Pre-Season Predictions

Traditionally I am a very slow starter in FPL – I don’t do my homework, I make wild predictions about the season to come and I let my heart rule my head.  But not this year, no no, I will be better maybe.

Before the start of each season, a group of friends and I make a few predictions about what is going to happen.  These predictions remain secret until the end of the season when we have a big old laugh at Greg and his trust in Saido Berahino and for not realising Josh King is Norwegian.

While revealing my predictions here and now will ruin the post-season joy of revealing what our past selves thought would happen, I’m going to do it anyway…

The final May 2020 Premier League table, as predicted by me on 15th August 2019:

I was wrong about Liverpool, and I was wrong about Leicester. We can be pretty sure of that at this stage.  And, I think it is fair to say I underestimated Sheffield United.  I think Norwich will get relegated but I dare say that might be the only one of my relegation picks I end up getting right. All the rest is in the balance. At this stage I’ll take a new punt on Bournemouth and Villa being the other two.

Pellegrini is gone, Hasenhuttl has somehow managed to survive and steady the ship (Danny Ings, well done mate).  Wilder is taking Sheff Utd to Europe but it doesn’t state why the managers will leave, so maybe he’ll get poached and I will be correct by default, which is one of the most satisfying ways to be correct.

All in the balance – Pukki looking good for that one but Todd C having a go as well.  Norwood finally scored (more on him later) and its hard to say who their best player has been this season, they’re a solid team.  Heaton is class but Grealish is probably going to get the nod on that one.

Pepe – Nope. Got that one wrong. Rodri – started well, faded a little bit since. Heaton – class, I’ll make a case at the end of the season depending where Villa finish.

Drmic – 115 mins played, back sometime in January to make a few more appearances from the bench. Certainly hasn’t set the world alight but he was free I suppose.

Joelinton – don’t know if he just needs a goal to get his confidence up or if he’s just terrible. Either way, I predicted he’d flop and he has so far. I feel sorry for him, a little bit. Fun fact: a Newcastle fan I know thought they had signed Joe Linton, who really does sound like he should play for Ipswich.

Adams – barely plays, hasn’t been very good, tipped to leave in January and go back to the Championship

Benteke – hahahahaha
Carroll – technically an improvement because he has already played more than last season and has 3 assists vs 0 last year.
Mahrez – already scored and assisted more than last season. I’m going to allow myself that one

Qualitative claims about the season to come – freeform statements I made about what would happen this season:

1. This will be Phil Foden‘s year.  He will break into the City team, score 5-10 goals and make an England squad.
   He HAS played more, he made his first start and is scoring goals in other competitions, but it hasn’t quite been the explosion I expected.
2. Oliver Norwood will be the undervalued FPL asset who will score 5-10 goals and get loads of assists because he takes penalties, corners and freekicks.
   Finally over Christmas he scored a penalty. Just 4-9 goals to go.
3. Joelinton will be a massive waste of money and Newcastle could have just signed Salomon Rondon permanently and spent the rest of the £40m on another striker and a decent midfielder.

I confidently predict that the rest of the season will not change my opinion.