the blog of manchester united

Some might say it’s way too early to make any calculated prediction only after 5 games. The table almost never finishes (or to be precise, will never finish) at the end season exactly the same as when it was after the 4th week, but it does give you an indication of how teams will be shaping up after 5 games.

Here’s what blogmanutd.com predicts:

1. Man Utd (C)
No doubt, Manchester United have the quality to lift the trophy again at the end of season. The defense and midfield will be the key. We might not have that many strong strikers upfront, but at the end of the day, defense win championship.

2. Liverpool
It’ll be the closest this year that the Merseyside will push for the title after 17 years absence. Yes, 17 years. Torres is quality, but their defense is not convincing.

3. Chelsea
Turmoils, internal breakdown, arrogance, all you can name it for Chelski these days. And at the end of the day, I think Senor Jose will be gone and Chelsea will have their worst finish in 4 years.

4. Arsenal
The kids that Arsene Wenger are bringing up now have lots of talents. But winning the league requires experience and talents. Finishing at 4 is a great achievement already for Arsenal, looking at how much they only spent in the transfer market.

5. Newcastle United
With big Sam at the helm, the Toons is slowly building back their credibility, and rightly so. This club has been under-achieving for too long.

6. Everton
Another strong year for David Moyes, but quality is not quite there yet to foray into the top 5.

7. Tottenham Hotspurs
The end of Martin Jol era after 2 fabulous years finishing 5th and nearly 4th. Buying Darren Bent at close to 18 million pound probably is not the best way to spend money in the market knowing one area that needs strengthening desperately is midfield, and anything but a striker.

8. Blackburn Rovers
Another strong year for Mark Hughes, although a couple of world class midfielder and defender could’ve brought them back to Europe.

9. Aston Villa
Martin O’Neill is a great manager, and he’ll slowly get Aston Villa out of mediocrity.

10. Manchester City
Everyone is talking about golden years after 3 win in 3 games, but the reality is Eriksson has never proven himself in England to be a top notch coach. Just look at how far England has progressed throughout his years (not even one semifinal in World Cup or EURO).

11. Portsmouth
Redknapp has turned Pompey into respectable team. Going to Europe though might need another miracle.

12. West Ham United
For years to come, as long as Curbishley is at the helm, West Ham will replace what Charlton Athletics has been sitting at in the Premiership during those years. They won’t be relegated, but they most likely will sit in comfortably as “fillers”.

13. Middlesbrough
A few slips and Southgate could find himself coaching in the Championships. Their style of football though is neither attractive nor exciting. A few crunching results at Riverside here and there will keep them up this year.

14. Wigan Athletic
Paul Jewell leaving probably is one of the best decisions for Wigan as you can see how burnt-out they were last year playing their style of football. At least, Hutchings has injected some life into the team. Change after all, is a good thing.

15. Reading
Losing Sidwell to Chelsea take away their engine in midfield. And losing Lita to injury in the first months of Premiership doesn’t really help them kicking off this year’s campaign. Coppell, though will find a way to steer them out of trouble.

16. Bolton Wanderers
Had it not for Anelka, Bolton would’ve gone down easily. It’ll be a close call, but they might finish the season surviving the Premiership with manager other than Sammy Lee.

17. Sunderland
It’s the Roy Keane factor, and don’t forget how much they’ve forayed into the transfer market. With stadium capacity bigger than that of Chelsea, staying up is their only option. And they will squeeze out with the slightest of margin.

18. Fulham (R)
Too bad Fulham lost McBride early in the season. Lawrie Sanchez might’ve been wondering what it’d be like had he stay with the Northern Ireland job and guided them to EURO2008, rather than bringing Fulham to Championship come June.

19. Birmingham City (R)
To survive in Premiership, you need quality. And to have quality, you need fund. Birmingham have neither.

20. Derby County (R)
Joining Premiership is their biggest party, and surviving it doesn’t seem to bother anymore.