Friday, August 14, 2009

The More Things Change...

The more things change the more things stay the same. With all the departures from the Big 4, and to be honest most of them went to ManCity, I would like to think that someone else will break into the top 4 and wrestle away a Champions League from ManU, Chelsea, Liverpool or the Gunners. But I just can not see that happening. There has to be something said for "been there, done that" for the four mentioned above. Coaching experience, mental toughness, and just the shier experience of being in a title race and the experience of the Champions League breeds confidence when the chips are on the table. With all that being said it wouldn't come as a total surprise to see Aston Villa, Everton or ManCity push Arsenal (in my opinion the weakest of the Big 4) all the way for that fourth spot.

Onto the predictions. Starting with 20-11.

20. Burnley: To be honest I feel a little sorry for these guys. The club comes from a town the size of Terre Haute and will be outclassed by most of the league. The will be relegated by February.
19. Portsmouth: I might have been off by one year on my prediction of their demise but not this year. If Kanu is your front line striker your in trouble. Being regulated might not be a bad thing for this small club to start over and come on back up with a more talented and deeper club.
18. Wigan: Here comes a cross, a cross over from the EPL to the Championship. First year head coach, zero true threats up front and a weak midfield will lead this team by the hand all the way down to the relegation zone.
17. Birmingham City: Wow that was close. This team will survive by maybe a point or goal differential. I am a fan of seeing new blood in the EPL and i believe this team has what it takes to stay up and be a pest for the top ten teams all season long.
16. Hull City: Their coach might be a total D-Bag but this team has something that no one else has. JOZY ALTIDORE!!!!!!!!This young American will be a revelation for the whole EPL. He will provide Hull with the consistent scoring threat that they did not have last year. 8-12 goals for Mr. Altidore will see this team stay up for a second year in a row.
15. Wolves: This years reading. An entertaining team who attack with an organized defense. This team will try and play an attractive style and will have success doing it.
14. Stoke City: Mr Delap and Mr. "I wear a baseball cap to every game" Pulis will have a nice second season in the EPL and be able to be mildly successful with a third season as a reward.
13. Blackburn: Big Sam Allardyce is the king of keeping horrible teams in the EPL. This team actually have a few decent players. McCarthy, Roberts, Diouf to head the line up front and an organized defense with a good keeper, Paul Robinson.
12. Bolton: Gary Megson is a good coach who's only job is to keep this team in the EPL. If that is the one aim then Megson is your guy and this is your team. It is a big, tough, and disciplined team. With those aspects, add in some talent, this team will survive by feasting on the other horrible teams and be safe by a mile.
11. Sunderland: This is actually a pretty good team. It is full with a good mix of youth and experience with a great manager. This team will be an entertaining team with a successful season. Steve Bruce will get every drop of talent and work rate from this team and might even push for a top ten spot.

Some will disagree with these picks but one thing we can all agree on is the top ten in the EPL have so much more talent than these 10 that even though the final position might be different there is no question these are your bottom ten. The top ten tomorrow. Enjoy the season!!!!!!!!

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