So what do we figure are the odds for the top-6 this year to move up, down or sideways next year? I'll throw my opinion out there and let's see in 12 months how close I was
. Realizing that there are still the Euros and the summer transfer window, but hey.
Leicester: Ultimately, it depends on the owners' and Ranieri's ability to build a team suited for multiple competitions, as well as to retain the services of Vardy, Mahrez and (probably most importantly) Kante. The Foxes have been great at shoveling away deadwood (Benalouane, Inler, De Laet, Kramaric), but these players will need to be replaced with viable alternatives if they are in with any kind of shout of doing things in Europe next year (for me, getting out of the group stages will be a brilliant achievement) and staying in the top quarter of the Prem. I'm going to have them
fifth, then, simply because the experience isn't quite all there and I don't have the confidence of them keeping the core together.
Arsenal: The team is built for one thing only - automatic CL qualification. I'm not quite sure what the purpose of it is because they never seem to do a flippin' thing there, but the money is good, so there's that. If they pry away Kante from Leicester, they may do damage on both sides, but they need a summer of transfers that doesn't culminate in Cech and Elneny. I personally don't think they will win another Prem title with Wenger at the helm. Locker room leadership will be at a premium with Arteta having gone.
Fourth.
Tottenham: I'm going to go out on a limb and say that they will
win it next year. Tremendous young core, not many players to lose and those they do lose will be replaced capably (Chadli and Lamela among my picks to go). Just gave Poch his bumper deal and he will be keen to prove that the blip at the end of the season was just that. Assuming they avoid major injuries to players like Kane, Alli, Alderweireld and Lloris and add a couple more premium to semi-premium pieces to cover for Europe, they look the part for me.
Manchester City: Pep is a tremendous manager and much, again (see a pattern yet?), will depend on the players he is able to bring with him to the Emirates. Their defense needs a major overhaul - not one of their starters is good enough to challenge for the title, for me. Many, many gaps to be plugged - defense, wings, reserve GK, third forward (Bony has got to go). It can't all be Kun and KDB - an injury to one of them and bye-bye, title chase. Iheanacho is a solid talent who should come on strong in his first full season. I'll have them
second but only just.
Manchester United: Oh, good, I can break with tradition for my club and say that it's not
just transfers. If LVG stays, I have them
seventh. If he goes, I have them
third. It takes a very special kind of player to want to come play for van Gaal and the players that we actually need aren't those. I am actually not clamoring for Mourinho unlike most of my fellow Devil fans, but van Gaal's "we'll bore you to death" brand of football needs to go and the primary concern should be bringing in a manager who is adept at developing budding talents. United has always been built from within, not by opening up the kitty every transfer window and we need to get back to doing this. There aren't many egos on this team, but there is a tremendous lot of as-yet-unrealized potential. I still believe that the right manager can bring out the best in Memphis and Januzaj; Martial and Rashford need to have that energy sustained and Rooney needs to be sold down the river to the glue factory (but Carrick kept). Mistakes of last year when quality talent was available but ignored (Alderweireld went to Tottenham for peanuts while we still have a giant hole in central defense that LVG has tried to plug with Blind, to various degrees of success) cannot be repeated anymore. Stop going for the blockbuster deals - a great team isn't going to be instantly brought back to the top by splashing tons of cash as we've seen in these last few transfer windows. Recovery will take time, but at this point it looks like Klopp has more of a shout of doing a United than United. Ibrahimovic would be a great one-season rental, but it won't happen with Lou at the helm.
West Ham:
Sixth is where they
should have been this year, sixth is where they realistically should finish next year, barring a slew of acquisitions that pan out right away. I could see them as high as
third if they land the likes of Lacazette. The stadium move is going to be their wild card: if it's enough of an attraction to some of the first- and second- major tier talent in Europe, Champions' League isn't outside the realm of possibility. They have finally stopped playing over-the-top football of the Carlton Cole days and are now a joy to watch. Payet can be somewhat fragile, so monitoring his health will be at the top of the list of priorities.
Sparing a thought for Chelsea and Liverpool, I do think both will threaten the top three as well. I have all the faith in the world in Conte (my wife will be particularly happy to hear this, being a long-term Juve fan), but, much like Pep with City, it will take time for him to build up his squad. Klopp is well on his way to doing so but will likely need another year to integrate the likes of Ojo and Origi on a full-time basis. So, figure it like this:
1. Tottenham
2. Manchester City
3. Chelsea
4. Arsenal
5. Leicester
6. West Ham
7. Manchester United
8. Liverpool
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