• The original article | Final predictions table
Ahead of the 2015/16 Premier League season, I made 10 bold predictions about what I thought could unfold in that campaign. Here I’ll dissect how well I did and it ain’t pretty.
Disclaimer: These were meant to be “bold” statements, so I was sticking my necking on the line a bit. I didn’t think these were likely outcomes, but definitely possible.
1. Chelsea won’t win the league if Eden Hazard misses 10 games or more
A summary of what I said: This should be the season where Hazard puts himself in the same category as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. If Hazard continues his upward trajectory then 2015/16 could be his version of Ronaldo's 2007/08. We might not see 42 goals but replicating his last season with Lille — 20 goals and 16 assists in the league — is realistic. The one issue for Chelsea in all of this is that seemed dependent on Hazard last season; when he was off-colour they seemed to lack a spark. Hazard has barely been injured in his career but if he were to go down this season for an extended spell of time it could be enough to knock Chelsea off their throne in what is expected to be a tighter title race.
What happened: Hazard actually played 31 league games for Chelsea, but he only started 25. He missed a spell with a groin injury and only managed four league goals all season, with three assists. Without him on top form, Chelsea put up the worst Premier League title defence in history.
Verdict: Strong start, correct prediction
2. Wayne Rooney will break the 20-goal barrier
A summary of what I said: Rooney has always broken double figures for United and his tally in the past three seasons — 12, 17, 12 — has to do with shifting positions and Robin van Persie. But the stage is now set for Rooney to be United's central striker and the goals should flow. Louis van Gaal seems likely to play 4-3-3, with Rooney down the middle. United's transfer business has added creativity to the centre of the pitch and the likes of Juan Mata, Memphis Depay and Ashley Young are there to feed Rooney.
What happened: A long spell on the sidelines and some poor performances on the pitch saw Rooney register his worst goal total (7) for United in the league. His England starting spot for Euro 2016 is now a doubt.
Verdict: Fail, way off the mark
3. Liverpool to finish 25 points off top spot again
A summary of what I said: For all the optimism around Liverpool after a major transfer outlay, it is hard to see where they will make up the ground on their rivals for the Uefa Champions League spots. They have lost their best player for the second consecutive season, in Raheem Sterling, following Luis Suarez the year before, and the influence of Steven Gerrard is gone, too. A central defence which had as many woeful days as it kept clean sheets (12) remains. The biggest unknown for Liverpool is the fitness of Daniel Sturridge. Liverpool would not have splashed out on Christian Benteke without major doubts over Sturridge's fitness, which is a shame; the England striker is a step above anything else they have. The title race looks set to be extremely competitive and if Liverpool cannot hit the ground running they could be left behind by October.
What happened: Liverpool made a terrible start to the season, Brendan Rodgers was sacked in October and it took time for Jurgen Klopp to have an impact on the squad. They finished 21 points off Leicester, down in eighth place, which is the same distance to Sunderland in 17th.
Verdict: Alright so it was 21 points not 25, but the theory was right. I'm chalking this one up as a win.
4. Andre Ayew will score 10 goals in his first season
A summary of what I said: Outside of the big-money moves, Swansea City's signing of the older of the Ayew brothers could prove to be the best business of the transfer window. For the past five seasons with Marseille, Ayew has scored between six and 11 goals and it is reasonable to expect he will reach break double figures in a Swansea side which is made for him. A robust wide player, he will take one of Swansea's wing positions in a 4-3-3 and, as the likes of Nathan Dyer, Scott Sinclair and Wayne Routledge have in recent seasons, will get plenty of chances inside the area.
What happened: A spurt of goals at the start of the season and then a fine finish after being moved to centre-forward saw the Ghanian scored 12 league goals for Swansea.
Verdict: What a visionary! Total success.
5. West Ham to finish in bottom six
A summary of what I said: Winger Stewart Downing was West Ham's star man last season and he will be sorely missed. Three question marks surround the club. First, how long will their new players, led by ex-Marseille man Dimitri Payet, take to get used to English football? Second, will any of their strikers stay fit for a season? Enner Valencia is out for 12 weeks, Diafra Sakho has back issues and Andy Carroll is never fit. Third, new manager Slaven Bilic is unproven, with no Premier League experience.
What happened: There was a shaky start, including a Europa League loss to a team from Malta, but West Ham went close to a Champions League place and Payet was a player of the season nominee.
Verdict: That must have been a spelling mistake, I surely meant top six. Epic fail.
6. Harry Kane to beat last year’s goal total
What I said: Kane's breakthrough season saw him score 21 goals in 34 games. One common opinion is that he may have had his best career season already, but at Tottenham he has a 4-5-1 formation set up around him and little competition for his place. Goals beckon.
What happened: Kane was the Premier League's top scorer with 25 goals.
Verdict: Perhaps not as bold a prediction as I thought it was at the time, but still a result.
7. Leicester City to finish bottom
A summary of what I said: As remarkable as Leicester's survival was last season, they also went spells of 13 and eight games without a win. New manager Claudio Ranieri will have to work with pretty much the same squad that swung from one extreme to the other last season.
What happened: Leicester won the league.
Verdict: The less said about this the better. Moving quickly on.
8. James Milner will make the shortlist for Player of the Year
What I said: One of the reasons Manchester City signed Milner from Aston Villa was his impressive form from central midfield. At Liverpool he will get the chance to play that position once more. Free from the "Mr Versatile" tag that hurt his City career, he will thrive.
What happened: Milner had a pretty good season. He scored five and assisted 11 in 28 starts, but it wasn't good enough to get an award nomination.
Verdict: Off the mark.
9. Raheem Sterling will win Young Player of the Year award
What I said: Manchester City certainly will give Sterling the game time, having spent £49m on him, and he has the skills to deliver plenty of goals and assists in what will be an exciting link-up with Sergio Aguero and David Silva.
What happened: Sterling is a contender for the worst signing of the season, just in terms of money spent to results on the pitch. He only started 23 games, scored six and lost his place to Jesus Navas for the run-in.
Verdict: A real disappointment. Both Sterling and the prediction
10. Stoke City in the top eight
What I said: Mark Hughes did his best work as a manager at Blackburn Rovers, where he mixed clever signings with getting the best out of underrated players. At Stoke he has an experienced, settled squad and has added quality in the likes of fit-again Bojan Krkic and another ex-Barcelona man, Ibrahim Afellay.
What happened: A poor start (no wins in the first six games) and a poor finish (one win in seven) scuppered this prediction. Stoke finished ninth, had some very good results along the way and could be one to look out for next season.
Verdict: Close but no cigar.
twoods@thenational.ae
Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE
Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/TheNationalSport
