Winner of EPL 2010/2011

[aurvandil]

Now that WC2010 is over, time to look forward to EPL 2010/2011. Early odds for the championship winner show that this season is likely to see the emergence of a new power in the EPL. The top 5 teams most likely to win are

1) Chelsea
2) Man U
3) Man City
4) Arsenal
5) Liverpool

Yes ... you saw that correctly. Man City is currently being quoted as the 3rd most likely team to win the EPL. The reason for this is that they are under new management and have a huge war chest to build their team. Expectations are therefore high that Man City will be the next Chelsea and buy their way to the top.

 

[shOUTloud]

If Cesc Fabregas can concentrate and our team does not suffer from injuries again. I would expect Arsenal to challenge again! Go you GUNNERS!

 

[Alamaking]

As a Man U fan, i will always support them, but they need new players!!!!

 

[aurvandil]

As a Man U fan, i will always support them, but they need new players!!!!

Actually what they really need is a backer with deep pockets. Otherwise it will be very hard for them to compete in the long run with clubs with billionare owners.

 

[aurvandil]

Here's a interesting thought. If we didn't blow a cool $350 mil plus on the YOG, we could probably buy ourselves a lower middle tier EPL team that is quite safely above the relegation zone.

 

[wrcboi]

If Cesc Fabregas can concentrate and our team does not suffer from injuries again. I would expect Arsenal to challenge again! Go you GUNNERS!

fabregas should go...the team need some fresh blood and for challenges...or maybe fab just not good enough to lead and inspire arsenal to tittle....sell fab and sign gorcruf...and sign another centreback....

 

[aurvandil]

The following is from Wikipedia.

When Thaksin bought Man City, he paid only about £81.6 million. Back then, Man City was in the lower middle tier of the EPL table. Man City had a good season under him. By the time he sold Man City to the Abu Dhabi United Group, Man City had risen considerably in the rankings. He was therefore able to get £210m, a cool return of over 200% in just 1 year.

The holding company of Manchester City F.C., Manchester City Ltd, is a private limited company. The club has approximately 54 million shares in issue.

In 2007 UK Sports Investments Limited, a company controlled by the former Prime Minister of Thailand, Thaksin Shinawatra, took control of the club in a takeover worth £81.6 million, purchasing shares from all major shareholders. Prior to the Thaksin takeover, the club was listed on the specialist independent equity market PLUS (formerly OFEX), where it had been listed since 1995. On 6 July 2007, upon acquiring a 75% share in the club, Thaksin delisted the club and re-registered it as a private company; on later acquiring 90% of shares Thaksin was able to "squeeze out" remaining shareholders and acquire the remaining shares.

In September 2008 the Abu Dhabi United Group acquired the club for around £210m when Thaksin Shinawatra was unable to access his funds in Thailand, frozen by Thai courts as he faced corruption charges. The new owners, even before the deal was finalised, signified their intentions by making offers for a series of world-class players on transfer deadline day. The takeover was completed on 23 September.

 

[Screwball]

Aiyah.
Every new season start always having these whose the winner predictions.
For a change this season we should having prediction for who will be relegation.
My prediction :-
1) Liverpool
2) WBA
3) Fulham

 

[jw5]

Latest EPL news:

Fulham are about to confirm Martin Jol as their new manager.
Roy Hodgson announced that he has been unable to contact Javier Mascherano. It appears that he is as good as gone from Liverpool.
Chelsea have supposedly made a 50 million pound bid for Torres.
Man Utd beat Celtic 3-1 in their preseason game, with Berbatov, Danny Welbeck and Ton Cleverly getting the goals. Cleverly is a highly rated youngster with great potential.

 

[jw5]

My prediction for top 3 and bottom 3 based on latest developments:

1. Chelsea
2. Man Utd
3. Spurs

18. Wolves
19. WBA
20. Blackpool

Liverpool to finish bottom half. Fulham to finish top half.

 

[Baimi]

Latest EPL news:

Fulham are about to confirm Martin Jol as their new manager.
Roy Hodgson announced that he has been unable to contact Javier Mascherano. It appears that he is as good as gone from Liverpool.
Chelsea have supposedly made a 50 million pound bid for Torres.
Man Utd beat Celtic 3-1 in their preseason game, with Berbatov, Danny Welbeck and Ton Cleverly getting the goals. Cleverly is a highly rated youngster with great potential.

Cleverly?? the name live up to it's reputation.
On the look out on him, coming season,
hope he can play more games.

 

[BlueCat]

should be from these 3 clubs

Chelsea,Manchester United and Manchester City

 

[jw5]

I think Man City will have a lot of infighting this season.
They have a lot of above average players fighting for first team places. The team is not a great team and there are no great players yet.
If Arsenal can get a good keeper, they will be strong.

 

[Alamaking]

No hope for Man U to win the BPL this coming season, yes, words coming from a Man U fan like me, LOL
Lousy midfield (except fletcher), mediocre defense, strikeforce? depends on their mood, LOL.
I hope Hernandez will rise to the occassion, and Obertan....

Man City should be in top 3, world top players, just need teamwork. I wont be surprised if they top Man U

 

[jw5]

Liverpool have signed Joe Cole on a free transfer.
Looks like they have got themselves a good player.
But they need to keep Torres, Gerard and Mascherano, otherwise, they have no chance of finishing in the top 4.

 

[silverfox@]

Liverpool have signed Joe Cole on a free transfer.
Looks like they have got themselves a good player.
But they need to keep Torres, Gerard and Mascherano, otherwise, they have no chance of finishing in the top 4.

I am still quite surprised why they let Benayoun leave the club. I actually think Benayoun is a better player than Mascherano though both are equally important. This season should be a better season than last season as Liverpool's only way is to fight up the ladder.

It is very hard to see Spurs maintain top 4. Many clubs which got to CL 1st time will have difficulty playing so many games and its a fresh start for all the clubs. Momentum might drop off since its a new season with much celebrating last season.

Arsenal only looks title challenger on paper. The whole team managed under Wenger is still living in their old days of past success. Who is their goalkeeper again? Their defence is totally dependent on Verminator and a french new signing. An attacking team will never win the league if their defence is weak.

Left man city, man utd and chelsea.

Man city is a team of new signings. I see them entering Top 4 this season, either at the expense of Spurs or Arsenal. Title challenging, might not go to the last wire.

Man Utd have tight wallets. Dependent on Rooney, misfiring Berbatov. Ferdinand and Vidic partnership affected due to Ferdinand's injuries. Giggs and Scholes are really getting on to last the whole season. Might get 2nd again.

Chelsea main strength is in Cech, Terry, Lampard, Anelka, Drogba, Essien, Cole. The problem for the rest of the league is these players I mentioned are very consistent players. This is the reason lacking for the rest of the clubs, Arsenal, Liverpool are very inconsistent. Likewise man city. Spurs I don't think can fight well this season due to so many games. Man Utd need fresh blood.

The one with advantage is Chelsea over Man Utd:o

 

[allanlee]

I am still quite surprised why they let Benayoun leave the club.

Benayoun himself wanted out. He stated his reasons in his farewell blog to the liverpool fan club.

Man city is a team of new signings.

Man City is a team with quality players but the in-fighting among the "stars" has oredi started. No one is talking to Robinho now. I believe he will ask for a transfer when they return from the States. Unless they can put their house in order I dun see them finishing among the Top 4.

Chelsea main strength is in Cech, Terry, Lampard, Anelka, Drogba, Essien, Cole. The problem for the rest of the league is these players I mentioned are very consistent players.

Chelsea players are getting old.
John Terry is not himself anymore.
No more Ballack leadership when the game not going their way.
Nicholas Anelka is over the hill.
Drogba wants out.
Joe Cole has oredi left.
But Chelsea is still a formidable team and should be among the Top 4.

Arsenal, Liverpool are very inconsistent.

Somehow the new Liverpool manager keeps giving me the +ve vibes whenever I read something about him.
I have a gut feeling Liverpool will be the surprise team of the 2010/2011 BPL.
Looking at the players they have -
Pepe Reina, Glenn Johnson, Jamie Carragher, Martin Skrtel, Daniel Agger, Lucas Leiva, Dirk Kuyt, Maxi Rodriguez, Joe Cole, Albert Aquilani, Stevie Gerrard, Milan Jovanovic, Fernando Torres........they look quite an exciting attacking team.

Of course if Javier Mascherano, Ryan Babel, Albert Riera chooses to stay, then it will be even better. :p

 

[jw5]

Benayoun disliked Benitez. If what Benayoun said about Benitez was true, the latter is a real asshole. When he was negotiating with Chelsea, Benitez had not left yet.

Man City don't have any great players, except perhaps Tevez.

Bro Silverfox was talking about Ashley Cole not Joe. But Ashley may leave too. Anelka and Terry will not be the same players.

Liverpool need a new left back and hope that Torres and Gerrard won't leave. The latter probably won't.

 

[jw5]

Latest EPL news:
Man City have signed Serbian defender Kolarov from Lazio for 19 million pounds.
They have now signed Yaya Toure, Jerome Boateng, David Silva and Kolarov.
They may sell as many as 12 players before the transfer deadline, as they can only register a squad of 25 players above 21 years old.

Hodgson has admitted that Torres has a problem with the club, not him, and may want to leave.

Chelsea have signed Brazilian defensive midfielder Ramires for 20 million pounds.

Man Utd have extended Vidic's contract for the next 4 years, thereby reducing speculation he is leaving.

I still don't think Man City have a great team and the EPL should be an open race in the new season.

 

[jw5]

The prelude to the new english premier league season is here.
The community shield pits last seaosn's premier league and fa cup champions Chelsea against rivals and premier league runners up Man Utd.

Ancelotti has already named the Chelsea team:

Starting XI: Henrique Hilario, Paulo Ferreira, Branislav Ivanovic, John Terry, Ashley Cole, Michael Essien, John Mikel Obi, Frank Lampard, Salomon Kalou, Nicolas Anelka, Florent Malouda.

Subs: Ross Turnbull, Didier Drogba, Ricardo Carvalho, Yossi Benayoun, Yuri Zhirkov, Gael Kakuta, Daniel Sturridge, Jeffrey Bruma.

Cech, Alex and Bosingwa are out injured.

For Man Utd, Hargreaves, Ferdinand, Obertan, Anderson and Carrick are out injured. The Da Silva twins may miss the game due to illness. Evra has just retured from holiday and will not play. Rooney, Hernandez and Vidic are not likely to play the whole game.