Premier League 2015/2016 predictions; Part 1

By on July 31, 2015

Vacations are over, the preseason tours are done and dusted, the kits unveiled and there’s just one more indication that the Premier League is about to begin again: the Community Shield. Tomorrow, Arsenal will face Chelsea at Wembley to signal the start of the 2015/2016 season. As the games begin, Richard Lewis shares his personal previews and predictions for the coming Premier League season (not necessarily reflecting those of Football Every Day). In part one of two, Richard previews the top end of the table:

1). Manchester City

2). Chelsea

3). Arsenal

4). Manchester United

5). Liverpool

6). Tottenham

7). Stoke

8). Everton

9). Southampton

10). Crystal Palace

Premier League player of the season: Alexis Sanchez

Premier League top goal scorer: Diego Costa

Fantastic Four

Richard predicts the top four will be considerably tighter than in recent years, and references his predictions for the UEFA Champions League spots to the tune of Marvel’s Fantastic Four comic book series:

Manchester City

In Marvel’s comics, Reed Richards becomes the Elastic Man through his newly gained powers; in the Premier League, Manchester City may just be able to stretch to the title this season, speared headed by their new additions of Raheem Sterling and Fabian Delph. Added pressure will be on Sterling to deliver silverware for City, with his extraordinary £49 million price tag, although the former Liverpool man has so far impressed in pre-season friendlies. Filling the gap of their previously lacking youth, flair, and vibrancy, the Sky Blues are, on paper, stronger this season, while Manuel Pellegrini will be under immense pressure with Pep Guardiola’s Bayern Munich contract ending in the summer of 2016. By the owners’ clock, another title is in order.

City’s main goal threat will come from Sergio Aguero again, while Wilfried Bony will also look to have a greater impact off the bench now than he has had during pre-season. The Sky Blues won’t lose Yaya Toure to the Africa Cup of Nations this year, either. Aguero should get at least twenty-five goals in all competitions, while the likes of Sterling, Silva, Toure and Nasri will need to be potent in front of goal. Club captain Vincent Kompany should look to have a better season at the back, after underperforming in 2014/2015. City mostly certainly have the squad to handle the pressure of price tags and expectation. Verdict: First

Chelsea

Diego Costa may be as strong as The Thing, but the Brazilian born Spanish international hasn’t been able to keep away injury threats; specifically, his hamstrings. Costa will need to stay injury free, having placed such a big role in the club’s title winning 2014/2015 campaign, for the Blues to remain favorites to retain their title. If the club can keep the injuries away, however, great things are in store. Mourinho has already targeted improving in the Champions League, with their Round of Sixteen exit to Paris Saint-Germain perhaps the only task Mourinho left ahead.

So far this summer, the club have only so far acted to replace departures, with Radamel Falcao and Asmir Begovic filling gaps left by high profile exits of club legends Didier Drogba and Petr Cech. It is well known that Mourinho is still in the market for Everton’s John Stones, but apart from the potential signing of the coveted young, English defender, no other deals appear to be at hand. Why should they? Mourinho’s side has proven it can win the league and now, the challenge is consistently performing in Europe as well. However, with title passing hands so many times in recent seasons, it seems more likely that Chelsea will slip to second. But Mourinho is always out to prove the critics wrong. Verdict: Second

Arsenal

Arsenal most always fly under the radar in the title race, not the least because of their history of fourth place finished. Yet after winning the FA Cup for two seasons in a row, it is only logical that the next step for Arsene Wenger’s will be gunning for the Premier League title. Much like the Invisible Woman, perhaps Wenger would enjoy a cloak of invisibility until it is too late for his rivals.

Petr Cech will solve the club’s goalkeeping issues for the foreseeable future, while the Gunners have already had a strong pre-season, with the likes of Mesut Ozil shining. The likes of Piers Morgan would accuse the Frenchman of not splashing out enough on new players and certainly, there will be enormous pressure on Alexis Sanchez to have the same sort of season he had last year, unless another marquee attacking name comes through the doors at The Emirates. The likes of Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey are improving year over year and a surprise title challenge, similar to that in their 2013/2014 campaign, may well be in order; but it seems more likely that they’re still one or two seasons behind their rivals. Verdict: Third
Manchester United

Louis van Gaal can sometimes be as fiery as the Human Torch, but the Red Devils still have some work to do before they set the Premier League alight. The Dutchman will want to go out with a blaze of glory, and thus United have splashed out again on new signings, with Memphis Depay among additions. A summer blockbuster of spending seems to be natural disposition of the Old Trafford club in recent years, which only adds to expectation of silverware returning to the highly decorated side sooner rather than later. The Premier League title should not be ruled out, but winning the League or FA Cup would be a start for Van Gaal. The jigsaw is obviously not fully complete, with Mike…I mean Chris Smalling the best center-back at the club, as Sergio Ramos looks set to stay with Real Madrid. However, Daley Blind has also been tested as a center-back during preseason.

Angel Di Maria looks set to exit for France, less then a year after joining for a British record fee, with the expected £44 million income from the sale likely to be spent on snapping up Spanish forward Pedro for £22 million from Barcelona. Pedro can play as a winger or striker and undoubtedly comes with experience, but United simply lack the difference makers of the quality if Eden Hazard and in the Champions League, Arjen Robben or the Messi’s and Ronaldo’s. United should put in decent runs in all competitions, but will need to over-perform to win. Verdict: Fourth

The rest of the best!

Liverpool

It could be a case of Doctor Doom for Brendan Rodgers if his new signings aren’t successes, as the Reds look set to be the fifth wheel amongst the league’s heavyweights. The likes of Christian Benteke and Roberto Firmino will need to prove themselves as capable on the big stage, otherwise it could be another down-year for The Reds. The cases of flops such as Mario Balotelli. Even if the new additions mold in at Anfield, they will need to go some way to restore the team as title contenders, specifically, filling the hole left behind by Raheem Sterling. The Reds could push for top four finish or instead try to win the UEFA Europa League, to guarantee Champions League entry. Rodgers has not won anything in his tenure so far, so this season is make or break for the Northern Irishman. Verdict: Fifth

Tottenham Hotspur

Only five crew member went to space in the Fantastic 4 and Doctor Doom references will end here (your welcome?), but Tottenham Hotspur will still want to show they can compete with the best of them this season. Spurs rely heavily on their talisman striker Harry Kane, who will need to have another impressive campaign if the North London club are to stand any chance of challenging the top four. Not many have come through the White Hart Lane doors so far this summer, only three new defenders. Another forward or marquee midfielder is definitely required to support Kane; a few of the club’s sleeping stats such as Christian Eriksen could also fill the gap. However, Europa League fixtures may harm the club’s league form. Tottenham don’t look strong enough to dirty their hands in the top four race, but certainly not weak enough to drop out of the challenge for Europe. Verdict: Sixth

Stoke City

Stoke City is no Barcelona; but since Mark Hughes took over in 2013, the club have veered from their traditional long-ball style play into a more possession-based game. They’ve invested in the right players to make the transition happen, with four former Barca players amongst their ranks. Bojan Krkic’s season was cut halfway short with an injury, but the nimble forward will look to light up the Britannia Stadium upon his return in early September. Signings like Glen Johnson and Ibrahim Afellay can help the club push for a Europa League place after a ninth-place finish last season, it’s now just a matter of whether The Potters’ Catalonia type players can do it on cold, wet Tuesday nights. Verdict: Seventh

Everton

This season, at least Roberto Martinez won’t have to fret over the hassle of Thursday night Europa League football, considering Everton didn’t even finish in the top half of the table last May. Already, Martinez has enough problems on his hands in order to restore Everton to the stability they had achieved at the top end of the league in previous seasons.

Their form picked up towards the end of last season, and if the club maintain their focus and new signings such as Cleverley prove successful, there is no reason why Martinez’s men cannot finish in the top eight this season. To avoid the Toffees getting in a sticky situation again, Martinez should look to add one or two more names before the transfer window slams shut, but the capturing the tricky winger Gerard Deulofeu on a permanent deal from Barcelona is an exemplary start. The last season Deulofeu played in Merseyside blue, the club finished fifth in the Premier League. With Romelu Lukaku up front and almost the same squad they finished their 2013/2014 campaign with, Everton clearly have the quality to vault back up the league. It’s now about delivering. Verdict: Eighth

Southampton

Perhaps Southampton’s rivals have realized that the best way to slow The Saints’ indomitable rise in the football league is to leave it be. For what seems like countless summers past, Southampton’s young and vibrant squad has been picked apart by the big boys, only for the club to stick to their “Southampton Way,” wisely reinvest their earnings and come back stronger. This summer, Morgan Schneiderlin and Nathaniel Clyne have departed for Manchester United and Liverpool, respectively, but it’s nothing of the sort of mass exodus at St Mary’s last summer.

This season, Ronald Koeman will be juggling the Europa League, too, and thus invested in a wealth of depth, including Jordy Clasie, Juanmi, Cedric Soares, Cuco Martina, Maarten Stekelenburg and Steven Caulker. However, with the number of games in the coming season and the potential of added injuries to key players, a repeat of their seventh place finish last season, relying heavily on a fantastic start to the season, will be tough. They’ll be up there, but are certainly outsiders for Europe.

The South Coast club can enjoy a rivalry with Bournemouth this season, and the opportunity to build on what they have achieved in the last two years. Relegation is no longer a part of the picture, and instead Saints’ fans should enjoy their European adventure to the fullest in 2015/2016. Verdict: Ninth
Crystal Palace

A tenth place, mid-table place can sometimes be overlooked as a mediocre finish. But for Crystal Palace, a club with administration in 2010 still fresh in its memories, maintains their tenth place finish in the Premier League last season would signal the club’s intent for long-term stability at the right end of the league. Alan Pardew made an immediate impact in South London in the second half of last season, as he took over a struggling club and lead the Eagles swooping up the table.

This summer, he signaled his intent with a smart investment in Newcastle and French midfielder Yohan Cabaye, while also snapping up goalkeeper Alex McCartney from relegated Queens Park Rangers and young forward Patrick Bamford on loan from Chelsea. Palace know they can establish their Premier League status with another good finish this season, but should still be weary of what is over their shoulders in the bottom half of the table. They’ll do well to keep hold of Tottenham target and DR Congo international winger Yannick Bolasie to, as well as Jason Puncheon, who excelled in the latter half of last season, and Wilfried Zaha on their books. Everton have been linked with a move for Palace centreback Scott Dann, a deal that may go ahead should the Toffees sell defender John Stones to Chelsea. Pardew will want to keep his squad together and hope Cabaye can inspire that added bit of quality, potentially vaulting the club further up the table. That’s not to say that the fans, manager, and club wouldn’t be very satisfied with a tenth place finish.  Verdict: Tenth

 

About Richard Lewis

Richard Lewis can relate almost anything to football and quite often does! You may have seen Richard's previous ideas and work in the BBC Match of the Day Magazine, from 2011 to present. He is a Manchester United and England fan, but has gone to see Leyton Orient play with his O's season ticket in the 2013/14 campaign. Aside from football, Richard has written articles on Doctor Who and studies English Language and Linguistics at the University of Westminster. Aspiring sports journalist.