Promoted teams

[Terry-Mancini-123]

Will we finish higher than them this season?
Soton and Reading are very cocky and I expect West Ham feel the same.

Can we maintain our end of season form and sit above all 5 (including 2 from last year)?

[ollyhoops]

I think we can, although the Premiership will be harder next season, Reading, Southampton and West Ham Utd will be very competative.

[Marsh67]

Are West Ham all ready up then?

[Terry-Mancini-123]

Are West Ham all ready up then?

As good as, in their own minds

I'd expect us to finish above Blackpool, took that as a given..

[MattyRangers]

I know I shouldnt think this as they won the league and done so very well, but I really do think Reading will struggle next year. Linch pins of their team are people like Ian Harte?!

[The Godfather]

If West Ham win the play-off final I expect them to stay up next year. Reading and Southampton will do OK. However, I think Swansea, Norwich, West Brom and Wigan will be much weaker. Stoke will also struggle - ageing squad and they've been 'worked out'. Aston Villa's season depends on the manager they appoint - if it's Martinez then they'll probably be mid-table, if it's McCarthy then they will be in trouble. If I was a Fulham fan I'd also be worried - like Stoke, they've got an ageing squad with a number of players likely to leave this summer.

As for us, I think we need to strengthen in certain areas and clear out the dead wood. I don't agree with the posters who are saying 'the current team would achieve a mid-table finish'. We were lucky to stay up and a lot of work needs to be done during the summer. But I have confidence in Hughes and Fernandes.

[Marsh67]

We only ever need 10 men against Reading !

[MattyRangers]

We only ever need 10 men against Reading !

Thats handy cos we play most games with 10 these days

[Del]

I agree with Godfather.

I think the newly promoted teams will try to follow Norwich and Swansea's lead, ie, not a huge upheaval and do ok.

I think Wigan will go down for certain if martinez leaves, possibly for Liverpool. Rodellega's out of contract and Moses not extended so only a yr left maybe, and wants out i think.

Norwich will struggle with 2nd season anyway, but if Lambert goes to Villa they might go down i think.

Swansea will have 2nd season syndrome in the fact they've been sussed out already. They may do alright though if Rogers stays.

I think Southampton will do alright and probably West ham should they go up, but Reading and Blackpool may struggle a bit.

[Terry-Mancini-123]

If West Ham win the play-off final I expect them to stay up next year. Reading and Southampton will do OK. However, I think Swansea, Norwich, West Brom and Wigan will be much weaker. Stoke will also struggle - ageing squad and they've been 'worked out'. Aston Villa's season depends on the manager they appoint - if it's Martinez then they'll probably be mid-table, if it's McCarthy then they will be in trouble. If I was a Fulham fan I'd also be worried - like Stoke, they've got an ageing squad with a number of players likely to leave this summer.

As for us, I think we need to strengthen in certain areas and clear out the dead wood. I don't agree with the posters who are saying 'the current team would achieve a mid-table finish'. We were lucky to stay up and a lot of work needs to be done during the summer. But I have confidence in Hughes and Fernandes.

Have to say I agree with a lot of that.
We haven't sorted out our away strategy yet, and that won't change overnight.
How we played against Citeh was remarkable, but we can't be expected to reproduce the same urgency in run of the mill away games next season. If we're playing Wigan, Norwich, Swansea or any team we're expecting to be in the bottom half of the table, we should be well capable of bossing those games.
Our new additions will take time to bed in, and I wouldn't be surprised if we start off badly but I expect us to improve as the season progresses as the system takes hold.

[Jeffro]

Soton & Reading go straight back down , Norwich will struggle, Swansea just about safe.

[QPRDave]

Reading interested in Joe Cole apparently

[Factamondo]

im flabagasted with some of these predictions.....for me the premier league quality wise is weaker than for a long time...........worse manu squad in years....inconsistent arsenal n spurs....terrible bindippers/sun haters team........chelsea in transition......for me southampton/fake hoops/naaaarwich/swansealona certs for struggles....add wigan/westham (if promoted)/west brom to the struggling list as well.................we will be fine due to the extra quality coming in!!!