Showing posts with label Hoxey. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hoxey. Show all posts

Friday, 7 August 2009

James Hoxey's 2009/2010 Predictions: Part 2

6. Who's going to win the Champions League at the Bernabeau?

Part of me wants to say Real Madrid. But I am feeling a little bit kind and might just tip Chelsea to tick that big old Champions League box this year. Ancellotti has done it before.

7. Who are the PFA going to dub 'Player of the Season'?

This year, I have really given it a lot of thought. Once I recovered from my headache I decided that this could be a defensive player's year. Joleon Lescott. You read it here first.

8. Who's going to be the PFA's 'Young Player of the Season'?

Young player of the year is a tough shout, but maybe we could see a great debut season from Rafael at United. With Ronaldo gone, Fergie could be looking for a lot more from his full backs going forward.

9. Which manager's going to have a season to remember?

That's going to be Owen Coyle. Being a Scot, you can't look beyond him piping up in a Fergie style.

10. Which manager's going to have a season to forget?

I hate to say it, but super Roy Hodgson might struggle to find that extra spark this season as he will be under a lot more pressure to deliver during this campaign.

11. Give us a random prediction?

Steve Coppell to get a job with a Premier League club.

Thursday, 6 August 2009

James Hoxey's 2009/2010 Predictions: Part 1

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

1. Man Utd
2. Chelsea
3. Liverpool
4. Arsenal

This order I feel will be the one come the end of the season. Ferguson could single handedly enter the record books ahead of Liverpool for league titles and finally 'knock them off their f***ing pedestal'. Ronaldo might be gone, but they have strength and depth, and I can see Ferguson playing a narrower formation this season, using the skill and power of the team through the middle channels.

Chelsea are certainly going to look at proving they can still be a force, and it's a good thing they've hired Ancellotti as he is a specialist in managing cultured, seasoned players. With key figures at the club aging, Lampard and Drogba are in their 30s now, maybe the Italian will get a couple more Big Four standard years from this squad.

Liverpool seem to be taking a huge step backwards in selling Alonso and ultimately, Gerrard will have to drop deep to compensate for this, meaning Liverpool will lose a big lump of their attacking force.

Arsenal will probably hang in there, with Wenger proving you can just about stay in the Big Four with kids...

2. Who's going down?

18. Hull
19. Birmingham
20. Stoke

Hull haven't strengthened enough, and, considering their dependence on Premier League veterans such as the heroic Nicky Barmby, it will be only be a matter of time before they lose their legs in the last 10 minutes of games and leak goals.

Birmingham have strengthened, but they seem to lack that special player which many promotion sides bring in to provide those moments of class in a game, like Geovanni offered Hull when they were finding their Premier League 'legs'.

Stoke will be on their way with a severe case of 'Readingitis'; when you combine a great debut season and no strengthening, the only way is down. You can't rest staying up on Delap-mans shoulders.

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

It has got to be Manchester City. If they keep all of these new players fit, they should be able to improve on last seasons performance you would hope.

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

This season will be Fernando Torres' year, he is looking to be the only out and out goal scorer Liverpool play this year, and he's certainly potent enough in front of goal.

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

Liverpool. Rafa needs to grab some sort of Silverware this season, I fancy him to make sure Liverpool are at Wembley this year.