Now that the transfer window has been slammed shut for a while (until January) I have had time to analyse the teams as they stand right now. With that in mind here are my predictions for the final Premiership Table:
20) Swansea:
Financially secure but certainly not wealthy. Their outstanding buy is Goalkeeper Michel Vorm who has already produced numerous saves against Manchester City in the opening game. Despite bowing straight back out of the EPL they will always be the first Welsh team in the Premier League.
19) Norwich:
It is a miracle, considering where they were a couple of seasons back, that the East Anglian side are competing in the Premier League. The last team to do the back to back promotions into the Premier League were, of course, Manchester City. They, like Norwich, went back after one season. The club are holding more funds back for January and will spend according to where they are. This may be to little too late.
18) Newcastle:
Last of the relegation sides. My main reason for selecting these over the teams above them is the fact they have let their best players walk out of the club without really replacing them.
17) West Brom:
Barely surviving this season but I expect them, if Hodgson remains at the helm, the club to go from strength to strength. Already their signings have been quality, Shane Long up front and Ben Foster between the sticks.
16) QPR:
Neil Warnock, Joey Barton and SWP are the reason I have these guys surviving. Certainly a few days back it was looking bleak for the guys from London. There have been murmurings of a Beckham arrival. I really hope that isn’t the case. He would be more of a distraction I feel and upset the balance.
15) Fulham:
Not had the best of starts and Martin Jol has a tough task getting Fulham back to the highs of the Hodgson era. However they are a team of fighters and the Premiership always throws up a surprise or two.
14) Blackburn:
Fans want the manager out. Steve Keen has not had the best of starts and combined with the tail end of last season he has not had a good career to date. However he has signed Scott Dann and Yakubu in the window and if the Blackburn support can keep faith with him just a few more games I think he can do a decent job.
13) Everton:
Oh Lordy! Where do we start here? I would have them lower but they do still have a lot of talent despite losing Arteta. Moyes will celebrate his tenth year in charge of Everton in February but celebrate may not be the word unless investors can come in and get the current board out.
12) Sunderland:
I look for this to be Steve Bruce’s last season as Black Cat manager. He has spent a ton of money on a ton of players but this is the Premiership and they will need to gel quickly. Results have not been good so far. Besides the opening day draw with Liverpool they have lost the derby with Newcastle and failed to score against newly promoted Swansea.
11) Wigan:
Boss Roberto Martinez has strengthened his squad across the board but I stll feel this will be a tough season for the Lactics. Van Aanholt could work out to be a good loan deal while Shaun Malony from Celtic could prove to be the deal of the season at only 1million.
That concludes the bottom half of the season. Make sure to check out my other predications!