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New Season

Here is my prediction for the forthcoming season. I know it's unfair to have the new teams all relegated but that's based on the current squads.

West Brom played some nice football at the end of the season and I think they'll carry on for the first third and get some points in the bag.

Man City won't suffer too much due to the loss of SWP. If Pearce can organise the defence then they'll be ok.

My surprise package is Pompey. Each season one team comes from nowhere and races up the league. Even if none of their players stand out, they have a good team spirit and they're not afraid to roll up their sleeves and play ugly football to get all 3 points.

Blackburn have the makings of a decent side but Hughes's players have more baggage than the Marcos family on holiday. Things can get out of hand pretty quickly and the players won't want to help each other out on the pitch.

Spurs have a huge squad but Jol is an excellent manager and he should be able to keep the fringe players happy.

Boro continue to quietly build and Moyes should be able to keep his Everton side in the top half.

If Viler can land Baros and keep Solano then there's no reason why they won't finish in the top half. DOL has to work with one hand tied behind his back and he's still plagued with injurys but he did well last season with one of the smallest squads in the league.

As for Blues, well, this season is all about Bruce. He's been unfortunate with injuries and that curse continues as we start the season with news that Nafti will be out for at least 4 months due to a cruciate ligament tear, Dunn isn't ready, Cunningham is out and Clapham is nowhere to be seen.

Dunn is still on the road to recovery and a lot depends on his ability to come back to old best. A team with Dunn on one side and Pennant on the other will scare the hell out of most sides and with Heskey up front doing what he does best - holding the ball up and battering the defence - we should see some goals this season. Of course, a lot depedds on Forssell being fully fit as he's looked rusty and slightly off the pace in the pre-season games.

Cunningham is out for a few weeks with a collapsed lung and that means Tiny Taylor gets a chance to stake a claim in the team.

With Nafti out of action the central midfield pairing will be Butt and Izzet. Both players have something to prove as one missed all of last season through injury and the other wants to wear the England shirt in 2006. Butt's spell at Newcastle can be politely described as forgettable but Bruce knows the player and this is an ideal club for the ex-Manchester man to make his mark.

Bruce has to show what he can do with the team he's built. The Board have invested heavily in the team and a poor season will make it difficult for Blues to hold onto the best players.

I predict a slow start but things will turn around in the New Year and we'll storm up the table.

1. Chelsea
2. Arse
3. Man United
4. Liverpool
5. Boro
6. Spuds
7. Everton
8. Bolton
9. Blues
10. Viler
11. Pompey
12. Man City
13. Newcastle
14. Charlton
15. West Brom
16. Blackburn
17. Fulham
18. West Ham United
19. Sunderland
20. Wigan
posted by kwacky at 3:50 pm