The 2017-18 Pundits pre-season League Prediction Thread

So with the new season rapidly approaching the next couple of weeks will see the media full of the annual Premier league prediction articles. I thought it might be good to have a thread to share how the pundits think we will do this season so we can all disagree or agree and look back and laugh at (hopefully) at the end of the season.

So to get the ball rolling First up is Old saggy chops in the Sun today and he isn't hopeful for saints.

Arsenal Top seven

Bournemouth Safe

Brighton relegation fight

Burnley relegation fight

Chelsea Title challengers

Crystal Palace Safe

Everton Top six

Liverpool Top six

Leicester Top half

Huddersfield relegation fight

Man City Champions

Man Utd Top four

Newcastle Relegation fight

Southampton Relegation fight

Stoke city Mid table

Swansea Safe

Spurs Top four

West ham Top half

West Brom Top half

Watford Relegation fight

I guess if anyone will know what a relegation fodder saints team looks like it would be good old 'Arry....

Safe, Midtable, Relegation fight, Top Half...lots of categories for the best of the rest....

So Palace, Stoke, Swansea, and Bournemouth are all "safe", but we're fighting to stay up?

Safe prediction that Redknapp will have plenty of excuses lined up as to why Birmingham do royally sh1te this season and none of it will be on him.

And await the 'can't keep selling your best players' cliche ******** from all the tabloids. Will rely on only Jacob Steinberg giving a decent appraisal of our chances. Not so much Robbie Savage, Ray Parlour etc.

Does 'arry still maintain the pretence that he's never got a team relegated?

With two home games to start, we need to get the can't score at home albatross off our backs. Need to pick up decent points early on as we have easier (on paper fixtures) start poorly, we could be in for a long slog of a season.

Start well, score some goals, we could (and if we are half decent, should) be top six by November - because of our easier start.

So, Saints - 10th.

Champs - Man City

Relegation

Watford (worst team on form end of last season)

Huddersfield

Brighton

Did he ever have that knee operation that made him quit QPR before they got relegated? After all, he could hardly walk!!!

old arry. what a character

Did he ever have that knee operation that made him quit QPR before they got relegated? After all, he could hardly walk!!!

the other knee is lined up for early March 2018 just in case

So with the new season rapidly approaching the next couple of weeks will see the media full of the annual Premier league prediction articles. I thought it might be good to have a thread to share how the pundits think we will do this season so we can all disagree or agree and look back and laugh at (hopefully) at the end of the season.

 

So to get the ball rolling First up is Old saggy chops in the Sun today and he isn't hopeful for saints.

 

Arsenal Top seven

Bournemouth Safe

Brighton relegation fight

Burnley relegation fight

Chelsea Title challengers

Crystal Palace Safe

Everton Top six

Liverpool Top six

Leicester Top half

Huddersfield relegation fight

Man City Champions

Man Utd Top four

Newcastle Relegation fight

Southampton Relegation fight

Stoke city Mid table

Swansea Safe

Spurs Top four

West ham Top half

West Brom Top half

Watford Relegation fight

 

I guess if anyone will know what a relegation fodder saints team looks like it would be good old 'Arry....

So actually - his prediction is.

1. Man City

2. Chelsea

3/4. Man Utd

3/4. Spurs

5/6. Liverpool

5/6. Everton

7. Arsenal

8/9/10. Leicester

8/9/10. West Ham

8/9/10. West Brom

11. Stoke

12/13/14. Bournemouth

12/13/14. Crystal Palace

12/13/14. Swansea

15/16/17/18/19/20. Brighton

15/16/17/18/19/20. Burnley

15/16/17/18/19/20. Huddersfield

15/16/17/18/19/20. Newcastle

15/16/17/18/19/20. Southampton

15/16/17/18/19/20. Watford

Predictions are largely pointless until the end of the transfer window.

The VVD outcome (either way) will make a huge difference for us and the starting XI we have for most of the season.

Likewise situations at other sides. That said, it would be a brave pundit to predict top half for us based on our signings and those of teams who were only just behind us lasr season i.e West Ham, Bournemouth. At this stage those sides have significantly improved their starting XI, whereas we haven't.

Stoke - mid table.... nope 'Arry, thats a relegation fight right there.

Swansea - safe... what the hell is this man talking about?!?!

By default, he also has Arsenal as 7th, whilst tottenham are guaranteed top 4 apparently.

The bloke is clueless.

Who gives a stuff about Saggy's opinions ?

Anyway, what do pundits know ? Here are 3 examples of predictions for last season....

Phil McNulty (BBC);

1 Man City

2 Man Utd

3 Chelsea

4 Arsenal

5 Spurs

6 Liverpool

7 West Ham

8 Leicester

9 Everton

10 Stoke

11 Palace

12 Saints

13 Sunderland

14 WBA

15 Swansea

16 Bournemouth

17 Middlesborough

18 Watford

19 Burnley

20 Hull

Robbie Savage;

1 Man Utd

2 Man City

3 Liverpool

4 Chelsea

5 Spurs

6 Arsenal

7 Leicester

8 West Ham

9 Everton

10 Stoke

11 Palace

12 Saints

13 Watford

14 Sunderland

15 Bournemouth

16 WBA

17 Burnley

18 Swansea

19 Middlesborough

20 Hull

Paul Merson;

1 Chelsea

2 Man City

3 Man Utd

4 Arsenal

5 Liverpool

6 Spurs

7 West Ham

8 Everton

9 Saints

10 Stoke

11 Leicester

12 Palace

13 Middlesborough

14 Sunderland

15 Swansea

16 Watford

17 WBA

18 Bournemouth

19 Hull

20 Burnley

And the second one I've seen (one of those annoying slide shows)

9th Southampton, even with the inevitable loss of Virgil van Dijk, will be in that mid-table mix.

http://www.msn.com/en-gb/sport/news/predicted-end-of-season-premier-league-table/ss-AApeJB0?ocid=spartandhp#image=13

Merson thinks west ham are going to come 7th?

Merson thinks west ham are going to come 7th?

I am more shocked at the highlighted bit tbh

I am more shocked at the highlighted bit tbh

Safe prediction that Redknapp will have plenty of excuses lined up as to why Birmingham do royally sh1te this season and none of it will be on him.

Bare bone I tell ya. FFS

https://www.bcfc.com/news/articles/2017/reaction-ipswich-town-1-blues-0/?utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=SocialSignIn&utm_source=Twitter

oh so true, id not be surprised if he wont quit hes hoping for a Dads Army type squad to reinvigorate his sagging chops.

old arry. what a character

There's so many words that could be used instead

Bare bone I tell ya. FFS

https://www.bcfc.com/news/articles/2017/reaction-ipswich-town-1-blues-0/?utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=SocialSignIn&utm_source=Twitter

getting the excuses out early..........

"At the end of last season I thought I am going to build a team that is going to get promoted this year.

"And I still believe I will, nothing has changed.

"But I do need to get some people in otherwise it's impossible. "

Harry likes a deal so it makes sense, plus there are clubs there that he'll obviously have a bias over like West Ham and Bournemouth, he probably thinks West Ham's scatter gun approach to signings will pay off. I'm doubtful, there is more to a football team than just buying loads of players, even Football Manager knows that.

FourFourTwo magazine predict we will finish 8th.

Paul Mersons predictions for the coming season - 8th, the best of the rest.

http://www.skysports.com/football/news/15205/10973956/paul-mersons-season-predictions-man-city-for-the-title-arsenal-to-miss-out-on-top-four

Paul Mersons predictions for the coming season - 8th, the best of the rest.

 

http://www.skysports.com/football/news/15205/10973956/paul-mersons-season-predictions-man-city-for-the-title-arsenal-to-miss-out-on-top-four

Wow he really knocked himself out on that in depth prediction didn't he...

Paul Mersons predictions for the coming season - 8th, the best of the rest.

 

http://www.skysports.com/football/news/15205/10973956/paul-mersons-season-predictions-man-city-for-the-title-arsenal-to-miss-out-on-top-four

That will really annoy the dippers. Suggesting Coutinho should leave and VVD shouldn't join them, how dare he do such a thing, how disrespectful.

This guy has down for, a not unreasonable, 10th.

http://www.bing.com/news/apiclick.aspx?ref=BDIGeneric&aid=C98EA5B0842DBB9405BBF071E1DA7651530FFE51&tid=690E4F51AC04404997DFBDE004E7DF74&url=http%3a%2f%2fwww.espnfc.com%2fenglish-premier-league%2f23%2fblog%2fpost%2f3172856%2fmanchester-clubs-to-battle-for-premier-league-title-chelsea-liverpool-to-miss-top-four&c=1454639795943303933&mkt=en-gb

This guy has down for, a not unreasonable, 10th.

 

http://www.bing.com/news/apiclick.aspx?ref=BDIGeneric&aid=C98EA5B0842DBB9405BBF071E1DA7651530FFE51&tid=690E4F51AC04404997DFBDE004E7DF74&url=http%3a%2f%2fwww.espnfc.com%2fenglish-premier-league%2f23%2fblog%2fpost%2f3172856%2fmanchester-clubs-to-battle-for-premier-league-title-chelsea-liverpool-to-miss-top-four&c=1454639795943303933&mkt=en-gb

Lazy for a change, little dig at Liverpool signing Bedranek in the future. Not old at all.

Robbie Savage http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/837739/Premier-League-table-predictions-Robbie-Savage-2017-18-sportgalleries

Us in 13th, WBA 12th, Bournemouth 11th, Leicester 10th, Palace 9th, West Ham 8th, then Eveton, Spurs, Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea, Man C, Man U

The Guardian has us 9th, with a decent season preview feature:

https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2017/aug/08/premier-league-2017-18-preview-southampton

BBC McNulty has 14th.

Premier League 2017-18: Phil McNulty predicts who will finish where

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40816204

'There will come a time when they cannot pull off this trick of succeeding surrounded by such turbulence'. What one sulky CB?

I know we are all biased but I do think he is pretty poor and never gives any real insight or angles for a chief football correspondent. Bland.

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So the general consensuses seems to be safely mired in mid- table (apart from 'Arry) for the season which I guess most fans probably expect as well.

So the generally consensuses seems to be safely mired in mid- table (apart from 'Arry) for the season which I guess most fans probably expect as well.

I can't recall anyone ever predicting us finishing higher than we have since championship. Personally only think Leicester will improve significantly. No fear of West Ham and Bournemouth. WBA definitely not. Palace bit unknown with FDB.

Palace bit unknown with FDB.

So far no spectacular improvements in the players they have. I expect a transition year. They'll stay up.

BBC McNulty has 14th.

Premier League 2017-18: Phil McNulty predicts who will finish where

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40816204

'There will come a time when they cannot pull off this trick of succeeding surrounded by such turbulence'. What one sulky CB?

I know we are all biased but I do think he is pretty poor and never gives any real insight or angles for a chief football correspondent. Bland.

 

 

 

 

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He's dreadful, and I have no idea why the BBC needs a 'chief football correspondent'. He adds absolutely nothing.

I hope he doesn't read the comments section, it doesn't make for nice reading if you're Phil!

He's dreadful, and I have no idea why the BBC needs a 'chief football correspondent'. He adds absolutely nothing.

 

I hope he doesn't read the comments section, it doesn't make for nice reading if you're Phil!

Ever article he produces on the BBC he gets deservedly gets panned in the comments

McNulty is absolutely dreadful and widely regarded as a complete prat within those circles.

https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/soccer-predictions/premier-league/

8th place according to this, with 50 points.

Bare bone I tell ya. FFS

https://www.bcfc.com/news/articles/2017/reaction-ipswich-town-1-blues-0/?utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=SocialSignIn&utm_source=Twitter

Arry: always "short". "Short, I tell ya."

Is this micropenis or just searching for that next little bonus?

Good article here about the PL generally by Barney Ronay

https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2017/aug/10/premier-league-title-race-champions-league-huddersfield

He's back everyone's favourite BBC pundit with his weekly match predictions starting off with a saints win no less

Southampton v Swansea

Both of these teams have players who obviously want to leave - Saints defender Virgil van Dijk and Swansea midfielder Sigurdsson.

I think they will both get the moves they want and neither of them are likely to play - why risk them when they are probably not fully fit?

In their absence, I am going for a Southampton win, but I still think Swansea will have a decent season under Paul Clement.

Lawro's prediction: 2-1

Cram's prediction: 2-0

Foster's prediction: 0-0

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40745588

Good article here about the PL generally by Barney Ronay

 

https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2017/aug/10/premier-league-title-race-champions-league-huddersfield

Love Barney Ronay, he never takes the game 'too' seriously, he comes over as a dispassionate and somewhat cynical observer but deep down you know he is just as invested as all the rest of us. If you want an easy-reading, fun, holiday book his 'Manager' is a great read.

Love Barney Ronay, he never takes the game 'too' seriously, he comes over as a dispassionate and somewhat cynical observer but deep down you know he is just as invested as all the rest of us. If you want an easy-reading, fun, holiday book his 'Manager' is a great read.

Indeed - 'Neymar harpooned with a cash-gun'

His Andy Carroll ref to a horse being thrown from a castle just one of many funny lines.

Didn't know he'd written a book so cheers

Some brilliant bits here.....

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-4777518/Premier-League-predictions-team-reporters.html

Oliver Holt: Which teams will be relegated? Huddersfield, Newcastle, Southampton. Think the curse of Ashley will strike Newcastle again. He needed to back Rafa Benitez properly this summer and so far, he hasn't.

There seems to be a huge love in for Marco Silva, and also one (albeit not so large) for Frank de Boer.

Some brilliant bits here.....

 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-4777518/Premier-League-predictions-team-reporters.html

Oliver Holt: Which teams will be relegated? Huddersfield, Newcastle, Southampton. Think the curse of Ashley will strike Newcastle again. He needed to back Rafa Benitez properly this summer and so far, he hasn't.

 

There seems to be a huge love in for Marco Silva, and also one (albeit not so large) for Frank de Boer.

I prefer Nick Harris's assessment

https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/soccer-predictions/premier-league/

https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-english-premier-league-is-back-and-so-is-manchester-city/

Bump...

Looks like 'Arry was right about us all along...