08 Aug 2016 11:36:31
Predictions boys? If Arsenal sign a couple of top class players I fancy them but they probably won't. Scousers squad has no depth and whilst City have a strong squad and shiny Pep I think they are transitioning.
We have improved but I worry it will take too long to find the right team and formation. As for Chelsea, Kante was a good signing but your new manager seems as mad as a box of frogs. Are you optimistic?
08 Aug 2016 12:03:34
You're a United fan, right? Just to be sure :-)
I think you guys should be firm favourites to win the title. You brought in Ibra, spent a decent amount on a good player who had a fantastic season (Mkhi) and a young defender with good potential (though a little erratic for me from what I've seen, which is admittedly little) . Now you've also just spent a world record amount on Pogba, which is bonkers in my opinion. He's very talented, but I don't even know what his best position is and I don't know where Mourinho is going to use him. To get all of your best players on the pitch, Pogba would have to play deeper in midfield. But he's never proven that he can be a tempo setter, nor a great defensive mid. This was painfully clear during the Euros when Deschamps tried him in deeper midfield. I think it's a bit of a puzzling acquisition myself, especially since Ed002 has repeatedly stated that Pogba didn't actually want the move himself.
However, firm favourites in my book. No one should come close after the amounts you've spent over the last years.
We will be very lucky to get top 6 this season with the defense as it is. Our midfield and attack should be very good, especially if Chalobah gets minutes. He's an absolute stud in midfield. But our defense is one of the worst in the Premier League. We'll have another season like the last one if the club don't bring in a top CB and fullback.
City's buys haven't impressed me one bit. They've got an injured CM in Gundogan, a decent (but not spectacular) attacker in Nolito and a young winger in Sane. From what I've seen Sane doesn't seem that extremely talented (he is speedy though), and to spend that amount on him is insane for me. Jesus is an interesting one as he's clearly got world class potential, but the step up from the Brazilian league will be huge and I doubt he'll adapt immediately.
Arsenal are good, but they can't challenge for the title with what they have right now. You'll blow them out of the water.
And then you've got Liverpool and Spurs who have good squads, but I don't feel they have what it takes to go toe to toe with you guys.
So in short, the trophy will go to the red half of Manchester. Congrats.
08 Aug 2016 12:28:12
You're winding me up aren't you? City's squad was strongest before they started buying, and your lot ran away with it 2 years ago. I think its really open but we (United) still have a couple if weaknesses that need to be addressed.
08 Aug 2016 13:09:19
Without being biast it's definately between City or United. I do think United may sneak it though as City's best players are too injury prone for me. I think we could finish third but that depends on Zouma coming back as soon as possible and Conte starting Aina over Ivanovic. Until we bring in a top centre back to partner Zouma and a left back then we have no chance with our defence.
08 Aug 2016 13:14:41
I'm dead serious. City's squad is good in attack, with Aguero, Silva and KdB. I don't believe the addition of Sane will improve their attack that much, at least not immediately. Their midfield hasn't been that good since Yaya really cared about playing for them. An injured Gundogan will not fix that problem. It's still Fernando and Dinho, with Delph. Not that scary. Their fullbacks are getting older, and you can't seriously consider Mangala and Otamendi to be very good? :-P Otamendi is decent, but nothing more. Mangala is a disaster waiting to happen and Kompany could be good for them but he's really struggling to stay fit and I can't see that getting much better with age.
Our squad is good, and in Conte I believe we have a top top coach. But our defense is abysmal. Terry is the least mobile player I've seen in quite some time. Ivanovic could be decent at CB I think, but every coach seems intent on playing him as a fullback and he doesn't have the agility or quickness for it. Average wingers turn him inside out like it's nothing. Cahill is decent, but definitely not enough to cover for the rest. He also backs off attackers more than he should. Azpi is a good defender, I'll give our defense that. And Zouma could be become one of the world's best, before the injury he already was very very good. Practically unmatched athleticism and his intelligence on the pitch had increased a whole lot. But there's no telling how he'll recover from his injury and he'll be out for quite a while still. That leaves Aina and Michael flippin Hector as cover. That's got to make for one of the worst defenses in the PL (though Aina is good cover, he's very inexperienced and we can't rely on him, so a starting fullback is needed because of Baba's loan) .
We're not winning anything with that back line.
Your attack is the strongest in the league I think. Ibra is class, though getting a bit old. He should have enough for 1 season at least. Martial is a very good player (though he's looked a bit unhappy since I've seen him at the Euros) . Mkhi is a very good player, and bought to win now (we apparently stepped back from a deal for him, don't know why) . Pogba could turn your midfield into a very good one if Mourinho finds the best way to use him. And I suppose he will since he's been keen on Pogba for a while now. You could certainly use another CB, but your defense is miles ahead of ours right now. It's not absolute class, but it's enough to get you to the title while your attacking players carry the team.
08 Aug 2016 13:26:39
Hmmm that's a tough one, I genuinely think it's a bit of a flip of coin at the moment. Man U probably have the strongest squad on paper at the moment and Mourinho is a serial winner. I think it'll take Man City some time to buy into Pep's philosophy, but they'll be right there at the business end as again Pep is also a serious winner. I just don't think Arsenal have the metal to do it and as a good of a manager as Wenger is he doesn't have that winning mentality that Pep, Mourinho and to a lesser extent Conte and Klopp have. I do think they'll get top 4 though and could be a wildcard if Wenger bites the bullet and makes some signings. I feel Spurs and Liverpool will be just outside the 4, Spurs with the strain on their squad won't handle the rigours of European football and I think Liverpools squad is a little thin especially if they are hit with their usual injuries. Then I think it will be Leicester and West Ham for the Europa league places. In regards to Chelsea I still feel we are a good CB and possibly a striker away from being title contenders, but if we can get these in I will chuck a cheeky 50 on them as we don't have European football and a decent squad with a top manager.
My top 8 looks like this;
1. Man United
2. Man City
3. Chelsea
4. Arsenal
5. Liverpool
6. Spurs
7. Leicester
8. West Ham.
Genuinely can't wait for the season to start!
08 Aug 2016 13:41:52
City are still suspect defensively at CB, with neither Mangala or Otamendi showing their worth anywhere near the amount paid for them and Kompany quite injury prone. Their fullbacks must be close to their 40's now. Fernandno, Fernandinho, Navas, Bony, Delph are all mediocre imo. Aguero will likely do well but will also be injured quite a bit as usual. Yaya Toure is on the decline and wasn't in Pep's plans at Barca, so not sure where he'll fit in now. Silva is still top class but also getting on now. So overall I would say that they don't have the best squad.
United I feel, with their new signings are starting to look like they have a title winning first 11. You guys have some pretty good back-ups for your squad. Personally now that you have Pogba you should be switching to a 4-3-3 and Rooney should be relegated to the bench. You were defensively solid last season and with JM that's not going to get worse. So overall perhaps a new RB and a couple of sales and you'll be favourites. (Obviously depends on formations and how JM sets you up but certainly on paper) .
Arsenal, well they're Arsenal. Unless they manage to get a CB in ASAP, I see them out of it by October with the usual race for top4 come Xmas. They have a decent squad when all their players are fit, but on any given day during the year they generally have at least 2 first team players on long term injuries. They need another top striker and RW for me on top of a CB.
Liverpool have a pretty decent first 11, LB and GK still massive weaknesses and overall still defensively suspect. Pretty good offensively though. Not sure how Klopp will keep all their CM's/ AM's/ ST's happy though due to not being in Europe and they lack a proper defensive CM/ DM.
Spuds, they've brought in a decent back-up ST to Kane and good DM cover for Dier. Overall a pretty good first 11 and squad, good coach in Pochettino. Their success/ failure this season will depend on how well their young squad cope with their collapse at the end of last season and the rigours of CL football. Perhaps need one or two more signings to inflate the squad for the extra football.
And finally Chelsea. We definitely need a new CB and a full back, preferably a LB. Then it largely depends on what system Conte will use, and whether Costa stays as to whether or not we need another ST. Personally I think we have a pretty good squad but we need at least one if not two, new first team players. Also think we need to shed a few players. Overall depending on how well the players adapt to Conte's formation/ plan I can see us coming 4th, but a new CB would be required for anything better. Potentially though no European football could see us do well.
Predictions: Utd 1st, City 2nd and then Spuds, Arse and us fighting it out for 3rd and 4th. Liverpool 6th.
08 Aug 2016 16:07:03
I think all of this is really premature as the window has yet to close (as well as January) . I have a hard time seeing city sign enough players to overtake United as they need new fullbacks and the majority of a midfield (not to mention they will get a tough champions league group with their 4th place finish) . As long as Chelsea sign a top class centre half (and left back if I'm greedy) I have a hard time not seeing us in 3rd without champions league football. Liverpool, Spurs, and arsenal will fight for fourth. I really think this is the year arsenal don't make the top 4 as they've yet to really strengthen. Spurs will have a tough time incorporating champions league football (although they managed Europa league well) . Liverpool will have an edge with no European football but it will really come down to how well klopp gels a ton of new signings into the club.
08 Aug 2016 18:53:48
Hope Jose doesn't fall out with too many of your players. Because then you would implode.