[Cat-Man]

Hi all, I thought it was time for a new football thread on zoochat, an on the back of an exciting season, which saw new Premier League and Champions League winners, I am wondering on your opinions of the results and your predictions for next year. I'll kick us off with some predictions for my Club, Arsenal:
- A major squad overhaul will take place, with all the deadwood sold (such as Squillaci, Djourou, Denilson, Bentner, Chamakh, Chu-Young etc) and real talents brough in ( such as Hoilett, Podolski, Belhanda, Vertongen, M'Vila etc).
- As usual, a vast crop of young talents will come through Arsenals doors.
- Robin van Persie will STAY.
-Arsenal will Challenge for the title, but will fall just short, finishing 2nd, ahead of Man Utd, Chelsea, Newcastle and Tottenham, but behind Man City.
- An improvement in the domestic cups, with a possible victory in one of them.
- Finally, one for the optimists among us, Arsenè Wenger will finally get his 2nd career dream, and win the Uefa Champions League. (Hey, If Chelsea can do it, why can't we?)

Please comment on your predictions for Next season (both EPL and all leagues, as well as European football & international) and your views on this years Campaigns

[bongorob]

I haven't thought much about next season, but I'm convinced Stoke will be relegated. They were the lowest scores in ALL leagues last season and the manager is looking for a centre-half (again!).

They only won four games out of the last 22 and the manager thinks they are progressing.

I had my doubts until the weekend when they re-signed Mamady Sidibe who has not played for two years, and whose idea of a hat-trick is three goals in his entire career.

Peter Crouch arrived last summer but the manager would not sign him unless Wilson Palacios came also. He hasn't played Palacois much, so what was the point?

Cat-Man, will you PM me? I've tried to PM you but I keep getting a page that says you are not a member of ZooChat, when you obviously are.

[Cat-Man]

Agree with you on stoke, they haven't been very good this season, however, I would be sad to see them relegated, and I think they'll swap places with Wigan, as wigan become a mid table side & Stoke struggling to suprise. I'm actually under the impression that with a few key signings, stoke could become a very pretty footballing side. I will inbox you at once Bongorob

[zoogiraffe]

Originally Posted by bongorob Cat-Man, will you PM me? I've tried to PM you but I keep getting a page that says you are not a member of ZooChat, when you obviously are.

Cat-man is not the only user that comes up with that when you try to contact them!

[bongorob]

Predictons for the Premier League from 6 journalists working for The People.

Champions
Manchester City 4 votes
Manchester United 2 votes

runners-up
Chelsea 4 votes
Manchester City 1 vote
Manchester United 1 vote

third place
Manchester United 3 votes
Chelsea 2 votes
Manchester City 1 vote

Relegation
Norwich City 3 votes
Swansea City 3 votes
Wigan Athletic 3 votes
Reading 2 votes
West Bromwich Albion 2 votes
West Ham United 2 votes
Aston Villa 1 vote
Fulham 1 vote
Southampton 1 vote

I'm glad to see Stoke City are not mentioned, I have a feeling they will struggle this season.

My predictions
Champions Manchester United
2nd Manchester City
3rd Arsenal

relegated
Stoke City, Swansea City, Queens Park Rangers

[zoomaniac]

Originally Posted by Cat-Man - Finally, one for the optimists among us, Arsenè Wenger will finally get his 2nd career dream, and win the Uefa Champions League. (Hey, If Chelsea can do it, why can't we?)

Well, Chelsea won the Champions League Final just because Bayern Munich was too stupid to bring it home. All over the game, the Bavarians were better. Normally, I really like the way English teams playing Football (powerful, offensive), specially Liverpool, Arsenal and ManU. But was Chelsea did - and I think even football fans from England must admit this - was defensive anti-football from cowards. Unfortunately it was succesfull and in 2 or 3 years, no-one will ask how they won the title.

As for the premier league, I presume that Manchester City will make it.

[Jordan-Jaguar97]

My predictions:

Premier league champions: Manchester City
Runners up: Manchester United
Third: Chelsea
Fourth: Liverpool

Champions League winner: Barcelona

Championship winner: Wolves
Runners up: Bolton
Playoffs: Blackpool, Cardiff, Blackburn, Birmingham (Promoted)

I also think that Chelsea will be much better this season with new signings, Oscar, Thorgan and Eden Hazard plus Marko Marin.

My 'local' team Burnley have also strengthened since last season. I was lucky enough to go their open day and saw them train. Sam Vokes looks very good and sharp, Brian Stock also looks an interesting playmaker. I do like Joseph Mills and the new skipper, Jason Shackell, very promising signings.

[Brum]

Originally Posted by Jordan-Jaguar97 Playoffs: Blackpool, Cardiff, Blackburn, Birmingham (Promoted)

I like the way your mind works JJ!
I hope that the mighty Birmingham make it up this season, we've had a rough couple of years and I personally think that we deserve a top flight spot.

(Glad it's not all about the premiership! )

As for top flight predictions :-
Manchester City to win;
Manchester United or Liverpool to battle it out for second;
A sad fourth place finish for Chelsea;
Arsenal and Tottenham to try for fifth!

And going down this season :-
West Brom, Swansea and either Reading or Fulham!


Remember you saw it here first!

[zoogiraffe]

Originally Posted by Brum I hope that the mighty Birmingham make it up this season, we've had a rough couple of years and I personally think that we deserve a top flight spot.

Well the only way I would like to see Birmingham ****** in the premership,is if Aston Villa have already been relegated.Which I doubt will happen now we have got rid of,a manager that we should never have employed given,the lack of high quality clubs or experience he had got,before we employed him last season.

[Jordan-Jaguar97]

Originally Posted by zoogiraffe Well the only way I would like to see Birmingham ****** in the premership,is if Aston Villa have already been relegated.Which I doubt will happen now we have got rid of,a manager that we should never have employed given,the lack of high quality clubs or experience he had got,before we employed him last season.

Very true point! Swansea won't be relegated, their too strong Jonathan De Guzman is a very hot prospect! I think Southampton will be relegated, too weak. Jay Rodriguez is quality from my Burnley.

[Brum]

Originally Posted by zoogiraffe Well the only way I would like to see Birmingham ****** in the premership,is if Aston Villa have already been relegated.Which I doubt will happen now we have got rid of,a manager that we should never have employed given,the lack of high quality clubs or experience he had got,before we employed him last season.

Never had you down as a Villa fan ZG... And to think I liked you up until that point!
And that's what happens when you play dirty and steal your rivals manager!

[karoocheetah]

Originally Posted by Cat-Man - Robin van Persie will STAY. -

My contact at Old Trafford says he will be a United player by close of play on Friday

[bongorob]

Originally Posted by Brum Never had you down as a Villa fan ZG... And to think I liked you up until that point! And that's what happens when you play dirty and steal your rivals manager!

The problem is most fans didn't want him.

[Brum]

Originally Posted by bongorob The problem is most fans didn't want him.

We were quite happy with him at the time. He took us up to top flight, best ever finish and won us the Carling Cup........ One word to sum up how I felt?

BETRAYED!

Rant over.

He did ruin Villa's season though so it wasn't all bad!

[Reevesie]

My Predictions for the Premier League would be :-

Winners - Liverpool

Relegated - Man Utd, Chelski and Arsenal

I know thats only ever gonna happen on Fifa lol, so realistically :-

1. Man City
2. Man Utd
3. Chelski
4. Liverpool

Relegated :- Southampton, West Brom and Reading