Dale McCarthy's 2009/2010 Predictions: Part 1

1. Who's going to be in the top four, and in what order?

1. Chelsea
2. Manchester United
3. Arsenal
4. Liverpool

As I have written in the ‘Do Chelsea stick or twist this summer?’ article, I feel that Chelsea are nailed on to win the title this season. They have quality from back to front, and strong cover in every position. They are also the only side in the top four who haven’t lost key players (assuming that Xabi Alonso departs for Madrid). Ronaldo is a huge loss for Manchester United, and although a fit Michael Owen will score 20+ goals, Ronaldo's presence will be sorely missed. The laughable suggestion that City are going to displace Arsenal needs to be addressed. Yes, City have signed lots of players, and no, Arsenal haven’t, but Arsenal are still stronger at the back, in midfield and in attack. In Cesc Fabregas and Andrei Arshavin Arsenal have two of the leagues outstanding players. Do City have any outstanding players aside from Shay Given? No. Toure was sold because he would have been third choice centre back and Adebayor’s disruptive influence has been replaced by ‘new signing’ Eduardo’s professionalism and undoubted talent. With better full backs, better centre backs, better attacking midfielders and better strikers, Arsenal are only weaker in defensive midfield positions. Arsenal and Man City -- no contest. Can City finish above Arsenal with a team that needs to gel and personalities like Robinho, Bellamy and Adebayor? Not this year. As for Liverpool, their incredible run at the end will be affected by the loss of Alonso, and their lack of attacking depth options means a loss of Gerrard or Torres could see them struggle, but I still see them miles ahead of City.

2. Who's going down?

18. Birmingham
19. Burnley
20. Hull

I see four teams in there this season: Birmingham, Hull, Burnley, and Wolves. I really can’t see any of the other sixteen being dragged in. Of the four, I think Wolves will stay up. They are doing what a lot of successful promoted teams have done in recent seasons and allowing the team that got them promoted the chance to play in the Premier League whilst bringing in new faces with proven Premier League quality such as Kevin Doyle. Birmingham have made lots of changes and whilst I rate McLeish highly, they have’t learnt from teams such as Derby and I see them going straight back down. Burnley will fancy their chances in the top flight after seeing off Arsenal, Chelsea and Fulham in the Carling Cup before demolishing Spurs during normal time in their semi-final second leg. Even with those scalps they weren’t facing full strength Arsenal and Chelsea teams. As a team that like to get the ball down and play, Coyle’s men will probably suffer the same fate as West Brom. If Burnley go to Anfield or Old Trafford and try to play that way, they will be torn apart. Hull may have defied the odds to stay up last year but their form at the back end of the season was Derby-esque. Their only win in their last 21 games was a 1-0 win at Fulham where they were battered for 90 mins before Manucho scored at the death. Even with Bullard returning, I see them finishing rock bottom.

3. Which team is going to show the biggest improvement?

With Steve Bruce at the helm the managerial uncertainty at the black cats has cleared, in Bruce they have one of the finest English managers currently plying their trade in any league. Lorik Cana is a fantastic signing, the Albanian was outstanding against Gerrard in Stade Veledrome last September in the Champions League. If Sunderland manage to get Darren Bent, who scored as many Premier league goals as Wayne Rooney and more than Robin Van Persie, they will have a young striker of true Premier League pedigree who will be playing for a chance to get on Capello’s plane to South Africa. I see them challenging for the Europa spots this year, a vast improvement on last seasons 16th.

4. Who's going to bang in the most goals?

Fernando Torres will defiantly win it if he remains fit. He will score the lion's share of Liverpool’s goals as everything in the attacking third will go through him. Expect Owen to challenge him if he can stay fit, but that is doubtful. Van Persie is an outside bet because he has Eduardo, Roisicky, Arshavin, Fabregas, Walcott and Nasri playing behind him. If he can convert the sixteen shots of his that hit the woodwork last year into goals, he’ll be up there.

5. Who's going to win the FA Cup?

Anyone can win the FA Cup.