Who will finish in the top 4 (soccer)

Here is what i think and why

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

with only 6/9 points between 1st-4th

1. Chesea - In my opinion they've got the best striker in the world when he is on form in Drogba, the only problem is trying to get the best out of him like Jose and Guus did. He is near impossible to play against with his strength and ability to hold the ball.

Another key factor will be having a fully fit Essien, who i believe is the best DM in the world. He was missed last season due to his long term injury and made an impact straight away with a goal on his comeback against City. He does all the dirty work which is necessary to allow protection for the back 4 and allow other players such as Lampard to do what he does best.

Lampard - Well i'm not going to start the arguement who is better Gerrard or Lampard (it's Gerrard ) but Lampard is 1 of the best midfielders in the world. He guarantees 20 goals a season and will always score the important goals when Chelsea need it the most. Stoke last season in the Premier league is a prime example of this.

Terry - Mr Chelsea FC and 1 of the best leaders and CB in the Premier league. It was a massive boast for Chelsea chances that he decided to stay at Chelsea and reject a move to City. Cech, JT and Alex will need to form a strong understanding for them to win the title and i believe Ancelotti will be working on making them a stronger and tighter unit at the back.

Weaknesses - I can't see many weaknesses in the Chelsea team and squad except maybe the wings where Anelka did a decent job on the right wing but is a much better striker. Kalou is too inconsistent to be a great player at the moment, i'm yet to be convince about Malouda and it loooks like Joe Cole is going to be injured yet again which is a shame for both Chelsea and England.

Signings- Yuri Zhirkov - He was a star performer in the Euro 2008 and i expect him to be great cover for Cole at LB and more than likely be Chelsea new LW.
Daniel Sturridge - He's not going to get many starts because of Anelka and Drogba ahead of him in the striker department but he will be used as a super sub this year when Chelsea are looking for a goal. He's going to get the odd chance but i'm not expecting much from him this year.

2. Man Utd
I've got to start with Ronaldo. I know he's not everybodies cup of tea with his antics but never the less he's 1 of the best players in the world and it's impossible to replace his goals from the wing. They got a nice sum of money for him which i still expect them to use to strengthen before the transfer window closes no matter what SAF says.

Could this be Rooney year where he finally shows that he can be the world class player that he has shown when he is on form for Man Utd, don't get me wrong he's an amazing player but this is the 1st time in his career where he will needs to deliver with Man Utd losing both Tevez and Ronaldo.

The Rio and Vidic partnership is clearly the best in the world and you could argue these 2 are the best CB's in the world. Rio is 1 of the best CB's in the league to bring the ball out of defence and has a great footballing brain which allows him to get in great positions to stop the danger of opposition attacks. Vidic is a old fashion CB that takes both the ball and the man. I rate him very highly and has a great understanding with Rio. Both are dangerous in the opposition box from set plays.

Sir Alex Ferguson and other experience players - The master of mind game, he has done it all in the game and still looks hungry for more success which i'm sure he will get more silverware this year. He's 1 of the best managers ever and has the ability to take his team over the finishing line himself
Giggs, Neville and Scholes - All of these players may not play that many games this season but will be vital behind the scenes for Man Utd to win number 19 with their experience of winning it so many times.

Weaknesses - I can't see that many for Man Utd. They've got probs the strongest sqaud out of the top 4 but i just can't see where the goals are going to come from in the midfield. Carrick, Scholes, Giggs, Fletcher will get the odd goals but nothing compared to what they would have got from Ronaldo.

Signings - Michael Owen - I'd be lying if i said i was gutted that he signed for Man Utd. If he plays 25 league games this season he will score 15 league goals. Might turn out to be 1 of SAF greatest signings ever.
Antonio Valencia - Nobody expects him to replace Ronaldo but he will get more crosses in than Ronaldo and will help the RB out more than Ronaldo. We'll have to wait and see if he can handle it at a top club.

3.Liverpool - So close yet so far last season. Rafa must learn from his mistakes this season if we are to have any chance of winning the Premier League. He's a top manager but really shouldn't try and take the master on in mind games. A great run of results towards the end of last season winning 9 and drawing 1 out of ten scoring 4 against Man Utd and Real Madrid in 3 days shows we have the ability. We need to take that kind of form into the start of the new season and no surprise that results started to improve once Rafa signed a new contract.

Torres and Gerrard partnership - I might be bias but i honestly believe this is the best partnership in the world when both players are fit. They just have a great understanding and if both of them are fully fit this season it gives Liverpool a chance. Both of them will score 20 league goals this season.

Keeping Xabi and Masch - Xabi shown last year why Rafa was crazy to even think about selling him last season. He makes us tick in the midfield and has the ability to hit pinpoint 60 yards passes. He is irrplaceable and really need to stay if we have any chance of winning the title.
Masch does all the dirty work in the CM, closing down, tackling and just put so much pressure on the oppostition. Every team needs this type of play who isn't pretty but damm effective.

Agger/Skrtel/Carragher - I rate all these defenders and it will be a test for Rafa to find the best patnership. I'd like to see Agger and Carragher at the start of the season but would also like to see the Skrtel + Agger partnership more games because i see that has the future when Carra calls it a day.

Weaknesses - As you can tell we have a very good spine in Pepe/Agger/Carra/Alonso/Masch/Gerrard and Torres but we don't have the quality at LB/LW like other teams. Auerlio and Riera are decent but compare that to Man Utd and Chelsea LB/LW we are behind in quality.
We lack a strength in depth compared to Man Utd and Chelsea. We don't have a replacment for Torres if he gets injured and other areas on the pitch like in the CM with Lucas stepping in whenever Xabi or Mach isn't available.

Signings - We've only made 1 major transfer in Glen Johnson. I believe he will turn out to be a great signing but has alot to prove after his experience at Chelsea. He has cost on the high side at £18 million but could turn out to be a key player for Liverpool. He's an improvement on Arbeloa and Degan.

4.Arsenal - They've lost 2 key players in Adebayor and Toure with them being sold to city for £40 million. Wenger really needs to buy ready replacments for these players and not buy 2 young players that will be ready in 5 years. Arsenal fans want success now and Wenger is still the man to bring happy days to the Emirates Stadium. Just like SAF he has the experience of winning the league but not since 2004

Keeping key players fit - For Arsenal to have any chance of winning they need to get both Van Persie and Eduardo on the pitch on a more regular bases. RVP is such a class player and shown it in the game against Chelsea last season with 2 very class finishes

Cesc Fabergas is a key player for Arsenal next season. Everything good comes through this little genius. If he adds more goals to his game he could be 1 of the best players in the world. He's hard to believe that he's only 22 years old.

Theo Walcott - This could be the year where we see what Theo can do in an Arsenal shirt. We've seen what he can do in an England shirt and Arsenal fans will be hoping to see alot more of him next season. Does Wenger see him has a winger or a striker. Wenger needs to sort this out as soon as possible.

Weaknesses - Clearly don't have any leaders like their main rivals which will be a problem for Arsenal chances this year. They've not had a leader since Vieira.
They're also missing a quality DM since Flamini because i just don't think Song, Denison and Diaby are not good enough for a title challenge team and just like Liverpool i just think their stength in depth isn't no where as strong as Chelsea or Man Utd.

Signings - Thomas Vermaelen. If i'm being honest i've seen nothong of him so can't realy have an opinion on him. I've heard good things about him. He needs to quickly find a good understanding with Gallas to improve on their defence from last season.


How do you see the top 4 finishing up and why?

Btw this has took me ages to write up because i'm not the greatest writer on this forum but i've given it ago so if they're any spelling mistakes i'll like to apologize now.

 

1. United
2. Liverpool
3. Chelsea
4. Man City

I dont see Arsenal doing much this season. There already weak defence is now a whole lot weaker, and although City will start slow I think they will improve towards the end and if they dotn make it to 4th Everton will.

United will still come top. Ino losing Ronaldo is going to be big. But Owen will score more than Tevez did last season, Rooney will really come into his own, and Berba will improve. Plus the other 2 just arent good enough atm. IMO.

Chelsea are getting old. They will be better than Liverpool his season IMO with a decent manager but they havent replaced the weak links. However, wth a fully fit Essien they will push UTD.

Liverpool look like they are losing Alonso, and I dont think they will be able to keep torres and Gerrard fit all season. They dont have enough depth to win the league.