1. Manchester United (Mou's initial success before falling out with players next year)
2. Chelsea (Conte can build teams that don't lose a lot, especially with no Europe)
3. Liverpool (Trending upward and gets close, but not quite yet, maybe 17/18)
4. Manchester City (Players can't adjust to Guardiola quickly enough)
5. Tottenham (Increased inconsistency because of Europe)
6. Arsenal (Wenger is finally gone after this season)
7. Leicester City (European commitments hamper them too much)
8. West Ham
9. Stoke
10. West Brom
11. Southampton
12. Crystal Palace
13. Everton
14. Sunderland
15. Watford
16. Middlesbrough
17. Swansea
18. Hull City
19. Bournemouth
20. Burnley
Bundesliga:
1. Bayern
2. BVB
3. Leverkusen
4. Wolfsburg
5. Schalke
6. Gladbach
I don't understand Bayern's plan at CB and CF. I think they have big depth issues at both positions, and they also have some really injury prone AM's. I think they've improved at coach, but it might take some time for them to learn the Ancelotti system. Dortmund has not addressed the biggest needs. A team that already struggled at CB lost their best CB, and only added Marc Bartra. #8 is also a problem, didn't address it. Brought in a ton of attackers. Most of them were good buys. Leverkusen could surprise people. They made some good buys in the summer, and already have a good squad. Wolfsburg could rebound after a terrible season. I also liked their transfer business. I think Schalke's going to struggle. They've made some good veteran signings, but they've struggled for real leaders defensively for years, and I don't think losing Matip helps. Some might say gaining Embolo makes the departure of Sane lessened, but I don't think Embolo is that good. I feel like Gladbach overachieved last season, and losing Xhaka does not help.
I think Juventus, PSG and PSV will all win their leagues by 10+ points.
What what what.
Bundesliga top 4 will be the same as last year imo. Dortmund might have had a good chance if they had only sold one key player, but they sold their three best. Too many new and uncertain pieces. The team had already in large part come together by this point of last preseason and looked very good. They've had a lot more problems so far. I think they'll start slowly as a result of all the upheaval, and that will cost them any shot at the title. Hopefully they can do well in the cups at least.
My hunch for the EPL top 6:
City
United
Liverpool
Arsenal
Chelsea
Tottenham
Bayern has depth problems at CB and CF. They have two healthy CB's right now, Martinez and Hummels. Good players, but they don't really have any other healthy CB's. They also only have 4 CB's on their roster, and while a Hummels and Boateng pairing with Javi Martinez as the main back up is one of the best top 3's in world football, they have no depth after that. Badstuder is always injured. Are they going to keep the Pep strategy of playing full-backs and defensive midfielders as CB's? I think its a very poor strategy. They need CB's, not players who can line up for a few games as a CB. Benatia might've been out of favor, but why is he leaving on loan when they only have 3 CB's who can be expected to stay healthy this season, and one of those players is already injured?
I also don't understand what they are doing at striker. They have three strikers on their roster, two starters and then Julian Green, so you don't have a pecking order of three full time CF's. They have no depth at the position. Julian Green is not viable depth to replace Lewa when he needs a game off. Would it really have been such a big problem to sign someone for 10 million to sit on the bench? If they have an injury epidemic in March, what are the excuses going to be? They could strengthen in the winter, but they do need some better depth. Even the winger positions have questionable depth, considering that they are relying on very injury-prone wingers.
I think Pep is overrated, I've had this discussion with you and others before. It doesn't need to be rehashed. Also, I don't know why you are surprised that I said Dortmund has depth issues at CB. Sokratis is not a top level CB, its unlikely Bartra is either, otherwise why would Barca be getting rid of him? Bender and Ginter are stop gaps who can play a few positions, not starting CB's for a team that should be aiming to win titles. Dortmund needed to bring in CB's this summer before Hummels left. I don't know how you are happy with our CB depth. Sokratis and Bartra as your 3 and 4 CB's with the two stop-gap options is not bad, but those should be back ups, not the main CB's. CM is also a big problem. Castro, an extra AM, another DM are not long-term alternatives. Tuchel is building a team that can challenge Bayern eventually, but how can we challenge and do well in the UCL without CB's and a B2B mid? I liked the summer business, but the Schurrle money should've been spent on a CB or CM. The Guerreiro money could have also gone towards a CB or CM or Schmelzer could've been sold and that money went towards a CB or CM. Kagawa isn't needed either. Sell him, and buy a CB or CM.
You're thinking too superficially. Alaba put in class performances as a CB time and again. But he shouldn't even be a fourth option there, why, because he broke through as a LB and that's the only position you can associate with him?
Lewandowski never gets hurt and neither does Müller. Look up how many games those two have missed due to injury in recent years. CF depth is also irrelevant.
I'm concerned with Dortmund's CB's now, but it wasn't an issue last year as you implied.
CM is also a big problem. Castro, an extra AM, another DM are not long-term alternatives. Tuchel is building a team that can challenge Bayern eventually, but how can we challenge and do well in the UCL without CB's and a B2B mid? I liked the summer business, but the Schurrle money should've been spent on a CB or CM. The Guerreiro money could have also gone towards a CB or CM or Schmelzer could've been sold and that money went towards a CB or CM. Kagawa isn't needed either. Sell him, and buy a CB or CM.
They've done nothing but improve over the summer and both Dortmund and Bayern have some sizable changes, plus Carlo isn't as strong in the league coupled with their entire squad played Euros basically.
Guerreiro played CM in his first test for Dortmund. I think he has the skills to be a good CM too.
Maybe this will be not the season for something great.
If there is the Chance they should buy Toprak and Dahoud next season.
-----------------------Bürki
Pisczek--------Toprak-------Bartra---------Guerreiro
-----------------Weigl----------Dahoud
-------Dembele----------Götze------------Reus
----------------------Aubameyang
-
seems like everyone was high on Utd and low on SpursMostly bad predictions.
Rank| England | Spain | Germany | Italy | Netherlands1|Chelsea|Real Madrid|Bayern Munich|Juventus|PSV
2|Manchester City|Barcelona|Dortmund|Roma|Feyenoord
3|Liverpool|Atletico Madrid|Leverkusen|Napoli|Ajax
4|Arsenal|Celta Vigo|Gladbach|Internazionale|AZ Alkmaar
lol The Mourinho factor didn't pay off in season 1
Deng. I think I had all the right league winners except the Eredivisie (assuming Real doesn't stumble)...which is weird because I'd been talking about Feyenoord all off-season and mentioned them as league winners multiple times in the 'other domestic leagues' topic.
Underestimated Spurs this year. Pleasantly surprised with their performance.