EPL 2009-10
My pick to take the crown is Chelsea and I expect with the number of poor teams this season that they might force two dozen clean sheets before the season is out.
Man U is right behind them, but they have 3 strikers: one with a temper, one prima donna and one is can’t go all season without getting hurt. I expect they’ll be running a 4-5-1 in short order. Man U lucks out that van der Saar gets hurt during the start of the season where their easy games are front-loaded.
Liverpool I rate above Arsenal, while Liverpool seems more precarious in depth.
Everton is the same as last year so a similar finish of 5th could happen. Villa let Barry go which will hurt and they fell apart in the latter third. Man City spent a fortune but all of it on strikers (not counting Barry) but unless this teams fields 3 defenders I don’t know how they will all play.
Sunderland may surprise and, given the lack of quality opposition, finish in the top half. Bolton isn’t great and how good will Blackburn be now that Roque has gone? Wigan… I’m not sure about them either. Fulham can finish top half if they show defense as can West Ham if they find any offense.
Almost everyone else can be relegated. Hull didn’t deserve to stay up, Portsmouth seem to be following the Newcastle route, the newly promoted of Burnley, Wolverhampton and B City don’t dazzle me.
What is cool? 4 dozen EPL games on ESPN this year. Maybe we can get more attention than FSC provides.