Guardian picks Chelsea to finish 3rd

[Wilson 358]

Then they are idiots.

[J.F. 1,484]

i was thinking Guardiola picks Chelsea to finish third..

[dodojojo 510]

I think so would Roman. Don't know why or how to explain it but I think winning the PL is more likely than winning the CL.

Explain it by saying Barcelona and Real Madrid.

I'd be overjoyed with the CL. And would gladly take 3rd for it.

[Guest justin_3d]

Fair prediction.

With City being a team now (well, they should be anyway) they will push for the title. Man United will always be up there too. I think we'll get 2nd at least though.

City may have a good team, but their manager is somewhat of a drag.

I would say the way their manager is, and the way the team is being built, it suits them better for elimination competition then long leagues.

Arsenal....don't have to explain that. So depending how Arsenal does will depend what Liverpool and Spurs can do. I rather Liverpool take over the 4 spot, cause they have shown to invest more money on players then Arsenal can do.

Spurs, i think they have spend over their heads, and if they can't maintain Modric, then it will show a club in decline.

As far as club that will be a tough cracker, i will put Sunderland up there. I think Sunderland can easily make it to the Europa league.

[BLionheart 516]

Actually BLionheart, Utd got lucky on many occasions last season that helped them win the title, their away form was atrocious so I wouldn't go as far to say they outplayed the rest but finished top of the pile because their home form got them there.

However I concur with you that they are worthy favourites & adding Sniejder will move them up another level. They have strengthened their squad after winning the title - something we failed to do before the start of last season (Ramires aside) instead we got rid of 2 quality players in Carvalho & Ballack which didn't do our campaign any favours but things could of been different if we had signed a couple of decent players & keeping those 2.

City & Utd have improved their squads after a successful season, something we did when we won back to back titles under Jose. I think we all know that we need a player with vision & a couple of wingers with pace but even bringing in 1 of those 3 looks optimistic.

That said I'm glad we our being written off & probably with some vindication but the pressure is then on our rivals. We are looking like a team that's hungry again that looks more like a collective unit instead of a team of individuals. Our defence was the best in the league again last season incredibly but we struggled to create & score goals. So for me if we can get that diamond in the middle of the park we will push City & Utd all the way next season.

You can say United were lucky during 2009-2010 that was the season where they actually were very lucky and overachieved , but last year they were miles ahead of us ... it was pretty clear during our 3 title deciders in the UCL and EPL . they with all my due respect outclassed us in those 3 games.

In 2009-2010 failed in big games , and it exposed that against lower teams they were just lucky , but in 2010 - 2011 they had some impressive results against us , arsenal ,city , liverpool and tottenham .

Our forward line is simply very bad , Malouda , Anelka , Kalou , Sturridge are below average wingers , Torres will not be back as long as he doesn't get enough service which won't come with those players and DD is now a SUB who can't win us the title on his own and even Lampard who has always been our savior and most consistent players is not the same anymore ....

Defensively we are superb , but Offensively United , City ,Tottenham , Arsenal and even liverpool are better than us .

what will give us the edge over arsenal and city is our experience and unity as a big team , but united are very experienced team and are a great unit as well .

I know it's very hard to admit that Man Utd has outplayed us last year , and with those additions they are much more likely to end up with the title again (if we don't add some players).

[dodojojo 510]

City may have a good team, but their manager is somewhat of a drag.

I would say the way their manager is, and the way the team is being built, it suits them better for elimination competition then long leagues.

I think this is logical. Mancini will simply settle for too many draws and will 2/3 into the season realize the one pointers won't be enough...except Mancini won scudetti with Inter and failed in the CL. Isn't that why he was replaced by Mourinho, who finally got them over the top?

Most logically then is that Mancini will fall short in the PL and CL :eyebrows:

[LDN Blue 7,903]

As far as club that will be a tough cracker, i will put Sunderland up there. I think Sunderland can easily make it to the Europa league.

Really? I back them for relegation. Without Bent, they're not a goal threat. Welbeck & Onouha's gone too. They're lost.

Sigh, if only Everton had some money. David Moyes is quality, he deserves to make some signings!

[Guest justin_3d]

I think this is logical. Mancini will simply settle for too many draws and will 2/3 into the season realize the one pointers won't be enough...except Mancini won scudetti with Inter and failed in the CL. Isn't that why he was replaced by Mourinho, who finally got them over the top?

Most logically then is that Mancini will fall short in the PL and CL :eyebrows:

They won the FA Cup. Very defensive minded, and counter attacking.

I am sure they can deploy the same style in the CL.

By the way Mancini puts the team in the field, they can defend as good as Mourinho Real Madrid.

And if City get another good winger, they can counter attack as good as Mourinho Madrid. Cause A. Johnson, and a new speedy winger will be similar to Real Ronalda and Di Maria, except that Ronalda is much better.

So as far as entertainment for the CL, i am glad that City is in the CL, cause i doubt that City will crumble under a team like Real as Spurs did.

Now if only Liverpool was also in the CL, it would be much entertainment from the PL side, cause even though Arsenal play good, they can't defend for crap, nor play with the passion as Liverpool puts in the field.

[Guest justin_3d]

Really? I back them for relegation. Without Bent, they're not a goal threat. Welbeck & Onouha's gone too. They're lost.

Sigh, if only Everton had some money. David Moyes is quality, he deserves to make some signings!

Bent will be hard to replace, but they did really good with Larsson.

Maybe one or two loans will help them fill that gap.

A. Villa has also made some good signings. Nzogbia and Given just recently.

So that's a team to have in mind as well.

Yeah David Moyes is a good coach. He should take over a top team.

I don't understand why City did not went for him.

He can take over Arsenal once, and if ever Wenger gets fired.

Or take over United once SAF retires.

[Tortilla9 390]

So as far as entertainment for the CL, i am glad that City is in the CL, cause i doubt that City will crumble under a team like Real as Spurs did.

Now if only Liverpool was also in the CL, it would be much entertainment from the PL side, cause even though Arsenal play good, they can't defend for crap, nor play with the passion as Liverpool puts in the field.

Every year Liverpool is out of the CL is a good year. Have you seen Liverpool's defending this pre-season? It's been sh*t and that's kind.

[Rambo 1,729]

This shouldn't mean we are aiming for third...stop the pessimism and let the players do their job. We haven't even seen the full potential of this squad under AVB yet.

[Kieran. 6,317]

This shouldn't mean we are aiming for third...stop the pessimism and let the players do their job. We haven't even seen the full potential of this squad under AVB yet.

Pessimism? United is better than us as of right now. You can argue City is, too. It's realism.

[Blue Armour 4,289]

I just can't agree with that. They may have improved over what was the simply worst ManUtd side in over 10 years.

Lol...that's what I meant..edited my post

[Beast 85]

Can't argue about finishing 3rd with the players we have now.

[didierforever 7,349]

i think we will finish in the top 2 (hopefully as no.1)... this squad is fierce and with drogba,anelka,lamps all close to the end of their chelsea careers are going to give more than their best... add to it the tactfulness of avb, i think we have definitely got a winning squad... but this is football... hard to predict anythin... last season manu were pathetic and yet won the season with 9 points... so we ll definitely be needing a little luck... but still just ve tat feel good factor about this season... its definitely not goin to be a disappointing one for us...

[bombayblue™ 55]

Guardian's predictions for last year (and actual positions in brackets):

3 Man Utd (1)

So I guess we're winning the league this season.

[Tomo 21,733]

I havent commented for a couple of weeks because ive been away and could not be bothered to sign in but i had too here.

I cannot believe anyone thinks United have strenthened that much, 6 good squad players have gone and been replaced by one good expierenced(ish) player and two young untested youngsters (and to say De Gea has looked shaky in pre season is a understatement) remember what happened to us last season when we tried a similar squad cutting exercise?

As for Liverpool to say they will worry us is quite honestly laughable, just because Dalglish was succesful in the 80's dont mean jack shit now, there team are not good enough, if Arbeloa, Alonso, Mascerano, Gerrard at his peak, Riise and Torres could not deliever the title do you honestly think Johnson, Henderson, Adam, a past it Gerrard, Downing and Carroll will?

Would not matter if Jose is incharge, Liverpool just aint good enough have they conceded less than 3 goals in a pre season match yet? they drew 3-3 to Valerenga reserves (and even their first team is 11th in their league) lost 3-0 to Hull and Galatasaray and let in 3 against Malasia and some other shower aswell. Liverpool if they are extremely lucky and i mean very lucky MIGHT by the skin of their teeth get top 4 but they are not a threat to us or the title what so ever.

[GodZola 630]

You can say United were lucky during 2009-2010 that was the season where they actually were very lucky and overachieved , but last year they were miles ahead of us ... it was pretty clear during our 3 title deciders in the UCL and EPL . they with all my due respect outclassed us in those 3 games.

In 2009-2010 failed in big games , and it exposed that against lower teams they were just lucky , but in 2010 - 2011 they had some impressive results against us , arsenal ,city , liverpool and tottenham .

Our forward line is simply very bad , Malouda , Anelka , Kalou , Sturridge are below average wingers , Torres will not be back as long as he doesn't get enough service which won't come with those players and DD is now a SUB who can't win us the title on his own and even Lampard who has always been our savior and most consistent players is not the same anymore ....

Defensively we are superb , but Offensively United , City ,Tottenham , Arsenal and even liverpool are better than us .

what will give us the edge over arsenal and city is our experience and unity as a big team , but united are very experienced team and are a great unit as well .

I know it's very hard to admit that Man Utd has outplayed us last year , and with those additions they are much more likely to end up with the title again (if we don't add some players).

They were also very lucky when Neville should of been sent off twice early in games when they were drawing, the second of which was against WBA when he committed & got away with a stone wall pen, Rooney then should of gone against Wigan after - 8 minutes but somehow stayed on the pitch! I think there was another involving Raphael & not to mentioned the stone wall pen that Blackpool were denied when they were already 2 nil down & those examples are just off the top of my head. We were the better side in the league game at home, totally dominated the second half but you are correct in the other accounters. But to say they outplayed the rest is a tad wide of the mark as there away form was nothing short of shocking.

Concur with you regards Maloulda & Kalou but Sturridge is quality & like Anelka he is not a winger & so many fans give him a hard time over it when he is a central striker that has played his best football there but is rarely given the chance to play there nowadays.

It's not hard for me to admit that at this moment & with Sniejder on the horizon Utd are in a better position than we are & we both agree that the service to our attackers is where we need to improve. What I'm saying is if we address that then I don't see no reason why won't be in the mix come May next year. I have total confidence in AVB & his management ideals its just the squad that lacks a little depth but just needs tweaking & not a massive overhaul that some are suggesting.