Barclays Premier League: Predicting the outcome of the 2nd half of the season

At every club in the Premier League, the pressure is increasingly mounting. No team is guaranteed anything right up until the last minute, be it a mid-table finish or avoiding relegation. If anything's certain, every game for every team will only get harder. Every fan expects...

Ole,Ole!: Solskjaer is intent on keeping his team up

...But before predicting who will finish where in May, the Winter Transfer window is a certain talking point. Arguably, the best deal of the window was Manchester United's acquisition of Juan Mata from Chelsea for a fee of £37 million. United, who currently sit 7th in the Premier League, are almost definitely out of the title race. That is not to say, however, that they cannot reach the Top 4 and still win the UEFA Champions League in May. Cardiff City, managed by ex-United man Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, have pulled off great some great signings this window, including Wilfried Zaha on loan from Old Trafford and Kenwyne Jones from Stoke City. Chelsea also had a great window, re-signing Nemanja Matic, as well as acquiring Mohamed Salah and Wilfred Zouma for combined fees of £50 million. On the down side, Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham were the losers of this transfer window, bringing in no marquee signings, although the Reds failed in a £16 million bid for Yehven Konoplyanka; Arsenal reportedly had a £37 million bid for Schalke prodigy Julian Draxler blocked.

In terms of the top four, the top three seem to have a firm grip on their current respective league positions, with the final fourth place spot to be hotly contested. Manchester City are playing like champions and will be hoping to add to their sole Premier League crown which they won in a high-octane manner in 2012. Chelsea and Arsenal will press hard and intently in order to claim the title, but City, although having made no signings in January, are playing some of the best football in Europe, alongside Bayern Munich and Barcelona. Liverpool, Tottenham, Everton and Manchester United will not back down in these coming months. All of these teams have major players injured and know very well that getting into next season's UEFA Champions League will be a mountainous task; especially in the case of United. 

The top 3 are locked in battle: But there's only one winner

What about the relegation battle? Crystal Palace and Cardiff City have conducted good business this transfer window but will still have to pit their wits against the face of relegation. Can they save their season? I for one certainly think so. However, Fulham, West Ham, Norwich, Hull, Sunderland and even Swansea will not give up without a fight. Rather sadly, three of these teams will go down to the Championship, which will act as motivation for these teams' respective managers to work harder than ever in order to keep their team in the Premier League. 

So what are my 'final' predictions at this point? Manchester City, I think will win the title, followed by Chelsea/Arsenal in 2nd place. 4th place can go to anyone of Liverpool, Everton, Spurs or Man United, and I do not think we can truly predict who will claim the final Champions League spot. As it stands, I see Fulham, West Ham and West Brom playing in the 2014-15 Sky Bet Championship season, though we should expect to see late-season drama at both ends of the Premier League table.

A sad farewell to Tony Hateley; the ex-Chelsea,  Liverpool and Aston Villa man passed away on Sunday. Ex-Spain boss Luis Aragones, famous for La Roja's Euro 2008 triumph will also be missed by football fans all across the globe.



CREDITS:

OGS Picture: http://e1.365dm.com/14/01/768x432/Ole-Gunnar-Solskjaer-Cardiff-press-conference_3060500.jpg?20140102135041

Man City 2012 Title picture: http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/05/13/article-2143702-13124E39000005DC-504_634x437.jpg