My EPL Prediction... And Balls To Carrick

_ Here is my unbias prediction for the English Premier League 2006/2007.

Teams that will be in the top 5:

Arsenal
Chelsea
Liverpool
Manchester United
Tottenham Hotspur

_ These teams will still be in the top 5 due to their spending powers, players purchased and progressive methods of running their clubs. They also have excellent scouting networks and youth systems which enable them maintain a high level of consistency.

_ Teams that will be in the 6-10 range:

Blackburn Rovers
Everton
Fulham
Newcastle United
West Ham United

_ These teams will do pretty well because they have strenghtened their squads and did not lose important players - except for Blackburn which lost Bellamy to Liverpool. All clubs, except for Newcastle, have very promising managers.

_ Newcastle is here just because they have the spending power of top 5 but lack the people to run the fishbowl club.

Teams that will be in the 11-15 range:

Bolton Wanderers
Manchester City
Portsmouth
Reading
Wigan Athletics

_ These teams are here because they either have lost important players or they have lousy manager. Reading may become a surprise package like West Ham last season.

_ Teams that will be most likely relegated:

Aston Villa
Charlton Athletics
Middlesborough
Sheffield United
Watford

_ Aging players, inexperienced managers and instability will hurt these clubs. Bad. Most in danger will be Aston Villa and Charlton. Aston Villa inability to buy players and bad management are their downfall. Charlton's squad is very weak and a new manager whose record speaks for itself.

_ So, that's how my unbias prediction goes. My bias prediction will see Tottenham go second behind Chelsea with Liverpool and Arsenal coming in at third and fourth respectively. Newcastle, Bolton and Portsmouth will be relegated in that same bias prediction. Bwahhahahah!

_ And regarding Michael Carrick, here is an article that says it all for me.

[Link]