Predicting the 2020/21 PL Table: part 2
Welcome back to this two part series, and today we will be taking a look at my predictions of the upper half of the table.
10. West Ham
West Ham blew our minds last season by securing Europa League football after a very long period of languishing in the bottom half. However, I don’t really see them maintaining that level of performances due to the lack of reinforcements. The Hammers exceeded expectations due to stellar performances by their stellar performances up top, including Jesse Lingard’s superb loan spell at the club. I can’t really see them signing him, which should lead to their downfall, though I doubt they will decline at the rate Sheffield United did. They also require reinforcements other than Lingard, and only if they secure 2 or more signings, which is looking less likely every passing minute as the transfer window approaches its last weeks, will they continue to be in Europe
9. Leeds United
Marcelo Bielsa’s team did great last season, finishing in the top 10 of the PL after being promoted 16 years since their relegation. I expect them to maintain their stellar finish, due to their great squad and potential reinforcements, as they are linked to players of high calibre, such as Adama Traore. However, the teams further up the table have also been quick in recruiting reinforcements, which means i tip Leeds to maintain, and not improve, their top 10 finish.
8. Aston Villa
Villa did pretty well by their standards last season, but I expect them to jump 3 places after they have done amazingly well in getting in new signings. Their attacking 4 in a 4–2–3–1 could now consist of Grealish, Buendia, Bailey and Watkins, which is a pretty scary front 4 if you ask me. However, while the rest of the squad is stacked too, their squad depth is shallow so I feel that while they could be the dark horses in the race for European football, they most likely will just fall short of the Conference League.
7. Spurs
Sorry Spurs fans, I just don’t see how your squad can progress much after such a slow, taxing rebuild. Paritici is doing his best to enhance the club’s squad, but you can’t help but feel they just haven’t done enough — yet. Their current signings of Bryan Gil and Gollini are just squad players with huge potential, and shouldn’t play a huge part in this season unless there are injuries. This doesn’t bode well, since Spurs need at least 3 signings of players who pick themselves in order to improve on their finish. Thus, I predict the Spurs will finish a meagre 7th next season.
6. Arsenal
Arsenal have brought in some great signings this summer, but I can’t really see them doing any better than this, which is good enough already after how dreadful Arsenal were last season. Their defence will be much improved by White, while Lokonga should be an interesting player to watch out for. However, the Gunners still need more — a striker, a first team keeper and a new right back. They also need to sell fast, but it’s no surprise no one is willing to throw cash around at the likes of Bellerin after the club’s dreadful 8th place finish. All in all, the Gunners will improve, but only over time and gradually.
5. Leicester City
This is an interesting call from me, as I tip the Foxes to their third 5th place finish in a row. Don’t get me wrong, they are a fabulous team, but their limp finishes at the end of the season and their lack of squad depth is what makes me skeptical of them getting Champions League football for 2022/23. However, they have signed some massive names in Daka and Soumare, and if there is any chance of them sneaking into the top 4 in the next few seasons, now is the time before the inevitable sale of stars like Maddison begins.
4. Liverpool
This one seems a bit controversial, but even after Liverpool have signed a potentially world-class centre back in Konate, they still need a box-to-box midfielder as well as a new forward. The Scousers had possibly the worst title defence in history last season, not because they relinquished it or because they finished way behind the champions, but because their football was simply not up to their standards or potential. This season, they will look to bounce back, but I can’t really see how their squad is any better than the next three teams despite them having an amazing front three. Only Salah and Jota were up to the mark last season, with Mane and Firmino both having off seasons. Therefore, I feel Liverpool will just miss out on finishing 3rd.
3. Chelsea
The Blues have been exceptional in the last few months, barely missing out on the FA Cup before securing Europe’s most coveted trophy. I feel this season will bring more joy for them, as I expect them to win another cup, as well as challenge for the title. However, I feel they will marginally miss out on the PL, not because of squad depth issues, but more because of the quality of their squad depth. On paper, their squad is possibly up there with Man city, but in terms of performances, the big names like Ziyech and Werner didn’t really show the amazing quality of performances they were bought for. All in all, expect Chelsea to be on the periphery of glory, but barely miss out on the PL.
2. Man City
This one could really come to bite me at the end of the season, but I’m still going to go for it because I truly believe now is the time for Manchester United to win it and kickstart yet another era of dominance. Believe me, I admire Pep’s team for all its talent and finesse, but I can’t see them winning it again without a striker. The need for a top striker in the modern game is always there, but Man City in particular need it due to how they play. Jesus is hardly up to the standards Pep demands, and Ferran Torres is clearly more comfortable on the wing, so Man City virtually have 0 reliable striker options. This should come to haunt them if they let the title slip like I feel they will, which is why I will go as far as to say they could possibly win the domestic cups and the Champions League, but the Premier League will always be doubtful without a striker.
- Manchester United
This may seem a tad biased, but I am backing my club to go all the way this season. Last season, we finished second much to the surprise of rivals, as well as ended up as Europa League finalists, but we were unable to get our hands on a trophy yet again. However, after the key signings of Sancho and Varane, I feel if we just get a CDM/ Box to Box midfielder like Ruben Neves or Camavinga, we will be able to go all the way and win the biggest prize in England: the PL. I also predict that Donny VDB will play a bigger part this season in the club’s new, more attacking 4–3–3. To sum up, I feel it’s a situation of now or never for the Red Devils, and they will finally get their hands on the PL for the first time since 2012/13.
So, that’s all for this article, I hope you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Do look out for my next series, Ranking the Home and Away Kits of each PL team, and till then, sayonara!
