Tottenham are looking good, Newcastle United fans are very excited and there are genuine expectations at Everton, Aston Villa, West Ham and Portsmouth to produce a cracking, top-6 performance next year. You could even throw Blackburn into the mix, and we haven't even mentioned Sunderland or Bolton yet.
So who do you think will be the closest to the top four, and why? Be specific!
I think it will be 1.Chelsea,2.Man U,3.Liverpool,4.Newcastle,5.Tottenham,6.Arsenal.
You don't like Arsenal, do you? 
Anonymous
Posts: 21
I think it will be exciting seeing how the likes of Everton, Tottenham, Portsmouth, Aston Villa and West Ham do. Man City also have Sven and some money.
However, I'm unsure whether the top four will be broken. If it was to be, then the serious challengers I suppose would be Tottenham, but when comparing their squad with the rest of the top four, they came up trumps in few areas. Where comparisons with Arsenal are concerned, it's fair to say that Berbatov and Lennon are the only two who'd fit into our starting eleven, and that's probably the same for the rest of the top four also. People seem to think Arsenal are in a crisis but that's not the case at all, and I expect to see a lot of progress from last season. If there is a team to be pushed out of the top four then I see it as Liverpool but I genuinely think the top four will retain the top four status in the coming season. I do think they could be challenged over time but to break the ranks on a consistent basis as opposed to a one off fourth placed finish (Everton, almost Tottenham) will be a real challenge and to catch Man Utd and Chelsea will be an even bigger one, though I think Arsenal are on that path.
Predictions:
1st. Chelsea
2nd. Man Utd
3rd. Arsenal
4th. Liverpool
5th. Tottenham
6th. Everton
7th. Aston Villa
8th. Newcastle
9th. West Ham
10th. Portsmouth
11th. Man City
Nope that doesn't look right. I just don't know. They all have bloody good squads, good managers and it's a real toughie to predict. I'm looking immensely forward to seeing who will finish where mind.
i think it will be
1st Man Utd
2nd L'Pool
3rd Chelsea
4th Tottenham
5th Arsenal
6th Aston VIlla
7th West Ham
8th Newcastle
9th Everton
10th Portsmouth
11th Man City
12th Sunderlad
13th Bolton Wanderers
14th Birmingham CIty
15th Reading
16th Derby County
17th Wigan Athletic
18th Middlesbrough
19th Blackburn Rovers
20th Fulham
1 - Man Utd (heck I am biased 
)
2 - Chelsea (very little to choose amongst them and ManU. injuries will decide amongst the top 2)
3 - Liverpool (On the current squad + Torres, a couple of quality additions especially in terms of goal scoring wingers might change the equation)
4 - Spurs (Have an edge over Gunners who have lost henry and are rebuilding their squad. Spurs on the other hand have a settled squad)
5 - Arsenal
6 - Everton (settled squad, will keep playing at the same level. Need investment to break into top 5)
7 - Newcastle (a season won't be enough to get out of the rut)
8 - Villa
9 - West Ham
10 - Man city
Man United
Chelsea
Liverpool
Arsenal
Tottenham
Newcastle
Everton
West Ham
Villa
Blackburn
Pompey
Boro
Man City
Bolon
Reading
Sunderland
Birmingham
Fulham
Wigan
Derby County
1. Manchester United (90+)
-. Liverpool (85-90)
-. Chelsea (85-90)
4. Tottenham (65+)
5. Arsenal (60-65)
6. Everton (50-60)
7. Bolton (50-60)
8. Sunderland (50-60)
9. Blackburn (45-55)
10. Aston Villa (45-55)
11. Newcastle United (45-50)
12. Middlesbrough (45-50)
13. West Ham (43-47)
14. Reading (43-47)
15. Wigan (~45)
16. Portsmouth (40-45)
17. Birmingham (~40)
18. Manchester City (35-39)
19. Fulham (35-39)
20. Derby (-30)
Sorry gunners, but I just cannot see you break in the top 4 with your current squad. I am backing Tottenham to go in the 'Big Four' but not to challange any of the others for a few years still...
Sorry City fans, I just cannot see you staying up - Eriksson or not. Fulham have been disastrous this past season and unless Heally can do for club what he does for country, I cannot see Fulham coming even close to Premiership status come 2009.
I can see Roy Keane lead his team to Europe next season. He is a great manager and if he is not forced to sell, Sunderland will become a Bolton-like club. Oh ya and the Newcastle prediction was made on the asssumption that their injury table will look much like it has for the past several seasons (absolutely full). Sorry.
At the top I cannot decide weather Liverpool will come ahead of Chelsea or the other way around, but if I was to guess, I would say Liverpool in second Chelsea in third. With their current squad Man Utd are more than capable of defending their title, but they are going to have to avoid any kind of injury crisis.
Completely agree with Dash! I think ManU will be too good for Chelsea with the addition of new talent in Nani, Anderson and Hargreaves. However, injuries could play a vital part in the final outcome. Also hoping that Liverpool play to their potential next season!
Anonymous
Posts: 21
Interesting that Arsenal are seen as a popular choice for fifth. I mean, I know we've lost Henry but we basically survived without him last season where we finished joint third. Van Persie also emerged last season as someone now very good and is almost the finished article.
Where the rest of the squad is concerned, it's still very much superior to Tottenham's, who are admittedly a side looking very good of late but when you look at it, only two of their players, three arguably, would make it into our starting XI - Berbatov, Lennon and King. Outside our best XI, our squad is stronger too.
I'm not complaining though. I like the fact that we seem to be underdogs. I certainly think a top four finish will be cemented and we should beat Liverpool to third. I'm not certain we're ready to begin a serious title challenge again as Man Utd and Chelsea both look very strong, but I reckon we'll make up some ground this season and hopefully close the gap.
I believe: Chelsea, ManU, Liverpool, Tottenham, Arsenal. Newcastle will show better, but a lack of depth ina looong season will hurt them.
I'm with Charlie. I may be a bit biased as an Arsenal fan, but I'm not sure why everyone is writing us off. Besides Thierry Henry, Arsenal hasn't lost a single important first team player. And though losing him is a huge blow, we have already essentially played a season without him. If we stay healthy this year, I don't think Spurs really have a chance of taking us out of the top 4. Everyone talks about Tottenham increasing their attacking force, but wasn't their weakness in defense last season. Besides Gareth Bale they haven't really strengthened that area. I guess we'll just have to wait and see next season.
Man United
Chelski
Pool
Arse
Spurs
Villa
Newcastle
Sunderland
my top 8
lol admin,no I actually like arsenal its just that without their leadership and current squad i dont think they would be that capable.
To be honest I think Chelsea will win the league next year. If you look back on what happened last year Chelsea lost a lot of point when Czech and Terry were out injured. Mourinho didn't have the central defense back-up that he needed - but now he has fixed that. The players he has picked up this year have been good - especially Tal Ben Haim - who will be an excellent back up to Terry and Carvalho.
Man United a close second and still not sure Liverpool can mount a good challenge. Also don't underestimate Arsenal although i think Spurs can pip them for 4th. As far as my team Newcastle United are concerned - we'll be pleased with 8th place - but think we can get to 6th - with a little bit of luck. We must be in Europe for the following season (2008-2009).
Never knows, Newcastle may be a black horse for the top 4 and 'steal' the trophy from Man utd and others. I believe all the newcastle united fans are excited for the new season to come with strikeforce:Mark Viduka, Joey Barton, Owen/Martin(if they stay), amoebi, new defence line up: david and the rest of elite to play
This is my top ten
1 Man u ,though i dont want it to be
2 Liverpool can only get better
3 chelsea, load of overpaid underachievers
4 arsenal ,as high as i think they can get
5 spurs, great forward line shame about the midfield
6 newcastle, only because big sam is there
7 pompey good tight squad only need to improve a bit after last year
8 eveton, steady season no thrills though need to invest big time
9 sunderland , the reading affect
10 west ham a good end to last season but still wont do better than 10th
This is my top ten
1 Man u ,though i dont want it to be
2 Liverpool can only get better
3 chelsea, load of overpaid underachievers
4 arsenal ,as high as i think they can get
5 spurs, great forward line shame about the midfield
yea. something like that. arsenal? no way.
1. Man Utd
2. Liverpool
3. Chelsea
4. Spurs
5. Arsenal/Pompey
6. a surprise team 
just wanted to see how people looked at pre season.
Had a good read of all the predictions that were made. Except for people writing off Arsenal & Spurs being really crap this season the rest looks pretty consistent with reality now...
yep. noone liked city.
ok l' pool i dont think will do to well. I think they will basically make the champs league and nothin else. I think depending on who gets injured Chelsea or Man U will win the league with Arsenal taking third. Even though most think arsenal isn't doing to well, I think they will recover from theyre slump.
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