The Winners and Losers (Premier League 2000 - 2001)

Member Name: drdel

Product:	Premier League 2000 - 2001
Date:	15/08/01 (86 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: see op

Disadvantages: see op

So we are in the first few games of the season and things are beginning to take shape.

I still believe the Premiership is the most exiting league on the planet, and nothing that has happened so far has changed that.

I am an Arsenal fan and what I have seen so far has filled me with quite confidence.

I have updated this op to consider how it will all end in May next year.

Therefore, here are my predictions for the coming season.

Champions: There is going to be only a few points in it but it is either going to be Arsenal or Man Utd. I think Man Utd have weakened their formation by signing Veron. I know you think I am mad, but Scholes is no way as good up front and thus in his efforts to accomodate Scholes, Keane, and Veron, Alex Ferguson has compromised the shape of his team, look at the Fulham game as a case in point.

Runners Up: Either Man Utd or Arsenal.

I believe these two teams will stretch ahead of the rest this season in a similar fashion to the 1998/1999 season. Chelsea I reckon will be their nearest rivals. They have achieved a good balanced side now and it will take a few months for them to gel as a team and that will take them out of the running for the Championship but they have all the essential ingredients, solid back four, top goalscorer and solid midfield.

Fourth will be Liverpool or Leeds. I fancy Leeds personally. I think their team spirit and fluidity will take them above Liverpool. Liverpool have certain obvious weaknesses. Lack of depth in defence, no genuine width and rely heavily on Owen and Gerrard. If they are not fit, Liverpool may slide as low as sixth. Also there isn't a sense of team spirit and unity. I think Houllier's management style is to blame for this.

Fulham will be in the top ten, depending on the fitness of Saha and Collins.

I predict three of these four teams to go down.

Leicester, Middlesborough, Southhampton, Blackburn. <
br>
Which three depends on their results against one another. I also predict Peter Taylor and Steve Maclaren to be exposed for the limited managerial and coaching skills they possess. Both are nice guys but obviously don't have the class of the likes of o'Neill, Wenger, Eriksson in terms of tactical awareness and intelligence. Expect one of them or both to be casualities.

Top Scorer is a tough one. You have to pick a non-rotated striker. So for me it has to be one of:

Henry
Hasseilbank
Van Nistelrooy
Owen

Dark Horses: Saha, Viduka

Possible shocks:

Tottenham relegated(I can dream)
Man Utd to finish fourth and Van Nistelrooy out for a year with a repeated cruciate ligament injury
Houllier sacked before the end of the season
Tigana becoming the nest Man Utd manager
England winning the world cup.

Player of the Season: Almost an impossible guess but it could be anyone of:

Owen
Vieira
Van Nistelrooy
Veron
Gerrard
Henry
Pires


Finally my dream Premiership eleven:(4-4-2)

1. Van De Saar
2. Babbel
3. Harte
4. Hyypia
5. Desailly
6. Vieira
7. Beckham
8. Scholes
9. Owen
10.Hasseilbank
11.Pires

Subs:

Barthez
Ferdinand
Ashley Cole
Gerrard
Van Nistelrooy
Henry

Manager: Arsene Wenger

Thanks for reading and I look forward to your comments.

Summary: