DAVID SADLER
OBVIOUSLY I'm hoping United win the Premiership. Chelsea have deserved it for the last two seasons, but if everything goes right for the Reds in terms of injuries and form then we should be able to give it a good go. I am confident United will strengthen with the signing of another midfielder and maybe a striker as well. There's lots of talk of Owen Hargreaves coming in and he'd do an excellent job alongside Michael Carrick. They would compliment each other perfectly and it is in midfield where we have struggled to a degree, although I stress Chelsea have deserved their success because they have been the best team. Although no one is tipping us, I am going for the Reds.
Top three: United, Chelsea, Arsenal.
Surprise team: Tottenham.
Bottom three: Reading, Watford, Sheffield United.
TONY BOOK
LET'S hope someone gives Chelsea a run for their money. I don't like it at all when one club dominates and then there is hardly any interest towards the end of the season with the focus switched to the other end of the table. Players need to stop cheating because it is doing the game no good and start being genuine.
We have always had a degree of simulation. Rodney Marsh used to trip himself up but that was more of a laugh during the game, not an attempt to con the ref. Stuart Pearce has got himself a decent squad together with some excellent young players, so I see City having a good season.
Regarding United, they can always buy a new player if needed.
Top Three: Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham.
Surprise team: City
Bottom Three: Sheffield United, Watford, Reading.
WILF McGUINNESS
LET'S have the refs stopping all that pushing and shoving and shirt pulling before corners that is a pet hate for me. It's terrible, diabolical really and as soon as the refs start giving yellow cards and penalties, it will stop.
As proved by Liverpool in the Community Shield at the weekend, Chelsea can be beaten but they are the Champions. Let's not rule out the impact of Ryan Giggs and a fit-again Paul Scholes can have on overcoming the dominance of Chelsea.
We needed more in midfield at United and I am looking forward to seeing how our new signing Michael Carrick does. We so badly missed Scholes and of course Roy Keane last term.
Top Three: United, Chelsea, Arsenal.
Surprise Team: City
Bottom Three: Reading, Sheffield United, Watford.
COLIN BELL
THERE won't be any drastic change with those able to buy success ie Chelsea, United, Liverpool and Arsenal continuing to dominate the top of the table. In the old days other clubs could have a nibble and get some of the best players but now you expect those top four to win the majority of games home and away. City, will have an interesting season and I'll be looking out to see how young players such as Richards and Onuoha go on. James and, possibly Distin, going means the manager will have to bring in more quality.
Top Three: Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool.
Surprise Team: Reading.
Bottom Three: Fulham, Villa, Sheffield United.
ALAN GOWLING
I'M hoping England doesn't flop under the new management. The Premiership needs a successful national team. It would be a dream if Bolton won the Premiership but that isn't going to happen. I'd like to see a change at the top and it would be great if United overcame Chelsea who have been dominating things of late.
I'd like one of the smaller clubs to come through like happened in the past but because of the way finance is dominating matters, they could only probably get to fifth place behind the big four of Chelsea, United, Liverpool and Arsenal.
I am confident Bolton will build on their success establishing themselves in the top flight and the same goes for Wigan.
Top Three: Chelsea, United, Arsenal.
Surprise Team: Aston Villa
Bottom Three: Reading, Sheffield United, Watford.
SAMMY MCILROY
I WATCHED a lot of the World Cup when I was on holiday in Spain and I was shocked at the amount of diving that went on.
It was a disgrace to see top-class players rolling around the pitch after tackles and putting referees under pressure. This business of trying to influence their decisions, and to get other players into trouble, spoiled the World Cup for me.
So my big hope this season is to see a big clampdown on the divers. Referees were put in a position where they couldn't always win at the World Cup and I want to them to be given help by FIFA or UEFA so they can act now and cut it out of the game.
Top Three Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United
Surprise Team: Wigan
Bottom three: Sheffield United, Reading, Fulham.
ROY HARTLE
I WANT to see the cheats rooted out of the game this season but I think it will be very difficult. When I was part of the Bolton team that won the FA Cup in 1958 such antics were unheard of. But nearly every clubs seems to have cheats these days and the number seems to be growing as we saw in the World Cup.
The problem is that they are so good at cheating for free-kicks and other decisions that referees are facing an increasingly difficult task to catch them.
You can often believe a foul was committed when you are watching from the stand, only to see it wasn't when the incident is replayed. These players want sorting out for football's sake.
My other big hope is that Big Sam finds a new striker.
Top three: Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool
Surprise Team: Wigan
Bottom Three: Sheffield United, Reading, Watford
PETER REID
SIR Alex will miss Nistelrooy's goals but he's got Solskjaer and Smithy is not far off but they still have a lot to do to catch Chelsea.
Big Sam is doing an outstanding job and has got really good organisation and technique instilled at Bolton. He's desperate to sign a striker and if he does I can see them finishing in the top eight. Paul Jewell is doing magnificently at Wigan as well and will establish them in the premiership in the new season.
Top Three: Chelsea, Arsenal, United.
Surprise Team: Tottenham
Bottom Three: Watford, Reading and Sheffield United.
GARY OWEN
A TOP ten finish will and should be in the sights for City. That is what the squad is capable of achieving. Away from the top four, the difference will be consistency. Blackburn showed that last season, as Bolton did the season before, and that wins you a UEFA place.
Chelsea remains the yardstick. They have improved again like all good teams do by bringing in even more world-class stars.
Wigan will be consolidating their position, but the loss of Jimmy Bullard to Fulham, who was so influential, won't help.
Bolton have a tough job because Sam Allardyce, has set such high standards which he will now be battling to at least match.
Top Three: Chelsea, Arsenal, United.
Surprise Team: West Ham.
Bottom Three: Sheffield Utd, Reading, Fulham.
NEIL WARNOCK
I WANT to enjoy it. We may be odds-on favourites to go down but, then, we were at 16-1 to come up, so we've got a record of beating the bookies. It will be great going to these brilliant stadiums, playing fantastic teams and, although I'll look forward to pitting my wits against Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsene Wenger and Jose, I'll also be up against people like Sam Allardyce who have worked so hard to get themselves in the top 20. It will be a lot closer at the top this year, with Liverpool and United challenging Chelsea much more. We have five games in our first seven against teams who are in Europe, so it will be a tough start. But my lads are happy to take on the challenge.
Top Three: Chelsea, United, Liverpool.
Surprise Team: Sheffield United.
Bottom Three: Warnock, who has pledged not to be controversial any more, refused to tip relegation teams other than saying it won't be the Blades!
Do you agree? Havey our say.
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Surprise team: City lol, not with this lot in charge.
villa to go down colin bell, you sure kid?
I think someone must have slipped something into your morning tea. To expect United landing the title this year is way of the mark. To win the league you need to stay out of injuries, specially the key players. You also need to hit form imidiatly. This I agree with you. But for me the key word is consistancy, and if we take a look at the players at United, there are some young lads in there, and young lads are not that consistent. Compared to Chelsea we look, on paper, like puppets. Arsenal have a young squad as well, but their players had to grow up much faster than ours because of the trust and confident given them by Wenger. This year I honestly believe Arsenal will finish abowe us. When it comes to Liverpool, they dont look spectacular on paper. Much depends on the form of Gerrard. If he plays poorly, the team plays poorly. On the other hand Benitez is a genius tactician. Anything is possible with them. To me that would be dissastrous if they finish abowe us.
Big surprise Citeh not in the bottom 3? What experts are these!?
My first prediction is that before the end of the season yet more United players will be banned on trumped up misconduct charges!!!
My second prediction is that United will be treated completely different to all other PL clubs. Anyone want a few quid on it?
Sammy McIlroy on the world cup "it was a disgrace to see top-class players rolling around the pitch after tackles and putting referees under pressure".
You obvioualy missed most of last season then Sammy, watching Ronaldo and van Nistleroy diving their way round the premiership.
your right united have been treated differntly- they have had the bias of both the media and the fa for years. Maybe mike riley the red will ref only 15 games for you this year
and as for cheadle, what have the other 3 reds got to say there?
i predict we will finish in the top 6 this year. As for chelsea, injuries will be their undoing this season, they have sold some players but not got the best replacements. As for the diving this goes back along way, i remember watching a city v united match years ago when george hill did nothing but dive any time a player went near him. there is too much talk of stamping it out and nothing ever done. fulham, watford and everton will be relegated
1st Chelsea. 2nd Arsenal. 3rd Manyoo. 4th Liverpool. 5th Tottenham Hotspur. 6th West Ham United. 7th Newcastle United. 8th Manchester City. 9th Blackburn Rovers. 10th Wigan Athletic. 11th Aston Villa. 12th Middlesbrough. 13th Everton. 14th Portsmouth. 15th Reading. 16th Watford. 17th Bolton Wonderers. 18th Fulham. 19th Sheffield United. 20th Charlton Athletic. Or there abouts...
R, West Yorkshire. I see the usual manure fans whingeing has started already - everyone else is against us (that is true I must admit, although Chelsea may yet challenge you for the most hated club title), the FA is biased (rubbish if anything they bow too easily to Fergie's outbursts), Refs penalise our players unfairly (no they are encouraged by Fergie to play over aggressively and get their just deserts). Reality check time. You will probably finish 4th after Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool. You bought your way to the title for years and now you dont like it when Chelsea do the same. At least they make some quality buys - Carrick 18.6million - your having a laugh. Now Fergie has to spend more of your money get a midfield enforcer to protect him (if anyone decent can be persuaded to join you).
Top 3 in order, Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool
Surprise Team: Everton, City cos they'll surprisingly avoid relegation on the final day.
Bottom 3
Watford, Sheffield United, Reading
Best tipster: Me of course
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When the experts picked Fulham to go down read 'Salford donkeys' because that's where most of the fans are based!
Nobody nobody nobody expects Utd to win the league this year - what are Sadler and McGuinness going on about? They should be ecstatic if they get in the top three, after a summer where their strikeforce has been weakened and their midfield has been bolstered only by a player who can't even get into a dreadful England team. The only reason Utd bought Carrick is because he's not good enough for Chelsea to buy. They would have been better off buying Hamann - and I'm sure they could convince him to change his club again quite easily if they want him. Nobody can deny the class of Rooney, Ronaldo (if he stays), Ferdinand, Heinze and Van der Sar, but many of the club's other important players (Scholes, Giggs, Neville) are yet one more year past their peaks. Obviously, much of this weakness is a consequence of Chelsea's immoral and damaging financial dominance of the sport (which almost makes me feel sorry for Fergie et al), but still... I think that League Cup win last year will be the last trophy Utd win for a while.
pboro blue, did u used to sit in colin bell upper teir on halfway line?
bobby, nowhere No I sit wherever my mate (who has some ahem contacts) can get us tickets. Can no longer justify a season ticket as I never know for sure what Saturday mornings I have free to travel up to the COMS. Unfortunately that means we struggle for tickets to the more popular games. Before I went overseas and then came back to live in P'boro I spent my youth with my Dad at the Scoreboard end, and teenage years, 20's and 30's in the Kippax until the safety fascists banned standing. Even when we went all seater I still miss the atmosphere of Maine Road.
My Prediction, top 3, Liverpool, Chelski, Sc.um. Surprise team, WANDERERS!! Bottom 3, Portsmouth, Sheffield Utd, CITEH!!
P'BLUE, whilst many reds are wasting their time whingeing about issues (that will never change) affecting OUR club at least they're our issues! Why do all you bitters have to pre-occupy yourself with all things red ?? It's bizarre, i really don't understand it! Are there really no new vegetables growing over at the council allotment that you can concentrate your efforts on?
Typical bitters not putting Utd in the top three, If utd arn't in the top two and go very very close to winning it then I will show my backside in the centre of town.
1st City, 2nd Chelsea, 3rd Liverpool, 4th Arsenal...38th United (relegated).
Dear P'boro blue - I have another prediction - City will be as rubbish as they were last season!!
Yes everyone knows that Chelsea have deserved the last two premiership trophies but it is time for United to win it again as it has been an absence for a few years now. I think the fans need another big trophy as they havnt been coming in as we like. I think United will shock the champions league this season and get to the final at least if not winning it as last season was an extreme dissappointment to all United Fans.
Top three: United, Liverpool, Arsenal
Suprise team: Tottenham
Bottom three: Fulham, Watford, Sheffield Utd