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Premiership Predictions 2011 / 2012


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It seems just yesterday that Manchester United's defeat of Blackpool on the final day earned them a historic 19th title but, thankfully, the big kick-off in the Premier League is just days away.

 

The champions have far from rested on their laurels over the summer as they look to bridge the gap with Barcelona and it is Sir Alex's side which will start the new campaign as favourites.

 

Elsewhere it's all change at Chelsea where Andre Villas-Boas has made a quiet start to life at Stamford Bridge, which suggests evolution rather than revolution will be his mantra in West London.

 

Our predicted table

 

1 Man United

2 Man City

3 Chelsea

4 Liverpool

5 Arsenal

6 Spurs

7 Everton

8 Aston Villa

9 Sunderland

10 Stoke

11 Fulham

12 Bolton

13 West Brom

14 Newcastle

15 Wolves

16 Blackburn

17 QPR

18 Wigan

19 Swansea

20 Norwich

 

United's noisy neighbours Manchester City were shushed in the Community Shield but the acquisition of Sergio Aguero suggests they are ready to have their say in the title race.

 

Arsenal start the season with a face longer than Red Rum as the futures of Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri look no close to being resolved, while North London rivals Tottenham have similarly been frustrated in the summer transfer market.

 

The mood in Liverpool is decidedly more chipper as Kenny Dalglish has been handed a transfer budget that would make David Moyes weep across the road at Goodison.

 

All three clubs promoted from the Championship have been busy in attempting to ensure the step-up to the top flight is as seamlessly as possible and we give each of them a decent chance of punching above their weight this season.

 

Here, skysports.com's raft of journalists provide exhaustive previews for each Premier League club as we invite your feedback on how the forthcoming season will unfold.

 

They also do a team by team prediction and ours is as follows.....

 

"Are we having a situation where we need to get our fans in a better place? Yes. Does the team need to improve on the pitch? Yes."

 

Let's face it, they are not the ideal words Newcastle manager Alan Pardew, who arrived to such criticism last winter when succeeding the harshly-sacked Chris Hughton, would have wanted to use one week before the start of the season.

 

But ahead of a difficult first game of the new campaign at home to Arsenal, there is little choice at St James' Park after what has been a couple of months of typically shock stories. The club never do things the easy way.

 

Newcastle have won just two pre-season matches this summer, with the first victory marred by crowd trouble and a pitch invasion at Darlington, but that poor on-field form has been overshadowed by events off the pitch.

 

INS: Demba Ba (West Ham), Mehdi Abeid (Lens), Yohan Cabaye (Lille), Sylvain Marveaux (Rennes), Gabriel Obertan (Man United)

OUTS: Kevin Nolan (West Ham), Wayne Routledge (Swansea), Sol Campbell & Shefki Kuqi (both released), Daniel Leadbitter (Torquay), Patrick McLaughlin (York), Ben Tozer (Northampton)

 

Sky Bet Title Odds: 2000/1

 

Likely top scorer: Demba Ba

 

Possible best XI: Harper, Simpson, Taylor, Coloccini, Enrique, Gutierrez, Tiote, Ben Arfa, Barton, Ba, Ameobi.

 

Former captain Kevin Nolan, 29, was sold to West Ham in the blink of an eye in June when the club's hierarchy decided the 12-goal midfielder of 2010/11 did not merit the five-year contract extension he wanted due to his age.

 

Nolan was not only Newcastle's skipper, but he was also their most influential player and his sale had the knock-on effect of unsettling Joey Barton, who had already become disillusioned by the record-breaking sale of Andy Carroll to Liverpool last January.

 

There has surely never been transfer saga of such postmodern extent, as Barton and his big book of quotes has taken to using Twitter to criticise the board. He has quoted from George Washington to Friedrich Nietzsche, and, having already been told he would not get a new contract, has earned a spot on the free transfer list.

 

At the time of writing it remains to be seen whether the ever-philosophical Barton, a man who once stubbed out a cigar on a club-mate's eye, stays or goes.

 

The same uncertainty surrounds the future of wantaway full-back Jose Enrique, who himself has used Twitter to criticise the Newcastle board, albeit in slightly more blunt terms than pinching lines from George Orwell.

 

Sol Campbell, Shefki Kuqi, Daniel Leadbitter, Patrick McLaughlin and Ben Tozer have also left, while Wayne Routledge has joined Swansea.

 

To cover the outgoings, or potential outgoings, of their four best players from last season - Carroll, Nolan, Barton and Enrique - Newcastle have brought in Demba Ba, Mehdi Abeid, Yohan Cabaye, Sylvain Marveaux and Gabriel Obertan, while Shola Ameobi has signed a contract extension and Pardew is desperate to add one or two more.

 

Good players, no doubt, but the signings also represent gambles ahead of an attempt to improve on last season's 12th-place finish.

 

It was a solid performance in a first season back in the top flight and it could have been even better were it not for the ridiculous surrender of a three-goal lead against West Brom on the final day.

 

That is why owner Mike Ashley and managing director Derek Llambias have received such criticism. It has been perceived that their actions represent a lack of ambition and the prioritising of profits over achievement.

 

"Are we having a situation where we need to get our fans in a better place? Yes. Does the team need to improve on the pitch? Yes."

Alan Pardew

Quotes of the week

 

 

Star man

 

Cheik Tiote may be a yellow card waiting to happen after collecting a mere 14 last season to ensure he was the most cautioned player of the campaign. But he was also an excellent part of the Newcastle side and was mentioned as a transfer target of Chelsea as a result.

 

The holding midfielder adapted brilliantly to English football following his arrival from FC Twente last August. At £3.5million he represented an absolute bargain, and let's not forget that goal against Arsenal. Hatem Ben Arfa should also not be forgotten when he is fit.

 

Best signing

 

After selling Andy Carroll in January, Newcastle were sorely missing a striker in the second half of the last campaign. Demba Ba therefore represents an important acquisition in terms of providing a replacement at St James' Park.

 

The former West Ham man scored seven Premier League goals in his four months at Upton Park and that included playing in a team which was relegated. There has been a lot of speculation about his salary, but the Senegal international should prove a good free signing.

 

"I have too much respect for my team-mates and the fans, to get in a tit for tat war with them. I have too much self-worth and dignity."

Joey Barton

Quotes of the week

 

 

One to watch

 

Steven Taylor returned to fitness and form in the final matches of last season and provided a glimpse of the player who was once linked with a move to Barcelona. The centre-back could be set for an excellent campaign.

 

Taylor scored in each of Newcastle's last three matches of the 2010/11 campaign and displayed the powerful and athletic attributes of his days of a rising star. Having ended his contract uncertainty last December, the 25-year-old should be a first-team regular.

 

Young Gun

 

Although injured in July, Shane Ferguson is already a favourite with Newcastle fans after some exciting displays in his nine appearances in all competitions last season. The 20-year-old Northern Irish man could expect more opportunities.

 

He may still be physically lightweight for the Premier League, and he was placed on a milk and steak diet to help build him up, but Jose Enrique's possible exit could make room for the twinkle-toed, versatile left-sider.

 

Point to prove

 

If he stays, Joey Barton. The midfielder contributed nine assists in the Premier League last season and also scored on four occasions to provide an indication of his importance to Pardew's plans. He now needs to underline all his talk of commitment.

 

In any other high-profile industry, an employee would likely have been sacked for publicly criticising their organisation to such an extent. That the former Manchester City man may still have a possible career at St James' Park is evidence of how highly he is valued by Pardew.

 

Manager

 

Alan Pardew had gone some way to winning over his Newcastle critics after quietly going about his business when succeeding Chris Hughton last December. But a confused summer has again seen seen the former Southampton and West Ham boss accused of being Ashley's 'Yes Man'.

 

Pardew needs his new signings to quickly settle or he could find himself under immense pressure from fans. Attractive, attacking football is required and a good start to the season, especially away at Sunderland in their second match, is a vitally important.

 

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,,12040_7087709,00.html

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Win: City closely followed by Chelsea

 

CL: City, Chelsea, Man U and...tough to call but I think Arsenal is they keep Fabregas and Nasri

 

Down: Wigan, Norwich and Swansea

 

Us: 8/9th

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Finish 9th

 

 

Star Man Cabaye

 

Best Signing Cabaye

 

One to watch Dan Gosling

 

Young Gun Shane / Haris

 

Point to Prove Best

 

Manager

 

Think he will really excel next year and get a chance to finally "relax" into the job. His refreshingly honest, if sometimes daft, interviews will win most over.

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Finish: 7th/8th

 

Top 6:

 

Man City

Chelsea

Man Utd

Liverpool

Arsenal

Spurs

 

Competition for 7th/8th spot:

 

Everton

Villa

Sunderland

Fulham

 

Relegated:

 

West Brom

Wigan

Swansea

 

NUFC Player of the season: Cabaye

 

Most important player: Tiote

 

Top scorers: Ba, Ben Arfa and New striker :icon_lol:

 

One's to watch: Vuckic and Abeid

 

Manager:

 

Now has his own team but has alot of hard work ahead to gel the squad, find out our best 11 and create an attacking, attractive yet solid brand of football.

 

:lol::icon_lol:<_<:D:nufc: :nufc:

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