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Sunday 14 August 2011

The Football Season is Well And Truly Back!

Arsenal struggle to kill off a game away from home, Fernando Torres fails to score for Chelsea, Liverpool start well but die in the second half and Man United score a late goal to win a game. It looks like the Barclays Premier League is well and truly back and nothing has changed at all!

We have spent most of the summer debating what will happen this season and with the transfer merry go-round nearly over we at The Urbanite feel obliged to share our wacky season predictions with the world, along with those of our closest friends.

So here are our predictions.  Feel free to scrutinise, criticise and chip in with your own views as well.  Oh, and the guy with the correct top 6 and bottom 3 predictions will win an unnamed prize.  Well we say it is unnamed, we just haven't thought of it yet.

Enjoy:


Name: Talal Rajab (AKA The London Scouse)
Team: Liverpool FC


Predictions:  Champions - Man Utd                                   
                     Runners Up - Liverpool
                     Third - Chelsea
                     Fourth - Arsenal
                     Fifth - Man City
                     Sixth - Sunderland


Relegation:   18. QPR
                     19. Swansea
                     20. Blackburn


Name: Frank Lefty (AKA The Lefty Urbanite)
Team: Tottenham


Predictions:  Champions - Chelsea
                     Runners Up - Man Utd
                     Third - Man City
                     Fourth - Arsenal
                     Fifth - Liverpool
                     Sixth - Tottenham



Relegation:   18. Wigan
                     19. Swansea
                     20. Norwich



Name: Lysander Lobo (AKA Lobo)
Team: Man Utd



Predictions:  Champions - Man Utd
                     Runners Up - Chelsea
                     Third - Liverpool
                     Fourth - Arsenal
                     Fifth - Man City
                     Sixth - Tottenham




Relegation:   18. Swansea
                     19. Wolves
                     20. QPR



Name: Jay Shah (AKA The Wiz)
Team: Tottenham



Predictions:  Champions - Man Utd
                     Runners Up - Chelsea
                     Third - Man City
                     Fourth - Liverpool
                     Fifth - Tottenham
                     Sixth - Arsenal




Relegation:   18. Swansea
                     19. Norwich
                     20. Blackburn



Name: Stuart Walters (AKA Pod)
Team: Tottenham



Predictions:  Champions - Man Utd
                     Runners Up - Man City
                     Third - Chelsea
                     Fourth - Tottenham
                     Fifth - Liverpool
                     Sixth - Arsenal




Relegation:   18. Wigan
                     19. Swansea
                     20. Norwich



Name: Ravi Sejpal (AKA Jules + The Indian Arsene Wenger)
Team: Arsenal



Predictions:  Champions - Arsenal
                     Runners Up - Man Utd
                     Third - Chelsea
                     Fourth - Man City
                     Fifth - Liverpool
                     Sixth - Tottenham




Relegation:   18. Wigan
                     19. Wolves
                     20. Swansea


Name: Alessandro Moro (AKA Mozzatron)
Team: Chelsea

Predictions:  Champions - Man Utd
                     Runners Up - Man City
                     Third - Chelsea
                     Fourth - Liverpool
                     Fifth - Arsenal
                     Sixth - Tottenham

Relegation:   18. Wigan
                     19. QPR
                     20. Swansea


Name: Nicholas Dines (AKA Nick)
Team: Liverpool

Predictions:  Champions - Man Utd
                     Runners Up - Liverpool
                     Third - Man City
                     Fourth - Chelsea
                     Fifth - Arsenal
                     Sixth - Tottenham

Relegation:   18. Norwich
                     19. Blackburn
                     20. QPR


Name: Tahar Rajab (AKA Dicey Demeana)
Team: Liverpool

Predictions:  Champions - Liverpool
                     Runners Up - Chelsea
                     Third - Man Utd
                     Fourth - Arsenal
                     Fifth - Man City
                     Sixth - Tottenham

Relegation:   18. Wigan
                     19. QPR
                     20. Blackburn



Name: Ragin Shah (AKA Rags)
Team: Arsenal

Predictions:  Champions - Man Utd
                     Runners Up - Man City
                     Third - Arsenal
                     Fourth - Chelsea
                     Fifth - Liverpool
                     Sixth - Tottenham

Relegation:   18. QPR 
                     19. Norwich
                     20. Blackburn



Name: Bhavin Shah (AKA The Egg)
Team: Man Utd


Predictions:  Champions - Man Utd                                   
                     Runners Up - Man City
                     Third - Chelsea
                     Fourth - Liverpool
                     Fifth - Arsenal
                     Sixth - Tottenham


Relegation:   18. Norwich
                     19. Swansea
                     20. Wolves


Due to the fact that all those asked are expert football pundits (*cough*) it is more likely that an average calculation of our predictions will be correct:

Average Predictions:

                     Champions - Man Utd
                     Runners Up - Chelsea
                     Third - Liverpool
                     Fourth - Man City
                     Fifth - Arsenal
                     Sixth - Tottenham

Relegation:   18. QPR
                     19. Wigan
                     20. Swansea

Analysis:

Well it seems that most of us are of the opinion that Man Utd will walk their way to a 20th league title.  Apart from our deluded gooner and scouse friends who can't seem to put their club loyalties to one side and genuinely think that either Arsenal or Liverpool will win the league this season (seriously?!).  Also, interesting suggestion from one of The Urbanite's resident bloggers who thinks Sunderland will finish ahead of Tottenham and make a new top 6 this season.  And lastly most of us, apart again from our stubborn gooner, sees this season as the end of the Arsene Wenger era with Arsenal finishing outside the top four for the first time since God knows when. Looks like Wenger may have to cook up some dodgy lasagna again as it's going to be a long hard season.

On the relegation front, things do not look good for the Premier League's first Welsh team or the league's favourite Spaniard (no, not Rafa, he isn't back) Roberto Martinez, with most of us predicting relegation for both Swansea and Wigan respectively.  A quick mention should also go to the Indian Chicken businessmen who own Blackburn (that's not something you hear said everyday), who are a huge tip for many to go down.

So what do you think?  Agree?  Disagree? Think we are all on crack? Well post your thoughts below or forever hold your peace!

Peace!


10 comments:

  1. Interesting.

    Stuart really Tottenham above arsenal and Liverpool.

    And Talal, Sunderland above Spurs? Really?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Seriously unless Arsenal make some signings they will struggle!

    Fab is already going, Nasri will follow and then what happens WHEN RVP is injured? Also what happens when Vermalen is injured? We all saw how fragile they were last season, they have their tails between their legs with their captain & best player off just at the start of the season. Without signings I see no reason why we can’t finish above them.

    And T seriously Sunderland above us?! Apart from up top we have such a strong team. All we need is a top striker and depending on the Palacios to Stoke transfer happening another CM. Keane is soon to be off the wage bill, we will start to move in the market!

    Liverpool have signed overpriced overhyped players and yet people think they are going to finish 2nd/3rd Get Real!

    We are Tottenham super Tottenham we are Tottenham from the Lane!

    Do not underestimated the mighty Yid Army!

    P.s De Gea looks dodge from low shots! He is seriously slow and getting down! But still Utd are too strong!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Also

    Last season we were in our debut season in the champs league, and whether it’s a lame excuse or not it took its toll on our league form! Before that we were considered the top team outside the top 4 and still managed a good challenge for the 4th spot last season but just ran out of steam. We don’t have the champs league this season to distract us and we will play youth/ reserves in Europa meaning we will be fresher and more ready for the league.

    Just because we haven’t spent millions yet we have been written off and no one talks about us challenging for the top 4 except for…..Alex Ferguson! Every mention of challenging this season he will always says Tottenham and let’s be honest he knows a thing or two about football! I’m not saying we are dead certs for CL spot, nor will we seriously challenge for the title BUT with Arsenal weakening and us hopefully keeping together our best players we can finish in that top 4 and bring those Glory Glory nights back where they belong!

    Audere Est Facere!

    COYS

    Yid Army!

    P.s United we are coming for you!

    ReplyDelete
  4. "Seriously unless Arsenal make some signings they will struggle!"

    Yes possible.

    "Fab is already going, Nasri will follow and then what happens WHEN RVP is injured? Also what happens when Vermalen is injured?"

    Yeah and what happens, if Bale, Modric and VDV get injured?

    "We all saw how fragile they were last season, they have their tails between their legs with their captain & best player off just at the start of the season. Without signings I see no reason why we can’t finish above them."

    Mate this is possible. If things stay as they are, with RVP fit and Vermalen fit I think with their current squad they’ll finish above you and you don’t buy a striker.

    "And T seriously Sunderland above us?! Apart from up top we have such a strong team. All we need is a top striker and depending on the Palacios to Stoke transfer happening another CM. Keane is soon to be off the wage bill, we will start to move in the market!"

    Yes this is possibly the most ridiculous prediction ever.

    "Liverpool have signed overpriced overhyped players and yet people think they are going to finish 2nd/3rd Get Real!"

    Yeh 2nd is highly unrealistic. But still a strong team, once in their stride who knows could push for third, Man City are still the pretenders I think Liverpool could edge em, but only an edge.

    "P.s De Gea looks dodge from low shots! He is seriously slow and getting down! But still Utd are too strong!"

    Yes, this saddens me. However, early days, I’m sure VDS has made some howlers like that when he was younger. I think he was still shaken by the community shield.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Lol I knew I would ruffle a few feathers with my prediction! but without a new striker and if modders does jump ship to chelsea i seriously think spurs will struggle. plus sunderland are looking really strong!

    P.s Pod, henderson may have been overpriced but I think ppl are coming to the conclusion that downing isn't. and 8mill for adam and 6mill for enrique?! They're bargains!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Yeh they are definitely bargains, try and offset the money you blew on carrol.

    ReplyDelete
  7. T's prediction that sunderland will finish above spurs makes me laugh more than angry.

    For me, it was very difficult to put spurs 5th but I'm simply hoping they prove me wrong. Its hard to see beyond utd winning the league with chelsea coming closest to challenging. City are too strong in their squad and most likely to finish 3rd atm. Without the benefit of seein who we sign, I can't really see us finishing 4th - esp with liverpool improving and having the momentum from last season. I do predict them to be strong unfortunately and had to let my head rule my heart for the purpose of this exercise.

    But if spurs do some business and players stay fit...that can change. We are tottenham. X

    ReplyDelete
  8. "P.s Pod, henderson may have been overpriced but I think ppl are coming to the conclusion that downing isn't"

    And this conclusion has been reached after 1 premiership game???

    "and 8mill for adam and 6mill for enrique?! They're bargains!"

    This is true (especially Enrique!) but they are hardly world beaters to warrant predicting you to finish so high!

    ReplyDelete
  9. No pod the prediction on downing is based on multiple prem league seasons where he has been consistent, and last season when he got more goals and assists than bale and put more successful crosses in the box than any other player!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Oh here we go again with the stat man!!

    I'm not even going to go into a comparison of Bale vs downing because it simply is outrageous to even think about!

    On a more comparable level, the majority of us said that N'zogbia was probably the more dangerous and slightly better player who was bought for 9.5mil!

    Also Downing has been an average Joe for the majority of his career, so he had a good season (last) at Villa I don't think that justifies the price tag and would need to have a few good seasons before you can say that!

    Liverpool are a good team don't get me wrong, but you are being overhyped!

    ReplyDelete