Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal will be there, but who else from Spurs, Everton, Manchester City, West Ham and Newcastle will join Aston Villa in the top six?
July 13, 2007 by admin
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Nigel Reo-Cocker, the player who claimed he was hung out to dry by the club who loved him, is now suggesting that now Aston Villa have bought his services then they can expect a top six finish. But how realistic is that?
Next season we can fully expect the top two to be Manchester United and Chelsea again, and probably in that order, although I suspect it’ll be a nail-biting last day of the season this time.
Liverpool have improved their squad, and while they will push the top two closer, they will finish third again. They still need to improve in other areas of the part and to stop bringing in players like Voronin and Benayoun.
Arsenal will be pushed by Spurs for fourth place but this time I reckon Spurs will do it, with Arsenal slipping out of the Champions League places and into fifth place. Spurs have decided that they finally have enough midfielders so they’ve turned their attention to their strikeforce and have added Darren Bent to what was already one of the Premiership’s best forward lines. Arsenal, however, have decided to go the other way and have sold Henry, who was arguably the best striker the Premiership has even seen. Its true they still have van Persie, but they still lack a bit of steel in the middle of the park, so I reckon they will continue to find it hard to finish teams off.
So that leaves Aston Villa in sixth place then… or maybe not. Yes Aston Villa has bought Reo-Coker but what about the other pretenders to the crown?
Newcastle will expect Big Sam to get the team up there and he will have the benefit of Michael Owen this season, as well as Viduka, Joey Barton, and Geremi, but more importantly he has also got rid of Bramble (which should mean an extra 12 points in itself) so I fully expect Big Sam’s new team to be there or there abouts.
Nigel’s old club West Ham have been spending money like there was no tomorrow (and if West Ham start the season with a points deduction for further lying to the Premier League about Tevez’s ownership, then they may indeed have no tomorrow – in the Premier League anyway). The Eggman has been investing his money in the club, not just to avoid relegation, but to take them up the league and into Europe and by getting rid of the deadwood <cough> they might just do that.
Sven’s return to English football has seen a plethora of players linked with his new club Manchester City, but even he admits he basically needs a whole new team so he will take a season or two to settle in.
Everton have publicly avoided the transfer silly season and have stated they will be paying over the odds for average players. Fair play to them for being one of the few clubs trying to balance their books. Maybe they have realised that not all those wanting a top six place will make it, but it leaves one of the thinnest squads in the league, just as thin as it finished last season. Although they have players back from injury, they also have a UEFA cup campaign to think about, so while I can see them pushing for a top six finish, I think they’ll find it harder next season.
Of course there is also Bolton, Blackburn, Portsmouth and Reading who will be looking to maintain their form and even improve on last season and Premiership “new boy” Roy Keane might also surprise a few of us with Sunderland’s performance next season.
So what of Reo-Coker’s belief that now Aston Villa have added him to their squad then a top six finish is now a realistic proposition? Well Villa have certainly cleared out a lot of the old guard, with the likes of Angel, Sutton, Hendrie, Hughes, Davis, Samuel, etc leaving the club, and so far only Reo-Coker coming in. I’m sure there will be others to follow but it seems that Reo-Coker is already dreaming of glory unfortunately, for this season at least, I can’t see him doing anything other than dream…
Arsenal will be 12th! Then Wenger will leave, & Ken Bates will buy the stadium for a pound.
What is the exact evidence that Everton have ‘a small squad’? They suffer when AJ or Cahill miss a string of games, whether injured by their own team or not. But they had about 5 left backs last year, & 4 strikers. Did Pistone & van der Meyden count as squad members?
Dave – maybe “small squad” is misleading, maybe “lack of depth in certain key areas” is more accurate, and while the youngsters up front have done well, think Everton still need cover in the middle, maybe VDM will come good this season?
It is just over a month since I last posted and what a month it has been for Liverpool fans! Torres, Benayoon, Ryan Babble have been signed and hopefully Gaby Heinze, in the next week or so. (Get over the fact that he is a Manc – he is still a great left back and Raffa will move heaven and earth to get him.)
Quite an achievement for the Yanks who I called ‘carpetbaggers’ a month ago, although I sincerely believe they were dragged kicking and screaming to put their hands in their breast pockets and drag out the cheque book. Maybe Raffa’s ultimatum made them see the light!
Raffa’s ultimatum, although I cannot prove it, was ‘live up to your promises or I will leave’! Simple as that. Only ‘history’ will reveal whether he was bluffing or not! Personally I doubt it! Raffa has shown himself to be a straightshooter and a man of honour and demands the same of his players, staff and Board members.
‘Commitment to the cause’ could be his motto! That ’cause’ is to get Liverpool back to winning League titles as in days of yore. Now to the team!
Attacking options last season were very limited, especially on the wings. Zenden, Gonzales and to a lesser extent Riise were all incapable of posing any consistent threat down the left side. That lack of quality resulted in us scoring a lot less goals than United. We now have the potential for a brand new and improved left side, with hopefully Heinze, Benayoon and Babel making up the numbers If we get Heinze don’t be surprised if Riise is let go! Akthough he has given wonderful service to Liverpool, he is neither a quality defender nor speedy attacker and is quite pedestrian until he unleashes a thunderbolt from outside the box. Good to have as a stand by, but I still believe Tom and George will want to recoup as much as they can after the outlay on the ‘incomings’ . Because of that, Riise could be sacrificed for the right price! Ditto Kewell, who will probably be put in the shop window in order to offload him.
Despite rumours of Mancini coming in from Roma for the right wing spot, the cost factor – 17 mill as last reported – will be prohibitive, so I believe Pennant will be given further chances to prove himself. Still no cover for Finnan, Carragher and Agger, but I think we will get another good season from Hyypia. Paletta is never going to make it in the Prem.
Up front is were it will be most exciting! Raffa now has the players available to change from his more defensive posture to a more attacking, flair style of football which we all want to see. Exactly who will partner Torres for the majority of games is still a big question mark. But as Raffa has said, he would prefer four or five players netting fifteen goals each, that one player getting twenty or more ala. Drogba!
(I believe Maureen will revert to the ‘winger’ style that brought him the most success and leave the likes of Ballack and Shevchenko, if they are still with Chelsea by the start of the season, warming the bench.)
Competition for attacking places will be furious and judging by the performance of Veronin against Crewe, he has not come to Liverpool merely to make up the numbers. Very impressive in his first run out for the Reds. I look forward to seeing more of him. He could be the surprise package of the season.
Not since John Barnes have we had an effective left winger and I believe Ryan Babel is capable of eclipsing even him from what I’ve seen of him on video. Sheer class! A combination of Christine and Henrietta. Can play as a winger on both sides and also as an out and out striker. Cheap at eleven and a half mill. The biggest potential ‘crowd pleaser’ without question!
As far as where we will finish next season, no one knows! I think we can win it if we don’t give up silly points early on in the season. Chelsea at home is a must win for us, as it will establish our intent and commitment. United must be favourites to repeat, but I think we will keep pace with them all season. Chelsea and Arsenal cannot be ruled out and neither can Tottenham who seem to have put together a really good side. As for the rest I cannot realistically see anyone challenging the top five. Everton have not strengthened their squad sufficiently and Villa – well they are Villa aren’t they!
There will always be a surprise team, but as to who it will be is anyone’s guess. The coming season may be the most exciting in years, especially as we will be involved from the start to the finish and not have to play ‘catch up’ after the first dozen games or so!
Best wishes to all Liverpool fans wherever you may be! ‘Let’s get it on’!
Forever Red Barry Stephens
Hi Barry – glad to see you in better spirits, still think Liverpool will need a bit more quality in other key areas of the park before they can sustain a challenge on the Prem title, but at least they are heading in the right direction.
liverpool fans/convicts/mental patients do my fucking head in when they are gobbing off about how they have made all these ‘top quality signings’, i bet none of you had ever heard of ryan BABEL before scummerpool bought/threwmoneyatanyonerealmanagershaveshown interestin. fucking learn how to spell his name before you fuckin go off on one like little kids. tossers! ryan babel is good yes but i dont think he will show his best at wouldrobthereownmumsliver-pool as fat tosspot benitez is shit.