Premier League Preview - Part 1

So it feels like months without football, right? Even though the World Cup ended less than three weeks ago the off-season seems to be dragging along. Last night a friend and I stumbled across Burnley v Aberdeen in the Europa League, 2nd qualifying round, we both knew the channel wasn't changing. Thankfully the Premier League returns next week and so here is part one of my preview.

Image, Salah Image, De Bruyne Image, Long

Will Man City run away with the title again or do Spurs, Liverpool or United have the minerals to mount a serious challenge? Will the bottom half of the table be another smorgasbord of mediocrity? What will Unai (Dick) Emery do at Arsenal, will the 'Wenger Out' brigade be chanting 'Wenger In' by Christmas? Will Mark Hughes (OUT) turn around the Saints and make the world a better place? Can Neil Warnock finally do something other than get relegated or sacked in the Premier League?

Well, none of these questions and more are answered in this post and the one that follows it next week. Any comments on my predictions will be gratefully received.

AFC BOURNEMOUTH
Strap in Cherries fans because 2018/19 could be a tough old campaign. Bournemouth spent nearly half last season in the bottom three and it was to the credit of Eddie Howe and his players that they managed to pull so far clear in the final furlongs. However, with only two new signings, both of them unproven in the EPL, this could be the year the bubble bursts at the Vitality Stadium.
Last season - 12th
Prediction - 18th

Bournemouth's relegation will free up Eddie Howe to join Southampton in the summer.

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ARSENAL
A new dawn breaks over the Emirates. Arsene Wenger (who was he again?) is gone and now Unai Emery has the impossible job of trying to win the Premier League against a host of teams with infinitely greater resources. You sense with Arsenal that most of the pieces to make a great team are already in place, they just need shuffling correctly. While the title is beyond them the top four remains a slim possibility. The Europa League will be their best chance of returning to Europe’s top table next season and Unai Emery is a specialist in that competition, don’t forget.
Last season - 6th
Prediction - 5th

BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION
Ah, that tricky second album. All expectations were exceeded during their first season in the EPL. Just a solitary week was spent in the bottom three (in August), and both Arsenal and Manchester United were defeated along the way. However, nine wins, 40 points and 34 goals is perilously close to relegation form and big improvements are needed to avoid another nervous season. Chris Hughton has been busy bringing in new faces but there is little Premier League experience among them. How the new arrivals gel will be crucial for The Seagulls.
Last season - 15th
Prediction - 16th

BURNLEY
When Southampton qualified for the Europa League a couple of years ago they blew it. The manager chopped and changed the team, and they were out before Christmas. As a fan, it was hugely disappointing. Yes, staying in the Premier League is important but given the standard in much of the division, Burnley should do that with eyes closed. Why try so hard to qualify for a competition and then immediately dismiss it as a distraction? I hope that Sean Dyche goes for it, makes it a priority, and gives the fans something to get excited about.
Last season - 7th
Prediction - 14th

CARDIFF CITY
Sack Neil Warnock now. Don’t get me wrong, Warnock is a great manager in the Championship, one of the great Machiavellians of our time and his career promotion record is the best in the business. There is nobody better at galvanising a squad for a 46 game season, creating a mentality to succeed in the lower leagues. But his record at the top level is poor to say the least. He has never managed a season in the top flight that did not include his sacking or end in relegation. Warnock won’t last until Christmas and Cardiff, sorry to say, will go down.
Last season - 2nd (Championship)
Prediction - 20th

Out of his depth? Warnock will come up against some of the best coaches in the world this season.

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CHELSEA
Hmmmm, Chelsea. Hmmmm, Maurizio Sarri. Another new beginning at Stamford Bridge but this one feels different. The previous half dozen or so incumbents of the Chelsea hot seat have been serial winners, Sarri though, is a manager without a title and the EPL is not the easiest place to get your first. The squad hasn't been improved and rumours persist about the future of Eden Hazard. Sooner or later Roman Abramovich will get a managerial appointment wrong and this could be the moment.
Last season - 5th
Prediction - 7th

CRYSTAL PALACE
Roy Hodgson did a phenomenal job at Selhurst Park last season. When he arrived Palace were relegation certainties and yet they stayed up without a hitch. There will be no such drama this season although not much to shout about either. Mid-table beckons for The Eagles but with enough talent to beat anyone they might well enjoy a good cup run.
Last season - 11th
Prediction - 8th

EVERTON
This is fast becoming one of the toughest jobs in English football. Everton were champions twice in the 1980’s but have not come close since. The fans don’t expect the title but they want visible signs of progress and they want good football along the way. What though does success look like for Everton? Top 4? Almost impossible. Top 6? Extraordinarily difficult. That being said I think The Toffees have a good man in Marco Silva, a manager I wanted to join Southampton in both of the last two summers. This could be their season, unfortunately for them though that only means sixth place.
Last season - 8th
Prediction - 6th

Marco Silva, Everton finally got their man.

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FULHAM
A bright young manager who plays decent football, check. Momentum aplenty surviving from the playoff victory, check. Enough money swirling around football to render the size of Craven Cottage and their support base irrelevant, check. Fulham will be OK, and the signing of Andre Schurrle on-loan from Borussia Dortmund looks to be a shrewd one. Aleksandar Mitrovic scored plenty of goals in the Championship but he has never been prolific in the top flight, more reinforcements up top would be useful.
Last season - 3rd (Championship, play-off winners)
Prediction - 15th

HUDDERSFIELD
For Huddersfield, see Brighton, although I worry more for The Terriers. Keeping hold of David Wagner is a good news but like many clubs, the new signings lack Premier League experience and look speculative. It will be a long hard season and there will be tears before bedtime.
Last season - 16th
Prediction - 19th

Pos	Team	Comments
1	???
2	???
3	???
4	???
5	Arsenal	Unai steadies the ship, Europa League glory.
6	Everton	Silva shines, as good as it gets for The Toffees.
7	Chelsea	Lucks runs out on the Abramovich revolving door.
8	Crystal Palace	Comfortable for Palace but a long way from 7th.
9	???
10	???
11	???
12	???
13	???
14	Burnley	No danger, Europa League quarter-finals.
15	Fulham	Nervy first season back but safe with few to go.
16	Brighton	Another edgy season, team spirit wins through.
17	???
18	Bournemouth	A bitter pill but big things ahead for Eddie.
19	Huddersfield	Lucky to have a second season, won't get a third.
20	Cardiff City	Warnock not up to the task, never in doubt.