The opening fixtures of the Premier League season have been reversed not too long ago so our kneejerk reactions must be revisited, together with an Everton sack prediction.
Those kneejerk reactions can be reviewed in their full glory, however right here follows an intensive evaluation of simply how really okay they have been.
10) Brighton win a trophy
The Premier League title might be simply out of attain – that 7-0 Forest thrashing did their aim distinction no good – and Liverpool ultimately nearly dumped them out of the Carabao Cup. However Brighton may quickly have their third crack at an FA Cup semi-final since promotion.
Manchester Metropolis eradicated them at Wembley in 2019 and the Seagulls principally beat themselves when drawn towards Manchester United 4 years later. A powerful comeback win over Chelsea has helped open up the competition again and Brighton ought to worry no-one. Not even Newcastle.
As written in August, they ‘boast a ludicrously stacked squad’ and ‘a trophy would really feel like a positive and equally attainable subsequent step in direction of establishing their place as a drive’. Doubts stay over Fabian Hurzeler however his response to a record-setting defeat and the actual fact European qualification is perhaps simply out of attain bodes nicely.
9) Not less than one promoted facet will keep up
It’s actually theoretical attainable as Wolves are inside touching distance of each Leicester and Ipswich in the Premier League table, however there could be no shock if the present backside three can not extricate completely themselves from the relegation zone come season’s finish.
Southampton are as doomed as Sheffield United have been earlier than them, right down to the red-and-white stripes and weird obsession with both Cameron Archer and Ben Brereton-Diaz. Ipswich need to face the identical destiny as Burnley for signing Aro Muric. Leicester would possibly nicely go the identical manner as Luton, who’re battling towards successive relegations.
Both manner, it’s nice to see one other point out for the pre-season predictions through which half of us tipped Forest to go down.
8) Wolves might be relegated
One other unnervingly respectable prognosis, albeit not one which required a substantial amount of foresight or experience.
Wolves overachieved to complete within the backside half final season, then doubled down on Gary O’Neil with out ever really supporting him. His new four-year contract got here with the slight caveat of much more gross sales to the tune of greater than £100m, a fraction of which was reinvested again into the group.
A 2-0 defeat to Arsenal, whereas removed from a worrying begin, represented the continuation of a depressing run of kind which stretched throughout two seasons. O’Neil oversaw 4 wins in 29 video games earlier than his sacking and whereas Vitor Pereira has ostensibly steadied the ship, Wolves are pedalling frantically two points above choppy waters.
7) Mo Salah wins the Golden Boot
Not dangerous, but additionally ruinously embarrassing that at no level was Chris Wooden talked about as a contender.
When Erling Haaland burst out of the blocks with a record-breaking 10 targets in Manchester Metropolis’s first 5 video games it appeared like one other query of how excessive he would elevate the bar. Not till pretty deep right into a traditionally poor run of group outcomes did it daybreak that his particular person brilliance had pale both as a trigger, a consequence or each.
Salah would possibly envy Haaland’s ludicrously well-remunerated new contract however the Norwegian has needed to bow to the relentless manufacturing of the Egyptian king to this point this season. The Liverpool ahead has no less than three extra league assists than every other participant in Europe’s high 5 divisions in 2024/25, and solely former Golden Boot rival Harry Kane has been capable of sustain within the European Golden Shoe race.
6) Spurs fail to qualify for Europe
It does, in all equity, appear unlikely. Though it’s troublesome to decipher whether or not being relegated whereas profitable the Europa League could be the least or most Spursy end result possible.
Spurs had completed fifth and broke their switch document in an thrilling however finally flawed summer season switch window, so predicting a failure to qualify even for the lowly Europa Convention League was extra outlandish than it appears in February, when Ange Postecoglou would take just missing out on continental football thank you very much, mate.
However sure, sitting 14th does really feel fairly sub-optimal when it comes to Champions League aspirations. ‘The arrival of European soccer from September onwards will begin a balancing act it’s troublesome to envisage them mastering,’ it says right here. They could probably have managed if their complete squad had not been concurrently struck down by muscle accidents Postecoglou can not probably management whereas working them into the bottom.
5) Manchester United qualify for the Champions League
There it’s. A bona fide, stone chilly, absolute gem of a miserably dreadful prediction. It took some time nevertheless it was well worth the wait. Simply have a look at it.
An outstanding Group Defend efficiency and customary stumble previous stubborn opposition at dwelling to open the marketing campaign has lots to reply for, in addition to a £200m summer season spend. That Joshua Zirkzee fella appears helpful, doesn’t he? And fair play for rinsing £25m out of those fools Napoli for Scott McTominay.
There was a component of it being what ought to occur slightly than what is going to – ‘there isn’t a excuse for Erik ten Hag and his gamers to fall wanting that minimal bar of Champions League qualification’ – however at no stage did anybody anticipate it to a) get as dangerous because it did, or b) turn out to be even worse as soon as Ten Hag was changed.
4) Pep Guardiola indicators a contract extension
The person loves a November deal renewal.
3) Bukayo Saka wins Participant of the Yr
With an help in every of the opening 5 video games of the Premier League season, a complete of 10 alongside 5 targets within the first 13 and a few equally commanding Champions League performances after his European Championship summer season heroics, it appeared sure Saka could be within the working for long-overdue wider private acclaim.
That he stays amongst the favourites to win the PFA Player of the Year award regardless of being sidelined with damage for nearly two months is testomony to a top quality Arsenal have missed.
We’re in teasing hourglass emoji territory so a late push to encourage an unimaginable, trophy-laden near the season can’t be dominated out (till Arsenal collapse in on themselves out of sheer worry when confronted with Alexander Isak once more in Might).
2) Everton sack Sean Dyche
By profitable 5 and drawing two of the final 9 video games of the season, it appeared as if Dyche may need damaged the infernal Everton cycle. The previous two campaigns had been outlined by nail-biting, nerve-shredding battles towards relegation gained on both the ultimate or penultimate day. Even with a factors deduction Everton have been secure and cozy early in 2024/25.
That ought to have afforded time, persistence, confidence and the foundations from which Dyche may construct however they have been squandered virtually instantly and if something a December salvo of successive attracts with Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester Metropolis solely crystallised the necessity for change.
David Moyes, like Dyche and Frank Lampard earlier than him, inherited an Everton mess in January and was capable of flip issues round pretty rapidly. The maybe forlorn hope might be he can take them additional than two middling years.
1) Enzo Maresca stays
There aren’t many golf equipment whose managerial historical past Wikipedia entries checklist the variety of days for every incumbent – even Watford simply go for matches and the like – however Chelsea are blissful to lean into the stereotype. And it handily reveals that Maresca not too long ago handed the Graham Potter landmark, with Mauricio Pochettino about 100 days within the distance.
The Italian will completely attain and surpass that time, partly as a result of he has overseen some enhancements on his predecessor (whereas presiding over most of the identical points) and partly as a result of sooner or later the Chelsea homeowners should decide on somebody for a decent time period.
Maresca is in nothing near jeopardy with seven managers ahead in the sack race and profitable precise trophies deemed a secondary goal behind signing South American youngsters three years prematurely. He’ll turn out to be the primary coach since Thomas Tuchel to start out successive campaigns at Chelsea and issues labored out simply positive for him.