Premier League 2026-27

[Blowitupref]

Have a slight fancy for Chelsea.

Ancelotti,Conte,Mourinho all won Chelsea the league title in their 1st season in charge. Can the highly rated Xabi Alonso do the same?

He won the Bundesliga with leverkusen and had 71% win percentage with Real Madrid before stepping down

Made some good signings and look to have a better balance to their team and squad this year. Getting their best players such as Cole Palmer to play to potential will be key.

Also, No European competition distraction so can focus fully on the Premier League. Spurs are the same so should have a much improved league campaign this season.

[Puckoon]

City won't do anything this season, Pep and Rodri going is too big a loss

Arsenal's to lose, Liverpool outsiders, the rest of the big hitters in a scramble for top 5

If anyone could do a Leicester I suppose its got to be Spurs

I'd say there's a better than 50:50 chance that Arsenal's players will down tools on Arteta this season if they continue to be forced to play anti-football, now they all have a big shiny medal in their pocket.

There is though also a chance that Arteta gets ahead of this, takes the leash off, and blows everyone away in what looks like a very mediocre season ahead. At least 3 out of City, Chelsea, Liverpool, United and Spurs will implode and sack their manager before Christmas.

How is it that PL clubs can spend billions creating such mediocrity?

Of that I'd say there's no chance. Not in the dour bastard's DNA. I would have defended him on here a bit but after the CL final I won't be making any more excuses for him, he's just negative period. Him and players coming out blaming other teams sitting deep is just bull. Not all teams sit deep. PSG don't sit deep. Arsenal are impossible to watch no matter who they play.

Less than zero chance Spurs doing a Leicester. Leicester were actually on a good six month run before the start of their famous season.

I'd really like to think he can throw off the shackles a little. Understandably the pressure to get over the line was immense, but it was turgid stuff at times. If he wants a big pay day at Arsenal or elsewhere, he's got to get some excitement and attacking flow going that was there in his first few years. The foundation is now solid, the soft underbelly is gone. No excuses this year for wrangling it over the line...

Unless circumstances dictate.

EDIT: PSG might have been the best team they faced all year. But the low block in the PL was undeniable against Arsenal.

[J70]

Have a slight fancy for Chelsea.

Ancelotti,Conte,Mourinho all won Chelsea the league title in their 1st season in charge. Can the highly rated Xabi Alonso do the same?

He won the Bundesliga with leverkusen and had 71% win percentage with Real Madrid before stepping down

Made some good signings and look to have a better balance to their team and squad this year. Getting their best players such as Cole Palmer to play to potential will be key.

Also, No European competition distraction so can focus fully on the Premier League. Spurs are the same so should have a much improved league campaign this season.

That's a good shout on Chelsea and even Spurs. No Europe could make a big difference, especially for a new manager trying to implement a new system of playing on a new club. Lots of time on the training pitch, and fewer fatigue and burnout injuries to deal with. It was a big help to United last year when Carrick came in, and Bruno Fernandes and even Casimiro excelled with the lighter match load. Didn't do Liverpool any harm in 16-17 in Klopp's first full season when he was able to drill a still poor enough squad, with the addition of Mane and Wijnaldum, into CL qualifiers with no midweek European football to worry about.

[RedHand88]

Predictions

1st Arsenal
2nd Liverpool
3rd Chelsea

Relegated - Hull City, Ipswich... Newcastle?
Villa to struggle

Suprise package - Coventry City

[Mourne Red]

Predictions

1st Arsenal
2nd Liverpool
3rd Chelsea

Relegated - Hill City, Ipswich... Newcastle?
Villa to struggle

Suprise package - Coventry City

1)Arsenal
2)Chelsea
3)Liverpool
4)City
5)Spurs
6) United

Bottom 3 - Fulham, Ipswich, Hull.

Surprise Package - Forest

[Milltown Row2]

Only 3 clubs, since the premier league started have won back to back, Arsenal have a chance due to other teams having new managers and squads to gel, but still a difficult task all the same..

Chelsea with no distractions could do well but huge a squad, which is very difficult to keep that size of a squad happy but them and City (still) to push for the title.. Everyone else playing for CL places

[Look-Up!]

Very difficult to call, huge question marks/unknowns over many of the main players.

Arsenal are the safest bet. Settled squad and manager used to the rigors of multiple competitions. Some good additions. Trossard the most notable absentee who was good for the odd rescue but not exactly irreplaceable. Will cross the 80 points bridge 4 times out of 5 which might very well be enough.

Of the rest I like the odds on Chelsea with a good manager and no CL. Man Utd are arguably the most settled of the chasing pack and decent odds but CL is an extra burden they haven't always carried well of late. City I really can't say, nothing would surprise me with them but hunch says they will struggle big time. Liverpool I'm not sure. Like the manager, very good squad on paper but it's make or break season for a few of those big signings. Plus there's the injuries. Again could go either way.

Whoever wins it I hope they play with a bit of panache. If Arsenal go about their business the same way again I certainly won't be wishing them well. In fact I hope the referees go to town on them and they score not one goal from a set piece. 

 

[Armagh18]

Hard to know what way Arsenal will go, if refs tighten up on their antics they could struggle, plus back to back takes a special team.

Big question marks over the rest, Liverpool could click or flop, City likewise, bound to be a drop off after Pep you'd think, Spurs are Spurs, Chelsea are a basket case but could click, United probably don't have the squad to compete on multiple fronts, 3rd and a cup would be a brilliant season

[lurganblue]

Predictions

1st Arsenal
2nd Liverpool
3rd Chelsea

Relegated - Hill City, Ipswich... Newcastle?
Villa to struggle

Suprise package - Coventry City

1)Arsenal
2)Chelsea
3)Liverpool
4)City
5)Spurs
6) United

Bottom 3 - Fulham, Ipswich, Hull.

Surprise Package - Forest

The Big Sky Six eh.  I predict at least one of these dont make it into the top 6.

Spurs have signed rightly but they are still Spurs.  Chelsea could improve with no Europe but they could also continue to be a bunch of individuals with no leadership.  United - is Carrick the new Ole on his second season... time will tell. I'm still not sure of them defensively and in the middle.  I think City and Liverpool (particularly Liverpool) might need a few in-comings.  Arsenal look best placed.

As ever, key injuries will have a big say in the season.

Villa are an unknown. They are in a big transition, but Emery is the man for that job.

There'll be some transfer moves over the coming days.  Leeds look well placed for a decent year. 

[AustinPowers]

Signed up to the  fantasy PL other day. My God, the choice of  strikers  to pick from was depressing. The midfielders weren't much  better

For all the money involved, and the huge transfer fees paid , the PL has never been  in a poorer state

[Armagh18]

Signed up to the  fantasy PL other day. My God, the choice of  strikers  to pick from was depressing. The midfielders weren't much  better

For all the money involved, and the huge transfer fees paid , the PL has never been  in a poorer state

Agreed. Outside of Haaland and Bruno there's not much top tier quality in the league. Couple of Arsenal defenders/Raya plus maybe Rice aside, but in terms of entertainment you'd need paid to watch Arsenal.

[Mourne Red]

Predictions

1st Arsenal
2nd Liverpool
3rd Chelsea

Relegated - Hill City, Ipswich... Newcastle?
Villa to struggle

Suprise package - Coventry City

1)Arsenal
2)Chelsea
3)Liverpool
4)City
5)Spurs
6) United

Bottom 3 - Fulham, Ipswich, Hull.

Surprise Package - Forest

The Big Sky Six eh.  I predict at least one of these dont make it into the top 6.

Spurs have signed rightly but they are still Spurs.  Chelsea could improve with no Europe but they could also continue to be a bunch of individuals with no leadership.  United - is Carrick the new Ole on his second season... time will tell. I'm still not sure of them defensively and in the middle.  I think City and Liverpool (particularly Liverpool) might need a few in-comings.  Arsenal look best placed.

As ever, key injuries will have a big say in the season.

Villa are an unknown. They are in a big transition, but Emery is the man for that job.

There'll be some transfer moves over the coming days.  Leeds look well placed for a decent year.

I think with Spurs and Chelsea having no Europe they should be in the top 6. Given the managers they have and money they've spent. United or potentially City the two sides I can see dropping out - I don't think either have the depth currently to go through a 50+ game season

[Blowitupref]

Top 4 predictions from the BBC pundits

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cp8edryd7plo

[Milltown Row2]

I don't see Utd doing well in the CL and their season on that front will come to a close early doors, the fact that they won't drop down to the lesser competitions means they can concentrate on their league and domestic cup games, that said..

If they are smart, get out of CL early and throw the reserves into the cup competitions

[Armagh18]

I don't see Utd doing well in the CL and their season on that front will come to a close early doors, the fact that they won't drop down to the lesser competitions means they can concentrate on their league and domestic cup games, that said..

If they are smart, get out of CL early and throw the reserves into the cup competitions

Not much point busting your balls to qualify for Europe to fold. Go and compete, a few good results in Europe would be massive. Bar left back  and Bruno theres probably reasonable options for back ups to allow decent rotation.
Right back Maz/Dalot, Yoro in an emergency
Centre back- Maguire, Martinez, Heaven, Yoro, De ligt at some point plus Maz/Shaw in a bind.
Left back only really Shaw, but Maz can cover plus Dorgu and Amass if he stays, ideally someone comes in there.
Midfield you've Mainoo, Santos, Tielemans (hopefully Baleba), Mount and Bruno, plus whichever youngsters arent loaned/sold. Given Bruno will almost always start, theres 4 for 2 positions plus Mount if he's ever fit and youngsters.

Right wing you have Mbuemo and Amad, 2 good options, plus Lacey who will hopefully get chances, looks to be talent there. JJ Gabriel is highly rated but only a baby yet, maybe a chance he gets token minutes at the end of a cup game but certainly one for the future.

Light enough up front with Sesko and Mbumemo/Cunha able to play there, Rashford and Zirkzee options as well but would rather see neither near a United team again.

Left wing you've Cunha competing with Dorgu, plus Rashford might give you something if no one is stupid enough to buy him.

Probably not a bad squad if the majority can stay injury free (wishful thinking) but a left back and back up striker are definitely needed, being greedy you'd want a centre back as well but good potential in Heaven and Dorgu.

Going forward if you're looking to compete for the big ones within the next 2-3 years, an upgrade at right back is needed plus a heavy scorer up front which we'd hope Sesko turns into. Some form of anti aging potion on Bruno as well would be ideal