This annual act of folly was a qualified success last season, with
the top three predicted in the correct order along with the relegation
of Burnley and Watford. However, guarded optimism for Manchester United
and pessimism for Brentford were wide of the mark.
Getting my excuses in first? Well, there is still almost a month of the transfer window to go.
This
season, forecasting those who will go down is a particularly hazardous
occupation - as is this whole enterprise - but here goes.
How did Phil McNulty get on last season?
Phil
McNulty's predicted 2022-23 Premier League positions at a
glancePositionClubPosition (cont)Club (cont)1Manchester
City11Brighton2Liverpool12Wolves3Tottenham13Crystal
Palace4Chelsea14Everton5Arsenal15Brentford6Manchester United16Leeds7West
Ham17Southampton8Aston Villa18Nottingham
Forest9Newcastle19Fulham10Leicester20Bournemouth1. Manchester City
Last season - Champions
Manchester
City have been Premier League champions four of the past five seasons
and I expect another straight fight with Liverpool to end with them on
top again.
The signing of Erling Haaland solves the one main flaw
in a magnificent side, namely a tendency not to convert so many of the
chances they create. He is proven high class and was one of the most
coveted strikers in world football.
England midfielder Kalvin
Phillips is also an ideal replacement for Fernandinho, while Jack
Grealish will be better for one full season under Pep Guardiola.
Guardiola
has said farewell to key components of their successes in Raheem
Sterling, Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko but City do not look any
weaker than last season.
‘He’s a generational talent’ – Why signing Haaland is huge for Manchester City2. Liverpool
Last season - 2nd
A
truly outstanding season last time out ended with them missing out on
the title on the final day, losing the Champions League final to Real
Madrid but winning the FA Cup and League Cup, both on penalties against
Chelsea.
Expect them to fight on all fronts again this term and challenge City all the way, securing at least one trophy.
Sadio
Mane is a very obvious loss but striker Darwin Nunez comes from Benfica
with a huge reputation and has already shown what he will offer. Watch
out for Fabio Carvalho making an impact - a serious talent at Fulham
last season.
Premier League: Who can challenge Man City & Liverpool in the title race?
3. Tottenham
Last season - 4th
I
share the big expectations for Spurs this season because they are now
in the hands of one of the world's great coaches in Antonio Conte who
will give - and demand - a winning mentality this club has lacked.
Conte has also convinced chairman Daniel Levy that deals are best done early so there has been some serious squad strengthening.
Richarlison,
at £60m from Everton, gives an already stellar attack another dimension
and added depth while Yves Bissouma was outstanding for Brighton in
midfield last season. Croatia international Ivan Perisic will bring
experience, quality and versatility.
Out on a limb here. Top four and a trophy for Spurs as long as they keep Mr Conte happy.
4. Chelsea
Last season - 3rd
It's
never dull at Chelsea but a different type of turbulence played out
this summer with a new owner in Todd Boehly and the hindrance of
Barcelona seemingly intent on stealing big transfer targets away in the
shape of Raphinha and Jules Kounde.
Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel
has also expressed various levels of discontent but this is a club that
seems to thrive on instability and aggravation once the season starts.
Raheem
Sterling's arrival from Manchester City shows the pulling power of
Chelsea while Kalidou Koulibaly has long been touted as one of the
game's finest defenders. He will be expected to fill part of the gap
left by the departure of the influential Antonio Rudiger to Real Madrid.
Expect
more big names in, with Brighton's Marc Cucurella a target, and never
back against Chelsea being in the shake-up and winning silverware.
5. Arsenal
Last season - 5th
Arsenal,
and manager Mikel Arteta, were left frustrated at missing out on
Champions League football at the final hurdle last season but there is a
lot to like about their summer transfer business and there is likely to
be more to come.
I can see them challenging for the top four
again with the signings of Manchester City striker Gabriel Jesus - the
rare instance of a deal being good for all parties - and his team-mate
Oleksandr Zinchenko adding not only quality but experience of what it
takes to win under pressure. Fabio Vieira, a £34m signing from Porto,
augments midfield strength.
It's a big season for Arteta but he
has the complete faith of the Arsenal board and they have looked a
million dollars in pre-season.
He needs a top-four finish and to
be challenging for trophies and I fancy Arsenal might just do that. I do
not see them as title contenders, though.
He's like a chess player - fans on Erik ten Hag6. Manchester United
Last season - 6th
A
total horror show last season with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer sacked and Ralf
Rangnick having no impact whatsoever before the eventual appointment of
Ajax coach Erik ten Hag.
The whole club needs a reboot and
anyone expecting miracles from Ten Hag needs to get real as he embarks
on sorting out a fractured dressing room and serious lack of quality.
Cristiano
Ronaldo's desire to leave is casting a cloud over pre-season while Ten
Hag is going with what he knows in signing defender Lisandro Martinez
along with a seemingly endless Frenkie de Jong pursuit. Christian
Eriksen will provide guile and quality in midfield after proving his
return to health and form at Brentford. How will he dovetail with Bruno
Fernandes?
Ten Hag needs more potency in attack, and will also
hope the likes of Harry Maguire and Marcus Rashford revive their form of
old and that Jadon Sancho can show why he was valued at £73m.
Top-four challenge and a cup are the best bet. Title contenders? No chance.
7. West Ham
Last season - 7th
West
Ham had an excellent season under David Moyes last time out but might
still regard failure to win the Europa League, or at least reach the
final, as one of the great missed opportunities.
The rejuvenated
Moyes will want at least the same this time out with new faces in his
squad and the outstanding Declan Rice still at the heart of all that
West Ham do, along with Jarrod Bowen.
Lots will hinge on how
their new £30.5m signing from Sassuolo, striker Gianluca Scamacca,
settles in the Premier League but he comes with glowing references and,
rest assured, every incoming player will have been studied assiduously
by Moyes to suit his needs.
Can see another good season for the Hammers and a potential cup challenge.
8. Aston Villa
Last season - 14th
I'm
expecting a big improvement from Villa this season with manager Steven
Gerrard having had a pre-season to get his ideas across and new faces
provided by an ambitious ownership.
Villa helped Gerrard by
getting their business done early and it looks good, with Philippe
Coutinho signed permanently and the highly rated pair of defender Diego
Carlos from Sevilla and free transfer from Marseille Boubacar Kamara
adding real quality.
They need to rid themselves of the
inconsistency that so frustrated Gerrard last season but he will expect
big things from Villa - and from himself.
Newcastle will be looking to build on a promising end to the 2021-22 season9. Newcastle
Last season - 11th
Huge
expectations on Tyneside after an excellent second half to the season
under new manager Eddie Howe and the arrival of the club's controversial
Saudi Arabian ownership.
For all the fantasy talk of Hollywood
signings, Newcastle's transfer business has been solid and sensible
rather than spectacular, using common sense as opposed to spending for
the sake of it, although if they succeed in prising James Maddison away
from Leicester City this will be regarded as a serious statement.
England
keeper Nick Pope is an excellent addition while Sven Botman from Lille
is regarded as a defender of great promise. The first phase laid the
foundations to improve mentality and quality, with Kieran Trippier and
Dan Burn bringing experience and Bruno Guimaraes that real 'X factor'
class.
Chris Wood struggled but Callum Wilson is always a threat,
along with the unpredictable Alain Saint-Maximin - although Howe will
need to bring in more firepower.
I see a season of good
consolidation, which should satisfy the Toon Army as this will be steady
rebuilding rather than a cash-crazy quick fix.
Newcastle United: What does the new season hold for the Magpies?
10. Leicester
Last season - 8th
Strange
one this as I rate Brendan Rodgers highly and there is so much talent
in his squad but just a sense that momentum has been lost. It has been a
dormant transfer summer so far, with more talk of outgoings around the
likes of James Maddison, Youri Tielemans and Kasper Schmeichel than of
incomings.
If they went, it would knock a large hole in the Leicester dressing room and leave serious gaps to fill.
Rodgers
has reached a pivotal point in his reign after winning the FA Cup and
twice missing out on Champions League football on the final day of the
season.
The Foxes' manager wanted a "healthy shake-up" to
rejuvenate his team and has so far been unable to do that. Crucial weeks
ahead and if Rodgers succeeds this prediction of mid-table could yet be
a pessimistic one.
Must get players in.
Leicester have to balance the books - Rodgers
11. Brighton
Last season - 9th
Graham
Potter has done an outstanding job at Brighton and towards the end of
last season got the big results their attractive football deserved, such
as thrashing Manchester United at the Amex and winning away at Arsenal
and Spurs in successive games. The days of living near the bottom of the
Premier League look to be over under this highly rated manager.
There's
no reason to expect anything other than another very decent season,
although Chelsea may yet sign talented Spanish left-back Marc Cucurella.
This
would be a blow to Brighton, in addition to the loss of Yves Bissouma
to Spurs, but Potter is talented enough to find a way to recover.
Brighton's
flaw last season was not finishing off the many chances they created.
The man they hope will solve this is Turkish striker Deniz Undav, who
signed in January but then spent a loan spell at former parent club
Royale Union Saint-Gilloise. He scored 27 goals in 41 appearances and
was Belgian Professional Footballer Of The Year.
Potter has also
invested for the future with the signings of young strikers Julio Enciso
from Libertad Asuncion in Paraguay and Ivorian Simon Adingra from
Danish side FC Nordsjaelland.
12. Wolves
Last season - 10th
Wolves
faded last season after looking so good for so long, manager Bruno Lage
adopting a move progressive attacking style after succeeding Nuno
Espirito Santo.
Now firmly established in the Premier League,
they will be looking to Hwang Hee-chan to build on his loan spell last
season after completing a permanent move from RB Leipzig while Nathan
Collins, a £20.5m signing from Burnley, will add to the defensive
resources marshalled by captain Conor Coady.
If Wolves can keep
hold of the coveted Ruben Neves then no reason at all why they cannot
have another decent season and perhaps have another crack at the top 10.
The
potential loss of striker Raul Jimenez for a lengthy period after he
picked up an injury in pre-season may also have a serious impact on how
they perform.
12. Crystal Palace
Last season - 12th
Patrick
Vieira made a big impression as Selhurst Park in his first season as
manager but will have to do without Conor Gallagher this term after his
outstanding spell on loan from Chelsea.
He will, though, have
Cheick Doucoure, the Mali midfielder who Vieira was delighted to sign
from Lens in a £21m deal. Sam Johnstone is a solid goalkeeping signing.
It
will be intriguing to see whether Vieira can get an improvement out of
Palace but I certainly do not expect to see them struggling.
14. Everton
Last season - 16th
This is where the potential strugglers really start and any of the following could end up fighting a relegation battle.
Everton
had a horrible season last time out with the failure of the ill-starred
appointment of Rafael Benitez, followed by Frank Lampard, who achieved
the aim of keeping the Toffees up.
In reality, it was more
through the efforts of Everton's fans than players that they somehow
survived. They will be needed again as the club wrestles with financial
restrictions, the sale of main marksman Richarlison to Spurs and the
outcome of a much-touted strategic review - which has been very vague,
short on specific detail and carried out by an owner and board of
directors who have presided over truly ruinous transfer strategies and
decision-making.
Just have a feeling that they will have enough
to stay up this time, with Dwight McNeil and James Tarkowski smart
signings from Burnley and more set to come.
15. Brentford
Last season - 13th
Brentford
finished the season in a comfortable position, aided largely by the
signing of Christian Eriksen, who halted a freefall and performed so
impressively after suffering a cardiac arrest while playing for Denmark
at Euro 2020 that he has been snapped up by Manchester United.
Eriksen
leaves a large void but manager Thomas Frank showed himself to be a
shrewd operator and I fancy the Bees to stay up again, although they
will need to make another good start.
They must retain Ivan Toney
up front while Ben Mee from Burnley will add defensive experience and
Keane Lewis-Potter, signed from Hull City for £20m, had a host of
Premier League admirers. The forward will be one to watch.
Tyler
Adams (right) is one of three new Leeds signings who have played under
manager Jesse Marsch (left) at a previous club16. Leeds
Last season - 17th
Leeds
scraped to survival on the final day of last season and have
subsequently lost two of their most influential players in Raphinha and
home-grown hero Kalvin Phillips.
This makes life tough for Jesse Marsch as he tries to rebuild on what he inherited from the iconic figure of Marcelo Bielsa.
I
think Leeds, rather like Everton, will survive based on the fanatical
and unswerving support they receive at home. Elland Road must be their
fortress - otherwise they could be in trouble.
Marsch has gone
with what he knows bringing in winger Brenden Aaronson from Red Bull
Salzburg and RB Leipzig midfielder Tyler Adams, two Americans who have
worked under him before. The same applies to defender Rasmus Kristensen,
also signed from Salzburg.
Colombian winger Luis Sinisterra has
arrived from Feyenoord for £21m to add threat and Leeds will hope a
pre-season hamstring injury does not prove too problematic.
This
is a big show of faith in Marsch, who wants to put him own stamp on the
side. Leeds are another team needing a good start or times could be very
tough.
Leeds must keep Patrick Bamford fit. And keep Jack Harrison.
17. Southampton
Last season - 15th
Big
season for manager Ralph Hasenhuttl, who felt the force of fans' anger
during a dismal end to the league season that saw Saints lose nine of
their last 12 games. He will be under scrutiny.
He has revamped his backroom team and will need a fast start to disprove claims his reign at St Mary's has run out of steam.
Hasenhuttl's
work in the transfer market has focused largely on youth, with
teenagers Romeo Lavia and Sekou Mara arriving from Manchester City and
Bordeaux respectively. New defender Armel Bella-Kotchap, signed from
Bochum, is only 20. Much will be expected from Joe Aribo, who has come
from Rangers.
Saints have kept captain James Ward-Prowse away
from admirers. He will be key to their season, which I expect to be one
of making sure they stay out of trouble.
I do not predict their safety with huge confidence.
18. Nottingham Forest
Last season - Championship play-off winners
Nottingham
Forest have marked their return to the Premier League after 23 years by
making an expensive and spectacular splash in the transfer market.
Owner
Evangelos Marinakis has rewarded Forest's excellent manager Steve
Cooper by making the sort of funds available that he hopes will ensure
the two-time European Cup winners do not return to the Championship.
There
is an element of gamble as Cooper's brilliant rejuvenation was based on
great team spirit and there is always risk in incorporating so many new
faces.
And in Forest's defence, they had no choice other than to
embark on this rebuild as seven of the 14 players who took part in the
play-off final win over Huddersfield Town have departed, including
keeper Brice Samba and a selection of loanees, such as defender Djed
Spence, who has joined Spurs.
Jesse Lingard is the most
eye-catching signing of all after his free transfer from Manchester
United. He opted for Forest ahead of West Ham and will have a huge
responsibility in this revamped team.
But I worry about the sheer
churn of numbers into Forest's squad after the success of last season,
even with Cooper's expertise, hence this pessimistic prediction.
I am saying Forest will go down but think they could draw others into that particular fight and may yet stay up.
Fulham won last season's Championship, finishing two points ahead of Bournemouth19. Fulham
Last season - Championship winners
Marco
Silva did a fine job in restoring Fulham to the Premier League last
season but will face a fight to keep this fine old club in the top
flight.
So much will rest on talisman Aleksandar Mitrovic, who
scored 43 goals last season. He will need to make a big impact on his
return to the top flight, while Fulham will also have to replace
talented youngster Fabio Carvalho after his move to Liverpool.
Silva
will have high hopes for new Portugal midfielder Joao Palhinha and
Andreas Pereira, brought in from Manchester United, while former Arsenal
keeper Bernd Leno add Premier League know-how but it's still hard to
see anything other than a fight for survival - and you get the
impression the manager feels he needs a lot more reinforcements before
deadline day.
20. Bournemouth
Last season - Championship runners-up
Scott
Parker got the Cherries back up but will have a fight on his hand to
avoid the same fate he suffered when he was relegated with Fulham.
As
with Fulham and Mitrovic, much will depend on whether Dominic Solanke
can transfer the goal touch that made him so potent in the Championship
to the top flight, where he struggled to make his mark with Chelsea and
Liverpool.
Marcus Tavernier has been the major summer arrival from Middlesbrough but the Cherries will need a lot more than that.
Survival would be viewed as success but I cannot say I am confident that will happen.
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Original Source: ghanasoccernet.com