Season 2015-16

Season 2015-16 Premier League.
My thoughts on the upcoming season.

Chelsea should start as favourites as they were the only consistent team last season, although the defence is another year older they still look solid. If Costa's dodgy hamstring holds up and Falcao shows some of his old form the rest will be chasing again.

Man City look like they will be relying on Aguerro again and might have to trust Bony now it looks like Dzeko and Jovetic are going. The defence looked suspect last season and the midfield were lightweight, they will be hoping Stirling can produce some of the form they have paid a lot of money for.

Arsenal look the best of the rest just because they now have a decent keeper, Arsenal's main problem over the last few years has been that they rarely have a full squad to choose from with a host of very fragile players like Wilshere, Walcott, Oxlade Chamberlain and now Wellbeck. If Sanchez can reproduce last seasons form and the others can stay fit, they might be in with a chance.

Man Utd finished 4th last season without ever appearing to know what their best team was and rarely turning it on. Not sure if the big signings will add much when they really needed some good quality defenders and are short up front.

Tottenham will be hoping Harry Kane isn't a one season wonder as his goals were the main reason they finished 5th, Lloris's injury must be a big concern for them although with Kaboul gone the defence should be better.

Liverpool once again spending big to try and buy success, Benteke is a good player but considering Rodgers has said he doesn't like playing with a target man seemed a strange buy? if Sturridge can get and stay fit they might do something but replacing Gerrard and Stirling could be a big problem.
I'll make a prediction - Rodgers will be gone before the season is out.

Southampton shocked everyone last year after losing most of their players but buying well and bringing in a good manager, once again 2 top players have gone but I think they will be alright although the Europa league might get in the way?

Swansea over achieved last season but will probably have enough to see them safe this season, if Monk can keep the same team spirit and maybe find another bargain striker.

Stoke are another team who surprised me last season, Mark Hughes got them playing some nice football and although the team contains a lot of players deemed not good enough by bigger teams, they fitted together well.

Crystal Palace were rejuvinated by Pardew and if he can keep the squad together they should do alright. Seems to be a state of mind with Palace as they looked really good under Pulis but were awful under Warnock.

Everton really need to improve on last season, they have good players who really didn't click last season. Lukaku is hit and miss and the midfield didn't really perform last season.

West Ham have added a few quality players but I still don't think Bilic is a patch on Allardyce, and the early season Europa league games have shown virtually no improvement. Might be a good thing if we are knocked out of Europe early.

West Brom should be solid under Pulis and Lambert is a good signing after wasting his time at Liverpool last season, if they can hang on to Berahino it looks like a good strike force with some solid midfielders behind them.

Leicester have made a huge blunder getting rid of Nigel Pearson, the teams success at the end of last season was built on a settled line up and the siege mentality generated by Pearson. So they replace him with the Tinkerman Ranieri?

Newcastle have actually spent some money and appear to have bought well so far, although you never know how foreign players will react to the English game, Mitrovic could be the striking option Newcastle were lacking last season. Still don't rate McLaren though and he will need early good results to take the pressure off.

Sunderland must be one of the favourites for relegation and will be praying there are 3 worse teams? some of their performances last season were abysmal and I was surprised they stayed up.

Aston Villa fans must have been feeling good at the end of last season with the team turning in some really good performances and reaching the Cup final. But losing Benteke, Delph, Cleverley, Vlaar and Given is a big blow. Sherwood will be hoping the replacements he has bought in can adapt quickly.

Bournemouth will probably accept that it's going to be a long season, although Eddie Howe has spent some money this week the rest of the squad probably over achieved massively last season. Would love to see them do well but I fear it could be a one season trip to the top flight.

Watford seem to be pinning their hopes and a bundle of untried foreign players and Troy Deeney, might surprise a few teams but feel they will spend most of the season near the bottom.

Norwich have most of the players who were unlucky to get relegated 2 seasons ago, and probably look the most likely of the promoted teams to stay up and maybe do well. Might need to add a couple of players including a good striker.

Predictions :)
Top - 1-Arsenal, 2-Chelsea, 3-Man Utd, 4-Man City
Bottom - 17- Leicester, 18-Bournemouth, 19-Watford, 20-Sunderland