Premier league stronger next season

[Thedelldays]

I think so.

Top teams will strengthen as always

Can't see Liverpool and arsenal being as hit and miss..... Although spurs may drop a tad

 

QPR will be better. And I don't think Norwich or Swansea will be a weak as people think

 

The three of us that came up are all better than the three that dropped IMO

 

Wigan will go down this time. I think reading will go and who else. God knows

 

 

Anyone else think next season will be a stronger league than last season?

[The Kraken]

Definitely a stronger league this year.

 

West Ham should (like us) be able to push on and have a good chance of staying up. Reading, it entirely depends on what they do in the transfer window but McDermott is a good manager and if he has some cash to spend I think he'll spend wisely.

 

In terms of the teams that struggled last year; QPR have now got a decent manager in Mark Hughes, they'll have a bit of cash to spend, and have the nucleus of a half decent team already. Aston Villa had a shocker last year, their lowest ever PL finish. The bones of their team is certainly capable enough, and if Lambert gets to make 3 or 4 signings then it shouldn't be too much of a job for him to turn them around for at least a comfortable mid table finish.

 

Wigan and Stoke, I think those two could struggle this year. Stoke had a poor second half of the season, Wigan were the opposite, but they're definitely both be up against it this year. I think West Brom may also really feel the effect of Roy Hodgson leaving, he's shown that he's an astute manager who can make the best of a relatively limited squad. I think Norwich may also come unstuck, particularly if they lose Grant Holt and don't replace him properly.

 

The 3 that went down last year (Bolton, Blackburn, Wolves) were extremely poor. I don't see a similar 3 teams this time round, I think its ever so tight from mid-table downwards, and any finish above 14th should be seen as a significant step forwards. Of course it all depends on what happens in the transfer window, but I think we've got a fair bit of team stregthening to do yet before that's a realistic target.

[Crab Lungs]

Hmmm, it's a difficult one. I'm not sure as there has been so many managerial changes it's hard to say how it'll affect the teams involved.

 

I don't think Norwich will do much this year - I think Hughton will be found out and this will be a step too far for him. They might just scrape survival, but they'll be involved in a scrap. Stoke are another team on the decline and unless they strengthen, I think most teams will start to wise up to them and they'll find their "up-and-at-'em" approach not as successful as in previous years. Wigan, if Martinez stays, will continue to play good football but will inevitably be in and around the relegation spots.

 

I also don't think Laudrup will do anything at Swansea. They'll struggle, though I've got this nagging feeling we'll play them in one of the first 4 fixtures of the season and they'll grab an irritating 1-0 win or hammer us 3-0 which'll put Swansea in the Champions League places early on. That'll be a false dawn though, and they'll slip continuously after that.

 

I can't make up my mind about Reading but I think they're are more likely to struggle than coast to survival unless they add some depth... and the "smash-and-grabs" they enjoyed in the Championship won't happen that often in the top flight.

 

West Brom, for me, will go down. Nail that prediction as a certainty for me. QPR will be fine, as will Fulham and Lambert will stabilise Villa like O'Neill has Sunderland. West Ham will be in and around 14th, a stable finish for Fat Sam's underachieving hoofers.

 

The biggest movers and shakers for me will be the re-emergence of Liverpool as a genuine top-six team, as well as Tottenham suffering a drop in their recent league placings... but as always at Spurs, not in expectations. Whoever follows Harry will be in for a top task if Modric and Bale are on their way out of WHL.

 

All in all, there isn't too many scary teams in the league when you look at it but if you factor in games against Man Utd, Man City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Spurs, Newcastle and a re-invigorated Liverpool, that's 14 difficult fixtures in 38. The key will be picking up as many points as possible around the teams not in that elite seven. Not that it'd be easy, but it'd be easier.

 

I just hope we get a couple of big boys out of the way first and we get a half-decent run-in. I think we've enough to finish safely away from the relegation spots, but you just can't predict the dynamics of a 9 month season.

Edited 17 June, 2012 by Crab Lungs

[Crazy Diamond]

We could spend hours analysing it, much like we did last year, but there isn't a lot of point. If we're going to stay up an established name has to go down, but again there's no point in speculating on who it might be because so many different things happen during the course of the season.

 

I don't think it'll be quite as unpredictable as the Championship was last season though.

[S-Clarke]

I remember saying the same about the Championship last year, and on paper it should have been stronger than it was.

 

There are so many managerial changes this year, and not everyone will be a success. You've also got Stoke who I believe will be sucked into the mire this year as they have spent the last 18 months treading water and not really going anywhere, which is pretty dangerous. Villa did the same in previous seasons and were dragged right into it last year for that very reason.

 

Wigan, who knows? They should have been relegated last year, and the year before, but for some reason they come alive at the end of the season and players find an extra %. Pretty similar to us in the 90's.

[up and away]

Stronger than last year? maybe! What I am sure of is the Premier leagues is going down hill fast.There was a time when we would get 3 teams into the last 4 of the CL, not any more. Equally it was far more difficult for a Championship side to remain in the Premier after promotion, not any more.

[Thedelldays]

Stronger than last year? maybe! What I am sure of is the Premier leagues is going down hill fast.There was a time when we would get 3 teams into the last 4 of the CL, not any more. Equally it was far more difficult for a Championship side to remain in the Premier after promotion, not any more.

 

Except since 2005, the prem has faired very strongly in the champions league. Only took probably the greatest club side of all time to stop the premier league cleaning up in the CL

 

For what ever reason. We don't take the Europa league seriously

 

I should imagine the premier league will be very well represented again on the CL this season

[aintforever]

I think the recent managerial merry-go-round might have given us a better chance of staying up.

 

Norwich, West Brom and Swansea are all teams that may be alot worse this year. Wigan will be down there and I don't think West Ham will do as well as people think.

 

I can see next year being even more of a two tier league.

[Elmore]

It's so hard to say how we will do until all signings (and other team's) are finalised. I'd like to think our current team as it stands including Rodriguez, could just about stay in the prem, if we got off to a good start. I'm sure our team could achieve a few good home results, but if we start badly and have our usual winter iffy-patch we will struggle.

 

However if we can strengthen (for me - right mid, right back, central defence and centre mid), we could have a good season.

 

I'd like to see us try and steal Scott Sinclair from Swansea - his contract is running out (plus I think his brother is already on our books)!

 

I can't wait to see how Lambert measures up in the Prem. Also Spiderman, Lallana and Cork.

[CanadaSaint]

I'm surprised that some folks think West Ham will be alright. Sure, they'll have money but they had that this year. And their 'football', which shows little sign of changing under BFS, doesn't seem to cut much mustard in today's Premier League.

 

Losing Rogers and Lambert could have quite a negative impact on Swansea and Norwich - no disrespect intended to the guys coming in.

 

Yeah, I'd settle for 15th right now but, with a few key signings, I think we're capable of much better. It's looking like we'll be trying to play on the front foot, which IMO is when we're at our best.

[The Kraken]

I'm surprised that some folks think West Ham will be alright. Sure, they'll have money but they had that this year. And their 'football', which shows little sign of changing under BFS, doesn't seem to cut much mustard in today's Premier League.

 

Losing Rogers and Lambert could have quite a negative impact on Swansea and Norwich - no disrespect intended to the guys coming in.

 

Yeah, I'd settle for 15th right now but, with a few key signings, I think we're capable of much better. It's looking like we'll be trying to play on the front foot, which IMO is when we're at our best.

 

I think West Ham under-performed last year. They were overwhelming favourites for the title and, akin to our time in League 1, were the one side that most teams in the division really revved up for. Also some of their players didn't consistently handle the pressure of being the side to beat.

 

Despite having money problems they still seem determined to spend a fair bit; and despite the criticisms of him Allardyce will have them set up to be hard to beat, which is something we really need to learn very quickly, I have big fears that our style will be far too open against sides in this division, we too often looked a little bit leaky in defence last term and teams of a better quality will punish us for that.

[S-Clarke]

Westham will go straight back down IMO. They should stay up but not convinced they will do things the right way under their management.

 

They won't go straight back down, they'll be comfortable mid-table. I don't think they'll ever be in any real trouble.

 

They've agreed terms with Mohamed Diame who will be an excellent addition for them.

[Turkish]

I think West Ham under-performed last year. They were overwhelming favourites for the title and, akin to our time in League 1, were the one side that most teams in the division really revved up for. Also some of their players didn't consistently handle the pressure of being the side to beat.

 

Despite having money problems they still seem determined to spend a fair bit; and despite the criticisms of him Allardyce will have them set up to be hard to beat, which is something we really need to learn very quickly, I have big fears that our style will be far too open against sides in this division, we too often looked a little bit leaky in defence last term and teams of a better quality will punish us for that.

 

Agree with this. Whatever people say about Allardyce he makes teams hard to beat. Look at Blackburn when he was there, midtable. He goes and virtually the same players get relegated. Tactically he's good as getting teams not to lose rather than having to win. See their 6 home draws in a row this season as evidence of this.

 

I think we'll be fine if we add a bit of steel and leadership to the side and we need to improve defensively. We are great defensively when we are dominating possession and steamroller sides, its easy to be a good defender when you're dominating matches but that won't happen as much next season. We gave away a lot of sloppy goals and many times when put under pressure last season we conceded. We didn't get many points last season with great, backs to the wall, gritty defensive displays. That is going to have to change this season, especially away from home.

[Doctoroncall]

If Martinez stays at Wigan, he will be backed by the chairman to get 3/4 decent players in so they are likely to improve. Even if Modric and Bale leave, Spurs have a decent squad so much will depend on the calibre of the manager to get decent replacements.

 

Stoke spent a lot last season but didn't do much with it. At the moment I'd put Reading, Norwich, Stoke, WBA and Wham fighting to avoid the drop with us.

[Maggie May]

Wigan will have a decent season. WBA and Norwich will struggle. Think Laudrup will be a disaster for Swansea.

[The9]

Except since 2005, the prem has faired very strongly in the champions league. Only took probably the greatest club side of all time to stop the premier league cleaning up in the CL

 

For what ever reason. We don't take the Europa league seriously

 

I should imagine the premier league will be very well represented again on the CL this season

 

Probably because it's bloody difficult to run a side in the Prem and the bloated Europa League at the same time.

 

Not so tricky for the teams who build up the squad for year on year Champions League competition as they already have the depth, but when the difference between 18th and 8th is about 5 wins over the course of the Prem season, the likes of Bolton and Stoke could easily have been dragged into a relegation battle had they gone all out in the Europa rather than saving their "starters" for the Premier League.

 

Having said that, both Manchester teams bombed out rapidly - but given Ferguson's derogatory comments (and Bilbao's focus on the Europa League) it wasn't so surprising United didn't apply themselves though.

[The9]

Agree with this. Whatever people say about Allardyce he makes teams hard to beat. Look at Blackburn when he was there, midtable. He goes and virtually the same players get relegated. Tactically he's good as getting teams not to lose rather than having to win. See their 6 home draws in a row this season as evidence of this.

 

I think we'll be fine if we add a bit of steel and leadership to the side and we need to improve defensively. We are great defensively when we are dominating possession and steamroller sides, its easy to be a good defender when you're dominating matches but that won't happen as much next season. We gave away a lot of sloppy goals and many times when put under pressure last season we conceded. We didn't get many points last season with great, backs to the wall, gritty defensive displays. That is going to have to change this season, especially away from home.

 

It's difficult to judge how good we are at defending against pressure when we're not under pressure. We did keep 20 Clean Sheets, though as you say it's easy when the other team doesn't have the ball. We didn't concede at home to West Ham or away to Leeds (or away to Barnsley with 10 men) and there was plenty of pressure in all three of those.

 

Prem's a different level though, obviously. But then we haven't signed our new centre back(s) yet and we've lost Martin and Jaidi so you know we've got something planned.