Season 2005/6 Predictions

It seems to come around quicker every year, but the new season begins on Saturday and it's time for New York Addick's inaugural season predictions.

ARSENAL: losing Vieira can't have helped their cause and given the age of their squad, they may need a season of consolidation as the likes of Fabregas, Flamini and Reyes continue along their learning curves. However, with Wenger's tactical mastery and Henry's brilliance, they will easily finish in the top three. NYA PREDICTS: 3rd.

ASTON VILLA: Villa have been extraordinarily inconsistent over the years, veering from relegation scraps to comfortable top six finishes. Their fans blame Doug Ellis for their failings, so O'Leary has their sympathy and support, so he is assured a comfortable ride during another season of mediocrity. The signings of the likes of Stuart Taylor, Patrick Berger and Kevin Philips have merely plugged a gap left behind by Vassell and ex-Addick, Carlton Cole. NYA PREDICTS: 12th

BIRMINGHAM: Although never one of my favourite clubs, to be fair the Brum have quietly become a fairly established Premiership side without showing many signs of taking things to the next step. With two from Morrison, Pandiani, Heskey and Forssell up front, and solid back-up from the likes of Nicky Butt and Matthew Upson, they could be one of the surprise packages this season. NYA PREDICTS: 8th

BLACKBURN: Mark Hughes steadied the ship last season after Souness jumped, but their physical style didn't win them many friends, and the acquisition of Craig Bellamy will win them even fewer. Defensively they were strong last season (conceding just 43 goals, fewer than Everton) built ironically around Andy Todd, another dislikeable character, and will have too much to flirt with relegation. NYA PREDICTS: 13th

BOLTON: A real success story last season, and their strong finish reflected badly upon Charlton since both were in contention for Europe with ten games to go. They will miss the experience of Hierro, and it's not clear whether their strange concoction of foreign imports will be able to match their sixth finish last time around, but they have the flair and confidence to compete again. NYA PREDICTS: 9th

CHARLTON: As discussed in earlier posts, our preseason signings have given us cause for optimism though a string of injuries sees us head to Sunderland with a squad that already looks stretched. Certainly a fully-fit squad is arguably the strongest we have ever assembled, but this is clearly a big season for not only certain players (Jeffers, Rommedahl, Murphy etc.), but Curbs himself as we begin our sixth consecutive Premiership campaign. Relegation shouldn't be a concern, but I'm not convinced we will be good enough to mount a serious top six campaign. NYA PREDICTS: 11th

CHELSEA: Not much you can really say other than wondering if they could potentially reach 100 points, given they accumulated 95 last time and are a stronger team today than they were then. They have world-class players in every position, except perhaps up front, and their fluid 4-3-2-1 formation with Robben, Duff or Wright-Philips providing support for a lone front man should be enough to strike fear into the opposition. NYA PREDICTS: 1st.

EVERTON: A number of astonished onlookers expected to see the Toffeeman lose their momentum last season, but they were deserved Champions League qualifiers and amazingly did whilst scoring just 45 goals, the same number as bottom side Southamption. They have made some strange signings, splashing out millions for the likes of Simon Davies and Phil Neville, and this season may see a 'return to the mean.' NYA PREDICTS: 10th

FULHAM: The Cottagers threatened to flirt with relegation last time around, and with the loss of giant keeper Van der Sar and top scorer Andy Cole, they will be one of the sides which the promoted teams will have in their sights as they eye 17th place. Chris Coleman began his managerial career brightly, but will have been disappointed last season, and if they repeat their 60 goals concedeed it may well be curtains. NYA PREDICTS: 18th

LIVERPOOL: Their astonishing Champions League win shouldn't be allowed to draw attention away from their continued underachievement in the Premiership. Losing 14 games will be seen as simply unacceptable, and losing at the likes of Southampton and Palace should be unacceptable for any team claiming to have title aspirations. Although the strongest outside the top three, their squad doesn't look strong enough to compete over 38 games with Gerrard still perhaps the only player the other three covet. NYA PREDICTS: 4th

MAN CITY: City's amazing finish to the season under Psycho's surprisingly calm leadership may have flattered them and with the loss of talisman Wright-Philips, I would still reserve judgment on their prospects for this season. Despite a reputation for a cavalier approach, they only conceded 39 goals last season, and are thus a more solid outfit than many believe. However, they lack quality in midfield and unless a Cole/Vassell/Fowler partnership can begin firing, they may be brought down to earth quickly. NYA PREDICTS: 14th

MAN UTD: With the furore of the Glazers takeover dying down slightly (it was never clear to me exactly what their fans were unhappy about having been fleeced for years), attention will again turn to the incredible gap which Chelsea opened up last time around, and whether it can be closed. On paper at least, United are stronger up front and a Van Nistelrooy/Rooney link-up could be devastating, but the likes of Scholes, Keane and Giggs are past their best, and the new generation (Fletcher, O'Shea etc..) are unconvincing. NYA PREDICTS: 2nd

MIDDLESBROUGH: Steve McLaren has quietly been building a strong and successful side, albeit one backed by the considerable resources of his chairman, though the emergence of Stuart Downing was not money-related. They took a gamble on Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Mark Viduka and it paid off, and with the more youthful Yakubu joining from Pompey, they will expect to continue their positive momentum. NYA PREDICTS: 7th

NEWCASTLE: Their fairly rapid descent from top three contenders to a team that won just ten games last season has been remarkable, and the regularity of their internal bust-ups suggests a club ill at ease with itself. However Souness has slowly begun to build a team in his own image, kicking out Bellamy, Kluivert and Robert, and they certainly have the talent in Jenas, Parker, Boumsong, Dyer and Given to have a decent enough season, particularly if they find a striker to partner Shearer before the deadline. NYA PREDICTS: 6th

PORTSMOUTH: Previously unknown boss Perrin steered them away from danger last season, but they are likely to flirt with danger again having lost top scorer Yakubu and midfield dynamo Patrick Berger. The remainder of their squad looks lightweight to say the least, and they will be another side in the sights of the promoted teams. NYA PREDICTS: 16th

SUNDERLAND: Mick McCarthy surprised many by comfortably winning the Championship title with few resources and a very young squad, albeit one cheered on by a passionate home crowd. Their inability to add much in the way of quality talent to their squad however is likely to ensure a rapid return to the second rung, thus continuing their amazing yo-yo pattern. NYA PREDICTS: 20th

TOTTENHAM: As much as it pains me, Spurs may finally have found a team to do what no other Spurs team has done for 15 years, ie. finish in the top six (a damning indictment on a so-called 'big club'). Whilst building a squad of 40 odd players can be a burden as well as a benefit, they do now have a reasonable combination of youth and experience, though it remains to be seen how Davids fares. It will be a big season for them though, because failure to qualify for Europe may draw attention to where the money to finance this spending spree has come from, and it may not be pretty. NYA PREDICTS: 5th

WEST BROM: I thought the WBA board had taken leave of their senses by appointing Bryan Robson, but in fairness he somehow got them out of trouble whilst playing some pleasing football, not least when they took us apart at the Valley. However their escape needs to be put in perspective: they only got 34 points and won just six games, and more of the same can be expected with little new blood and the likely loss of starlet Richardson. NYA PREDICTS: 15th

WEST HAM: Having seen the talented side that finished top half of the Premiership summarily dismantled, it is hard not to be pleased to see the Hammers back in the top flight, albeit unrecognisable. They have made some sensible signings in Konch, Benayoun and Gabbidon though they are likely to be punished especially hard if they repeat the type of defensive errors that clown prince Repka makes. Perhaps the most likely of the promoted teams to survive. NYA PREDICTS: 17th

WIGAN: I can't recall seeing a team promoted to the Premiership that I knew any less about, perhaps not since Bradford made a fleeting visit, but it is reassuring to know that dreams can come true for a side that was still non-league when I was at school. We won't have long to find out about them as the visit the Valley next weekend, but I will simply have to assume they will struggle, get relegated then tumble back down the divisions in the style of so many others that shared the brief euphoria of promotion. NYA PREDICTS: 19th


And for those who follow the lower divisions, they will finish as follows:

CHAMPIONSHIP: 1st Norwich, 2nd Ipswich, 3rd Wolves
LEAGUE ONE: 1st Forest, 2nd Tranmere, 3rd Bristol City
LEAGUE TWO: 1st Wycombe, 2nd Northampton, 3rd Boston