The 2018/19 season is fast-approaching and Cardiff are back with the big boys, but what do fans of the other Premier League clubs think of the Bluebirds and how do they think their own team will fare?
In part one, we catch up with fans of the six teams we think will be at the top of the table come May.
Arsenal
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What does your side need this summer?
What don’t we need this summer?
It’s an intriguing one as most Arsenal fans will base judgement on what we needed under Arsene Wenger and the system he played – we can only speculate what Emery will implement and that’ll no doubt affect our recruitment. That and the fact we’ve a new
DoF & Head of Recruitment looking to snap up young talent. I think we’re blessed with good attacking players and personally I’d love to see us invest in a central midfielder, someone to rotate with Ramsey and/or add a combative edge whilst still being technically sound. Other than that, we desperately need to replace Cech, though as he’s been given the no1 shirt this season it looks as if we’d only invest in one for the future.
How do you think you’ll fare?
Top 4 has to be our minimum aim. I fully believe we underperformed with the squad we had last season but it’s going to be very difficult each season with 6 clubs aspiring for 4 positions. I hope Emery can make us more streetwise and less tactically naïve – I’d be content with being more competitive next season and ultimately fading to a top 4 finish.
What do you make of Cardiff?
An unknown quantity. I loosely followed the Championship season and can’t say I watched much, if any of Cardiff’s games. Naturally I’ll think they’ll struggle the most of the 3 promoted teams, I don’t think Warnock has a great record once he gets to the Premiership (though you can’t knock his number of promotions), they’ll have to recruit cleverly this summer if they hope to stay up and could take a leaf out of Huddersfield or Brighton’s books in looking at a style of football this can help ensure safety. It won’t be easy!
Where do you think Cardiff will finish?
Unfortunately, I don’t harbour much hope for Cardiff in the coming season. I feel Fulham and
Wolves will fair better and think it could be a long season. 20th (sorry!).
Ed Wilson (@ed_wilson87)
Chelsea
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What does your side need this summer?
It looks like Courtois is on his way out so a world class replacement, need a centre back as Cahill is past it and Luiz out of favour otherwise we’re relying on Azpilicueta, Christensen and Rudiger, we need backups. We also need a world class striker as Morata is woeful. I would be buzzing to get Batshuayi back. I think the main thing is to try and keep hold of the likes of Hazard and Kante. however that completely depends on the incoming manager
How do you think you’ll fare next season?
I think we’ll struggle. Liverpool, Arsenal, United and City are all going to be stronger and I honestly can’t see us keeping up without a drastic change. Clearly somethings going wrong every time we win the league as we’re awful the following year! So I think we need a massive overhaul before we’re going to stand a chance of challenging again.
What do you make of Cardiff?
I like Cardiff. I didn’t watch too much of them last year but I hope they do well. They’ve got some decent players and seem to be improving all the time after a few seasons out of the Premier League.
Where do you think Cardiff will finish?
It’ll difficult but I think they might scrape 15th with a bit of luck, but can also see them going straight back down if I’m honest
Joe Townsend
Liverpool
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What does your side need this summer?
A few areas are key, but an added squad depth is almost as important as anything. Liverpool’s starting lineup is excellent, but the back-up options aren’t anywhere near the same level, particularly in attack.
A new goalkeeper is required, even though Loris Karius did quite well apart from his Kiev nightmare. I struggle to see a way back for him now, and Alisson or Jan Oblak would be outstanding additions.
A better centre-back is needed alongside Virgil van Dijk, despite Dejan Lovren playing well in the second-half of the season, but midfield issues are sorted by the arrival of Naby Keita and Fabinho.
How do you think you’ll fare?
I know us Reds are famed for going overboard about our team sometimes, but I genuinely believe we’ll challenge both Man City and Man United for the title. That doesn’t mean we’ll win it, but we’ll give it a good go.
Keita and Fabinho are outstanding additions, and when you add those two to the front-three, with strong full-back options, Van Dijk bossing things at the back and (hopefully) a new world-class ‘keeper, that’s a hell of a team.
Another run in the Champions League is also more than possible – why not? – and a domestic cup would be nice, just to end the trophy drought more than anything.
It’s as excited as I’ve ever been supporting Liverpool, despite the fact we’ve just lost a Champions League final.
What do you make of Cardiff?
I can’t claim to have seen a lot of Cardiff, but from what I have watched, they are your typical Neil Warnock side.
He is a master at getting teams promoted, and while they may not be the prettiest on the eye, their ability to grind out wins is highly impressive.
They are a club I had time for when they were last in the Premier League, and while I’m not a Warnock fan, I’m happy to see them back up.
Where do you think Cardiff will finish?
If I’m honest, I think it will be struggle, especially given Warnock’s relegation record.
As it stands I would make them favourites to go back down to the Championship, with Wolves and Fulham both looking better equipped.
I may be proved very wrong though!
Henry Jackson (@HenryJackson87)
Manchester City
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What does your side need this summer?
It seems ludicrous to suggest that City NEED to sign anyone after what was such a remarkable season last time out, with countless records broken.
However, the consistent links to central midfield players, namely Jorginho, over recent weeks is reflective that a new deeper midfielder player will be necessary, with Toure departing and Fernandinho ageing, not to mention that Guardiola will want to win the Champions League.
How do you think you’ll fare?
I think that City have the potential to retain the Premier League and push on for the Champions League. The 2017/18 season was phenomenal and laid down a marker to the rest of the English clubs. With such a young core, City can surely only get better from here as the players mature and improve individually and together as a squad.
What do you make of Cardiff?
Whenever I think of Cardiff, I just think of the 3-2 defeat away at the Welsh outfit. That was in the season following City’s 2011/12 title triumph, so hopefully a similar result doesn’t happen in 2018/19 when City look to retain the title once more.
I like Cardiff as a club in general, though. They seem well run and their fans seem great.
Where do you think Cardiff will finish?
Unfortunately, I can see Cardiff being the only team promoted from the Championship this season to be relegated next season. I don’t see them as being as good as Wolves or Fulham, and my pre-season prediction is that they will be going straight back down to the Championship. Sorry!
Jordan-Luke McDonald (@ByJordanLuke)
Manchester United
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What does your side need this summer?
United seem to need a lot, depressingly enough considering the huge expenditure every summer. Transfers seem to excite everyone, but despite regular additions the side seems to remain lacklustre. United need a left-back, given Luke Shaw’s nearing the end of the tunnel at the club. Alex Sandro would be a good addition. They could probably need another centre-back, and Toby Alderweireld, when fit, is at the top of his game. Cover at right-back seems to be arriving in the promising Diogo Dalot. But main concerns remain in midfield. Fred is expected to ‘unlock’ Pogba, but one wonders if the lock itself is jammed. Another central midfielder might/will be needed when/if Fellaini leaves. Four signings + Dalot would be a good summer, but is it ever enough?
How do you think you’ll fare next season?
I think we’ll struggle to match City, and maybe even Liverpool. It’ll probably be similar to this season: CL quarters, third place in the league, a deep run in the cup final. It won’t be enough to save Mourinho, hopefully.
What do you make of Cardiff?
Cardiff are interesting: I haven’t watched them at all, but they don’t seem like my cup of tea. Squad looks like it needs serious investment to keep up with their PL rivals. Looks to be a physical side, learning towards the basic English tactics. Not sure whether they have enough to stay up, but they will cause a few problems.
Where do you think Cardiff will finish?
Bottom three unfortunately, on paper. Stranger things have happened and it would be stunning if Cardiff stay up, but I can’t see them doing it at the moment.
Rahul Warrier (@rahulw_)
Tottenham Hotspur
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What does your side need this summer?
Spurs need , depending on departures a top class central defender. A striker who can take the goals burden off Harry Kane – something Fernando Lorente has been unable to do AND a ‘locksmith’ player in midfield to find that crucial final ball when trying to break down teams defending for their lives.
How do you think you’ll fare next season?
Think Spurs will finish second or third but not have enough to seriously and consistently challenge Man City.
What do you make of Cardiff?
Cardiff making the Premier league is an amazing achievement. Neil Warnock has ring craft , he knows what it takes to get promoted and to stay in the league.
Where do you think Cardiff will finish?
If they get a good start and stay out of the bottom 3 by Christmas I would be optimistic that they could stay up – no reason why not!
Russ Williams (@Russw777)
Part two, the mid-table pack, coming on Wednesday the 18th of July.
Header image: nathan17/Flickr