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Well, well, well the prem is becoming awesome. Debatably the strongest league already (but please, don't debate this), we are seeing some very interesting developments this summer. Whilst the top 3 + liverpool and to a lesser extent Newcastle are still looking strong its the group below them that is interesting me.
The clubs i'm posting about are Middlesborough, Birmingham and dare i say it......Tottenham may shape up well, and Villa are looking good too.
This season I am going out on a limb and predict it will be one of the most enjoyable in memory.
2 New Charasmatic Managers with top records in the top 5 clubs. The deadwood being cut out, Rivalries renewed and all the clubs (bar maybe newcastle) will have some top class reinforcements by the start of the season (signed since January so saha, Parker and Reyes too!).
2 of my favourite lower clubs Brum and Boro have done wonders this summer.
MIDDLESBOROUGH:
Er what has happened here? From having a pile of crap up front, they have what i believe to be one of the top 4 strike forces in the country. Although Moody gits Viduka and Hasselbaink are both easily 25+ goals a season strikers especially when playing nearly every game.
Their Midfield Is damn good too. Mendieta was awesome last season and with the quality of strikers to feed and the players around him next season i think he will be awesome. Zenden was another star last season, and was severely screwed by chelsea. He is so good at breaking through and causing havoc and will be quality. Juninho, Greening, and Boateng are also strong players who can more than hold their own. A specialist right middy (which they are looking into) will help them too. Quedrue-Southgate-Ehiogu-Reizeger is one of the strongest defences in the country and Riggott and Parnaby are both class acts.
Mystic Ashley Predicts an awesome season for the Boro, especially if they get a right sider and maybe another strong DMC, Nicky butt would be perfect, bag a right middy and i would consider them realistic challengers for the title. I am actually going to bet on them anyway, just in case they do a greece they are over 250/1 in some places so a fiver should be in order for me.
The Brum
I have come to the conclusion that steve Bruce has either Tapped my house or is actually my father (thank god i escaped the ginger gene! lol). It is actually quite scary and has become a bit of a joke with my mates because it is bloody freaky, actually. In the past 18 months steve bruce and i have been on the same brainlength. This is so scary it defies belief. A week before there was a hint of any transfer I was adament that Matthew upson and Micheal Duberry would be perfect for Brum whose defence i had been lambasting. two weeks later he bid for both (Duberry didn't happen though). The same thing has happened with Gronkjaer and Melchiot which i suggested at the same time 6 months ago at the same time as saying I though heskey would fit in nicely as a high profile signing who would probably work well at a lower pressure club. I don't expect you to believe me as its a bit far fetched but my mates remember it all so i am happy. Anyway here is a prediction for you brum will finish 5th (maybe 6th, but i'll go for 5th).
Last season their problem was clearly width Forssell, Dugarry, Dunn, Savage, Upson, Cunningham (on form last season), Maik Taylor were a formidable backbone. But out wide they lacked any substance. Lazaridis was the only one i rated. Then Taylor arrived who is a solid performer, Gronkjaer and Melchiot joining is a huge plus as he has just signed a tried and tested right hand pair who won't even need to gel with each other who were good enough to get chelsea to the champs league. Heskey will be a good foil for forsell and will provide huge work rate which is hugely important for a club trying to reach the next level. Muzzy Izzet gives more options in Midfield. Would still like to see another centre back at the Brum however to keep it solid at the back. I will post my advice for steve bruce tonight.
Taylor
Taylor
Upson
Cunningham
Melchiot
Lazaridis
Dunn/Izzet
Savage
Gronkjaer
Forssell
Heskey
is a very strong line up and will put them in good stead for a top 6 finish.
Spurs
Having predicted bottom half finishes (and relegation last season!) for the past 3 or 4 seasons, i am going to predict spurs to finish top ten, probably eigth/9th, with even more improvement the following season. I'm not sure about santini, but Arnesen looks like he knows what he's doing there, and is making some most astute signings. Namely Sean davis. Davis will never be a world beater buyt he is incrediny competent with a good all round game. He will help bring solidrity to the middle, something spurs have lacked for quite some time and is a very astute signing. Mendes robinson are good players and the squad is starting to be reshaped properly, something spurs haven't had the balls to do for years. A full season of Defoe and keane, and maybe a return of the true davies would help the revolution. King is a good player too. If they can bag another couple of players this season, another centre midfielder would sort them out a treat. Bidding big money for butt would be a big statement of intent.
I don't think top 6 is realistic this year but they have laid some very good foundations. they will have a very good core. If they take the improvement this season, and don't panic into signing players, they can add to their squad through out the next 12 months and be in a realistic position to move up another big step then. I'd be quite positive for the next 2 years if i were a spurs supporter.
Aston Villa
AV are a cool team and i wish them well, aston villa will always do well for themselves. They always seem to have a young british core and are interesting to watch. Angel, Gary Barry, Tomas hitzlsperger, Mellberg, solano and J'lloyd are all quality players. Then there are smatterings of young tallent all about the team with players such as whittingham and the moores, who promise much.
Up front will be interesting. Angel will cement his resurgence in my opinion as he works so hard. You have a very good younster in carlton cole on loan and I am Glad he is with you as you will get the best out of him. His strike rate is excellent and he is technically gifted, hope he does a great job with you to stop chelsea ruining him! Vassell is an odd one, personally i would put a clause in his contract to force him to wear an england shirt under his villa top to get the best out of him. If you can you will do very well.
I think you'll build well and start to gel, you might drop a place or two if you don't sign a couple more players but i don't think this is a reflection of the team your building and youth is on your side and i think O'leary is the man to get them working. I think this season you will pip spurs and just lose out to brum in the race for Brums number one team this season but the future is bright.
I think this will be the best season in a long while, In reality the top 4 is likely to stay the same, but i feel there is genuine strength mounting below them, we could see some really interesting matches this season and some great squads emerging. All these teams should be realistically contesting the cups and maybe make a decent run in Europe in Boro's case.
The clubs i'm posting about are Middlesborough, Birmingham and dare i say it......Tottenham may shape up well, and Villa are looking good too.
This season I am going out on a limb and predict it will be one of the most enjoyable in memory.
2 New Charasmatic Managers with top records in the top 5 clubs. The deadwood being cut out, Rivalries renewed and all the clubs (bar maybe newcastle) will have some top class reinforcements by the start of the season (signed since January so saha, Parker and Reyes too!).
2 of my favourite lower clubs Brum and Boro have done wonders this summer.
MIDDLESBOROUGH:
Er what has happened here? From having a pile of crap up front, they have what i believe to be one of the top 4 strike forces in the country. Although Moody gits Viduka and Hasselbaink are both easily 25+ goals a season strikers especially when playing nearly every game.
Their Midfield Is damn good too. Mendieta was awesome last season and with the quality of strikers to feed and the players around him next season i think he will be awesome. Zenden was another star last season, and was severely screwed by chelsea. He is so good at breaking through and causing havoc and will be quality. Juninho, Greening, and Boateng are also strong players who can more than hold their own. A specialist right middy (which they are looking into) will help them too. Quedrue-Southgate-Ehiogu-Reizeger is one of the strongest defences in the country and Riggott and Parnaby are both class acts.
Mystic Ashley Predicts an awesome season for the Boro, especially if they get a right sider and maybe another strong DMC, Nicky butt would be perfect, bag a right middy and i would consider them realistic challengers for the title. I am actually going to bet on them anyway, just in case they do a greece they are over 250/1 in some places so a fiver should be in order for me.
The Brum
I have come to the conclusion that steve Bruce has either Tapped my house or is actually my father (thank god i escaped the ginger gene! lol). It is actually quite scary and has become a bit of a joke with my mates because it is bloody freaky, actually. In the past 18 months steve bruce and i have been on the same brainlength. This is so scary it defies belief. A week before there was a hint of any transfer I was adament that Matthew upson and Micheal Duberry would be perfect for Brum whose defence i had been lambasting. two weeks later he bid for both (Duberry didn't happen though). The same thing has happened with Gronkjaer and Melchiot which i suggested at the same time 6 months ago at the same time as saying I though heskey would fit in nicely as a high profile signing who would probably work well at a lower pressure club. I don't expect you to believe me as its a bit far fetched but my mates remember it all so i am happy. Anyway here is a prediction for you brum will finish 5th (maybe 6th, but i'll go for 5th).
Last season their problem was clearly width Forssell, Dugarry, Dunn, Savage, Upson, Cunningham (on form last season), Maik Taylor were a formidable backbone. But out wide they lacked any substance. Lazaridis was the only one i rated. Then Taylor arrived who is a solid performer, Gronkjaer and Melchiot joining is a huge plus as he has just signed a tried and tested right hand pair who won't even need to gel with each other who were good enough to get chelsea to the champs league. Heskey will be a good foil for forsell and will provide huge work rate which is hugely important for a club trying to reach the next level. Muzzy Izzet gives more options in Midfield. Would still like to see another centre back at the Brum however to keep it solid at the back. I will post my advice for steve bruce tonight.
Taylor
Taylor
Upson
Cunningham
Melchiot
Lazaridis
Dunn/Izzet
Savage
Gronkjaer
Forssell
Heskey
is a very strong line up and will put them in good stead for a top 6 finish.
Spurs
Having predicted bottom half finishes (and relegation last season!) for the past 3 or 4 seasons, i am going to predict spurs to finish top ten, probably eigth/9th, with even more improvement the following season. I'm not sure about santini, but Arnesen looks like he knows what he's doing there, and is making some most astute signings. Namely Sean davis. Davis will never be a world beater buyt he is incrediny competent with a good all round game. He will help bring solidrity to the middle, something spurs have lacked for quite some time and is a very astute signing. Mendes robinson are good players and the squad is starting to be reshaped properly, something spurs haven't had the balls to do for years. A full season of Defoe and keane, and maybe a return of the true davies would help the revolution. King is a good player too. If they can bag another couple of players this season, another centre midfielder would sort them out a treat. Bidding big money for butt would be a big statement of intent.
I don't think top 6 is realistic this year but they have laid some very good foundations. they will have a very good core. If they take the improvement this season, and don't panic into signing players, they can add to their squad through out the next 12 months and be in a realistic position to move up another big step then. I'd be quite positive for the next 2 years if i were a spurs supporter.
Aston Villa
AV are a cool team and i wish them well, aston villa will always do well for themselves. They always seem to have a young british core and are interesting to watch. Angel, Gary Barry, Tomas hitzlsperger, Mellberg, solano and J'lloyd are all quality players. Then there are smatterings of young tallent all about the team with players such as whittingham and the moores, who promise much.
Up front will be interesting. Angel will cement his resurgence in my opinion as he works so hard. You have a very good younster in carlton cole on loan and I am Glad he is with you as you will get the best out of him. His strike rate is excellent and he is technically gifted, hope he does a great job with you to stop chelsea ruining him! Vassell is an odd one, personally i would put a clause in his contract to force him to wear an england shirt under his villa top to get the best out of him. If you can you will do very well.
I think you'll build well and start to gel, you might drop a place or two if you don't sign a couple more players but i don't think this is a reflection of the team your building and youth is on your side and i think O'leary is the man to get them working. I think this season you will pip spurs and just lose out to brum in the race for Brums number one team this season but the future is bright.
I think this will be the best season in a long while, In reality the top 4 is likely to stay the same, but i feel there is genuine strength mounting below them, we could see some really interesting matches this season and some great squads emerging. All these teams should be realistically contesting the cups and maybe make a decent run in Europe in Boro's case.
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Nah he hasn't, got him mixed up with Crouch.
If he has I haven't heard about it.
Ashman, hasn't Stead moved on?
...
....well, maybe there is a hint of the red eyed monster in my speaking =P
....well, maybe there is a hint of the red eyed monster in my speaking =P
I can see why you're so adamant to try and tell me that Everton'll fail though, being a Liverpool fan.
:^)
:^)
I was joking for crying out loud. I take your point and all, but I'm telling you, Everton won't go down. They have a far more solid and settled line up in comparison to the likes of Blackburn or West Brom. My picks for the drop would be:
West Brom: Just up, defensively they seem equipped, but I don't think they have matching quality to survive throughout the team.
Palace: I won't lie, I like Palace, but I don't think the quality of players is high enough. From what I've observed, however, they do seem to have a great team spirit, so they definitely stand a chance of escape.
Blackburn: Unsettled and seem to be lacking passion. Unless Stead can continue form, as well as the young Gallagher, and Ferguson they are in bother. I can see them leaking goals.
Then after that I would say that Fulham, Man City, Noriwch and Pompey will probably finish below Everton as well in my opinion.
West Brom: Just up, defensively they seem equipped, but I don't think they have matching quality to survive throughout the team.
Palace: I won't lie, I like Palace, but I don't think the quality of players is high enough. From what I've observed, however, they do seem to have a great team spirit, so they definitely stand a chance of escape.
Blackburn: Unsettled and seem to be lacking passion. Unless Stead can continue form, as well as the young Gallagher, and Ferguson they are in bother. I can see them leaking goals.
Then after that I would say that Fulham, Man City, Noriwch and Pompey will probably finish below Everton as well in my opinion.
Ashman wrote:
Okay, okay. Chelsea/Arsenal won't go down. They are too "good".
Fin.
----------------
You know what I mean; you honestly would compare Chelsea/Arsenal to Everton? I didn't realise how stupid you were. You can't even hold a sensible argument.
Okay, okay. Chelsea/Arsenal won't go down. They are too "good".
Fin.
----------------
You know what I mean; you honestly would compare Chelsea/Arsenal to Everton? I didn't realise how stupid you were. You can't even hold a sensible argument.
Ashley wrote:
> gravesen is most likely going to be an athletico madrid player soon,
> but its pretty well known he won't be at eveton. I'd don't rate him
> that highly anyway.
Meh. They've got two Gravesen's anyway...
> gravesen is most likely going to be an athletico madrid player soon,
> but its pretty well known he won't be at eveton. I'd don't rate him
> that highly anyway.
Meh. They've got two Gravesen's anyway...
gravesen is most likely going to be an athletico madrid player soon, but its pretty well known he won't be at eveton. I'd don't rate him that highly anyway.
Okay, okay. Chelsea/Arsenal won't go down. They are too "good".
Fin.
Fin.
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