Premiership projections for next season

Makes interesting reading, take a look at this  

   

Premiership Projections: Reds To Win Title?

Will Steven Gerrard hold up the Premiership next May?

Sky Sportzine looks at which teams are likely to be an improved force next season and what clubs will slip from their performances of last term.

It is a little too early for predictions, so three simple judgements were made on each club. Compared to their 2005/06 points tally, are they likely to be Better, Worse or the Same in the 2006/07 campaign.

Chelsea - 2005/2006 points tally: 91. 2006/2007 Projection: Worse.
This is not to say they will not win the league, just that they will not be the indomitable force they have been for the last two years. Despite adding world class stars Michael Ballack and Andrei Shevchenko to their roster there seems a slight air of uncertainty around Stamford Bridge. With question marks over both full back positions, every wideman bar Joe Cole, William Gallas wanting away, Claude Makelele another year older and the ultra-successful formation set to be changed by Jose Mourinho, the title seems less of a shoo-in than it did last season. They are worthy favourites but will not win with the same ease as last time.

Manchester United - 2005/2006 points tally: 83. Projection: Same.
United performed admirably last season without a recognised centre midfield but they are unlikely to go a step further without one this time around. A return to form from Paul Scholes would be welcomed by most football fans as much as Sir Alex Ferguson, but even if this is realised a partner is required with Michael Carrick the number one target. A replacement for Ruud van Nistelrooy is the other priority and Ferguson will be hoping Fernando Torres can be snared from Atletico Madrid. Even without Gary Neville and Gabriel Heinze the defence was solid last season and should be better this time around, but the question marks elsewhere mean they are unlikely to better last season's second place.

Liverpool - 2005/06 points tally: 82. Projection: Better
Could it be time for The Reds' first title in 17 years? Their improvement in the league last season may have went under the radar but if Chelsea do slip a little this season then they seem the best placed to capitalise. In Craig Bellamy they may have the signing of the season, certainly (injury permitting) a far more potent threat than Fernando Morientes or Djibril Cisse and the perfect foil for Peter Crouch. Defensively, their additions look solid and in Sami Hyppia they have a consummate veteran pro seemingly content to mentor his eventual replacement. The midfield pairing of Steven Gerrard and Xabi Alonso remains the best in the division. Buoyed by the confidence of back-to-back Cup successes they will look to make a title charge this time around.

Arsenal - 2005/06 points tally: 67. Projection: Better
With their young players benefiting from the World Cup experience (and Theo Walcott from his finishing school - shrewd move Arsene), The Gunners will get more points than last season - and will need to if they are to gain Champions League qualification again. The centre of defence will be a slight concern, especially with Philippe Senderos missing the first couple of months through injury, as is Ashley Cole's apparent desire to leave (though Gael Clichy is a solid replacement). Tomas Rosicky looks like a perfect fit for the midfield though and barring a Thierry Henry injury they will pose a title challenge - although the required extra six wins (at least) it would take to win it may prove too big an ask.

Tottenham Hotspur - 2005/06 points tally: 65. Projection: Better.
Chairman Daniel Levy has said as much, this is the year Spurs must make the leap forward to Champions League qualification. The good news is they look perfectly placed to do so. Dmitar Berbatov is a proven scorer, more reliable than Mido and a great partner for Robbie Keane or Jermain Defoe. Damien Duff, assuming he signs, and Aaron Lennon will be the scourge of all full backs in the division. Their weakness at full back is also likely to be addressed while Ledley King and Michael Dawson's partnership will be that much more solid a year down the line. If Carrick stays they should be a stronger force.

Blackburn - 2005/2006 points tally: 63. Projection: Worse
The overachievers of last season have lost the quality Craig Bellamy brought them in the 2005/06 campaign and new signings Jason Roberts and Francis Jeffers do not guarantee the same return. The elongated Uefa Cup will not aid their league position and it seems unlikely that they will finish close to sixth this season.

Newcastle - 2005/06 points tally: 58. Projection: Same
Glenn Roeder brought much needed defensive discipline to The Magpies last season and this should ensure they do not spend much of the campaign perilously placed as they did last term. Though they performed creditably in their taster of life without Michael Owen and Alan Shearer, the striking department remains a problem. If they do not secure the big name strikers they have been linked with it is difficult to see Albert Luque, Shola Amoebi, James Milner and Kieron Dyer firing the goals to put them into Europe.

Bolton - 2005/06 points tally: 56. Projection: Worse.
The uncertainty over Sam Allardyce's position came at a transitional time at the Reebok with no replacements yet signed for the key veterans who left at the end of last season. A return to European football seems unlikely in the near future - indeed if the team is now over-confident about their Premiership status, they may find themselves struggling at the wrong end of the table.

West Ham - 2005/06 points tally: 55. Projection: Better
If ever a team can gain victory in defeat then it was The Hammers in the FA Cup Final. There should be no hangover from this disappointment and last year's impressive youngsters Daniel Gabbidon, Anton Ferdinand and Dean Ashton should only improve in their second season in the Premiership. Carlton Cole adds further depth to the striker position and Tyrone Mears from Preston looks a shrewd acquisition. Despite Lee Bowyer's arrival they may need to further strengthen the midfield, but The Hammers should be hoping for European qualification once again, this time through the league.

Wigan - 2005/06 points tally: 51. Projection: Worse.
Losing Jimmy Bullard, Jason Roberts and in all likelihood Pascal Chimbonda and Henri Camera could prove a real blow to The Latics' hopes of retaining Premiership safety. Last season's rocks at the back Arjan De Zeeuw and Stephane Henchoz are another year older and at this level centre halves can grow old overnight (ask Kenny Cunningham). Is Fitz Hall the answer. They seem to have overpaid at £5.5 million for Emile Heskey and it takes a leap of faith to see him and Nathan Ellington (if Paul Jewell manages to re-sign the West Brom striker) replicating the Roberts-Camara partnership.

Everton - 2005.06 points tally: 50. Projection: Better.
If there is to be a big climber in the table this season it could be The Toffees. Andy Johnson and James Beattie should give "The Chosen One" the potency in the attacking third he lacked even when they qualified for the Champions League two seasons ago. The superb organisation remains and in Joleon Lescott they have secured the services of the best defender outside of the Premiership at a reasonable price. There is no reason why Everton shouldn't qualify for Europe again.

Fulham - 2005/2006 points tally: 48. Projection: Same.
One of the best footballing teams of last season, they will struggle to replace playmaker Steed Malbranque, but the snare of Jimmy Bullard seems a shrewd acquisition. Chris Coleman will be hoping his young defence is less error-prone than last season and if he spends the money he recoups wisely they should again have enough to stay up.

Charlton - 2005/2006 points tally: 47. Projection: Same.
Many would expected the Addicks house of cards to fall once Alan Curbishley left but with Jimmy Hasselbaink's arrival and Darren Bent's new contract things are actually looking more positive since Iain Dowie's arrival. That said the fact that Charlton finished 13 points from relegation despite possessing the holy grail that is a 20-goal striker shows work is required on all areas of the pitch.

Middlesbrough - 2005/2006 points tally: 45. Projection: Same.
Difficult to tell. They may benefit from their great run in the Uefa Cup last season and Steve Gibson was obviously looking for continuity when he appointed Gareth Southgate. Should they keep the strikeforce of Yakubu and Mark Viduka motivated they have one of the best duos in the division with the capability to fire them into the top six. They were better than their 14th finish suggested last term and although it may be a transitional year the decline of others should see a higher finish.

Manchester City - 2005/2006 points tally: 43. Projection: Same.
It's make or break for Stuart Pearce after a poor campaign last year. City fans will hope Joey Barton's future can be secured, if so, then his partnership with Dietmar Hamann should give them a sound foundation to build upon. Greek striker Georgios Samaras flourished in spurts and it will be interesting to see how he develops, Andy Cole's fitness may have a big effect on this and City's final position.

Aston Villa - 2005/2006 points tally: 42. Projection: Worse.
Now without David O'Leary the prognosis looks negative for Villa. The new boss will have talented youngsters to call upon, who may just be enough to save them from relegation, but with fans' unrest at the chairman as high as ever it is not an envious task. With Milan Baros and Gareth Barry seemingly set to leave Birmingham, the manager will have a lot of pressure to spend the recouped money wisely. A 15-goal season from one of veteran strikers Kevin Phillips or Juan Pablo Angel seems a must.

Portsmouth - 2005/2006 points tally: 38. Projection: Better.Judging by their end of season form and extra investment, Pompey will not be scrambling around for survival come Easter 2007. Whether Harry Redknapp spends Alexandre Gaydamak's money wisely is open to question. Rumour has it that he wants to use this money almost wholly to sign Manuel Fernandes, Curtis Davies and Nicolas Anelka the signings of whom would not guarantee a top half position but should at least secure safety.



Please note that the views expressed in this Talking Point are not necessarily those of skysports.com.


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Loved the these might not be the views shared by sky sports, what as they say chelsea might not win the league :shock:

Interesting reading about the reds though, although tiny bit miffed about bellamy bit, don't they know pako one of best fitness coaches

And the everton bit also funny, should make europe...........then out in a month

The only way Everton will make Europe is when they go on their holidays !!  

According to that article

Chelsea - worse
United - same
Liverpool - better.

The title's ours then - crack open the champers lads...