Football 2020/2021: Crystal ball

Football is back! The premier league season for 2020/2021 begins tomorrow -for the city of Manchester but it officially began on 12th September 2020. It was just 4 weeks ago when the curtains fell on 2019/2020 with the UEFA Champions League final. A short one month with a couple of UEFA nations league matches sandwiched between. It has been a football fest. But to this part of the world, it is all about the premier league.

Well, the first round of matches happened with Liverpool and Leeds providing the sort of bang everyone was hoping for. Pre-match conference set it up nicely with Biesla boldly claiming that Anfield without fans is just another stadium -a statement I would agree with. Liverpool still looking rusty after tamely being beaten by Arsenal in the season curtain raiser of the Community Shield was bound to be taken all the way by a team that means business. And so it delivered, a 4-3 classic. The stats show Liverpool was outclassed in possession and the stats speak for themselves. 

The ever-reliable fullback TAA and VVD had a match to forget as the Leeds forward line ran them ragged. Salah saved Klopp’s blushes with a hattrick, with one of the penalties proving decisive. I think Leeds will pose problems to teams but the premier league has a way of resetting expectations. I think Leeds will not go down but I can’t see them upsetting the big 6 or even finishing above Wolves or Leicester. As for Liverpool, defending a title is no mean task and teams will make it difficult. Since the turn of 2020, Liverpool have not been imperious as in 2019 and they seemed to have run out of steam at the end. Their match at Wembley against Arsenal showed that the team can be stopped. I think they will finish top 4 for sure but I think this season it will go down to the wire. I still fancy them to win the title but I am going to go for Man City simply because the chasing team has extra motivation. Man City also have added their missing ingredient last time out -the defence by acquiring Nathan Ake who is a seasoned defender in the premier league and would not require adapting to the rigours of the premier league. Klopp and Pep will still battle it out and I just feel Pep has some revenge up in his sleeves.

Arsenal turned on the style to beat promoted Fulham 3-0 to register consecutive first wins of the season since 2009-10 season. It is happy days at Arsenal now with a FA cup and Community shield in the same month. Strange times we are living in. With Abumeyang now staying and getting new players, the feel-good factor with the fans is justified. Arteta seems to be a right fit for the club having learned his trade under Pep and Arsene -two of the finest in terms of passing football. Arteta takes charge for his first full season and with all the optimism from the club and fans, it is still premature to think Arsenal have turned a corner. The top 4 is what is realistic for now. The real test for Arteta will be this season. I believe he has what it takes to move Arsenal forward

Chelsea started their campaign where they finished it off -goalkeeping blunders. Lampard plays Kepa for lack of options and having splashed over 200 million in transfers, a good keeper will not come cheap. Kepa remains the most expensive keeper and that keeps him on the pitch. Chelsea has signed 7 players in one season, that can only mean two things -a title or a sacking. Roman seems to have taken a different approach with Lampard knowing he is a rookie when it comes to management. He has backed him with signings and it will be expected that Chelsea should improve their standings from last season. They finished 4th behind United with only goal difference separating the two. Despite all those signings for Chelsea, realistically speaking only a 3rd place finish is probable. The top 2 slots remain Liverpool’s and City’s to lose. It will take a couple of matches for Lampard to find his best 11 and going by the last few seasons, leagues are won by teams that hit the ground running. The new signings will not all adapt to the league as soon as possible so finishing 3rd should be enough for Chelsea. Anything other than that is a failure and makes Lampard a candidate for sacking. Last time a club signed 7 players at a go ended up with the manager sacked. Tottenham sacked AVB after signing 7 players as it was expected to improve the club. This is the expected outcome should Chelsea not deliver.

Speaking of Spurs, Mourinho lost the first game of the season for the first time in his career just to back up my claim that the man is past his best and cannot move the club forward. He can only maintain the status of the club as perennial underachievers. With the acquisition of Bale, the club can challenge for top 4 because it has the players who can do it but we know Bale’s priority is the golf course not football. His return to Spurs is not a second coming but a logical one as he is deemed surplus to requirements for Zidane and this has been coming for a while. Plus, his wages are a problem for everyone else. I think Spurs best finish will be number 6.

Manchester United is back to familiar ground with a frustrated transfer window. Every player is linked to United but Ed Woodward doesn’t sign anyone. The club has signed Don Van de Beek, a real coup and a player with the right mindset for United. I think he was one of the key players in the Ajax side that got to the UCL semifinal. This transfer was made easy by a former United legend player -Van Der Sar who is the current CEO of United Ajax and did not make matters complicated for United. The player was also willing so it all worked out. I think clubs take advantage of United when it comes to transfers as they know they are desperate. That said, Ed is not a shrewd negotiator so he is easily fleeced. It explains how Sancho – a player who is reportedly willing to play for United staying put knowing that if United don’t pay for him in this window, they will still pay the amount BVB wants whether in this window or in January so the club plays hardball. I feel this is the price that United have to pay post-SAF and if it means paying more, just do it because if United gets this player, he can only make the team better. There is the argument that with Sancho, Greenwood’s development will stall and I was actually thinking the same but in reality, you need quality players to push each other. A player like Sancho can only make United better and make it easier for Greenwood to compete with Martial for the number 9 spot. Afterall, Greenwood is a better finisher than Rashford/Martial. With the recent incident with Greenwood while on England duty, it shows that Greenwood is still green and any talks of being a superstar are premature. Sancho at MUFC will actually aid his development. However, United look set to miss out AGAIN on Sancho and I am afraid with the squad OGS has currently, United can only finish 4th at best otherwise it looks likely that they will finish outside the top 4. I think Bruno will suffer second season syndrome which almost always happens to new signings who shine in their debut seasons, for the reason that most players and coaches will now play their teams having analyzed him more. VDB will be fine to cover for Bruno in my opinion but he might have a difficult debut so it means that it will not be easy for OGS. With Dean Henderson coming back from a highly successful time at Sheffield, the goalkeeping situation now means that those dropped points by DDG in recent seasons should be converted to points. I believe having Dean will remove any complacency that was creeping in DDG’s game. With Dean back, Sergio should be looking to leave United as OGS will not consider him. A good servant of the club and the greatest number 2 keeper, Sergio Romero deserves more but unfortunately not at this moment in this United team. He has every right to move to another club. If he does, I wish him well.

I must mention that United’s away kit for the season designed by Adidas, who according to them “re-drew, hacked and re-imagined combined elements from various jerseys throughout the club’s long history to create a bold new pattern. Utilising United’s iconic club colours of red, white and black the kit is an original story with a modern update.” Is the biggest joke since Alexis Sanchez playing the piano. The outcome has been a meme generator and source of all banter. MUFC better win all games wearing that Jersey otherwise it will be intolerable for the fans. The designers failed miserably. It is not a bold jersey but rather the worst Jersey ever donned by United in my opinion.

Moving away from the top 6, I see Everton causing problems to teams and upsetting the big clubs. Carlo Ancelloti is quietly building a team and is a pedigree coach so I expect Everton to dislodge Leicester from their 5th finish last season. Wolves have lost a player in Doherty but have acquired another Portuguese player and I expect them to maintain their consistency. Another top 10 finish in sight.

I think Westbrom, Fulham and AstonVilla will be in the relegation fight. Jack Grealish who has renewed his contract will not be able to save them from relegation this time round as the club has not invested much. It is a tough league. Another potential candidate for relegation for me is Sheffield United. Reason, second seasons are not easy for promoted clubs in the previous season.

The Bayernliga is back with Bayern expected to wrap their 9th title and defend their UCL crown. I think Bayern will retain the trophy. They have the wherewithal to keep the trophy having added Leroy Sane to their ranks.

Lionel Messi after all is staying at Barcelona against his will. The rebuild at Barcelona will take time and I don’t think they are about to win anything soon. Koeman is a dead man walking. Real Madrid to retain their title.

Let me wrap it here but before I pen off, let me give my premier league predictions for the final look of the table.

1.Man City

2.Liverpool

3.Chelsea

4.Arsenal

5.Man United

6.Tottenham

7.Everton

8.Wolves

9.Leicester

10.Leeds

Of course, these are my views and the internet never forgets but what is life without risks?! I will go with this list as my final answer. Most people only predict the winner but I went as far as number 10. That is bold but if I was to pick my winner for 2020/2021 then I will go for Manchester City. Number 2 and the rest don't matter. 

Here is to a wonderful season and can't to have the fans back in stadiums which should add more spice. I may revise my predictions with the fans back but football is for fans and that is what we need. Hoping for less drama with VAR and may the right calls be made this time round -more penalties for Bruno!

All the best to all you fantasy managers