Predictions 12/13 - Page 10

quote Exonerate

Are you telling me that, on paper at least, our squad isn't better than Newcastle's and Everton's?

If it is, it's not by much. On par with is probably more accurate, and making a case for weaker isn't the silliest thing in the world.

Suarez can't score goals? Really?

He ripped it up for Ajax, rips it up on a regular basis for Uruguay and had a very decent but not massively prolific first season with us and he can't score? That's not even taking into account that he's not your classic goalscoring number 9, he's much more of a creator. Take Kuyt's hat-trick against United last season for example.

Suarez is one of the best forwards right now, that's plain to see.

Memento Mori If you say so.

Star of Spurs I know you must hate Suarez but come on. People don't half go off reputation, FM and FIFA/PES.

I don't like Suarez personally because he's a *bleep*, you're right, but I just don't see him being one of the best forwards in the world.

He's a great player. Not one of the best.

Liverpool_96 Would say Aguero, Rooney and Falcao are definitely better than Suarez. Haven't personally seen enough of Higuain or Sanchez to make comment.

Alright whatever, but he is. As I said before, people go off reputation and computer games far too often when thinking of who is the best.

Definitely repaid the £30m I spent on him on my Chelsea save too.

quote Star of Spurs

I'll have you know he's ripping it up atm on my Liverpool save.

quote CWCA

Definitely repaid the £30m I spent on him on my Chelsea save too.

Right useful when making skills videos too. 5 STAR SKILLS.

Don't think he's as good as those L96 listed though, although it's hard to judge strikers like Suarez when he's different to most of them. Sanchez isn't really a striker either.

I'd say Liverpool's squad is stronger than ours, comparing the two best XI's though, there's not much between them, and we look a lot more balanced as a team going off last season. Doesn't really work just comparing position against position, Liverpool fans probably wouldn't take Gutierrez (they might actually now I think of it) but he's invaluable to us. Just like both sides wouldn't probably swap Cisse and Suarez around, comparing individual players doesn't work. Liverpool probably have the better individuals but perhaps we work better as a team.

Happy we're being touted for another top 6 run, but can't see it personally. Traditionally we take the second tier European competition seriously (maybe England's greatest representatives in it, over a period of time) and I can't see that changing, recent history tells us it's a very winnable competition if you really go for it. We'll really go for the cups as long as we're in a comfortable league position, so there'll be a lot of change I'd have thought, we need another 3-5 players to be able to really challenge effectively on all fronts I reckon, which Pardew seems to agree with. Hope we just stick the kids out consistently in the League Cup, and really have a crack at the Europa League and FA Cup. God knows how it'll go, providing we do well in the cups, top half is acceptable. Falter early on in the cups and I'd hope we can get a top 7 finish.

Almost a shame really, I think this season is looking good for another crack at the top 4, Arsenal look more vulnerable by the season (I know I know), Spurs are a bit of an unknown right now, lose Modric and don't replace Adebayor adequately (hehe) and they might struggle early on, I can't see how Chelsea's attack will work and still have major question marks about their defence, and they haven't replaced Drogba (Torres is way way past 'he'll come good soon' by now), Liverpool, I just can't see it quite yet. Noone's really looking dead certs for the remaining 2 CL spots, Everton really padding out their squad, have a strong starting XI and no European distractions, they're my tip for a decent crack at it. Top 9 teams from last season (Man City, Man United, Arsenal, Spurs, Newcastle, Chelsea, Everton, Liverpool, Fulham) look hard to shift from those spots for me, reckon we can categorise all them as safe, and surely impossible to see Villa faltering so much again, even if they've been very quiet this summer, think Lambert and a fresh start will lift them. Seems naive to think so, but I just think Wigan will stay up fairly comfortably this time round, riding high from last year. Same goes for QPR, last season was very much 'lets survive and move on' and I think they will. There's always one club from the promoted pack that ruffles a few feathers and I think it'll be Southampton this time round, big crowd there to get behind the team and have a lot to prove, think there'll be a carnival atmosphere helping them at many of their games to cheer them on as well. Reckon Swansea, Stoke and West Ham won't convince, but will survive. Not sure Reading have enough quality all over the pitch to survive at this level, and can see it being the end of the road for West Brom. Sunderland look poor to me, but I think they'll have enough about them to just make it, leaving Norwich going down, second season syndrome.

1. Man United
2. Man City
3. Arsenal
4. Chelsea
5. Liverpool
6. Tottenham
7. Newcastle
8. Everton
9. Fulham
10. Aston Villa
11. QPR
12. Wigan
13. Southampton
14. Swansea
15. West Ham
16. Stoke
17. Sunderland
18. Reading
19. West Brom
20. Norwich

To be honest everyone after Fulham looks poor to me, can see there being a decent gap.

Right, here's the real list.

1.) Man City
2.) Man United
3.) Arsenal
4.) Chelsea
5.) Tottenham
6.) Liverpool
7.) Newcastle
8.) Everton
9.) Sunderland
10.) Fulham
11.) Aston Villa
12.) West Brom
13.) Stoke
14.) Wigan
15.) West Ham
16.) QPR
17.) Swansea
18.) Southampton
19.) Norwich
20.) Reading