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Today we'll take a look at last seasons' top 6 teams in both top divisions and assess where their weak spot is and finally, predict their Season 3 league position.
Up first is the Premier League:
We'll start with last seasons league winners, Leeds United:
While Leeds couldn't match up in the cup competitions, the Yorkshire club did the unthinkable and toppled Manchester City to lift the title on the final day of the season. Some have pointed out that in the final weeks of the season, City couldn't buy (Leeds weren't in much better form either!) a win thus leading to Leeds pipping them to the title.
In order to retain their title, Leeds will surely have to produce more heroics in a competitive league but what is their weak link?
For us, it's either the defence OR L_Jovic.
The defence doesn't have great depth and is reliant on J_Caudrado being captain in order to be good enough for the team.
With this and other teams improving, we feel a slight drop off for Leeds United.
S3 predicted league finish: 4th
Manchester City:
An underwhelming season to say the least, going trophyless for the first time in countless seasons, surely a reaction from the club has to happen.
With manager Nick Lovell STILL chasing that elusive treble, will it ever be his?
The weak link for City may be controversial, but for us it's the gaffer himself.
After a decade of total dominance, it seems the fire in his belly has gone out, allowing his team to be pegged back last season, with their form being probably up there with the worst ever in his career, does he have what it takes to win yet another league title?
We believe he does, with the addition of J_Bellingham this pre season, we believe that losing the title in such a way was exactly what the club needed.
S3 predicted league finish: 1st
Manchester United:
3rd last season, Manchester United will be looking for an improved season and have been busy in the transfer window bringing in such players as M_Mount & P_Porro but what is their weak link?
The attacking midfielders. Saka, Mount & Elanga simply don't look good enough to get the job done in the big games and this could be their undoing
Manchester United are always a club that flirt with the league title but after a few poor seasons by their standards we predict despite the AM issue, they'll be right up there come game 38.
S3 predicted league finish: 2nd
Aston Villa:
4th last season but their leak link couldn't be more obvious. Their goalkeeper A_Meret.
Meret spent last season playing at the bottom of the conference with Norwich City and now is between the sticks for the Villa but will he be good enough? We don't think so and Villa manager Ian Greaves knows is
Greaves tried to replace Meret in the pre season auction, bidding on shot stopper D_Raya but being beaten out by FC Barcelona.
Unless Villa make changes in goal, it could be a very long season.
S3 predicted league finish: 6th
Burnley:
Finishing just below Aston Villa last season, Burnley are another one of those clubs who are always up there but rarely trouble the league winner.
Despite bringing in F_de_Jong at auction, Burnley's needs seem simple. They have no recognised defensive midfielder and currently have 3 mediocre strikers rather than 2 with real quality.
These issues could impact them at both ends of the pitch causing them to drop vital points.
S3 predicted league finish: 5th
Arsenal:
One of those clubs that could either be in the title race or in danger of dropping out of the top 8.
Arsenal made several moves in the off season which seems to have brought a better balance to the squad as a whole, however a key area that they may need to address is their 2nd choice striker, F_Chiesa.
While A_Isak is definatley a player with a lot of talent, his striker partner has a long way to go in order to achieve that.
With attacking midfielders like Correa & Pepe in the Arsenal squad, they might breeze past this issue however it just as easily could derail their season.
Now we'll look at EFL 1, starting with champions PSG:
While PSG ran away with the league last season and their squad is unmatched, their weak link lays away from the roster, in their manager.
The paranoid, unstable, overthinker manager Simon Clarke seems to already be cracking, with reported rude attitude, claims of auctions being rigged for his rivals/anti PSG auction and then overpaying in Round 2 of the auction for midfielder J_Lepenant. It's thought that the club will get nowhere near the £108,000,000 that they paid for the 20 year old when they sell him and the manager is the only one to blame here.
The arrogant, self proclaimed 'best tactician in the game despite it obviously being the fact they've got the best team in the world' manager could be the clubs' downfall this season.
S3 predicted league finish: 3rd
AS Roma:
After a disappointing S2, where the club went from winning a treble, to not even being able to win 3 games in a row, Roma will be looking to bounce back.
With the addition of K_Mbappe from the auction, they'll have one of if not THE best strikeforces in the world but that didn't work for them last season as Neymar was shipped off before the half way point.
We see Roma's weak spot as their none existent defensive midfielder with L_Goretzka being the closest thing and while the 'Roma way' isn't to defend, this could bite them in the behind.
S3 predicted league finish: 1st
Juventus:
Last season's surprise package in the league, in the title race at the half way point and finishing 3rd ahead of the likes of Real Madrid & Inter Milan not to mention their DPT trophy heroics to win the competition ahead of the likes of AC Milan & Leeds United.
With an pre season with big changes in the defence, this could go one way or the other with the club either moving forwards and solidifying themselves as a top 4/5 team in the league or going backwards just like they did 2 seasons ago.
With the squad looking pretty well balanced, it seems that their youth player policy could be what holds them back, if not that it'll be their manager's poor tactical knowledge.
S3 predicted league finish: 5th
Atletcio Madrid:
A team very similar to Juventus, seemingly on the rise under Simon Marsh.
With comings and goings at the club, the squad looks stronger than ever with real depth starting to develop, however Atletico seems to have a lack of a second defensive midfielder.
This may never be an issue, however at the stage it's hard to see a big weak spot for the club and this could cause issues if injuries & suspensions pile up towards the end of the season.
S3 predicted league finish: 4th
Real Madrid:
An unusually poor season for one of the most successful teams in the world, Real Madrid seemed to be on the beach with 10 games left, dropping down the league table and eventually finishing 5th.
Not much movement in the Real Madrid squad this pre season but one noticeable absence will be the partnership of A_Rudiger & F_Mendy who were both sold to Roma and replaced by R_Varane and eventually after missing out on J_Bellingham, by M_van_de_Ven at auction.
This leaves a hole in the Real Madrid defence which manager Steven K Talbot will surely be looking to plug.
This being said, we predict a better season this time around for Real.
Season 3 predicted league finish: 2nd
Inter Milan:
Rounding off our second top 6 is Inter Milan, a club that despite going backwards, claim to be moving forwards.
Despite all of the facts and figures saying they've had poorer seasons than other clubs, still they claim they've had a better season in the hope that people will just stop listening and believe the lies.
Onto the team, despite the signing of S_Gnabry, Inter Milan will still have to play L_Abada as he was made captain by desperate manager Gary Wilson.
This clear and obvious mistake means that Abada cannot be sold until mid season when he's allowed to be sold thus meaning that Inter Milan will have to play a striker who is 2 skills off the pace. This will have an impact which could see Inter in the bottom half at the mid way point.
We'd expect a much stronger 2nd half of the season however after manager Gary Wilson does the fastest transfer ever at mid season, ask anyone.
Season 3 predicted league finish: 7th
With Inter Milan being predicted to drop out of the top 6, the question remains, who will take their place?
Our prediction is Sporting Lisbon.
Up first is the Premier League:
We'll start with last seasons league winners, Leeds United:
While Leeds couldn't match up in the cup competitions, the Yorkshire club did the unthinkable and toppled Manchester City to lift the title on the final day of the season. Some have pointed out that in the final weeks of the season, City couldn't buy (Leeds weren't in much better form either!) a win thus leading to Leeds pipping them to the title.
In order to retain their title, Leeds will surely have to produce more heroics in a competitive league but what is their weak link?
For us, it's either the defence OR L_Jovic.
The defence doesn't have great depth and is reliant on J_Caudrado being captain in order to be good enough for the team.
With this and other teams improving, we feel a slight drop off for Leeds United.
S3 predicted league finish: 4th
Manchester City:
An underwhelming season to say the least, going trophyless for the first time in countless seasons, surely a reaction from the club has to happen.
With manager Nick Lovell STILL chasing that elusive treble, will it ever be his?
The weak link for City may be controversial, but for us it's the gaffer himself.
After a decade of total dominance, it seems the fire in his belly has gone out, allowing his team to be pegged back last season, with their form being probably up there with the worst ever in his career, does he have what it takes to win yet another league title?
We believe he does, with the addition of J_Bellingham this pre season, we believe that losing the title in such a way was exactly what the club needed.
S3 predicted league finish: 1st
Manchester United:
3rd last season, Manchester United will be looking for an improved season and have been busy in the transfer window bringing in such players as M_Mount & P_Porro but what is their weak link?
The attacking midfielders. Saka, Mount & Elanga simply don't look good enough to get the job done in the big games and this could be their undoing
Manchester United are always a club that flirt with the league title but after a few poor seasons by their standards we predict despite the AM issue, they'll be right up there come game 38.
S3 predicted league finish: 2nd
Aston Villa:
4th last season but their leak link couldn't be more obvious. Their goalkeeper A_Meret.
Meret spent last season playing at the bottom of the conference with Norwich City and now is between the sticks for the Villa but will he be good enough? We don't think so and Villa manager Ian Greaves knows is
Greaves tried to replace Meret in the pre season auction, bidding on shot stopper D_Raya but being beaten out by FC Barcelona.
Unless Villa make changes in goal, it could be a very long season.
S3 predicted league finish: 6th
Burnley:
Finishing just below Aston Villa last season, Burnley are another one of those clubs who are always up there but rarely trouble the league winner.
Despite bringing in F_de_Jong at auction, Burnley's needs seem simple. They have no recognised defensive midfielder and currently have 3 mediocre strikers rather than 2 with real quality.
These issues could impact them at both ends of the pitch causing them to drop vital points.
S3 predicted league finish: 5th
Arsenal:
One of those clubs that could either be in the title race or in danger of dropping out of the top 8.
Arsenal made several moves in the off season which seems to have brought a better balance to the squad as a whole, however a key area that they may need to address is their 2nd choice striker, F_Chiesa.
While A_Isak is definatley a player with a lot of talent, his striker partner has a long way to go in order to achieve that.
With attacking midfielders like Correa & Pepe in the Arsenal squad, they might breeze past this issue however it just as easily could derail their season.
Now we'll look at EFL 1, starting with champions PSG:
While PSG ran away with the league last season and their squad is unmatched, their weak link lays away from the roster, in their manager.
The paranoid, unstable, overthinker manager Simon Clarke seems to already be cracking, with reported rude attitude, claims of auctions being rigged for his rivals/anti PSG auction and then overpaying in Round 2 of the auction for midfielder J_Lepenant. It's thought that the club will get nowhere near the £108,000,000 that they paid for the 20 year old when they sell him and the manager is the only one to blame here.
The arrogant, self proclaimed 'best tactician in the game despite it obviously being the fact they've got the best team in the world' manager could be the clubs' downfall this season.
S3 predicted league finish: 3rd
AS Roma:
After a disappointing S2, where the club went from winning a treble, to not even being able to win 3 games in a row, Roma will be looking to bounce back.
With the addition of K_Mbappe from the auction, they'll have one of if not THE best strikeforces in the world but that didn't work for them last season as Neymar was shipped off before the half way point.
We see Roma's weak spot as their none existent defensive midfielder with L_Goretzka being the closest thing and while the 'Roma way' isn't to defend, this could bite them in the behind.
S3 predicted league finish: 1st
Juventus:
Last season's surprise package in the league, in the title race at the half way point and finishing 3rd ahead of the likes of Real Madrid & Inter Milan not to mention their DPT trophy heroics to win the competition ahead of the likes of AC Milan & Leeds United.
With an pre season with big changes in the defence, this could go one way or the other with the club either moving forwards and solidifying themselves as a top 4/5 team in the league or going backwards just like they did 2 seasons ago.
With the squad looking pretty well balanced, it seems that their youth player policy could be what holds them back, if not that it'll be their manager's poor tactical knowledge.
S3 predicted league finish: 5th
Atletcio Madrid:
A team very similar to Juventus, seemingly on the rise under Simon Marsh.
With comings and goings at the club, the squad looks stronger than ever with real depth starting to develop, however Atletico seems to have a lack of a second defensive midfielder.
This may never be an issue, however at the stage it's hard to see a big weak spot for the club and this could cause issues if injuries & suspensions pile up towards the end of the season.
S3 predicted league finish: 4th
Real Madrid:
An unusually poor season for one of the most successful teams in the world, Real Madrid seemed to be on the beach with 10 games left, dropping down the league table and eventually finishing 5th.
Not much movement in the Real Madrid squad this pre season but one noticeable absence will be the partnership of A_Rudiger & F_Mendy who were both sold to Roma and replaced by R_Varane and eventually after missing out on J_Bellingham, by M_van_de_Ven at auction.
This leaves a hole in the Real Madrid defence which manager Steven K Talbot will surely be looking to plug.
This being said, we predict a better season this time around for Real.
Season 3 predicted league finish: 2nd
Inter Milan:
Rounding off our second top 6 is Inter Milan, a club that despite going backwards, claim to be moving forwards.
Despite all of the facts and figures saying they've had poorer seasons than other clubs, still they claim they've had a better season in the hope that people will just stop listening and believe the lies.
Onto the team, despite the signing of S_Gnabry, Inter Milan will still have to play L_Abada as he was made captain by desperate manager Gary Wilson.
This clear and obvious mistake means that Abada cannot be sold until mid season when he's allowed to be sold thus meaning that Inter Milan will have to play a striker who is 2 skills off the pace. This will have an impact which could see Inter in the bottom half at the mid way point.
We'd expect a much stronger 2nd half of the season however after manager Gary Wilson does the fastest transfer ever at mid season, ask anyone.
Season 3 predicted league finish: 7th
With Inter Milan being predicted to drop out of the top 6, the question remains, who will take their place?
Our prediction is Sporting Lisbon.