Braeburn's Premier League - Review Part 1

Eight games gone, thirty to go. As the Premier League takes another break, stepping aside to make room for the exciting hustle and bustle, the thrills and spills of the Internation Break, it is time to reflect on a season already nearly a quarter of the way through.

Before the season began I made a prediction for where each of the twenty clubs would finish. In this post and Part 2 (to be published very soon), I'll revisit those predictions and make new ones based on what we have seen so far...

AFC BOURNEMOUTH
Eddie Howe truly is a miracle worker. Bournemouth have become what Southampton were three or four years ago, well run, stable and riding high on a wave of good feeling and optimism. Yes, I miscalled it completely but hell, it certainly isn't the first time and it certainly won't be the last. I would say enjoy it while you can Cherries fans, but the truth is, enjoy it for as long as Howe hangs about. Join us, Eddie. Join us.
Pre-Season Prediction - 18th
Revised Prediction - 9th

ARSENAL
Wow. Progress under Unai Emery has been unexpectedly swift and impressive. He has got Mesut Özil playing well, the team are scoring goals and they have won all but their first two league games of the season. The first was against a rampant Manchester City, the second versus a Chelsea side that should, had the strikers not blazed chance after chance over the bar, been beaten about 6-3. There will, of course, be stiffer tests to come but at least the manager, players and fans are all pulling in the same direction now. Just shows what a little bit of harmony can do, eh José?
Pre-Season Prediction - 5th
Revised Prediction - 4th

Unai 'Dick' Emery has made a fast start at the Emirates.

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BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION
Not a lot to say here. The manager is still a good bloke who knows his onions. Glenn Murray is still banging in the goals and if he carries on like that then the Seagulls will be OK. I have bumped them up one place from my pre-season table but mostly due to the mediocrity of others in the division (you know who you are Southampton). One of about ten teams of average ability with little to pick between them.
Pre-Season Prediction - 16th
Revised Prediction - 15th

BURNLEY
So, the European dream died before the group phase and nobody connected with Burnley seemed to give a monkey's funk about it. Sean Dyche knows his Premier League onions and as long as he hangs about the club will mooch along and do OK. Another of those clubs that could finish anywhere from 10th to 17th.
Pre-Season Prediction - 14th
Revised Prediction - 13th

CARDIFF CITY
I said it before a ball was kicked; sack Neil Warnock and get a survival specialist in to do the job. Perhaps if they act now then Big Sam will have enough time to save them, although I doubt even the cash-conscious Allardyce is fool enough to take this one on. Go to the Championship, go directly to the Championship, do not pass GO, DO collect £120m.
Pre-Season Prediction - 20th
Revised Prediction - 20th

CHELSEA
Like Emery at Arsenal, the progress made by Maurizio Sarri has been swifter and more notable than expected. The fact that the Italian has better raw materials at his disposal, much of this team were league champions 15 months ago, mean I have them jumping five places on my pre-season prediction. Now playing a brand of dynamic and attacking football rarely seen at the Bridge only the potential departure of Eden Hazard to Real Madrid could throw a spanner in the works.
Pre-Season Prediction - 7th
Revised Prediction - 2nd

Anything Unai can do, I can do better... the fag butt chewing Maurizio Sarri.

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CRYSTAL PALACE
Yawn. Another of the clubs that could be anywhere outside the top eight and above the bottom three. For as long as the wise-old-owlish Roy Hodgson remains in charge then Palace will be fine. I have them dropping six places due to the improvement in others and the obvious reliance on Wilfred Zaha.
Pre-Season Prediction - 8th
Revised Prediction - 14th

EVERTON
Someone had to drop out of the top six to make room for Chelsea and that someone is Everton. Marco Silva is a fine manager and I still think that he might achieve great things with the Toffees, it just won't be this season. Worth an each-way punt in the FA Cup, if you're into that kind of thing?
Pre-Season Prediction - 6th
Revised Prediction - 7th

** FULHAM**
Swapping places with Brighton in my table. The Cottagers haven't pulled up any trees but have shown enough that they will be in that gang of teams with few worries come the end of April. The manager and the players will find their feet as the season progresses and so Fulham are my big shout for next season's surprise package. You heard it here first, right?
Pre-Season Prediction - 15th
Revised Prediction - 16th

** HUDDERSFIELD**
Down down, you're going down...
No great surprise and the Terriers are one of only three teams whose positions are unchanged from my pre-season guesswork. The key will be keeping hold of David Wagner. If the club do that they can consolidate, use the money wisely and come back stronger in a couple of years time. We call it doing a Burnley.
Pre-Season Prediction - 19th
Revised Prediction - 19th

Any excuse for some classic Stone Roses.

Pos	Change	Team	Comments
1
2	UP5	Chelsea	If Hazard stays the Blues will be the next best.
3
4	UP1	Arsenal	Emery fires the gunners back into the UCL.
5
6
7	DN1	Everton	Europa League spot dependent on the cup winners.
8
9	UP9	Bournemouth	Join us, Eddie, join us... we are your, er, father...
10
11
12
13	UP1	Burnley	Fans happy but time for Dyche to seek a fresh challenge?
14	DN6	Crystal Palace	No danger of danger but where is the joy?
15	UP1	Brighton	Safe and solid. Needing to push on next term.
16	DN1	Fulham	Next seasons surprise package. You heard it here first, right?
17
18
19	----	Huddersfield	A slow death to make the managers musical namesake proud.
20	----	Cardiff City	Lost cause. Hopefully, one or two big results to sweeten the pill.

Who do I think will win the title? Who will go down with doomed duo Huddersfield and Cardiff? Which team will get that coveted, er, 10th place? All of these questions and a lot more that you haven't even thought of yet will be answered in Part 2 of my 8 game review... coming soon to THIS very blog space!!