[Archived] Premiership Table 2006/07

[Florida Rover]

Here was the Guardian's preseason take on us :CLICK

[Presty On Tour]

Here was the Guardian's preseason take on us :CLICK

a rather interesting preview, a bit different anyway

[sleepyjack]

I do quite like that preview. Hurrah.

01. Chelsea

02. Liverpool

03. Arsenal

04. Manchester United

05. Tottenham Hotspur

06. Newcastle United

07. Everton

08. Blackburn Rovers

09. West Ham United

10. Portsmouth

11. Aston Villa

12. Middlesbrough

13. Fulham

14. Bolton

15. Manchester City

16. Charlton Athletic

17. Sheffield United

18. Wigan Athletic

19. Reading

20. Watford

[Fife Rover]

Here was the Guardian's preseason take on us :CLICK

A typical condescending Southern Pillocks view of "poor little Blackburn's much above their station" performance and prospects. At least we are real people, unlike Essex Man and his "peeounds"!!!

[cn_barlow]

A typical condescending Southern Pillocks view of "poor little Blackburn's much above their station" performance and prospects. At least we are real people, unlike Essex Man and his "peeounds"!!!

I liked that preview.

not as bad as it could've been...very complimentary about the ground, and didnt even mention the Sh!te attendances!!

[bob fleming]

Here was the Guardian's preseason take on us :CLICK

Good preview!

"Reformed leg-breaker Lucas Neill..... Barcelona were briefly said to be interested, a transfer link so daft it could only be outdone if Real Madrid bid Melbourne Victory FC £67m for Kevin Muscat."

[philipl]

The Guardian preview, Bob's review and Kanu signing for Pompey have tempted me out of my shell. So the Premiership table will NOT look like this:

1 Chelsea - third time but will be a competition this year because

2 Liverpool - would win it but for Abramovich's buying power and Mourinho's ability to keep it together

3 Tottenham H - Jol will be so determined after the Canary Wharf trots and he's pulled a good squad together and has his summer transfer budget still intact

4 Arsenal - could have an iffy start with so many injuries and losing Reyes will be a huge miss but Arsene will make one or two key signings. If not they'll miss out on CL and not

5 Manchester United - ignore the name and look at the squad, its not good enough. Carrick starred in Rovers 7 W Ham 1 remember?

6 Blackburn Rovers - we came 15th twice running so why not?

7 West Ham U - a very serious threat. They've hung onto the players they wanted to and their signings are shrewd. Rovers dare not let the Whammers open a gap like Spuds did last year as we won't catch them either.

8 Aston Villa - O'Neill will work the oracle on a decent bunch of lads © O'Leary but the spending power will be for the big surge next season

9 Everton - was tempted to push them higher given their signings but they are a bit thin when suspensions/injuries hit and Moyes might not be that good a boss.

10 Charlton A - good signings. If they get a typical Charlton start, Dowie will make sure there isn't a typical Charlton slump. Could be a real threat for a UEFA place but probably not.

11 Newcastle U - how I want to see another Roeder relegation special but it won't happen sadly. No defence, no forwards but midfield will see them through. Duff will shine and save them.

12 Bolton W - not a good close season so far. Will be tough to play against, Nolan will sparkle, other than that the worst team in the Prem to watch.

13 Fulham - signings good enough to keep them up. Will be in deep doodoo if they start losing at the Cottage.

14 Middlesbrough - even if they get Emerton and Distin, they are still not as good as last season but I'm betting on Southgate being a better manager than England's new teeth.

15 Portsmouth - £30m to spend and at the moment weaker on paper than they were last season; not even Don Mackay managed that! However, 'Arry will carry on last season's end of term form so they won't be in danger of relegation.

16 Reading - you don't collect 106 points in the fizzy pop and not have the ability to pick up a few points in the Prem. Coppul is a decent Manager who knows what the top level is about so the biscuitmen won't crumble...

17 Manchester City - very vulnerable. Too many old players in the wrong places and fell apart at the end of last season which is a pointer to what's coming.

18R Wigan A - second season syndrome again for Paul Jewell. Heskey to carry on his BIG CLUB form and these boys are in trouble. Bad set of opening fixtures could set the tone for a failing struggle.

19R Watford - incredible achievement by Boothroyd and some smart signings but again don't have the opening fixtures they needed to get on a positive run.

20R Sheffield Utd - spent big to the delight of club Chairmen in the Coca Cola. Davies and Jagelka are probably good for the Premiership. Akembiyi, Hulse et al are not. Will get caught out by the Prem speedsters and Warnock will lose it big time.

Chelsea and Liverpool might be one player short of their original shopping list plan but most of the other clubs are probably well short of what they hoped to get. Posting this now says that for most of them, its going to stay that way.

For Rovers by the way, a great start could well help tip a few key signings our way.

Edited August 15, 2006 by philipl

[Ozz]

" A baker near the ground sells pies from his window."

Only when he can arsed!

Not sure me about Rovers, tempted to stick a tenner on us to win the league, whilst simultaneously sticking a tenner on us to go down.

[FourLaneBlue]

5 Manchester United - ignore the name and look at the squad, its not good enough. Carrick starred in Rovers 7 W Ham 1 remember?

Hmmm...Man Utd to finish fifth? Where've I heard that one before?

As for my attempt...

1. Chelsea. The Premiership isn't about one-off games but about strength in depth. Chelsea have the most talented squad in the history of the English game. Even if they start to have a wobble...Roman will just unleash another £30 million or so in the transfer window.

2. Manchester United. Finished with 83 points last season, which would have been enough for the title on some previous occasions. They are not the spent force that some will have you believe. Ruud leaving may be a blessing in disguise as Rooney, Saha, Smith and Rossi should be able to step up to replace him. Carrick may have been a larger fee than expected but he will become an excellent signing for them. Ferguson to (once again) stick it to the naysayers and mean that no Glazers come calling for Hughes for a while yet.

3. Liverpool. Improving all the time but I fancy their chances more in Europe...although could easily swap places with United.

4. Arsenal. No Campbell, no Cole either it seems. Sounds a bit like last season! Should be good enough to see off their neighbours.

5. Tottenham Hotspur. Think they'll miss Carrick and Mido, how long until Berbatov settles?

6. Newcastle United. They've got to do better than last year...surely. I'd also expect they'd somehow find the cash for more players, they always do despite being up to their necks in debt.

7. Everton. Despite an awful start they started to come good, Johnson is overrated but at least is an improvement on what Beattie had to play with last year (Big Dunc...where has his number one fan gone?). They should boringly make their way up the table.

8. Bolton Wanderers. Somehow they keep grinding out results and without the distractions of Europe should finish in the top half.

9. Blackburn Rovers. Hate to be pessimistic but if we do make it through to the group stage of the Uefa Cup then we will have played at least six games in Europe by the time that round ends. If we go further than that and have any other decent cup run then we will be stretching our squad to the limit. A second top half finish would be a excellent achievement when mixed with good performances in the cups.

10. West Ham United. Likely to suffer from the same burnout as us.

11. Aston Villa. Should see an improvement under O'Neill but not a complete turnaround just yet.

12. Portsmouth. Their late season form shows they shouldn't struggle this time and I expect there will be at least a couple more new faces before transfer deadline day.

13. Reading. Look the best of the three promoted clubs.

14. Middlesbrough. Dull and mid-table again.

15. Manchester City. Ditto.

16. Charlton Atheltic. Dowie thinks Djimi Traore and Amdy Faye will shoot them up the league. They may struggle.

17. Fulham. Without Malbranque it is hard to see them doing much. If he does go...they will be the poorer for it.

18. Wigan Athletic. Second season syndrome to get to them? Swapping Heskey for Roberts and losing a few million while doing it sounds like a relegation scrap brewing to me.

19. Sheffield United. Stumbled across the finishing line last season, can't see them breaking into a run up the table against the big boys.

20. Watford. Good manager but they play crap, long route football and their small squad ain't anywhere near good enough. Still, they'll do a lot better than Sunderland did last year.

Soccernet preview of the season for Rovers here - Blackburn dream of reliving glory days

Edited August 15, 2006 by FourLaneBlue

[Mr. E]

1. Liverpool

2. Chelsea

3. Totenham

4. Man. Un

5. Newcastle

6. Arsenal

7.ROVERS

8. Middlesbrough

9. West Ham

10. Portsmouth

11. Charlton

12. Bolton

13. Aston Villa

14. Everton

15. Sheff. United

16. Reading

17. Man. City

18. Wigan

19. Watford

20. Fulham

Edited August 15, 2006 by Mr. E

[pksrover]

1. Liverpool

2. Arsenal

3. ROVERS

4. Scum

5. Chelsea

6. ...oh wait...this is getting stupid :ph34r:

[cn_barlow]

The only prediction i am going to make is that Newcastle will not finsh inside the top 8

[philipl]

Nice if predictable review from ESPN then in the last sentence:

If Hughes wins their first silverware since 1995, they'll make him a Saint. (hmm, why go to Southampton?)

[Eddie]

Right, I'm going to be bold with this one, I never do that well on this anyway:

1. Manchester United

2. Chelsea

3. Arsenal

4. Liverpool

5. Rovers

6. Spurs

7. Everton

8. Newcastle

9. Bolton

10. Manchester City

11. West Ham

12. Charlton

13. Aston Villa

14. Middlesbrough

15. Fulham

16. Portsmouth

17. Wigan

18. Reading

19. Sheffield United

20. Watford

[cn_barlow]

Nice if predictable review from ESPN then in the last sentence:

If Hughes wins their first silverware since 1995, they'll make him a Saint. (hmm, why go to Southampton?)

I beleive that the Worthington cup is made of Stainless Steel...

[Oakland]

1. Chelsea

2. Liverpool

3. Arsenal

4. Manchester United

5. Spurs

6. Newcastle

7. Rovers

8. Everton

9. Bolton

10. Middlesbrough

11. West Ham

12. Charlton

13. Manchester City

14. Aston Villa

15. Portsmouth

16. Reading

17. Fulham

18. Wigan

19. Watford

20. Sheffield United

[pick32]

newcastle wont finish high wi a bad defence and flop luque and average ameobi upfront, plus glen roeder has took 2 teams 2 7th then got them relegated the season after remember that.

[Gareth]

Not sure where else to put this, but from Football 365's preview of the season:

Who will be the first team to beat Chelski?

PG: Blackburn Rovers at the end of August.

JN: Blackburn.

SW: Blackburn on August 27.

AF: Liverpool, they're due a win in the league.

PC: Blackburn.

One defeat guaranteed then... :ph34r:

[tchocky]

A better read on that site:

The Fifty Things That We'd Like To Happen Next Season...But Won't

Like this one:

2) Newcastle to present the first known sight of infinity by putting their trophy cabinet on public display.

hahaha

[Fife Rover]

I beleive that the Worthington cup is made of Stainless Steel...

Nah! it's aluminium!

[rebelzero]

It's time for the predictions

1 Chelsea

2 Liverpool

3 Arsenal

4 Blackburn

5 Manchester United

6 Tottenham

7 Newcastle United

8 Everton

9 Aston Villa

10 West Ham United

11 Bolton

12 Charlton Athletic

13 Middlesbrough

14 Fulham

15 Reading

16 Manchester City

17 Portsmouth

18 Wigan Athletic

19 Watford

20 Sheffield United

[pick32]

the suns prediction

[AggyBlue]

OK, here goes:-

1 Chelsea

2 Liverpool

3 Manchester United

4 Arsenal

5 Blackburn

6 Tottenham

7 Newcastle United

8 Aston Villa

9 West Ham United

10 Everton

11 Charlton Athletic

12 Bolton

13 Middlesbrough

14 Wigan Athletic

15 Manchester City

16 Fulham

17 Reading

18 Portsmouth

19 Watford

20 Sheffield United

[AxesFirstTouch]

1. Liverpool - Very impressive signings, two Speed merchant wingers. Crouch is still a donkey though, if they sign Kuyt it'll seal the premiership for them. They just need to sign Harwood to have most ugly forwardline ever. Hopefully Gerrard loses his voices during the season, cant stand listening to his monotonous tone interviews though.

2. Arsenal - Wenger will probably make some signings before window shuts, hes no fool, will want to improve desperately on last season. Adebayour is looking very good as well.

3. Chelsea - Too many stars will get discontent at playing second, especially players like Robben and SWP. Drogba is crap, misses far too many chances.

4. Spurs - Again very good signings, Burgerchov has been awesome preseason so has defoe. One of the best midfields in the league. Their fullbacks are almost as bad as micky gray though.

5. Man United - Defence is getting old, dullard Rio is prone to errors, Neville is not the best RB in the league. Silvestre is frances versions of micky gray. Rooney is a pure thug and will end up getting sent off a number of times, Solskaer will spend more time in the hospital then a trainee doctor.

6. Rovers - Improved on last seasons squad, still need to get a new LB, and cant have backup players of Douglas and Mcevely, if theres a injury crisis at the back Rovers are truly stuff. MGP will again star in his own version of Van dammes Awol, but yet again cover it up by the odd wonder goal.

7. Newcastle - a defence full of micky gray and mcevelys. One of the best midfields in prem though with Duff, Parker,Emre and NZogbia. Some signings will happen before end of window as well. Good to have Owen missing all season, another dullard in interviews.

8. Middlesborough - Mcclaren left Gazza a good squad, squad full of great upcoming players.

9. Man City - Good defence, Pearces' fortay, Good Midfield, good set of strikers, exept for @#/?

10. West Ham - Marlon Scarewood upfront is enough to make defenders prone to errors. No stand out players though, bunch of London chavs.

11. Everton - Van Der Meyde will probably be sacked by Christmas. Johnson will do crap though, hasnt scored in preseason. Aging defence though. Cahill will save them. Beattie will again do crap until the second half of the season,where he'll score something like 14 goals in 18 matches.

12. Wigan - Team is about the same as last season, Heskey is not as good as Roberts, Roberts has improved every season at every club. Heskey has gone downhill every season. Although getting the dutch guy is good business whilst the overrated 'hardworking' ( meaning crap does sod all, Savage mark II) Bullard has gone to revive his role in Mask 2.

13. Aston Villa - O neill is a very good manager will do good. Will probably go higher then 13, if he gets brewsters millions to spend in January.

14. Fulham - Same place as always bottom half obscurity. Colman is a prick though.

15. Reading - Were unstoppable last season, obviously the team can play together very well, can take this form forward, have had a good preseason beating good teams.

16. Portsmouth - Harry Houdini, what a load of tosh. Crap manager, gets a blank chequebook, signs plays like Munari. Hazza would have trouble signing his name let along a top class player

17. Charlton - Crap signing, ugly bugger of a manager. Bent Bent Ambrose, Is the strikeforce says it all really.

18. Bolton - Worst team to exist. Hope they suffer lots of injuries and get relegated. Lost 5 out of 6 of their preseason matches.

19. Watford - No idea who plays them for except Marlon King, manager seem a bit of a gimp.

20. Sheffield United - Team wouldnt even guarantee them promotion to championship.

Praying that Bolton get relegated, most boring team ever, Worst strike force in the league at the moment, Tosser of a manager, Chavtastic captain that is Nolan. How any player can want to play for Bolton is a mystery, most unattractive premership team ever.

Too many Chelseas players will get ###### off at being a sub this season, especially SWP if he doesnt see sense and move clubs.

10 Charlton A - good signings. If they get a typical Charlton start, Dowie will make sure there isn't a typical Charlton slump. Could be a real threat for a UEFA place but probably not.

For Rovers by the way, a great start could well help tip a few key signings our way.

Charlton good signings? 2 mill a piece for Traore and Amdy Faye, even Rovers6 wouldnt say Charlton made good signings . The players Charlton have signed are the type Id expect a promoted club to be trying to make.

Edited August 16, 2006 by wakefieldrawks

[philipl]

The Sun preview was worse thyan pathetic. Driven by readership numbers.

Re Charlton, JFH and Carson are very good signings and Traore and Faye are not players I'd want to see signed by Rovers but are not that bad either in terms of adding real competition for places in an already reasonable squad.