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Luke Edwards is Chief Sports Writer of The Journal and uses his blog to give a unique and entertaining insight into events at Newcastle United and Sunderland.

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Predictions For The New Season

Posted by Luke on August 10, 2007 1:16 PM | 

The futility of the pre-season friendlies are already little more than a memory, the new signings are - almost - all in place and finally the real action begins after a summer of transfer speculation, court threats, takeovers and that sport called cricket.

I’ve got to be honest, I can’t stand pre-season because it’s football for the sake of, well, very little. It doesn’t mean anything, you spend half your time dealing with misleading information about transfer targets and the other watching unfit footballers with suntans going through the motions in a friendly against some uninspiring team or other.

All pre-season is about, as the name suggests, is preparing for the new season, the proper stuff, the bread and butter or as the Americans would say in an undoubtedly annoying way, the real deal.

So with the new season upon us, it’s time for my pre-season predictions which will probably be about as accurate as a drunk trying to pin the tail on an imaginary the donkey but anyway..... Feel free to leave your comments with your own predictions for the new season.

Premier League

Champions: Manchester United
Runners Up: Liverpool

Newcastle United 10th

Sunderland 14th

Middlesbrough 17th

Relegated
Wigan Athletic, Derby County, Fulham

Best signing: Florent Malouda (Chelsea)
Worst Signing: Mario Melchiot (Wigan)

Top goalscorer: Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)
First manager sacked: Sammy Lee (Bolton)

Best Atmosphere: Liverpool
Worst Atmosphere: Blackburn Rovers

England to qualify for Euro 2008? Yes

Championship

Champions: Charlton Athletic
Runners Up: Wolves
Promoted: Sheffield United

League One

Champions: Nottingham Forest
Runners Up: Millwall
Promoted: Leyton Orient (there goes that heart over head thing again!)

Hartlepool United 10th

League Two
Champions: Peterborough
Runners Up: Darlington
Promoted: Chesterfield


Reckon you can do any better? I’ll keep the predictions until the end of the season and we’ll see who did best than shall I!

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Comments (16)

Dan wrote...

I'm gonna say:
Newcastle 8th
Sunerland 15th
Middlesbrough 18th
Derby and Fulham also relegated
Top scorer Drogba
Best signing Tevez
Worst signing Michael Chopra
Daftest signing Darren Bent (16m!)

Posted by: Dan  | August 10, 2007 1:45 PM

Commulus wrote...

I hate all this fantasy footy stuff but here goes!

Premiership
Champions: Manure
Runners Up: Chelski
Newcastle United 7th
Sunderland 16th
Middlesbrough 17th
Relegated
Fulham, Wigan Athletic, Derby County

Best signing: Tevez (Manure)
Worst Signing: Bramble (Wigan)
Top goalscorer: Drogba (Chelski)
First manager sacked: Sammy Lee (Bolton)

Championship
Champions: Sheffield United
Runners Up: West Brom
Promoted: Charlton Athletic

League One
Champions: Nottingham Forest
Runners Up: Doncaster
Promoted: Swansea
Just miss out Leeds (shame)

Hartlepool United 15th

League Two
Champions: Peterborough
Runners Up: Darlington
Promoted: Chesterfield

Can't you just touch the fevered anticipation? Is there a prize?

Note From Luke
Firsty this isn't a fantasy football thing, secondly where are Orient in your League One predictions and thirdly, the only prize you get is the respect or ridicule of those who read this blog.

Posted by: Commulus  | August 10, 2007 2:20 PM

Little Lord Fauntleroy wrote...

I'm deeply hurt that you won't fix it for me to win a competition... Jimmy Saville would be turning in his grave if he knew about it (And if he was dead!)

Think you're probably about right with your predictions, except 'England to qualify' and best/worst signings.

If Malcolm McLaren stays in charge, England will have the summer off next year.
Your pal Titus Bramble is the worst signing of the summer and I think the best signing could prove to be Maceo Rigters for Blackburn, but what do I know, I never win anything and I live in a hovel at the bottom of your garden!!

Note From Luke
You must have sneaked there because the last time I checked you lived in Gateshead!

Posted by: Little Lord Fauntleroy  | August 10, 2007 2:23 PM

Commulus wrote...

Unfortunately Orient are docked 20 points for financial irregularities and relegated!

Posted by: Commulus  | August 10, 2007 3:12 PM

Big Kev wrote...

Ok here goes.
Premiership
Champions: Chelsea
Runners Up: Man Utd
Newcastle United 6th
Sunderland 18th
Middlesbrough 16th
Relegated
Sunderland, Wigan Athletic, Derby County

Best signing: Viduka (Coz he was free)
Worst Signing: Torres (Liverpool)
Top goalscorer: Van Persie (Arsenal)
First manager sacked: hutchinson (Wigan)

Championship
Champions: Sheffield United
Runners Up: Leicester City
Promoted: WBA

League One
Champions: Nottingham Forest
Runners Up: Huddersfield T
Promoted: Brighton

Hartlepool United 5th

League Two
Champions: MK Dons
Runners Up: Bradford City
Promoted: Darlington


Posted by: Big Kev  | August 10, 2007 5:03 PM

Paul Patterson wrote...

Ok, it’s that time of year, predictions are in and sides set off in hope and dreams of glory. but just what events will take place over the next 12 months??

Wait a minute, whats inside my crystal ball??

Champions: Manchester United
Runners Up: Chelsea
Newcastle United: 5th
Sunderland: 18th
Middlesbrough: 16th
Champions League: Man Utd
Relegated: Wigan, Derby, Sunderland
Best Signing: Mark Viduka (Newcastle)
Worst Signing: Wherever Dyer goes (or Stays!!)
Top Goalscorer: M Owen
First Manager Sacked: Steve Bruce, but note I don’t think they will go down
Second Manager sacked: Dumb Swede at Man City
England to Qualify for Euro 2008: Er I couldn’t care less but probably not.
Aston Villa to be near the bottom of the league rather than top
Arsenal to finish lower than Newcastle
Johnathan Woodgate to play less games than Owen
Steve McClaren sacked and joins Man City but Dumb Swede is caught having affair with secretary.
Freddy Shepherd to buy a Spanish football club
Jose Mourinho to have a scrap on the touchline with another manager
The Beckhams to have another child to boost flagging popularity in USA.
The Beckhams popularity to flag in USA
Titus Bramble makes a catalogue of blunders including an own goal against Newcastle and Sunderland
Arsene Wenger resigns after Christmas.

Enjoy the season!

Paul.

Posted by: Paul Patterson  | August 10, 2007 5:39 PM

apan wrote...

Premier League

Champions: Manchester United
Runners Up: Chelsea

Newcastle United 7th

Sunderland 15th

Middlesbrough 17th

Relegated
Wigan Athletic, Derby County, Fulham

Best signing: Florent Malouda(Chelsea)
Worst Signing: Titus Bramble (Wigan)

Top goalscorer: Benny McCarthy (Blackburn Rovers)
First manager sacked: Chris Hutchings(Wigan)

England to qualify for Euro 2008? Yes

Championship

Champions: Charlton Athletic
Runners Up: Sheffield Utd
Promoted: WBA

Posted by: apan  | August 10, 2007 6:41 PM

Anonymous wrote...

Premiership
Champions: liverpool
Runners Up: arsenal
Newcastle United 6th
Sunderland 12th
Middlesbrough 9th
Relegated
Fulham, Wigan Athletic, Derby County

Best signing: geremi (nufc)
Worst Signing: harewood (wigan)
Top goalscorer: rooney
First manager sacked: Sammy Lee (Bolton)

Championship
Champions: west brom
Runners Up: cardiff
Promoted: Charlton Athletic

Posted by: Anonymous  | August 11, 2007 12:39 AM

phil matues wrote...

champions..chelsea
runners up liverpool
newcastle 4th
sunderland 10th
middlesbrough 18th
relegated..boro,wigan and derby
best signing..Geremi
worst signing..Bellamy ...7.5m for a disruptive influence !!
first manager sacked...Chris Hutchings
As for the other leagues...Does anyone really care???

Note From Luke
Well yes Phil I do care. Orient beat Southend 2-1 away from home on the first day of the season just so you know!

Posted by: phil matues  | August 12, 2007 1:19 PM

phil matues wrote...

I thought Orient was a chinese take-away!!!! LOL

Posted by: phil matues  | August 12, 2007 6:20 PM

Rachel McK wrote...

Premiership
Champions: Manyoo
Runners Up: Chelski
Newcastle United 5th
Sunderland 18th
Middlesbrough 17th
Relegated
Sunderland, Wigan Athletic, Derby County

Best signing: Malouda
Worst Signing: Torres (Dyer if he leave)
Top goalscorer: Martins
First manager sacked: Chris Hutchings

Posted by: Rachel McK  | August 13, 2007 8:28 AM

Ronnie ( Busker ) Lambert wrote...

WELL NOW YOU'RE GONNA BELIEVE US.

I cannot remember any toon team in my lifetime who responded so precisely to the manager's instructions to shut shop. This was thrilling stuff alright, 3 easy points at a place we were previously scared stiff to visit and 3 more to come from Villa next week. I have been walking on air since the victories against Celtic, Juventus and Sampdoria, and these without our full team. My anticipation of the new owners, new manager and new team has etched the biggest grin on me fyess that wor lass has seen since our wedding night. And now it's begun big style, with a memorable start to what I predict will be the greatest time in this club's history. It could, and should have happened in Keegan's management era, but for his exit and Dalglish's demolition of a great side, a continuity of Champions league places and even winning the league was not beyond belief. But now, with a financially strong, and sensible boardroom, a manager with a proven Midas touch, and a great looking team that still hasn't yet evolved into it's full potential, the world is our oyster. I believe that Sam has told Oba to go out and be great, to not even think about Owen who has it all to do just to get in the side now, and then to stay fit. I hope he does, and the strength in depth of our strike-force will be second to none in the premiership. Can you imagine what the psychological effect on opponents will be when they see the calibre of Toon strikers coming on in the later stages of a game ? The same as Chelsea or Man. U. that's what. Yes my friends, we have arrived as promised, a bit late maybe but it was always fait accompli with the passion of this great support, a passion recognized and correctly interpreted by Mike Ashley as the basis of any club's success. Chris Mort said yesterday that one or two defenders are still to come in before the window closes, well I for one am still pinching myself at the thought of every player we've brought in so far has been of the best quality and has elevated the squad into top six potential after just one game. I had the same gut feeling after the Man.city game ( Beardsley's debut )and immediately wrote my song, '' Goin' Up '' which the club endorsed on it's own label. Russell Cushing had the temerity to ask me if I ' really ' believed we were going up, to which I replied, shocked, '' I wouldn't let the fans hear you say that with the money they're paying.'' Water under the Tyne bridge now of course, but this new breed of the boardroom is way above the previous lot. Dear Russell is still here and doing a fine job but he's learned a lot in almost thirty years I reckon, he appears to be the sole boardroom survivor, good luck Russ and N.U.F.C. on a magnificent start to our revolution.

Posted by: Ronnie ( Busker ) Lambert  | August 13, 2007 9:47 AM

Neil wrote...

They say it's all about opinions - but best atmosphere at Anfield ?. Seriously - when was the last time you were there ?.

Opinions nothing - 25 years of being an away fan tells me that is simply incorrect!

Note From Luke
I was there last year and the year before that. I also dislike Liverpool more than any other team - something to do with growing up in the 80s and having a strange attachment to Everton, plus the fact loads of my mates support them and they aren't even from Liverpool - but the atmosphere has always been really good when I have.

Posted by: Neil  | August 13, 2007 9:51 AM

Jamie Tobin wrote...

Champions: Chelsea
Runners Up: Manchester United
3rd: Liverpool

Newcastle United 4th

Sunderland 14th

Middlesbrough 17th

Relegated
Wigan Athletic, Derby County, Birmingham

Best signing: Geremi (Newcastle (FREE))
Worst Signing: Darren Bent (Spurs (16.5mil?????????))

Top goalscorer: Didier Drogba (Chelsea)
First manager sacked: Sammy Lee (Bolton)

Best Atmosphere: Newcastle United
Worst Atmosphere: Manchester United

England to qualify for Euro 2008? Yes

Posted by: Jamie Tobin  | August 13, 2007 11:52 AM

Allan SHARP wrote...

Ronnie Lambert has the idea.(Well now you're gonna believe us) Ive been away from the North East for nearly 25yrs. I keep saying 'This season Im going to show a bit more interest'. Well, this season I am. Lets hope the boys go from strength to strength,and keep going right to the end of the season. (even past christmas). Lets stop being a predictable mid league team. Haway the lads.

Posted by: Allan SHARP  | August 13, 2007 12:55 PM

Dylan wrote...

winners:chelsea
runners up:liverpool(if they keep playing in the form there in they have a very good chance)

newcastle united:6
sunderland:18
middlesborough:16

relegated:reading(they had a good first season in the premiership but so did wigan and they only avoided relegation last season by one goal)

sunderland

derby county

best signing:fernando torres(liverpool)
worst signing:titus bramble
(wigan)

and finally i predict that the top scorer could be nicolas anelka(bolton)

Posted by: Dylan  | September 2, 2007 10:10 PM

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