and Shearer came good.
In a preview of the season by Setanta Sports presenters (mostly ex-Premier League footballers) 5 more experts line up behind Helen and predict that the top 4 in the Premier League will be made up of the same teams as they have been since time began. 3 think Chelsea will win it, and 3 have gone for Man United, with only one brave enough not to predict that Chelsea and Man U will occupy the top two slots.
Tim Sherwood (who incidentally was captain of the Blackburn side that last rocked the Big 4 boat) reckons Liverpool can push Chelsea down to 3rd, and I agree with him. Torres, and Keane could really put a few teams who Liverpool struggled to finish off last season to the sword this time around. Their odds on the title are way too short at 8-1 but if I was a true red I’d certainly be tempted by a heart-lead £20 bet.
Premier League Tri-cast: 1st Man United, 2nd Chelsea, 3rd Liverpool : 11-1 (Coral)
So who’s my Money on?
United we stand!
I hate to say it, but I’m backing Fergie’s boys to do to again this year; even at only 6-5 I’d back them. But those odds are short considering that Ronaldo may not repeat his heroics of last season. He scored 39% of all Manchester United goals last season, and without his goals in at least 10 key games, United could have finished as low as 5th last season.
Just as Arsenal found out when Pires dried up and eventually left, if that hole can’t be filled quickly the team will need time to find its balance again. Pires scored only 20% of Arsenal’s goals in the Invincibles season (It took Vieira, Gilberto, Ljungberg, and Wiltord to bring that number to 39%) and he managed the same number of goals the season after, but when he dried up in 05-06 Arsenal finished 4th.
United to win the league Best Odds: 1.86-1 (Betfair)
Ronaldo to be top league scorer: A very generous 12.5 — 1 (Betfair)
2nd Chelsea, 3rd Liverpool, 4th Arsenal
Arsenal — Another “Transitional” Season
Arsenal don’t play anyone from the Big 4 until game 13, and with Liverpool facing Aston Villa, Manchester United and Chelsea in the first 10, I think Arsenal will get off to a flying start like they do most seasons, but expect them fall back after Christmas and completely self-destruct at the crunch part of the season when the League Cup, Champions League and Premier League approach their climaxes and the injuries start piling on.
Arsenal have been guilty of this flakiness for at least the last 2 seasons, usually at the hands of the same mediocre teams and due to the same lack of depth. This season it might even get worse. I think there’s a real danger that Adebayor’s god syndrome will turn him in to a one-hit wonder and he’ll dry up. With the exodus of Arsenal players this summer and only Nasri coming in an established first-teamer, this season could be real a headache for Wenger and Arsenal’s season might hinge on Van Persie and Walcott stepping up and Eduardo coming back quickly.
I think at 11-2 they’re a good shout for a Gooners fan willing to lose a few quid, but I won’t be putting anything on them.
There is an underlying weakness in the Arsenal squad, and it was best demonstrated by the spineless crybaby antics of so-called Captain Gallas on several occasions towards the end of last season, and no matter how good they are, Wilshire and Ramsey cannot address that issue.
Adebayor to be to league scorer: 12.5-1
Arsenal to be top after 10 games: 3.25-1 (Skybet)
Arsenal to win the FA Cup: 7-1 (Ladbrokes)
Chelsea — Surely They Can Squeeze Out Just One More Point?
Big Phil’s Chelsea are getting old, and why they signed a central midfielder when they already have Ballack, Lampard, Mikel, Cole, and the mighty Essien is beyond me. They desperately needed a right back, so at least they got that sorted. I think Big Phil will be good for the Prem at 2-1 for the league, and you’d be right to think that surely Big Phil can add just one more point to Chelsea’s tally this season and really push United, but that’s all he’ll do.
I think they’ll fall just short again. I would stick a £10 on Chelsea for the Champions league at 7.5-1 (Betfair).
Liverpool — Robbie Keane Could be The Missing Link
Liverpool can really make this the season they’ve been waiting for (no, seriously. Really). Last season Reina kept 18 clean sheets, and the defence looked strong, they’ve got the impressive Skrtel and Agger, not to mention Carragher, so they look sound there.
Torres only managed to score 3 of his 24 goals last season away from Anfield, but with Keane there and possibly Barry coming in, I think they’ll cure his away day stage fright this season. Also keep an eye out for 19-year old Hungarian Nemeth. Whilst he might find it hard to break in as a striker, his record for Hungary’s youth sides shows real promise.
Unlike their Big 4 rivals, Liverpool are weak on the flanks – if they can improve their attack down there, they can mount something close to a serious challenge. If you fancy them to really up the tempo, they’re 10-1 with Paddy Power for a Man Utd 1st, Liverpool 2nd finish in the Prem.
Top Tips for the Top 4
Man U, Chelsea, Liverpool finish: 11-1 (Coral)
Arsenal to be top at Christmas: 3.5-1 (Bet365)
Liverpool to finish 3rd: 3.3 — 1 (Lassaters)
Helen to be right: Dead certainty, same teams, same finish, but worth every glorious, nail-biting minute.
The Pikum Pundit
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Topics: Arsenal, Chelsea, English Premier League, Football Betting, Liverpool, Manchester United
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may i remind you that arsenal lead the table for the majority of the season and lost the league on an imaginary offside goal and one bullshit penalty
August 8th, 2008 @ 10:55people who dont watch arsenal writing off arsenal,
August 8th, 2008 @ 10:58i love it 4th ok if thats what you think,go along with all the media bullsh**.
watch it come back and bite ya my friend,us goons couldnt give a damn what you think,we have the desire and we are ready.
IN ARSEN WE TRSUT…EIE
HA HA getting to carried away
August 8th, 2008 @ 11:00IN ARSEN WE TRUST…EIE
I’m a Liverpool fan but to say that last year’s Premiership was a two-horse race is an insult to every Arsenal fan out there!
August 8th, 2008 @ 11:07They lead the league for most of the season and as Liverpool started to fall away at the end I found myself willing them on… anything to avoid a Manchester United or Chelsea triumph. In fact, they were 45 minutes (away at Old Trafford) from winning the league.
For a minute then I thought Ahmed had written this. Mate, where were you from August 07 to April 08 because I hate to break it to you, the title was in no way a two horse race. Even the most blinkered Chelsea and Utd fan would agree to that. Pointless post which shows you know nothing.
August 8th, 2008 @ 11:16The gooner pratts fail to realise that there team who have not won anything for donkeys years only managed a last ditch attempt at catching the top 2 because they both progreessed to the final of the champions league….Arsenal have no chance this season… just watch amnd you will see the Mighty Blues take the title ( unless man u buy a striker who can head a bal)
August 8th, 2008 @ 11:18stamford – you are saying that the 2nd highgest scorer in the league can’t head the ball?
August 8th, 2008 @ 11:22and do u not listen to the fact that arsenal lead the table for most of the year – “a last ditch attempt at catching the top 2″ ?! i don’t believe chelksi lead the table at any time…
chelsea is corrupting football and i look forward to the day abramovich gets bored, leaves and chelsea implode
Your analysis is predictably biased and misguided.
Last season it was a ‘three’ not ‘two’ horse race
for most of the season.
Arsenal were the leaders until March and their decline
can be attributable to three factors namely:
1. The impact on a young side at Birmingham ie a horrendous
injury in full view of players and a last minute goal
which turned a victory into a draw.
2. Arsenal had an inordinate number of serious injuries
to key players in second half of season ie Eduardo,
Rosicky,Van Persie and Sagna.
3. Toure lost form following the African Championships.
It is now conceivable that he was affected by ‘malaria’.
Arsenal have lost 4 players, but providing that they replace
Flamini I believe that they will be a stronger team this
season. Their squad has more depth than you imagine and is
now one season older and more experienced they finished
only four points behind Man Utd and I am confident will
be competing with them providing they get a good start.
In the case of your analysis of Chelsea. Again I would question your statements about the side being old. Most
are in their middle to late twenties when they are supposed
to be at their peak.Only Makele was ‘old’. What was true
is that Drogba their key striker was injured for the bulk
of the season and that impacted on their goalscoring potential.They are stronger this season and the only
question mark is their goal scoring potential.
Looking at Liverpool they had a large squad,but it was fairly mediocre and despite the acquisition of Keane I see
little evidence that it has improved particularly in defence. My gut feeling is that they will continue to be fourth.
Manchester United are a strong team, but they have been
quite lucky in the last two seasons with fewer serious
injuries than the other three teams. I think that key to
their success is Ronaldo who scored almost half their goals.
It remains to be seen if he will perform as well this season. Personally I would be concerned about their squad,
which has so far not been freshened up. Scholes,Giggs and
Neville are not getting younger and they have been the key
influences in the team over the last 12 years.
Personally I believe that Man Utd will drop off this season
particularly as they may struggle at start of season without
Ronaldo and Rooney.
I think that there will be a change of Champions and the Title will be decided between Chelsea [experience] and Arsenal [Youth].
August 8th, 2008 @ 11:28After reading this article I would suggest you got yourself a new job, or started writing about another sport. Cause you clearly do not know much about this one.
“The last time that happened was in 1968, that year United were pipped to it by another team in Blue, Man City!”
Do some research before you start writing will you.
August 8th, 2008 @ 11:351968 was the last time it was a two horse race on final day!? Mate, you obviously have not got a clue about football!!! Remember 1989? Arsenal and Liverpool playing each other to win title on goal difference? How about 1995? Man Utd and Blackburn? How about 1999? Arsenal and Man Utd battling out against Spurs and Villa for the title? To also suggest that last season was a two horse race is ignorant of you – you have made it clear you are not an Arsenal supporter, but no point lying to yourself! Arsenal were only 4 points from winning the league and everyone wrote them off – and they doing it again this year. Arsenal not winning anything for donkeys???? It was only 3 years ago they won the FA cup – you wanna talk about teams not winning, then refer to Chelsea’s HISTORY!
August 8th, 2008 @ 12:04for one thing, chelsea spent how much? alot. What did they win? More then Arsenal. I hate the double standards that come from liverpool and arsenal fans because chelsea forced their way into the top level. Boohoo fucking hoo how they did it, its their job to make themselves a force and not sit back and bitch and moan about how money is what won them anything. No shit look at any of the top teams they have spent a crap load buying players. Its what happens during a transitional phase.
August 8th, 2008 @ 12:09Last season chelsea had more injuries and top team players away on internationals then any other team, more then arsenal thats for sure. So stop complaining about injuries because its a load of shit.
ManU i think will pip it this year again, chelsea has a decent chance but the whole beautiful football thing wont work with the current squad. Arsenal will bow out near the end of the season due to lack of depth(as usual). Liverpool has a great strike force but can torres and keane work together. That and the fact is liverpool is weak as shit down the wings.
Most likely will be same manu, chelsea, arsenal, liverpool, tottenham, Aston Villa and Everton in that order for top 7.
The points difference between 1 and 4 will be smaller then between 4 and 5.
You are entitled to your opinion even if your reasoning is decidedly dodgy. What I really object to is the total ignorance of the facts.
“two teams going at it until the last kick, brilliant! The last time that happened was in 1968″
August 8th, 2008 @ 12:13Have you completely forgotten 1989? Almost everyone acknowledges that as the closest finish ever and the most dramatic game with Arsenal winning the league at Anfield with virtually the last kick of the season. You show your poor research up with every word of your article.
stamford….showing your a true chelsea fan…know nothing and no class. When did you switch from being a QPR fan?… dont forget you have won the league 3 times…3 TIMES in your history, so dont start bragging about what you have won because we walk all over you sunbeam.
August 8th, 2008 @ 12:38The title will either go to Arsenal or Chelsea.
United will obviously be missing Ronaldo and Rooney for the start of the season and seeing as they won the Champions League they have all those other club competitions to play in. These two factors combined will hinder United, in my opinion.
Liverpool just have too many mediocre players.
August 8th, 2008 @ 12:46Arsenal fans are too proud and they all say they’re going to win it, “just wait and see, it’ll nip ya in the arse later on”. Of course they have talent, but so do other teams. Chelsea have won two out of the last four EPLs, ManU the other two, and while it’s true that Arsenal were better than Chelsea even 20 years ago, that matters not. History has no impact on how well a team is going to do in an upcoming season, especially history ten years old.
I see a ManU win again, but I root for Chelsea (as some of you may know from the forum). Blues all the way!!
August 8th, 2008 @ 12:59Can people stop calling it The EPL please? It’s The Premier League. This isn’t The States you know, it’s England.
August 8th, 2008 @ 13:03btw, rooney and ronaldo were unavailable for the start of last season as well (rooney out with injury and ronaldo out with a bogus 3-match ban). Look what happened…
August 8th, 2008 @ 13:54As i said Utd need to buy a striker..Berbatov will fit in well if they can accept the price tag for a 29 year old…he can head a ball and drop off the front 2. Arsenal will fall away and lets not forget they were what 12 points off the pace only weeks before the close of the season( yeah real title contenders) ..I am certain it will be 1. Chelsea 2. Utd 3. Liverpool 4. Spurs..I think keane will work well with Torres but lets not forget everyone knows what Torres is all about now and i an sure he will be chopped down left right and centre this season. He was an unkown entity last season but he aint no more.
August 8th, 2008 @ 14:08Our first four matches almost ruined our season last year. If I see Chelsea starting well, with convincing victories, I’ll go for them, but you never know how it is with new managers. Arsenal haven’t improved much when you consider Flamini and Hleb’s departure, but they’ll still be there. Liverpool fans can delude themselves that Robbie Keane is class and Dossena is a good player but they’re not winning anything.
August 8th, 2008 @ 14:09Gooner 2 Bob, well it prooves just how old you must be….since when did the Gunners ever walk over Chelsea… did you ever stay to the final whistle when the blues came to Highbury….I can see you now running as fast as you can across Highbury Fields
August 8th, 2008 @ 14:25lol when was berbatov 29
dumbass
August 8th, 2008 @ 15:35to no. 9 and no. 10, 1968 was the last time that both teams challenging for the title went into the last game on the same number of points
August 8th, 2008 @ 17:24i believe that is what the author meant
August 8th, 2008 @ 17:25Firstly, Ronaldo may have scored 39% of the goals but without him United will still manage. To the doubters like Ronald, United have promising youngsters in Campbell, Evans, Gibson, Possebon and the Da Silva twins who have all impressed during pre-season. Giggs is getting old but his position is covered by Nani(great potential) and Park(works like a horse). Scholes is getting old but his position is covered by Anderson(one of the most exciting midfielders I’ve seen since Scholes), Carrick or Hargreaves. Neville is getting old and his position can be covered by Brown or the very promising Da Silva twins. Tevez is coming into his own at United. Rooney hasn’t been a prolific striker in recent seasons but if you had to tell me that he was United’s only striker I would still be confident of United’s chances. Tevez and Rooney are a strike pair that Managers have dreams about. Then theres Ronaldo, he may be staying for now and he will still definately be a threat but I think the likes of Rooney and Tevez will take a much bigger chunk of the overall goals than they did last season.
August 8th, 2008 @ 23:44All in all, United are still in my biased Red opinion, the strongest team in the League.
I would say Chelsea to pip United to the title, and that will boil down to how fast the team can adapt to Big Phil’s management. (I have a soft spot for United tho)
U see Chelsea have got Bosingwa to fill that missing RB piece. and if they manage to hold Lamps and Drogba, and incl. fringe players like SWP and Bridge they have a good chance again. That is also provided there is no boardroom trouble like last season.
Another thing note is how much thr Ronaldo saga has changed things. Goals, assist, the player himself. At its worse United had better sell him by the winter transfer window. if on an average, United could yet survive and mount a good challenge on say the domestic cup. But any injuries could haut them again like 2 seasons ago.
August 9th, 2008 @ 01:21man will rock
August 9th, 2008 @ 06:07rooney will be back in his top form
August 9th, 2008 @ 06:09I doubt Nasri and Ramsey(if he is put straight into the team) can replace Hleb, Gilberto and Flamini at Arsenal. And same thing like last season they lack experience to last even to the final hurdle.
In fact i reckon, Spurs, to hold on to Berba since Utd are not much interested any more and with the fact they have sold Robbie Keane already, to mount a good challenge against their neighbours for Champions League football. Surely Juande Ramos can do what Jol couldnt.
Anyone here thinks Man City, with Hughes and Jo, can be a consistant campaigner in Europe?
August 9th, 2008 @ 07:14yep i agree with you..united have the strongest team not just in the league but in Europe..and i expect them to be the biggest winners of the season..remember if not for some ridiculously bad luck in last season’s FA Cup final against Portsmouth..they would have won the FA Cup too (do you really think cardiff would have challenged manutd?)
August 9th, 2008 @ 08:46Don’t write off the gunners..yes it is going to be another transitional year for them but Nasri is a fantastic player and he can replace hleb straight away.The squad does lack depth in defence and in central midfield..but they have got one of the finest 1st teams in europe.. but they need to replace flamini (can vela or rammsey do it?) and shift eboue back in defence to provide some cover. Also…theo wallcot’s time may have come
i think that manunited can make it this season though it is going to be a very tough season for them.i don’t see any reason why united should buy babartov although is a good striker and his age is collapsing when rooney,tevez, and upcoming campbell can put manunited once again on top of the league.If i have a squad including:van da ser, brown, evra, vidic, rio, owen, carrick, park, nani, tevez,and campbell.I think for the start of the season united can be on top of their game untill rooney, ronald, aderson come back in the squad. Don’t for get that also silvester is back and include gibson,lee martins and foster in the squad then i don’t think that can united fail to win the league.
August 9th, 2008 @ 12:14Man City will be inconsistant, wheather they start well or poorly, they cant really be UEFA Cup contenders via the league.
One to watch: Fulham, they have gotten Andy Johnson, Mark Schwarzer and Bobby Zamora. Replacing McBride with Zoltan Gera.
To go down: Bolton, Stoke and Hull(first year newbies)
August 9th, 2008 @ 14:21Just watching Arsenal take on Sevilla. So far Ray Wilkins, and 3 ex gooners, Paul Merson, Ray Parlour, Alan Smith have all commented that Arsenal are in a weker position right now then they were last season and have rasied concernes about Arsenal’s midfield next season, they all seemed to agree the gooners lack depth and only stand a chance of serious contention if they can play the 1st 11 all season or buy 1 or 2 more players, especially somoneone to replace Falmini. Vela just scored, but I don’t recon he’ll be walking through many premiership defences like that next season. Arsenal may have a little problem in midfield next season. Aparently Senderos played in the Flamini role against Ajax the other night, oh dear!
August 9th, 2008 @ 18:19I think for Ferg & Man U. Its a quite good move for Henry because of the problems they are having with the up front players.
August 11th, 2008 @ 08:07If they get Henry the title is theirs, and even the short money on them to win the league will be a good bet!
August 11th, 2008 @ 12:12