Will Arsenal retain there title, are all three promoted clubs and the race for Europe
As the 26/27 season rolls around there are nine new managers, three new clubs and five new rules. So time to crack open the fortune cookies, dust of the crystal ball and try and predict the unpredictable
20th – Ipswich Town
Last Season: 2nd (Championship)
Key Signings: Julio Enciso, Emersonn, Abdul Fatawu, Issa Diop, Daizen Maeda
Ipswich Town have made a total of 12 new signings and have a new manager in Gary O’Neil after Kieran McKenna decided to take his leave. The Tractor Boys finished 2nd in the championship last year but never really hit the heights of there 23/24 season where they played some exceptional football and scored dramatic late winners. Last year many expected them to bounce back in which they have but more due to the failings of Middlesborough and Millwall than them being a cut above. There is only one thing to say about Ipswich and that is that you fear for the.
19th Fulham
Last Season: 11th
Key Signings: Gonzalo García, Shea Charles, César Palacios, Jonah Kusi-Asare
Fulham have been pottering along in the Premier League the last few seasons never looking like going down but never looking like troubling the top end. With Marco Silva leaving along Harry Wilson and Raul Jimenez. Fulham has the feeling of a club that has been meandering along for a while and will now find themselves in a dog fight. Álvaro Arbeloa is a complete unknown as manager and is very much being thrown in at the deep end.
18th Nottingham Forest
Last Season: 16th
Key Signings: Ousmane Diomande, Douglas Luiz, Gustavo Sá, Xaver Schlager
Another team another new manger although this is becoming quite the norm for Forest as they are on their 5th manager since last September. Oliver Glasner seems like quite the hire on paper but he is a man who isn’t afraid to throw his toys out of the pram when something happens that he doesn’t like, mix this with owner Evangelos Marinakis fiery personality this just seem like a recipe for disaster. This was a tough prediction to make as I could just as easily have Nottingham Forest in 8th and qualifying for Europe as being relegated but the I just think the clash of personalities in the head offices will lead to disruption on the pitch.
17th Hull City
Last Season: 6th (Championship, Promoted through Play-Offs)
Key Signings: Konstantinos Tzolakis, Nobel Mendy, Jens Hjertø-Dahl, Óscar Zambrano, Lucas Herrington
Hull City were odds on to be relegated from the Championship last season and went and got themselves accidentally promoted through the play-offs last season under the leadership of Sergej Jakirović. Many people will have the Tigers finishing rock bottom with some even making the claim that they will beat Derby Countys record of 11 points (spoiler alert they won’t they record will never be beaten). Yes there owner is a little bit eccentric and could easily disrupt the season, but I think there is enough ambition from the club to stay up and a lot of fight in the players to stay up. Making the MKM Stadium a place difficult to visit will be key to the survival of Hull City and hopefully the Tigers will be the best aeration in Hull this year beating The Deep (Aquarium).
16th Everton
Last Season: 13th
Key Signings: Hayden Hackney, Brennan Johnson, Christian Nørgaard, Merlin Röhl, Tyrique George
Nil satis nisi optimum (“Nothing but the best is good enough”) is the club motto for Everton Football Club but maybe it is time for a change. After building the magnificent new stadium on the Bramley Moore Docks everyone expected this to be the moment that the Toffees to kick on. But there signings whilst good haven’t rocked the boat and it would be a massive surprise to me if David Moyes starts the next season as the Everton boss.
15th Coventry City
Last Season: 1st (Championship)
Key Signings: Caleb Yirenkyi, Carl Rushworth, Sidiki Cherif, Loum Tchaouna, Aurèle Amenda
After 25 years away Coventry City are back in the Premier League and I believe that they are hear too stay, with manager Frank Lampard and owner Doug King it feels a bit like a match made in heaven. Last season the Sky Blues where a class above the rest of the championship and I think they will carry the momentum of last season forward into this season, with some shrewd signings and a Coventry Building Society Arena which will be bouncing I think Coventry will have more than enough to stay up this season.
14th Crystal Palace
Last Season: 15th
Key Signings: Dwight McNeil, Anan Khalaii, Zavier Gozo, óscar Mingueza, Evann Guessand
Last seasons Conference League Winners lost there manager to Nottingham Forest and have replaced him with highly rated French manager Pierre Sage. Palace will also be competing in the Europa League this season and showed last season that they struggled to balance the Thursday – Sunday schedule but with a year experience under there belt, I think they will deal with it better this year round. Selhurst is still one of the tougher places to go to and I think the Eagles won’t be in any trouble of the drop this year but wouldn’t be surprised to see them bow out of European football in an early knock out stage.
13th Sunderland
Last Season: 7th
Key Signings: Thomas Meunier
The Black Cats were the surprise package of the Premier League last season finishing 7th and qualifying for the Europa Leauge. Although they haven’t done a lot of business this summer there key business has been in keeping players at the club such as Brobbey and Xhaka. I don’t expect Sunderland to be pushing for Europe again this season having to now juggle the extra games but with the squad they have and Régis Le Bris at the helm I can’t help but thinking they are going to be more than okay this season.
12th Newcastle United
Last Season: 12th
Key Signings: Bazoumana Touré, Amar Dedić, Aladji Bamba, Lukáš Horníček, Sean Stuer
It’s been another summer of turmoil for the Magpies, with Tonali, Guimarães and Gordon all leavings for pastures new. Also among the departures was long term manager Eddie Howe who has been replaced with the largely unproven Matthias Jaissle. Many have tipped Newcastle to struggle more than me but I believe there signings of last summer are going to better this season (they can’t be worse). Mixed with no European football and a hungry fanbase, the Magpies are going to win there fair share of home games but I don’t see enough quality too trouble to the European spots.
11th Brentford
Last Season: 9th
Key Signings: Mamadou Sangaré, Jaidon Anthony, Jannik Schuster, Callum Wilson
Keith Andrews first year as the Bees boss was more than impressive after many had suggested that they would struggle to avoid the drop, but in reality Brentford only missed out on going on a European tour on goal difference. Igor Thiago is a menace in the box scoring 22 goals in the Premier League last season (23 in all comps) and will be looking to pick up where he left off last season trying to put the World Cup behind him. My only worry for Brentford is they relied heavily on set pieces last year so if they are less effective from them this year they could struggles to score the goals that gave them the edge last year, however they are a well run club with a manager who seems in charge with looks like a recipe for success.
10th AFC Bournemouth
Last Season: 6th
Key Signings: António Silva, Álvaro Rodríguez, Álex Jiménez, Juanlu Sánchez
Last season was AFC Bournemouth best season on record finishing as 6th. The Cherries played some exceptional football under Andoni Iraola last season with Alex Scott and Junior Kroupi being the stand out players. With Iraola leaving Marco Rose has been tasked with the job of continuing the upwards trajectory of the south coast based side. This season will be the first in Europe for AFC Bournemouth which will bring around its troubles, managing the game loads but the project is on the right path and Cherries fans should be looking forward to another fun season.
9th Leeds United
Last Season: 14th
Key Signings: James Trafford, Tarik Muharemović, Harry Wilson, Nico Elvedi
Leeds United finished 14th last season after worries that they would struggle. This season they have made some exciting signings to help bolster the squad, Daniel Farke who was under pressure at one point last season showed he had what it takes to manage at the highest level. I have Leeds as high as 9th but this is more if they are able to keep there front line fit, if they can keep the front line fit and firing with addition of Wilson I think the Elland Road faithful will be in for a season to remember.
8th Brighton and Hove Albion
Last Season: 8th
Key Signings: Luka Vušković, Zadok Yohanna, Pascal Struijk, Costinha, Michael Svoboda
Fabian Hürzeler is entering his third year as the Brighton boss, with there being steady improvement, this is the year when they can truly disrupt the top of the Premier League, the Seagulls business model of buy young and sell high has worked for them so far in there Premier League and I see no reason why that won’t continue. The Seagulls will be competing and almost expecting to win the Conference League this season, however this commitment is why I think they won’t quite crash the top 6.
7th Tottenham Hotspur
Last Season: 17th
Key Signings: Sandro Tonali, Mateus Fernandes, Jan Paul Van Hecke, Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi
After back to back 17th place finishes Spurs have truly splashed the cash this summer to get themselves back on track. Roberto De Zerbi came in towards the back end of the last season after Igor Tudors disastrous spell in charge and steered the north London based club to safety. With no European commitment, Tottenham should bounce back into Champions League contention but just missing out due to trauma of the past few years as well as the squad depth just not quite being there, a cup run in either the Carabao or the FA Cup wouldn’t go as a surprise as new look Spurs will look to put a trophy on the board as soon as possible/
6th Manchester United
Last Season 3rd
Key Signings: Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans
Manchester United have been a team in turmoil since Sir Alex Ferguson left the football club. Last season Micheal Carrick came in and provided some stability and pushed his team on a run that saw them in end in 3rd position. Manchester United have had an under whelming summer so far but do look likely to complete the sign of Carlos Baleba in the coming days. Whilst many fans of Manchester United will be positive ahead of the season under Carrick Middlesborough fans will be quick to point out that in the second season he struggled when his tactics where found and he was unable to change and adapt. The Red Devils are back in the Champions League as well this season so they will have to make sure they make full use of there squad and rotate to avoid player burning out by the start of spring.
5th Aston Villa
Last Season: 4th
Key Signings: Johan Manzambi, Joāo Gomes, Zion Suzuki, Matteo Ruggeri, Alejandro Garnacho
Is this the way to Barcelona, was the chant on terraces at Villa Park last season as they aimed to be back in the big time once again. Unai Emery is proving himself to be one of the top managers not just in the Premier League but in Europe itself and Villa fans will be thankful that they are going into another season with the Spanish man in charge. Morgan Rodgers will be a big loss as will Ollie Watkins if he is to leave to the Saudi Pro League. Villa Park will be crucial to Aston Villas success this season in both the Premier League and the Champions League. Villa also won the Europa League last season and will look to go deep in the domestic competitions to add silverware whilst in the golden Emery era.
4th Liverpool
Last Season: 5th
Key Signings: Jérémy Jacquet, Victor Munoz, Ronald Araujo
Liverpool will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing season last year after their title defensive was pretty much over in March. Whilst they haven’t been super active in the transfer market this summer they will be looking for last years signings to make a bigger impact this season under new head coach Andoni Iraola, Wirtz and Isak in particular will be looking to put last year behind them and start a new under Iraola. Youngster Rio Ngumoha will also look to find himself in a bigger role this season contributing more to the starting line up. The reds still look a little way off competing for the title but one would expect they will have more than enough to secure Champions League football.
3rd Chelsea
Last Season: 10th
Key Signings: Morgan Rogers, Maxence Lacroix, Marco Palestra, Danny Welbeck, Jordan Henderson
Chelsea once again have been busy in the market signing 10 players so far and one would expect this number to rise before the end of the summer transfer window slams shut. Xabi Alonso is the new man in charge at the Bridge and he comes with a reputations of playing 3 at the back. Whilst his time at Real Madrid didn’t go exactly as theyhe would have hoped, people will look at recent managers of Real Madrid and point to the fact that a number of high quality managers have struggled. The Blues have no European football this year which should help them get used to Alonso tactics as they will have more time together to train and get the shape nailed on. Third should be considered a massive success for Chelsea this season and I see no reason why they can’t finish here unless off field issues with the owners take centre stage and start to effect what is happening on the field.
2nd Manchester City
Last Season: 2nd
Key Signings: Elliot Anderson
Pep Guardiola left City at the end of last season after winning the domestic double and his former assistant and ex-Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca is set to take the reigns. If the Community Shield is anything to go by City will be miles of Arsenal, but it will be closer than people think. Haaland is still best striker in the world and wingers Semenyo and Doku will come into there own as the season goes on, whilst there will be a difficult transition period between Pep and new look Manchester City, they won’t be miles off the top and if they find a run of form that this squad can be capable of them will push Arsenal all the way. Manchester City need to do more business before the window shuts as currently there is a Rodri sized hole in the middle of the park, and losing a leader like Bernardo Silva will not be easy to replace.
1st Arsenal
Last Season: 1st (Champions)
Key Signings: Bruno Guimarães, Christos Tzolis
Champions again Olé Olé, Champions again Olé Olé. It is hard to look past the Gunners defending there title, with most of there suspected title rivals going through periods of transition, Arsenal are in a strong position to win the title again. They were the best team last year and have used the transfer market smartly to improve there team again this year. Arsenal biggest worries will be the burnout of key players such as Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka who have played almost every Arsenal game in the last two seasons and then both endured a busy summer on England duty. Another point of conversation will be is Victor Gyökeres good enough to lead the line, he scored 15 Premier League goals on the way to the Gunners title win last season but many will look at the centre forward position still as a position of weakness. Overall the Gunners have improved, were the best team last year and there title rivals are in turmoil, hard to look passed them.
Nine months will pass when we come back to look at these predictions and some may age like milk whilst others may make me look like a prophet. But that’s why we play the games because anything can happen, just look at Leicester City 2015/2016.
Callum at the Football 
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