Welcome to part two of my predictions for the 2017/18 EPL season.
In part one these are the teams whose fans I predicted will have a tortuous 9mths that will ultimately end in tears:
18 Swansea
19 Huddersfield
20 Brighton
I'm sure you will agree that this is not a controversial pick for the teams that will occupy the dreaded drop positions. In fact, should you come back to this posting in May-18 you are sure to find that my pick for the bottom two positions were spot on.
That final position, just below the dotted line, on the other hand is a lottery which could potentially be decided in the final minute of the final game, so it's anyone's guess.
The Top 4
Here's my prediction for the champions league positions starting from No.4
04 Everton - The team that are currently winning the summer transfer window. They received a great price for Lukaku, playing off Chelski against Man U and somehow managing to get £75m for an as yet unproven player. Koeman is a shrewd manager and will use this additional funds, which comes on top of the Sky bonanza, to strengthen both his starting eleven and squad.
03 Chelsea - Can't surely balls up another title defence as hopelessly as they did the last time. Can see them struggle during the season, but they should have sufficient quality to scrape into the top 4. Although paying £60m for your second choice target to replace Costa smacks of reactionary desperation.
02 Man City - Poor season last time out, again can't be as bad during the coming season. They have only made my top 4 because they are not L'pool, Spurs nor Man U - by the way these are not the names these teams are commonly called around my area, but as this is a public blog I'm self censoring.
01 Arsenal - Typical post Highbury season last year which went as follows; decent start, long term injuries to key players in the autumn, players overplayed into winter, complete loss of form until the spring and finally a superb finish in May. The only thing that was not played out as scripted was Spurs choking so missed out on the coveted 4th place trophy.
This season will be different. How? Why?
Well, for starters we have a mobile striker that can hit the target. Second reason, it will be the last season for Wenger, Ozil and Sanchez all of whom will want to leave on a winning note. Final reason? well it's a new season which means a new hope.
Thanks for reading to the end and let me know your predictions for the new season.