Premier League 2018-2019 Prediction and Fantasy Football Season Attempt #357

Another summer, another season of the beautiful game, and for me once again another reason to try to actually remember to update my team for each Fantasy Football round.

Yes, of course, I mean the beautiful game played with feet.

As anybody who loves to hit a tin can will say... Life returns and the Premier League is back. On Steem that means the Fantasy Premier League started by @acidyo.

At some point in life, working for a blue chip company, Iasked to be moved to another department in another town because i had been on the waitlist for a season ticket for seven years already and there’s only one Theater of Dreams.

That’s true, I’m a Red. Through and through. All blame goes to Peter Schmeichel btw.

Season 2018-2019 Prediction

Let’s face it, the preamble isn’t the best introduction I’ve ever written and it is highly unlikely anyone will get the reference in it either, so let’s just jump straight to the predictions part.

1. Manchester City

Obviously, this is difficult but the reality is that Manchester City F.C. are the Champions and with both the quality and the hunger of their manager they stay the team to beat. Their squad has genuine depth quality and unless the Champions League distracts them, they will most likely not stumble.

After a record season last year, all other teams will have to have a perfect season to come anywhere close to challenge Pep’s squad and the blue half of the city.

Actually, that was easier to admit than I thought it would be. Such is the quality of their game under the Catalan.

But the next one won’t be that easy.

2. LoserLiverpool

When Juergen Klopp decided to cut short his sabbatical late 2015, to go to Anfield, there was only one loser and that were the other Reds in Northwest England, Manchester United.

Because that was where he should have gone some months later.

In the three seasons since, Klopp has achieved an awesome atmosphere at Anfield and managed to have the supporters believe again in and stand behind their team in the Anfield’s legendary “YNWA” way.

Thanks to excellent additions to the squad in last three years, Klopp and Liverpool F.C. stand the best chance to challenge Manchester City and to bring home silverware.

The only real question is not whether the squad has enough depth already this season but whether Klopp’s Heavy Metal football can bridge that last hurdle, his weakness... winning finals.

3. Manchester United F.C.

There’s no doubting about, it’s going to be a difficult season for the Reds at Old Trafford. That not because the squad lacks in quality but because the manager, Moaninho, has reached his third season in charge. The season when his internal combustion engine implodes.

Sadly enough, unless something dramatically happens in the world of football, there may not be any obvious replacement available in a near future either.

Currently, the only possibly available manager who would/could fit the rebuilding after Sir Alex’ exit is Germany’s Joachim Löw. None of the other (potentially) available managers are worth a shout. After 5 drab and ultra-pragmatic seasons it is safe to say we don’t need more snore fests at Old Trafford and can thus overlook Zinedine Zidane in the same way as his compatriot Laurent Blanc has been overlooked since years already.

The squad is strong enough to mount a title challenge but that only given a manager who can get the best out his players and so far Moaninho has shown he has lost that touch. The touch he had in his first year at Chelsea, at Inter, and during his time at Porto.

_{Jögi Löw}

Don’t write Mourinho the underdog off but there are more complications on the horizon for the Portuguese. United has a very strong squad, a squad with a formidable pipeline of youthful talent too. The latter probably becoming the manager’s next problem as not everyone may keep fighting the way Luke Shaw has. Players like Rashford, Martial, Perreira, Fosu-Mensah, Tuanzebe, and possibly also the superbly talented Gomes may decide to seek pastures greener if not given sufficient time on the pitch this year.

Much like Pogba did when he left for Juventus.

Because of Manchester United’s youth it is primordial that if Mourinho implodes in classical “Jose 3rd Season Syndrome” a coach with experience in building world beaters from a youthful team replaces the Portuguese.

Difficult times ahead for us Reds. Sorry, @ogochukwu.

Best of the Rest and the Rest

Contrarily to the opinion of most, I think that Chelsea F.C. may spring a surprise this season and end 4th ahead of Spurs. But that depends on whether Sarri will be able to keep Eden Hazard and William.

Other than that, I expect Everton F.C. to have a difficult start given their frantic close of the transfer window and being basically a club in disarray on the pitch. Disarray in a sense even a wheeler dealing ‘Arry Redknapp couldn’t cause.

Both Wolverhampton and Fulham may surprise this season and could vie for a spot in the top half. Just like West Ham may under Pellegrini after a solid transfer window. Emphasis may.

_{Fulham F.C. and Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shahid Khan}

This year will finally be the year former Red Mark “Sparky” Hughes suffers the horror of a delegation, but let’s be honest... after Blackburn and a brief period at Manchester City, as a manager Sparky has mostly underperformed - and spent too much.

Good ol’ Rafa will keep up the Magpies but unless Mike Ashley receives the price he wants, Benitez’s stay is on its last legs and the pragmatic Spaniard may be the perfect candidate to take over at PSG if Tuchel falters in his first season.

The Real Struggle

Now, all left to do is to make sure I don’t forget to update my squad after 6-8 rounds, pretty much like happened to me in most years.