Rousing the Kop’s writers have a go at predicting the Premier League’s best and worst ahead of the 2017/18 season’s first kick-off this evening.
We like a bit of football and we like a bit of fun here at Rousing the Kop.
So with that in mind, a few of our writers decided to have a go at predicting some of the key aspects of the upcoming 2017/18 Premier League season.
Jack Hallows – @JackHallows_
Top Four:
Manchester City
Arsenal
Manchester United
Liverpool
Relegated:
Burnley, Swansea, Huddersfield.
Golden Boot winner:
Harry Kane – it’s just gotta be, doesn’t it? Although I probably wouldn’t look past whoever Man City’s starting striker is either to be fair.
Best new signing:
Mo Salah of Liverpool could be a really solid buy for the Reds if they keep him and Sadio Mané fit but it’s hard to look past Alexandre Lacazette of Arsenal. The Gunners have got a bargain out of him.
Most underwhelming new signing:
Kyle Walker. The ex-Spurs right-back is a great footballer but even in today’s market, for £50m, you’ve got to be a lot better than that. Not sure he’ll really improve City’s back line that much when you consider how shaky their centre halves are.
First player to get sent off:
Granit Xhaka. He just loves a red card, doesn’t he?
First player to receive a diving ban:
Wilfried Zaha is a good shout. Quick, adept dribbler and often gets clipped in the box. Wouldn’t be surprised to see him make too much of a lack of contact and get called up for it.
First manager to be sacked:
Slaven Bilic (West Ham). No more excuses for ‘Super Slav’ with the signings he’s made.
Ethan Golding – @The_Idiot_Kid
Top Four:
Manchester City
Manchester United
Spurs
Liverpool
Relegated:
Huddersfield, Stoke City, Watford.
Golden Boot winner:
Harry Kane. For whatever reason, I still don’t see him as a great player but he does score for fun.
Best new signing:
Mo Salah. I think have been – and will be – a couple of higher profile signings but it’s difficult to look past the Egyptian.
Most underwhelming new signing:
Drinkwater to Chelsea if it happens. To be honest, though there haven’t been any outright poor signings so far. No Zaza yet!
First player to be sent off:
Xhaka this weekend, thus causing Arsenal fans to go into meltdown.
First player to receive a diving ban:
Instinctively I look at Arsenal which might be unfair. I’m going to go left field and say new Brighton winger José Izquierdo. Lots of pace and flair, traditionally he’d be suspect.
First manager to be sacked:
Mark Hughes. Losing key players left, right and centre. Zouma in on loan could be good business but the new Stoke looks a lot like the old Stoke.
Martin King – @MartinKing_10lfc
Top four:
Manchester City
Chelsea
Manchester United
Liverpool
Relegated:
Brighton & Hove Albion, Burnley, Huddersfield.
Golden Boot winner:
Alexandre Lacazette. A little awkward for me given I’ve left Arsenal out of my top four but I think everyone should watch out for Lacazette. He’s perfectly built for the Premier League.
Best new signing:
(Pray it happens) Virgil van Dijk to Liverpool. If the Reds can get a deal for the defender over the line, it would be the biggest transfer of the summer because put simply: van Dijk will transform them into title contenders.
Most underwhelming new signing:
Andy Robertson. Liverpool obviously had to get a new left-back and credit to them, they did. However, Reds fans probably didn’t expect Klopp to turn to a relegated side for one. I do back Robertson to solve the issue, though.
First player to be sent off:
Granit Xhaka. The Arsenal midfielder is often very prone to making some shocking challenges and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him sent off in the opening weekend.
First player to receive a diving ban:
Wilfried Zaha. I just think the Crystal Palace winger has a terrible tendency to buy the referee’s decisions by going down too easily under a challenge and I think he’ll get punished for it soon.
First manager to be sacked:
Mark Hughes. Stoke City should have enough to stay up but considering the summer they’ve had in the transfer market – they’ve lost key pair Walters and Arnautović – I’m predicting a tough season for them.
Michael Mongie – @MikeMongie
Top four:
Manchester City
Chelsea
Manchester United
Liverpool
Relegated:
Huddersfield, Burnley & Swansea
Best new signing:
For me, the Premier League’s outstanding summer signing is Mohamed Salah. It’s very easy to accuse me of looking through red-tinted glasses but his pace, vision and goal-threat from wide positions at just £36.9m is a real bargain.
Golden Boot winner:
Unless he misses a few months with injury, I can see Harry Kane breaking the 30 goal barrier. Much like Martin, it’s a bit awkward for me because I can’t see Spurs doing as well as they have in past seasons with Kyle Walker leaving and Danny Rose looking also likely to leave.
Most underwhelming new signing:
Alvaro Morata, for me, fails to inspire. At a basic fee of £58m, I can’t see the Spaniard doing better than Diego Costa did. He’s got a great finish and loads of potential but I don’t see him cracking it in the Premier League.
First player to get sent off:
Jamie Vardy against Arsenal tonight. We all know the Leicester forward has a habit of losing his head and perhaps a revitalised Gunners side will frustrate him tonight.
First player to receive a diving ban:
Marcus Rashford. The Manchester United striker got away with an absolutely shambolic dive last season to win a penalty against Swansea which almost cost the Swans their Premier League status.
First manager to get sacked:
Jose Mourinho. We can hope, can’t we?
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