Better late than ever! (Premier League 2000 - 2001)

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Product:	Premier League 2000 - 2001
Date:	01/10/01 (80 review reads)
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Advantages: Best league on the planet

Disadvantages: Too many poor teams

I know the season is almost a fifth in with only the second month of the season breached, but heres my predictions anyway.

MANCHESTER UNITED……….They may have conceded a record amount of goals this year but look what they can do at Tottenhmam.Champions again unless teams take on the Reds while they are vulnerable concentrating on the Champions league.
United back four is weakened without the colossal Stam and Blanc in no mont, and not likely to secure many blanc sheets until Europe is a sleep for the winter.

ARSENAL……With another poor Euro show brewing I think these guys will have domestic matters on their mind.Lundberg and Pires in the midfield is useful with Henry and Jeffers and co there to fill the onion bag.
Way to many red and yellows that messes up any rhythm at critical times in the season. And if it isn’t that its inter squad I want to play nonsense in thirty languages that holds them back.
They might push United if the Reds keep shipping goals. But United will have to come to them in the run in rather than vice versa. Will Wenger sign that contract or could Man U take that and the championship in Sir Alex’s last year.

LEEDS UNITED…..The Yorkies will push these two all the way this time with their unrivalled defense in attack and water tightness. Plenty of useful strikers and gritty midfielders to keep them near the action.
Viduka should be on the bench at the moment with Keene and Co in the action more.

LIVERPOOL…..The champion’s league will be the thing on their mind every waking hour. The financial rewards are too big to ignore so their championship form will suffer. I really don’t fancy these guys in the run in if they are faring well in Europe.
Owen does pick up injuries and Gerrald to. The squad and class is there, but the belief is questionable when it comes to he big prizes.

CHELSEA…….They have started much
better than last year and if they can finish like last year they should make the EUFA Cup again.Long way of a championship side with Chairman Bates cashing in on his London location.
Stanic, Gudjohnson and the likes should play more over the older ones. Hasslebaink was top scorer in the prem last year and is heading that way now.

SUNDERLAND…..Their over cautious manger is holding them back but keeping them up if you know what I mean. He’s cagey with signings and too loyal to his players.
He won’t take any risks with new players and battle on with whom he can trust and what he knows. EUFA cup is always going to be the target here as they are a longgggg way of top three and all those rewards they are investing for.

ASTON VILLA….The enigmatic midlanders are unbeaten still and pretty solid at the rear.But can be quite awful as we saw on Thursday night in Europe.The plus is their nine million man from South America is up and running.Dublin to should start scoring as he finds his feet.
The defense is solid and Hendrie and Merson in the middle zone is a real plus along with the bustling Boatang.EUFA Cup year again for the dour Brummies to terrible top-flight crowds.

NEWCASTLE UNITED…..Everyone loves Bobby Robson and lets hope he can survive the pressure at the top. He’s started so well with what he’s got and im sure the notorious directors will give him some money to spend if he maintains it.
Its arguably the biggest club in the North East and has the resources to go for the top in five years time.
From what I understand, Solano can’t re-enter the country if he plays abroad in the world cup due to the fact that it’s a fake.
Shearers over the hill and Speed out of favor. That’s a plus in my book as the young ones come through.
Maybe they can win the Worthless Cup this year.

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR…For me, Glen Hoddle is the best English born manger ar
ound and is the right guy for Spurs.To go three up against Man United is pretty good if you ask me. Obviously his defense is not quite right and will take time to bed.
Richards is a great signing and Ziege is real class bombing the wing. If they can get Carr back their wing back strength is considerable.I like Ledley King to although he likes to go forward……..a lot.
Glen will get the best out of them and will be a force in the near future like the old glorious Tottenham days.

IPSWICH TOWN..Theres no way they are going to be as good as last season in the league. But who else is capable from the rest of getting this high up. They have a goal scorer in Stewart and class like George and Heriderson in the middle.
They play beautifully as a team, which should secure them mid table safety. If they can win in Moscow then they can win anywhere.
A parochial manger and a nice family feel are deserving of another fun premier season for the Norfolk boys.

FULHAM…….They are itching to perform but they arent.The players and talent are coming in but still no real momentum.Saha is fast but doesn’t seem to be a natural finisher with the lower league but nippy Hales seemingly on his way.
They need a major striker like Robbie Fowler soon and if everyone else mucks in they wont get drawn into a relegation struggle that wouldn’t suit their style in address and football.
The West London guys need some momentum soon or they will be stuck in the cheap baskets in Harrods way below their status.

EVERTON……Clearly the oil tanker is turning after the five nil on Saturday.But it often turns in full circles at this sleeping giant/selling club.Jeffers was a gem but has moved on along with others.
There are some very poor signings showing up here every year and im sure their chairman signs guys he fancies in the flesh rather by football skills.
They have a good captain in Campbell but the ever-i
njured Ferguson is a bind. Indecisive at the back and could lose five nil next week.
Need to dump the manager and the board to move on up into the top five like the old days.

BOLTON WANDERERS…. Great start with some points in the bag already. But they are already getting nosebleeds as the free fall is calling. Must win next match or it could be a nightmare.
Ricketts scores goals with a very useful midfield supplying him with numerous chances. But in reality its going to be a dogfight in the lower third trying to preserve their lucrative status here.

MIDDLESBOURGH…..Still no real sign of life here as the team put points together and then lose a silly home one. Aging strikers and survival based around how many games Boxsich is fit enough to play.
Aging quality in the middle to with all the money spent on the back four.
The quicker England get the world up qualifiers out of the way then the quicker the assistant England manager can concentrate on his day job.


CHARLTON ATHLETIC…Another team that can play but not get stuck in away from home.They have good finishers in Johansson and Bartlett but can’t get it together. They have a busy midfield and some young ones in their academy.
But defensively they are not good and that will be their archilles heel again.They don’t seem to be buying there either in that position when they should be.


BLACKBURN ROVERS…. You hardly notice these guys as they go about their business in the top flight. With Souness discipline running the show he should just keep them up this time, next time who knows.
Jansen is the only player of class here to be honest and theres little else I have heard off.
But we would rather see the new guys stay up and see the back of some of the regular dead beats who mill around this end.

WESTHAM UNITED…The academy boys and girls are in serious danger this year. They may have some of the best y
oung kids in Britain, but they don’t have any all-important team spirit away from home.
DiCannios alto ego look is costing him his strength like Samson.Hes one of many who doesn’t fancy it away from home.
Kanoute is their only chance as he is a seriously talented striker. I put him up there with the Cantoonas and Henrys of French footy of recent years.
Defensively they are poor and that could be the dead weight that drops them into Div One for the first time in ages.

SOUTHAMPTON…. These guys will be clanging swords like medieval knights all through this relegation campaign. Their best two assets have deserted them and the third to go along with Hoddle and Richards in the Dell is also effecting their form.
Their strength last year was clean sheets at home led by big Dean Richards.Both have gone which will probably suck Southampton into the mire of Nationwide One.
Pahars could blast them clear like an Apollo rocket although I fancy he will jump in the Lim and change clubs before it comes to that.

LEICESTER CITY…Peter Taylor is a good manger but not here. I doubt if he will survive after game ten and a Worthington cup defeat next week could be the final straw.
He’s had a whole pre-season to prepare and has bought very poorly. Savage is better than the way he plays and Elliot can be a brick when he’s fit.
But Oniells magic has gone and the new manager boost is the only chance for the midlanders now. Theres no way the Adi Akanbayi is going to save anyone’s day.
That famous MP who was found hanged with an orange in his mouth was wearing a Leicester City shirt when it occurred. But the police at the time kept it out of court so not to cause the family anymore embarrassment.

DERBY COUNTY…Ravenelli is finally as old as that famous hairstyle. He’s too much of a luxury to be involved in any sort of relegation slog.
Jim Smith needs to be sacked now and hope the n
ew guy can get some sort of rhythm going before its too late.
Christie could star along with the sparky Burley.The defense is abysmal and these guys are going down like the World Trade Centers.(No offence obviously).

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