With only moments to go until Arsenal & Leicester City raise the curtain for the brand new Premier League season I wanted to try and predict how the table will look come May 13th 2018 and why.
20. Brighton and Hove Albion
Now believe me when I say it's a real pleasure to see Chris Houghton back in the Premier League after all he did for Newcastle but unlike the magpies this season I don't think he will have the same luck with the seagulls. Players such as Lewis Dunk, Anthony Knockeart and Glenn Murray i'm sure will have solid seasons again but just not enough quality or experience to survive at the first time of asking... sorry Chris.
19. Swansea City
This one for me really boils down to the obvious elephant in the room, except he's not an elephant he's Icelandic and his name is Gylfi Sigurðsson. Paul Clement has done a good job in keeping the swans afloat in the league however for their main man Sigurðsson I feel it's a case of if he doesn't leave in this window he will jump ship in January. However, if the rumours are to be true of a return to Wales for Wilfired Bony I think Swansea might just have enough of an edge to stay up but at the moment for me, it's 19th.
18. Huddersfield Town
David Wagner burst onto the scene last season as he guided a team tipped for relegation to the bright lights of Wembley and the promise land which is the Premier League and he did it with style. Putting pen to paper for the permanent signing of last seasons player of the year Aaron Mooy was a fantastic acquisition for the terriers keeping the driving force of their midfield however, i still think they are lacking the quality and experience in key areas on the pitch to hold their own and stay up.
17. Burnley
Onto a team which can certainly hold it's own in 17th its Burnley. If Sean Dyche can keep Turf Moor a fortress this season even with the recent departure of Andre Gray I think that they will have just enough to stay up, all be it by the skin of their teeth.
16. Watford
The arrival of Will Hughs, Andre Gray and new manager Marco Silva would give any hornet a reason to feel optimistic going into the new campaign. However, owner Gino Pozzo seems to love playing roulette with his managers as Watford have seen 7 new faces in the dugout from 2014 which will surely have Marco Silva looking over his shoulder and perhaps focusing more on whats going on upstairs than on the pitch.
15. Newcastle United
"Lets talk about facts", this has been a summer of ups and downs for the toon army. Winning the Championship on the last day in the way we did was something I will never forget and keeping hold of Rafa Benitez still makes me pinch myself to this day. However, the same issues seem to keep surfacing as the frustration around our recruitment still remains. The additions of Florian Lejeune, Javier Manquillo, Mikel Merino and Jacob Murphy are good to see and with players like Siem De Jong and Rolando Aarons getting vital minutes in pre season I think we will have a comfortable season hopefully with an eye on the cup competitons.
14. Stoke
This for me could go one or two ways. If Mark Hughes can truly get the best out of his players this season there's no reason why they can't break into the top ten especially with the additions of Zouma, Fletcher and Choupo-Moting. However, for me when I look at Stoke i get an air of 50/50 and especially with the departure of Arnautovic to West Ham Xherdan Shaqiri really needs to step up and have a stand out season.
13. West Brom
Speaking of 50/50 new boy Jay Rodriguez may want to avoid a few this season and stay fit. The new signing could be the difference, like with Stoke, in breaking into that top ten. With him and Matt Phillips on each flank providing the right service to Rondon they could really bully defences this season and prove me wrong.
12. Crystal Palace
New manager Frank de Boer has a fantastic opportunity with Palace this season. If he can perhaps bring out some of the Cabaye of old in Ruben Loftus-Cheek and get Wilfried Zaha to become the winger we all thought Manchester United had signed back in 2013 they could be really deadly this season. Especially with Andros Townsend bombing down the other wing they could almost replicate a Liverpool style counter attack and catch a lot of teams out this season.
11. Bournemouth
I think everyone has a soft spot for Eddie Howe and what he has managed to achieve with Bournemouth, the fact that they can now be considered by most a stable Premier League team given that in 2009 they were playing in League Two is quite absurd. In addition, the signings they have made this window in Ake, Defoe and Begovic are not only safe but strengthen the squad massively and are a real cu for a team like Bournemouth which is why I think they will be fine this season.
10. Southampton
Lets quickly spare a thought for the team Southampton could've been, from Bale to Shaw, Mane to Lallana they have brought through some fantastic talent over the years and if they could have kept hold of even half of these you would think they could be potentially right up there pushing the top eight. Be that as it may the saints still have a great team but it may take time for new manager Mauricio Pelligrino to adapt to the Premier League and really push on with their season. I wouldn't be surprised if they really made a push for a cup this season.
9. Leicester City
New manager Craig Shakespeare did a great job of settling a very unstable ship after Claudio Ranieri's departure last season after winning the league the previous season... still doesn't sound real. Anyway, the signings of Iborra and Iheanacho are massive improvements for Leicester and I think will hit the ground running in the new campaign and just push them into the top ten.
8. West Ham
I'm sure that the hammers will be blowing all kinds of bubbles in the new season as they for me have had one of the best transfer windows given the players they have managed to bring in. Joe Hart is a risk but if he can recapture some of his form I think he will be a great improvement on Adrian, likewise Zabaleta will bring a wealth of experience into the dressing room. Signing Marko Arnautovic will bring goals and creativity from midfield and also more competiton for the likes of Andre Ayew who will be itching to prove himself this season. Finally, Slavan Bilic must have considered throwing a street carnival when he managed to capture the signature of Javier Hernandez who for me again will hit the ground running and when/if Carroll can make a return West Ham could cause some real upsets this season.
7. Everton
The Beatles once said "money can't buy me love" and I feel a certain level of similarity with Everton as they have bought extremely well this summer with the money raised from the sale of Romelu Lukaku however, I just can't see them breaking into the top six unless someone above them falls out with the club doctor and finish 10th... again.
6. Spurs
I mentioned the bright lights of Wembley earlier in this article and where they shone bright for Huddersfield last season I feel as though they will startle Spurs this time around. On paper you can still argue that Spurs have one of the best teams in the league and one of the finest managers, but with no new faces in the door and a borrowed stadium which they can't call home I just think that they is too much uncertainty around Spurs for them to do any better than sixth this season.
5. Chelsea
The arrival of Alvaro Morata from Real Madrid would wet the appetite of any team around the world and rightly so if he can adapt to the English game however, he wasn't Conte's first choice which I feel could be the start of a rift between the manager and owner Roman Obramovic Yes Chelsea have made good signings this summer but I think that the amount of quality players on loan could come back to bite them with playing in Europe again their depth is going to be stretched really thin.
4. Arsenal
So the Wenger out brigade have been silenced, for now and with the signing of Alexandre Lacazette the gunners finally have a real focal point of their attack and someone who they hope they can rely on other than Sanchez. In addition, the fans could play an even bigger role than they did last season but this time in a much more promising way if they get behind their new signings and back Wenger even just one last time I think Arsenal could make a push for the title but with playing in the Europa League I don't think they will have enough strength in depth to do much better.
3. Liverpool
Fast, clinical, creative... these are just a few words that can describe Liverpool's attacking options this season. Jurgen Klopp has moulded this Liverpool team now into one that can really hurt teams, their counter attacking style will leave most defences flat footed next season and based on fire power alone I think it will be enough to propel them into the top three. If they can sure up a leaky defence and questionable goalkeeper they could really push on for bigger and better things, just not this season.
2. Manchester United
United have hit the nail on the head this season when it comes to their transfers. Signing Matic off Chelsea therefore freeing up Pogba to play in that number ten role behind Lukaku is a frightening prospect also weakening a rival for the title in the process. Jose Mourinhos biggest problem last season was converting draws into wins and with Lukakus goals now in the team they should have no problem taking the race for the title all the way to the final day but for me I think they will fall just a little short and I mean a sliver.
1. Manchester City
Pep Guardiola didn't exactly have the best start to life in England, kicking club icon Joe Hart to the curb, signing Claudio Bravo who seemingly couldn't catch a cold and trusting in a back four which clearly needed a change. Unlike with Everton I think Pep will show that money talks this season after spending a fortune on a defence which not only has quality but longevity and suits his explosive style of attacking play. In addition, surely lightning can't strike twice with new keeper Edison, if he can live up to the hype he will surely push De Gea for the golden glove this season. Finally, the singing of Bernado Silva just bolsters an already A-list attack and therefore I think Man City will simply be too much for most teams this season and have enough quality in the big games to edge it.
My 2017/18 Premier League Table
1. Manchester City
2. Manchester United
3. Liverpool
4. Arsenal
5. Chelsea
6. Spurs
7. Everton
8. West Ham
9. Leicester City
10. Southampton
11. Bournemouth
12. Crystal Palace
13. West Brom
14. Stoke
15. Newcastle United
16. Watford
17. Burnley
18. Huddersfield Town
19. Swansea City
20. Brighton and Hove Albion