Regarding Lyon; no one can beat them this season, but I wouldn’t rule out them blowing up. It wasn't a happy ship since the turn of the year, and this is a club where success and dominance has been built on solidarity and team spirit in a league filled with dressing room cancers. Once they went out of the ECL morale fell through the floor and the sniping began as the players had to go through the same old domestic routine. Houllier has undermined everything that made Lyon strong. If Perrin doesn't put things right Lyon could easily fall back into the pack.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Big Hugg
Fulham will get picked to be relegated and won't be.
Just like the last 4 years.
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Well they should have gone last year, and but for friendly Scouse selections they would have. Coleman going has given them a chance, but the squad badly needs strengthening if they are to survive. At the time you made that post I’d certainly have been among those tipping their demise. However they’ve started to take some much needed action this past week.
Hughes is a solid addition, giving the defence some much needed depth. Davis is an inspirational signing, while Kamara - if he does sign - will finally fill the void left by Boa Morte’s sale. Throw in Niemi deciding to stay along with the potential return of Bullard and there is enough to suggest they can halt the downwards momentum.
If I had to pick anyone for the drop right now Manchester City wouldn’t be far from my thoughts. The takeover and pursuit of Sven is all well and good, but it is taking far too long. They are in danger of forgetting they stank last season, and two of their best players in Barton and Distin have departed. With Trabelsi, Jordan and Sinclair also gone they haven’t even got depth (they are struggling for shallows... try and write out an EPL class XVI) and they’ll be hard pressed to find both the required quality and quantity if they don’t get started soon. The transfer deadline is just seven weeks away on Friday. Sure they can try and spend big in January, but everyone else in trouble will have some budgetary scope this season so they can’t expect to make up much ground.
I wouldn’t be shocked if Portsmouth found themselves on the periphery of the dogfight this year. Their strong start last season combined with the outstanding defensive record did camouflage the plummeting form after December. Moreover their defence was as good as it could get, so it is going to be a big ask just to remain as tight this year even with the new blood. Their problem was scoring goals, so the summer improvements to the defence doesn’t inspire confidence. They need more work before September or they could easily find themselves in the mire.