It’s back! Today sees the start of the 2016/17 English Premier League season, and one thing everyone and his dog appear to agree on is the 2015/16 Premier League season was a one-off. Not only were 5,000/1 Leicester City crowned champions by 10 clear points, Arsenal, Manchester City and Man United faltered with a stop / stop season, while Liverpool‘s chances were savaged by an injury crisis and Chelsea went into complete meltdown, and only scrapped into the top half of the table all season.
Tottenham and Leicester were the only two consistent teams throughout the whole season. Both played exciting football that relied on pace and fitness. But Spurs choked as they entered the final straight. The path to glory was left for Claudio Ranieri and Leicester to win the Premier League. But this season will be a lot different.
There are no less than eight new managers; and with the arrival of Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho in Manchester and Antonio Conte at Chelsea, expectations are super high; and winning the Premier League is once again back on the agenda for all three of the so-called ‘big four’.
But with Man City, Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham and possibly Leicester all realistically looking to compete for a top four finish, this could be the season that Arsene Wenger and Arsenal miss out on Champions League Football.
Chelsea and Manchester City have made some marquee signings but it is Man Utd who have led the transfer headlines. Jose Mourinho targeted four stellar signings that along with goalkeeper David De Gea, will become the new look spine of Manchester United; and if Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Pogba & Mkhitaryan hit the ground running, it will interesting to see where Wayne Rooney fits in to this team.
The two Manchester clubs of managers go head-to-head as the bookies favourites to win the Premier League. But I think it might take some time for both Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho to get their teams playing the way they want to. While Chelsea appear to be quietly going somewhat under the radar. The fourth team I believe will make this season a much closer fought won, is Tottenham. But this depends if Mauricio Pochettino can strengthen his squad in the next couple of weeks and that the Euro 16 finals hasn’t drained the confidence of his England players.
Buzzin Football Premier League 2016/17 predictions:
Premier League to be won by no more than three points by either Manchester City, Man Utd, Chelsea or Tottenham.
Arsene Wenger and Arsenal miss out on qualification to next season’s Champions League.
Liverpool, Leicester & Arsenal to fight it out to the last day of the season for a top six finish.
Hull City (Tigers) to be relegated with a Premier League low record number of points
Three from Hull, Swansea, Sunderland & Burnley to be relegated.