11. Watford
Bottom half time. After my hilariously bad shout for Watford to go down last year, I’ve popped them into mid-table. No majorly interesting signings and no majorly worrying exits, so 11th it is.
Keeping Deulofeu fit for an entire season would do them the world of good, but not enough to work miracles and lift them into Europe, I fear. Good luck to them.
I am also very, very excited about Ismaila Sarr coming to England. He is a massive diver, though, it has to be said, and he will probably polarise fans across the country. Great talent, mind.
Deeney is 9/4 to top score for Watford.
12. Southampton
Another tough one to pick. Ralph Hasenhuttl getting a full season under his belt should result in Southampton being far clear of any relegation danger. I really wanted Che Adams in my Fantasy team, but it just couldn’t happen in the end. I reckon the former Birmingham man will have a strong debut PL season.
At the back, they’ve added a number of players, too, who should only help to cement Hasenhuttl’s playstyle, pushing them further up the table.
Southampton to finish above Bournemouth is 5/6.
13. Bournemouth
One of the best (slightly backhanded) compliments you can give Bournemouth is that they are consistent overachievers. They have a largely average defense (barring Nathan Ake) and yet have never looked in danger of relegation since they arrived in the top division, owing largely to their fighting attitude – they are never a beaten side.
None of their signings particularly stood out to me, but they held on to Callum Wilson and Fraser who will be vital for their goalscoring.
Josh King is 2/1 to top score for Bournemouth.
14. Aston Villa
Doing a Fulham!!!!!
I don’t think Villa will “do a Fulham”. If you look at their signings, yes they’ve made plenty, but a few were securing loan signings, and some are there to bolster the bench. Heaton in particular looks a great transfer as I don’t think Jed Steer would have cut it in the Premier League, to maybe be a bit harsh.
They’ve got some nice early fixtures after they get Spurs out of the way, so will need to get going early.
Villa are 10/11 to be the best promoted side.
15. Burnley
No Europa League distraction for Burnley this year, so expect them to return to being a pain in the arse to visit. Turf Moor was nearly the ground at which City lost the title last year, but they managed to squeeze a ball centimetres over the line to win 1-0.
That (albeit) loss should indicate that Burnley are back to their miserly, annoying best. I don’t think they’ll be in any serious relegation trouble, but shouldn’t be pulling up any trees either.
Burnley are 4/5 to finish above Brighton.
16. Newcastle
Here’s a (possibly?) controversial one – Newcastle to stay up. I just think that their home form might get them over the line. Joelinton looks very exciting and Allan Saint Maximin is a wildcard. He’ll win you the game one week and disappear the next.
But, if you’re looking to survive, that kind of player can be invaluable for those 3 points that come out of nowhere once every three or four weeks.
Defensively, they still have one of the most underrated goalkeepers in the league in Dubravka and a decent centre back pairing.
Joelinton is 6/4 to top score for Newcastle this season.
17. Brighton
Okay, now we’re in really dicey territory. The four from here, I really could barely pick an order for them.
I had Brighton to go down when I started writing this (before the window closed) but their transfers (Aaron Mooy in particular) have made me reconsider.
Neal Maupay is an exciting striker to come into the Premier League, and offers a bit of bite up front that they were lacking. I don’t know much about Trossard, but he’s supposed to be highly rated, and Dunk and Duffy remain inseparable at the back.
Brighton are 4/9 to stay up.
18. Crystal Palace
Palace to go down. Zaha almost single handedly kept them up last year and his head is probably not in the right place any more following the summer transfer saga. Chances are that he’ll have a slow start to the season.
I do like Camarasa and McCarthy coming in, and as I said, it’s hard to pick the relegated team this year, but I think Palace are lacking at the back. Wan-Bissaka left meaning that Joel Ward or Martin Kelly will be back in the frame and neither is as good defensively.
Palace are 9/2 to be relegated.
19. Norwich
Last season, a lot of Norwich’s key results came right at the death of games. The Premier League is a lot less forgiving than the Championship, and they won’t be able to rely on that.
Their signings have not been particularly inspiring, though Ibrahima Amadou will be a good addition. Pukki will need early goals to give himself confidence that he can score in this league and they don’t have the easiest of starts, barring a second week home tie to Newcastle.
Norwich are 5/4 to go down.
20. Sheffield United
Much has been said about Sheffield United’s centre-back overlaps and its success in the Championship last season, but will that work in the Premier League? If Wilder sticks with it, with no backup plan there will likely be chaos.
If he changes tack against some sides, they may not be as adaptable as hoped. Honestly, I haven’t watched enough of Sheffield United to know the answers, but I would love them to stay up. Chris Wilder won Manager of the Year in English football last year, so it would be great to see him cement the side he dragged up from the bottom of League One as a top division team.
Sheffield to finish bottom is 3/1
Premier League Individual Awards
Right, Golden Boot.
I’m going Harry Kane. Spurs have added two creative central midfielders to their team and the Englishman has had a full preseason with his side, even scoring a halfway line goal against Juventus.
Salah and Aubameyang will be up there, too, but I just think Kane has the edge by being his team’s lone striker.
Player of the Season.
Seeing as I picked Manchester City to win the title, I think one of their players will finally clinch it (having been Liverpool players for the last two seasons) and my pick is Raheem Sterling. When he first moved to City I thought Liverpool would laugh all the way to the bank with £50m. But he has proved me wrong and improved every single year.
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