Ranking The Best NBA Duos

Fortunately for the NBA fan base, free agency left us with an insane amount of dynamic duos, as we witnessed shifts from super teams to duos, creating a more even and exciting league for all to witness. After 3 years of boring Warriors wins over less talented competition, the league finally sees an even playing field that makes it hard to predict a winner. From assessing all 30 teams I could only find 24 teams with a dynamic duo so it’s essential to make a note on the 6 teams that didn’t make the cut before ranking the other 24 teams’ duos from worst to best. Bulls: Lauri and Lavine had me thinking, but they’ve hardly played together and will their partnership be affected by the interruption of White? Hornets: They don’t even have a good player, never mind two, Michael Jordan is the greatest player in NBA history yet somehow he’s the worst owner the league will ever see. Knicks: Clearly they’re going to build around RJ but I don’t know if they have a prominent duo as of yet, they opted to sign steady role players on two year deals to help his early development. Pelicans: Holiday is the clear frontrunner here, but I don’t know who goes with him, I don’t even know the starting lineup, I’m sure it will be clear a couple of weeks into the season but NOLA has a lot of young assets right now. Miami: They will trade for another star to go next to Butler, until then there’s no duo down in South Beach. Thunder: The only duo here is the two picks acquired from Houston, everyone’s on the trade block.

24: Colin Sexton + Darius Garland (Cleveland Cavaliers)

Cleveland have tried to copy Portland’s blueprint by forming this backcourt. Garland is an exciting prospect and Sexton had a great rookie season after a fairly rough start. It would be hard to place them above any other duo but things look a little brighter in Cleveland.

23: Aaron Gordon + Nikola Vucevic (Orlando Magic)

Vucevic was poor post all-star break and Gordon never improved from the season before. Orlando is very stellar right now and neither of these two performed well in the playoffs. The franchise should think long term and move one of these guys as they are a magnet for first round exits at this point.

22: Trae Young + John Collins (Atlanta Hawks)

Need to play defense. Both guys can score 50 combined, but they can also let in 60. Until they learn to play respectable defense, Atlanta can never improve. They have their offense sorted but this league requires talent on both ends of the floor.

21: Devin Booker + DeAndre Ayton (Phoenix Suns)

This franchise has two absolute studs, the only problem is they’re the worst franchise in the league. Hopefully the new coach can make Ayton the focal point of the offense after a great rookie season whilst Booker continues to score the rock efficiently. Phoenix must find a way to win games or this duo will be no longer.

20: Andrew Wiggins + Karl Anthony Towns (Minnesota Timberwolves)

A duo that could quite easily be top 10 yet have the worst work ethic out of all 24. They can score 40 points on any given night then play like they aren’t bothered the next. Both have something to prove next year with a new coach and no Butler in town; they do have the tools to be elite performers yet seemingly don’t have the work ethic to go with it. Questions will be asked if they miss the playoffs again.

19: Blake Griffin + Andre Drummond (Detroit Pistons)

Blake Griffin had an amazing year the last yet Drummond didn’t improve at all. Drummond eats boards for fun yet hasn’t improved elsewhere and every time he attempts a jumper it becomes a meme all over social media. Detroit got embarrassed in the playoffs and Drummond was dominated all series long, partnering Griffin with more talent in his prime is essential for the Pistons, even if it means getting rid of Drummond.

18: Ja Morant + Jaren Jackson Jr (Memphis Grizzlies)

It may seem unreasonable to have a duo that has never played together higher than some well established ones but it will all be clear when the season starts. Ja Morant is a once in a generation type player and JJJ is the perfect big man to go alongside him. Things are going to be exciting in Memphis for years to come, they now have several years to find complimentary pieces for this duo to win with.

17: DeAaron Fox + Buddy Hield (Sacramento Kings)

Not many players improved much more than either of these two last year. Fox and Hield pushed Sacramento all the way as one of the best backcourts in the league. Fox is the perfect franchise point guard for Sacramento and Hield shoots the ball as well as anyone. Sacramento is finally on the rise and Fox’s game should improve even more under new coach Luke Walton who likes to push the ball quick.

16: Kemba Walker + Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics)

Kemba on the Celtics is an interesting fit and Boston clearly rate Jayson Tatum highly despite his woeful sophomore campaign. Kemba will likely be a top 2 point guard in the east again playing for a serious team under a serious coach, something he lacked in Charlotte for the entirety of his career. Kyrie’s style might’ve affected Tatum’s game so a new leader on and off the court in Kemba might be what he needs.

15: Victor Oladipo + Myles Turner (Indiana Pacers)

Much like Oladipo in his first year as a Pacer, Myles Turner improved his game drastically. Turner throughout the season was a DPOY candidate and developed a respectable midrange / perimeter shot. If Oladipo recovers perfectly from his injury, which he likely will, Indiana will be a huge contender in the east led by this duo.

14: John Wall + Bradley Beal (Washington Wizards)

Wall and Beal are killers, Beal had a career year last year but I can’t remember the last time Wall played and no one knows when he’s going to play next. The two of them carried Washington in the early stages of their careers and would be a contender in the east yet the uncertainty around Wall’s health doesn’t allow me to rank them any higher at this point, hopefully he returns to 100% soon.

13: DeMar DeRozan + LaMarcus Aldridge (San Antonio Spurs)

DeRozan and Aldridge are phenomenal players under a phenomenal franchise, the only problem is that they both excel in the midrange area with DeRozan attempting the most in the league last year. Despite their qualities, the Spurs were up and down throughout the entirety of the previous campaign but DeRozan and Aldridge have the prowess to take them further.

12: Ben Simmons + Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers)

The jury is out, Simmons and Embiid can not play together. It may seem questionable that these two are this low yet one won’t attempt a jumpshot in a jumpshot league and the other isn’t durable in a durable league. Too often they clamp up the paint making it much easier for opposition teams to scheme on them. With both on max contract money soon it will be interesting to see if they can become more compatible or if Philadelphia look to move on from this duo.

11: Luka Doncic + Kristaps Porzingis (Dallas Mavericks)

Dallas made an outstanding trade in February, Porzingis is something we have never seen before, a 7’4ft big that can shoot the rock and has respectable post/dribble moves. Chemistry between these two won’t take long to build, Doncic had an amazing rookie season and he now has a European companion in Porzingis to help him aim for the playoffs, Dallas have two replacements for the dominance of Nowitski.

10: Kyle Lowry + Pascal Siakam (Toronto Raptors)

Kyle and Pascal deserve to be in the top 10 given that they’re World Champions. Kawhi was a big part of that but Toronto was still 17-5 without him and this duo performed exceptionally against Golden State with big shots at big moments. Toronto should look to build around the MIP Pascal Siakam as Lowry enters the final stages of his career.

9: Mike Conley + Donavon Mitchell (Utah Jazz)

Without a doubt, Utah will be a contender in their conference and this backcourt is a large reason why. Donavon Mitchell continues to get better and better, he will excel with a true point guard like Conley at the side of him who will feel like he has a chip on his shoulder now on a serious team.

8: Kyrie Irving + Kevin Durant (Brooklyn Nets)

KD has an achilles injury. Achillies injuries end careers. Not much else to say here.

7: Jamal Murray + Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets)

Denver’s duo made the biggest leap out of all duos last year, Denver are one of the best teams in the league and Jokic is probably the best center. It is down to Jamal now he has that massive contract extension to take that big leap from star to superstar and join Jokic’s level so that this duo can break into the top 5.

6: Damian Lillard + CJ McCollum (Portland Trail Blazers)

Time and time again, analysts count out Portland, only for them to end up in the top 4 again. Lillard had an amazing series against OKC and McCollum had an even better series against Denver. Losing a few role players will hurt Portland in the long run but you can count on this exceptional backcourt to guide them safely into the playoffs again.

5: Kris Middleton + Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks)

The MVP and his buddy. Giannis is the most dominating big man the game has seen since young Dwight Howard and Kris connects perfectly with him, their chemistry is beautiful. Whilst Kris might not be worth the money Milwaukee paid him, he’s a great second fiddle to Giannis that can knock down key shots and take a back step when he needs to.

4: Paul George + Kawhi Leonard (Los Angeles Clippers)

Two great defenders; an MVP candidate and the best player in the World. No one has a game as smooth as Paul George but I’m not sure playing second fiddle to Kawhi helps his game after how much he improved at OKC. However, George has been woeful in the playoffs so with Kawhi at his side it might just be exactly what he needs. Doc Rivers needs to find a way to take George off of any guards defensively for this combination to work, they could quite easily be the best duo in the league next year.

3: Russell Westbrook + James Harden (Houston Rockets)

The most intimidating backcourt the league has ever seen. Houston partnered two special players in their primes. Contrary to popular opinion, I believe Harden and Westbrook make this work as a) they have been best friends since they were 10, and, b) they wanted to play together again after playing great together in Oklahoma. These two are serious about winning at their age, they’ve done everything statistically and got their super max contracts. We will never ever see a 36ppg player and a triple double across an entire season player partnered together in their primes again.

2: Stephen Curry + Klay Thompson (Golden State Warriors)

A duo that is tried and tested, you know what you’re getting with the Splash Bros. As two of the best shooters the game as ever seen, they have truly revolutionised the way backcourts are being formed in the modern game. GSW are still the team to beat as long as Klay’s rehabilitation goes fine. Curry and Green should keep the Bay in playoff contention until Klay returns for them to have another shot at the championship after last year’s shortcoming.

1: LeBron James + Anthony Davis (Los Angeles Lakers)

Talent wise, this is one of the best duos to ever formulate. However, LeBron is 35 and AD gets injured more than any other superstar in the league. LeBron must find a way to utilise the most gifted big man the league has seen in years. Historically, LeBron has turned gifted big men such as Bosh and Love into spot up shooters, this must not be done with AD. The west is not the east, LeBron must adapt his game to suit AD or else the Lakers could be in danger of missing the playoffs again with some bad injury luck. I fully expect LeBron to bounce back in his second year as a Laker and form one of the best duos ever seen with Davis.

NBA Draft 2019: ‘What Should They Do?’

Now is probably the most appropriate time to write up mock drafts, considering that the draft lottery has pretty much obliterated any mock draft that has been wrote up until this date. Teams like the New York Knicks and Chicago Bulls suddenly find themselves lower down the pack, whilst outsiders like the New Orleans Pelicans and Memphis Grizzlies suddenly find themselves with the best picks. Instead of writing a mock draft, I have decided to instruct teams on what they should do with their pick given team needs, rather than what I think they will do, because that’s impossible given the surprise of a draft night. There may be many regrettable decisions by franchises throughout this draft, mainly because the overall quality is a huge step down from the previous years.

1st pick, New Orleans Pelicans: JA MORANT. The New Orleans Pelicans head into the draft in a complete mess, the face of the franchise wants to leave and they’re not a playoff team. However, luck fell into their hands yesterday and gifted them the number 1 pick. Ja Morant is the obvious choice for a team like the Pelicans that have needed a playmaker for years now, it also gives them the choice of partnering him with Anthony Davis or finding a suitable partner for Morant by trading Davis who contains very high trade value. Coincidentally, Ja Morant is the best draft prospect since Anthony Davis, he walks into the league as an hall of fame lock, with the makings of everything you want in a modern point guard. As he said himself, he is a point god, the playmaking abilities of Chris Paul, the athleticism of Russell Westbrook, and the inner drive of a top player.

2nd pick, Memphis Grizzlies: RJ BARRETT. Memphis have their playmaker Mike Conley, along with the fascinating big Jaren Jackson Jr, but not much aside from those two. Barrett gives the Grizzlies the additional scoring and playmaking that they need from a forward, making him and JJJ a formidable duo for years to come in the West. Barrett didn’t cover himself in glory at Duke but he has the makings of an all-star and good coaching will bring the best out of him, he was supposedly a lock for the number 1 pick before the college year started.

3rd pick, New York Knicks: JARRETT CULVER. This pick could very well be used as trade bait if Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant join as expected, but let’s pretend that they’re going to keep the pick. Culver adds superb defensive versatility giving Kyrie Irving the opportunity to rest up on defence, he lacks a formidable jumper but scoring may be the least of his worries if teamed up with Kyrie and KD who can go for 30 a night. Culver also has the offensive ability to be the third option for the Knicks, something that the two stars will appreciate greatly on their off nights.

4th pick, Los Angeles Lakers: JAXSON HAYES. Again, this pick will probably be involved in some sort of trade, potentially for Anthony Davis but if not the Lakers have a glaring omission at the center position. The Lakers will obviously look to add a point guard in free agency like Kemba Walker, if that fails they may choose a point guard with this spot but their last two high drafted point guards D’Angelo Russell and Lonzo Ball have not worked out well for them. Hayes has a large wingspan and an incredible ability to block, LeBron will appreciate his ability to finish at the rim and defensive presence.

5th pick, Cleveland Cavaliers: DEANDRE HUNTER. A perfect match for Cleveland that will heal their wounds at the SF position after losing LeBron James. Cleveland drafted perfectly last year with Sexton and Hunter will only add to their young talent, the draft is something Cleveland need to nail as the free agent market will never be kind to them. Hunter is a perfect 3&D wing that most teams would appreciate, but none more than Cleveland who are a poor 3pt shooting and poor defensive team. Cleveland may even trade Kevin Love and build around a young trio.

6th pick, Phoenix Suns: COBY WHITE. White showed enough in his freshman year at UNC to prove why he should go this high, another perfect fit for the Suns as they desperately need a point guard. They may be disappointed to miss out on Ja Morant but Coby White will hold his own in the big league, his playmaking abilities will bring the best out of Booker and Ayton. White can also get to the rim off either hand, defend 1 or 2 and is also a great catch&shooter. The Suns should also look to trade TJ Warren or Josh Jackson and add more shooting ability to the team as neither have added too much in recent years, Jackson may work out well on another team but the Suns experiment with him has been a disaster.

7th pick, Chicago Bulls: DARIUS GARLAND. The Bulls were unfortunate to miss out on Ja Morant as well, they have needed a point guard ever since Derrick Rose’s career took a turn for the worse. Garland is an exciting prospect but there are many uncertainties about his game including defense and playmaking. There isn’t much depth at the point guard position in this draft unlike the projections for next year. Look for the Bulls to trade this pick to the Lakers for Lonzo Ball who desperately needs to get out of the LA lights and settle down in Chicago, this could be a perfect match. Expect the playmaking abilities of Lonzo to get the best out of Lavine, Markannen and Carter if this trade happens.

8th pick, Atlanta Hawks: CAM REDDISH. Like Barrett, Reddish was overshadowed by the media hype surrounding Zion Williamson in college but he has the makings of a great 3&D player that the Hawks are desperate for. Reddish can play either the 2 or the 3 and certainly has an higher ceiling than most will project after his disappointing college year. The Hawks have an exciting future with Trae Young as the franchise star, now they must focus on surrounding him with other great prospects as they rebuild.

9th pick, Washington Wizards: ZION WILLIAMSON. 99% of mock drafts have Zion as a lock for the #1 pick but I believe they’re going to be in for a shock as he transitions from college to the NBA. It’s uncertain what position he will play in the NBA, his feet too slow for a guard position and undersized as a PF/C. Zion certainly has heaps of athleticism, but so do most players in the NBA, a comparison to Zion is Julius Randle, except Randle has a better perimeter game. He also enters the league as the second heaviest player, only behind Boban, this is a serious problem and expect injuries to affect his career unless he sheds this weight. Despite the flaws of a poor jumper, high turnover rate and no post or dribble moves, the Wizards would be wise to take a forward given the potential upside. It’s virtually certain Zion won’t fall outside the top 3, but again this is what I would draft if I was the GM of each franchise, and if I was in control of the top 8 teams in the draft I would pass.

10th pick, Atlanta Hawks: SEKOU DOUMBOUYA. Such an exciting prospect, Sekou has been hyped for years now, he is a high-risk, high-reward draft pick. Despite the uncertainties of a foreign player, he offers defensive versatility along with the ability to get to the rim. Like the 8th pick, this is about surrounding Trae Young with players that compliment his game and Sekou also adds the defensive presence that the Hawks are going to need to hide the flaws of Young’s game.

11th pick, Minnesota Timberwolves: NICKEIL ALEXANDER-WALKER. The Wolves should reach a few places at this spot and draft the cousin of Shai Alexander-Walker. They should also help him transition into a point guard as he certainly has the playmaking abilities to do so, along with an ability to run the pick&roll and shoot the ball well. The Timberwolves need to nail this pick or they could see Karl Anthony Towns requesting a trade before the year is up. Wiggins is also a point of focus in Minnesota and an unselfish point guard will allow him to get to his spots when he wants.

12th pick, Charlotte Hornets: BOL BOL. Bol might be the biggest ‘high-risk, high-reward’ pick in the whole of the draft. After missing the entire college year with injury, injuries will be a massive concern for the duration of his career because of his abnormal size. The Hornets are possibly the worst franchise in the entire history of sports at drafting, so what could possibly go wrong here? They literally need a player at every position possible, luckily for them Bol has elements of every position in his game. Bol can shoot well, protect the rim well and even has his own set of moves to compliment his game beautifully. With the correct coaching and injury-free luck, teams may be regretting passing on Bol and his freakish abilities.

13th pick, Miami Heat: ROMEO LANGFORD. With a legendary shooting guard out of the door, Miami will be looking to bring their next legendary shooting guard in. Romeo has shown his athleticism and mid-range game in college but he will need to expand his range if he wants to become a top shooting guard in the modern NBA. Miami should definitely look at the 2/3 position and Romeo is about the best prospect left at this spot.

14th pick, Boston Celtics: GOGA BITADZE. The Euroleague’s rising star, Goga is a player that Brad Stevens will appreciate in his system, and will possibly be a key feature at the center spot heading forward for Boston as Horford and Baynes may be on their way out in the coming year. Goga has many flaws in his game at this point and will be a process for any team that joins which Boston probably won’t mind as Horford still has another year in him. With Boston having several first round draft picks they may look to trade these for a bigger asset (*cough* Anthony Davis *cough*).

15th pick, Detroit Pistons: KEVIN PORTER JR. Porter is a 2 guard that can get to his own spot and score efficiently, something that Detroit have been dying for in recent years. Detroit desperately need someone with the offensive package of Porter to compliment their two big men Drummond and Griffin as they look to improve on a stellar first year under Dwayne Casey. If Porter can translate his college offense to the NBA he may be a steal at this spot.

16th pick, Orlando Magic: RUI HACHIMURA. Rui started the college year amazingly and then spiralled off which has seen his draft projection plummet in recent months but he still remains productive and a wing that will compliment Isaac going forward. If the Magic can keep Vucevic and draft Hachimura expect them to make the playoffs again as Isaac continues his ascendance as one of the best defenders at his position. Orlando must focus on their playmaking necessities in the 2020 draft.

17th pick, Brooklyn Nets: NASSIR LITTLE. Yes, Brooklyn actually have their own draft pick. Russell runs the point well, Harris knocks down 3s, Allen protects the rim well, Nassir Little seems like a project that the Nets can have fun developing in an area where they are weak.. His draft projection took a hit this year as he struggled to make an impact off the bench at UNC but the Nets have had fun in the last couple of years with turning careers around.

18th pick, Indiana Pacers: BRANDON CLARKE. The Pacers are in need of someone that runs the point alongside Oladipo but Clarke is a player that compliment their post game. He’s probably the best player right now at this point in the draft, he can rebound and get points efficiently, expect him to change between the 4 and 5 with ease, adapting his game to either Sabonis or Turner.

19th pick, San Antonio Spurs: MATISSE THYBULLE. This may be the one that teams look back at and wonder what they was doing letting him fall into the hands of Popovich. Thybulle is a mediocre offensive player but the best defensive prospect to come out of the draft in recent years. Putting Thybulle in the Spurs’ system may seen a career trajectory similar to Kawhi Leonard given how great they are as an organisation at developing players. This young man is a stud and would certainly make San Antonio a top 5 defensive team in the league along with DeJounte Murray who is the best defensive point guard in the league.

20th pick, Boston Celtics: PJ WASHINGTON. PJ may go someway to filling the void that Morris will leave if he chooses to head in a different direction come free agency. The PF spot is an area that the Celtics will definitely be looking to improve before they head into next season and PJ can knock down shots whilst maintaining defensive versatility as a forward.

21st pick, Oklahoma City Thunder: TYLER HERRO. This should be a no brainer for OKC, unless the Spurs pass on Thybulle. OKC simply need shooting, Herro is a great shooter. He scores in ways similar to Korver and JJ Redick, something that Russell Westbrook and Paul George will appreciate when they need a big bucket.

22nd pick, Boston Celtics: KELDON JOHNSON. Probably a bench player, interchangeable with Tatum and Brown. The Celtics will hope that he can take some offensive wisdom from Hayward on how to make plays as a forward, he may be a worthy asset when Hayward leaves. Johnson can make shots but doesn’t have any special attribute that should see him go higher into the top 20.

23rd pick, Utah Jazz: CHUMA OKEKE. After his devastating injury in the Sweet Sixteen, Okeke should still go in the first round. He’s a great defender for his size and can knockdown shots, he seems like a perfect match for the Jazz. The biggest uncertainty will be whether he’s the same player when he returns from injury.

24th pick, Philadelphia 76ers: CAMERON JOHNSON. The 76ers have to take Johnson if he falls at this spot, he’s 23 and already established himself as a good player. As a team that desperately needs more shooters, Johnson should give Philadelphia the buckets that they warrant from the bench. OKC may beat them to this one, and if that’s the case, Herro seems the likely option.

25th pick, Portland Trail Blazers: KZ OKPALA. A big forward with a decent jumpshot, Okpala has a limited game but may turn into a good asset for Portland if Aminu chooses to leave in free agency, he seems the likely option at this point as there’s not too much that can help them elsewhere.

26th pick, Cleveland Cavaliers: CARSEN EDWARDS: A risk, but at this point in the draft risks aren’t too much of a concern. Edwards is a tremendous shooter that can run the point off the bench for the Cavs, they may struggle to put him and Sexton on the court together at this point in their careers but it’s a possibility for the future.

27th pick, Brooklyn Nets: GRANT WILLIAMS. Williams is tough, resilient and a good post player. If the Nets lack something aside from a star it’s a player that go into the post and get his own. As spoken about previously, the Nets have fun developing players and if Williams falls to this spot then you should expect him to make an impact from the bench straight away.

28th pick, Golden State Warriors: MFIONDU KABENGELE. Kabengele impressed during the NCAA tournament, given the trajectory of Looney in a similar role this seems like a good fit for both parties. Kabengele will set the screens that the splash brothers require and grab boards on both ends. Cousins is likely gone at this point so the center position is a necessity for the W’s.

29th pick, San Antonio Spurs: DEIVIDAS SIRVYDIS. There aren’t many better combinations in sport than the Spurs and a European unknown. It may be a reach at this point but Sirvydis performed well in the EuroLeague and may well be the next development in the Popovich wheel.

30th pick, Milwaukee Bucks: TY JEROME. A perfect fit who Giannis will enjoy playing with. He can create shots for others and will be happy standing on the perimeter and knocking down wide open shots with the room that Giannis frees up. Another that had a great NCAA tournament and has seen his draft projection rise as a result.

2018/19 Premier League Predictions

Despite this transfer window not being as busy as the previous, Liverpool managed to finally spend the money they needed to, whilst the other top clubs spent relatively nothing compared to their previous windows. New boys Fulham and Wolves didn’t waste any time picking up players from all across Europe, a huge reason as to why I do not have them going back down to the Championship.

1st: Liverpool. Star Man: Mohammed Salah. One to watch: Naby Keita.

Jurgen Klopp contradicted himself when he said a couple of years ago that he went about transfer business differently to other clubs, Liverpool finally decided to spend double the amount of any other club in the Premier League and improved the areas of their team that they needed to. Allison adds the goalkeeping prowess they have blatantly lacked, Fabinho is a much needed improvement of Jordan Henderson and Naby Keita is one of the best midfielders in the World. I will give Liverpool the edge over Manchester City at this point, they match up against them perfectly, but of course they will need to be fortunate with injuries and hope the front 3 of Mane, Salah and Firmino replicate their form of last season.

2nd: Manchester City. Star Man: Kevin De Bruyne. One to watch: Phil Foden.

Manchester City were phenomenal last year, they have Mendy returning and also brought in Mahrez to give them another diverse, attacking option. It is very possible they can win the league again but I think Liverpool will have their number this year, it is incredibly hard to retain such dedication and focus for two years running and we haven’t seen a champion retain for the past 9 years. Hopefully Pep decides to give Foden a chance at some point of this season, certainly a talent that will excite the English fans and European football may be a priority for this City side due to not reaching a final since returning to relevance.

3rd: Manchester United. Star Man: Paul Pogba. One to watch: Andreas Pereira.

By all means, this season could be a disastrous one for United, Jose could walk out any second, which means the opening game of the season is a must win against Leicester. Despite only spending 60m, United still have a side that is capable of winning the league, bolstered by the return of Pereira and a manager known for winning the leagues. The clubs that finished behind United last season haven’t really made pressuring signings, despite Liverpool, and if Bailly and Pogba remain fit then United have every chance at challenging for the title. However, with the rumours circulating the media and Jose’s unhappy press conferences, I would not be too surprised if they ended up slipping out of the top 4 and looking for a new manager. Not adding a defender was not the biggest mistake in the World for United who have the best defensive record in the league under Jose Mourinho who is the best defensive manager in the World.

4th: Chelsea. Star Man: Eden Hazard. One to watch: Jorginho.

I was struggling who to decide for this spot out of Chelsea and Spurs but went with Chelsea, it may take some time for Sarri to implement his tactics but he already has some brilliant, well established players. Jorginho will be the main piece of Sarri’s set up, his role of dictating the flow will be essential to any success that Chelsea will have this season, key players will be rested in the Europa League, giving them the advantage in the Premier League over Spurs. Eden Hazard will be back to top form, but Ngolo Kante must also get back to his best form in a new system that demands much more from him technically, his poor form last year was often overlooked by the media due to the scandal of International teammate Paul Pogba. The defence is a big worry for Chelsea fans, Alonso is out of place as the left back, and the Community Shield game highlighted how easy it can be to get in behind the centre backs.

5th: Tottenham Hotspur. Star Man: Harry Kane. One to watch: Davison Sanchez.

It was certainly brave from Spurs to not bring anyone in, but they do have a well established side under a manager that has been there for a few years. I am not struck of Pochettino, he’s not versatile and often makes the same mistakes, certainly a manager that receives way too many plaudits. Spurs should contend for the top 4, but their midfield is a very weak area and often gets overrun in big games, they will be heavily reliant yet again on the best striker in the World, they could be in danger of losing him next summer if they miss out on the Champions League this year. Dele Alli must also step up after a poor season and a World Cup in which he disappeared when it mattered.

6th: Arsenal. Star Man: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. One to watch: Lucas Torreira.

Given they have brought in a new manager, he should be given time, they don’t have a side good enough to compete for the title, anything higher than 6th will be a miraculous achievement. It is essential that Premier League underachievers the last couple of years such as Mesut Ozil and Henrikh Mkhitaryan step up to feed the strikers and work for the team in big games. Truth be told, the signings have been disappointing and have really only improved the side in one area with Torreira who should fit right into the Premier League, defence will still be a big problem for Arsenal. To add to the disappointing transfer window, Arsenal also have a hard start, this will put pressure onto Emery from the start.

7th: West Ham. Star Man: Marko Arnautovic. One to watch: Felipe Anderson.

A pleasing window for the Hammers, they kept hold of their main men, and added quality in every department, along with a quality manager that knows his way around this league. Felipe Anderson is an exciting prospect, Issa Diop is a great defender, and a healthy Jack Wilshere can play as well as any Premier League midfielder on his day. West Ham should be looking to push on for Continental football next year, before last year they were tipped for around this spot so after a big spend in the summer they deserve to be put in that category again.

8th: Leicester. Star Man: Jamie Vardy. One to watch: Caglar Soyuncu.

Leicester added some quality to the side but also lost their best player, the challenge for them this season will be replacing the creativity that Riyad Mahrez brought to the side every single game. James Maddison is an exciting player but the Premier League is a huge step up from the Championship. Defensively Leicester have added a few players, Pereira fills in the needed right back position, Soyuncu was wanted by the big clubs around Europe so he should clean up some of their repetitive errors from last year. The biggest mistake of their transfer window was not selling Harry Maguire, his transfer value will go down vast amounts if he continues to make the same mistakes as he did last season in a back 4 formation, you should always cash in on players that are average but received plaudits from an international competition.

9th: Everton. Star Man: Idrissa Gueye. One to watch: Cenk Tosun.

A questionable transfer window from the Toffees, the transfer of Richarlison highlighted the price of average players in today’s game. Marco Silva was sacked last year after a poor run at Watford, but Everton have certainly had no worries backing him buying half of Barcelona’s reserves. This team will leak goals, Yerry Mina is not an improvement on what they already have defensively, but defence doesn’t seem to be a priority for Marco Silva anyway. Idrissa Gueye is a special player, Tosun should provide enough goals upfront to secure them a top half finish, but I can’t see them placing much higher after a mediocre but expensive transfer window.

10th: Burnley. Star Man: James Tarkowski. One to watch: Matej Vydra.

I am not overly impressed by Matej Vydra, but their wasn’t too many options to put in that one to watch spot. Sean Dyche is a special manager, Burnley were tipped to go down last year and somehow finished 7th, pushing Arsenal all the way. I predict them to finish 10th or even a few places lower this year given the focus of Europa League as well, their squad is not massive and again they didn’t spend much, a few additions more would have helped. They are in safe hands with an unappreciated manager that gets the most out of his players, playing a nice style of football which is also comfortable defensively.

11th: Crystal Palace. Star Man: Wilfried Zaha. One to watch: Maximillian Meyer.

I am looking forward to seeing Meyer play in the Premier League after his big contract demands, but Crystal Palace rely heavily on the creativity of Wilfried Zaha. He missed 10 games last season, they lost them all. For Palace to creep into the top half they will need Zaha and co to be as consistent as they was when Roy Hodgson took over early in the season. A key problem for them is the attacking options, Christian Benteke missed the most key chances in the Premier League last year, and they haven’t brought in another centre forward to challenge him, this could be something that holds Palace back from improving this season.

12th: Wolves. Star Man: Ruben Neves. One to watch: Raul Jiminez.

Many are tipping Wolves to finish in the top half and even push on for Europa League qualification after their business in the summer, I don’t see it. Personally I don’t think their window was as good as others are making out, the likes of Joao Moutinho and Adama Traore are not players that will strike fear into the sides ahead of them, and most of their other signings were making loans from last year permanent. A positive for Wolves is that they didn’t lose any key features of the side that won the Championship last year, and the dynamic threat of Raul Jiminez should add goals along with the wide threats of Jota and co. A mid-table finish seems about right for their first year back in the big league.

13th: Fulham. Star Man: Jean Michael Seri. One to watch: Andre Anguissa.

Possibly the best business done this summer out of all sides in the Premier League, Fulham spent big and brought in a decent amount of quality in all areas. The midfield of Fosu-Mensah, Seri and Anguissa is certainly a midfield good enough to compete with most midfields in the league. It will be exciting to see Ryan Sessegnon compete against the best after the high expectations he has been given but again this league is another huge step up, they may not have the best defence so this should even out the amount of games they throw away from leading positions. The opposition will fancy their chances going forward against Fulham.

14th: Newcastle. Star Man: Jonjo Shelvey. One to watch: Jamaal Lascelles.

Newcastle fans must be pulling their hair out yet again with owner Mike Ashley filling his pockets even more. They had a positive net spend, and did not back manager Rafa Benitez after a fantastic run in 2018, Newcastle are in a dangerous position and the mess in the summer could see Benitez walk soon enough. However, Benitez is a great manager, I don’t see the Magpies going down because of him and the addition of Salamon Rondon will add a much needed threat up top. Their stadium is not a place that the opposition will look forward to playing in, this should get them the points they need to stay up, but no surprises if they get dragged into that relegation race.

15th: Southampton. Star Man: Mario Lemina. One to watch: Mohamed Elyounoussi.

Mark Hughes did well to keep Southampton up last year but hanging around the 15th spot is something he succeeds in, Southampton were poor last year and I don’t expect them to be a bigger threat this year. They have just about enough quality to stay up, but times are looking worse than they were a few year ago under Ronald Koeman reaching the Europa League. The money gained from Virgil Van Dijk has not been fully reinvested, Vestegaard should bring some safety to the back line but their summer work has not been good enough to place them much higher than the 15th spot. Don’t expect Southampton to break any pots, especially in the goal scoring department.

16th: Brighton. Star Man: Pascal Gross. One to watch: Yves Bissouma.

Another exceptional transfer window for Brighton, they added a couple of needed attacking options and improved the full back areas with Bernardo and Montaya. A finish higher than 16th wouldn’t surprise me but they must improve on their away form from last year, the midfield still looks a little weak and should be an area that Chris Hughton looks to improve next year if they manage to stay in the league. Glenn Murray overachieved with his performances last year, a couple of other players need to step up and finish off the creativity that Gross provides if Brighton are going to push on from last season.

17th: Bournemouth. Star Man: Callum Wilson. One to watch: Jefferson Lerma.

Bournemouth flirted with relegation early on last year, I believe they will be even closer this time around. They have been in the league a few years now and are just as predictable as they were when they first arrived, I think this will be the year where Howe and Bournemouth split ways, they keep making the same mistakes that we all thought they would improve on. They are an exciting side to watch but don’t seem to be going anywhere and the defensive problems will still be highlighted next year after no improvement once again.

18th: Huddersfield. Star Man: Aaron Mooy. One to watch: Adama Diakhaby.

Huddersfield were fortunate to stay up last year, they grinded their way into the last couple of games and finally managed to stay in the league through Tom Ince who has since departed. David Wagner has often used a deep block against teams higher than Huddersfield and I feel like that tactic has run it’s course in modern football, their isn’t much quality in this side and not much quality has been added. With a great home support, I expect them to pick up points in their own stadium, I wouldn’t be surprised if they stayed up but when I compare them to sides I have predicted above them I certainly feel like they’re a favourite to go down.

19th: Watford. Star Man: Abdoulaye Doucare. One to watch: Domingos Quina.

An abysmal summer has not left Javi Garcia with much to work with, it’s clear that Watford are not in a good place to me and failed to sign the key targets they were after. A trip back down to the Championship could be needed for this club to regroup and head in a different direction with key players in their squad past their prime. Unlike Huddersfield, I would certainly be surprised if Watford managed to make it out of the drop.

20th: Cardiff. Star Man: Junior Hoilett. One to watch: Josh Murphy.

Cardiff really do need a miracle to stay in the Premier League, they need to hope that their advantage at home works wonders. Their recruitment has not been good enough to retain a spot in the Premier League and I can see them taking the wooden spoon quite comfortably. Neil Warnock said last season that Sol Bamba is a better defensive player than Virgil Van Dijk, I think this season we are going to see more ridiculous comments and press conferences from Warnock as Cardiff are beaten easily by many teams in the big league.

 

World Cup 2018 Predictions

Here are my predictions for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, predictions may change depending on any injuries or if any players are killed by the Russians… These predictions are very brief, and come without any detailed analysis on any of the teams as that would take too long.

World Cup Group A:

Possibly the weakest group out of the 4, Egypt will fancy their chances with Mohammed Salah in elite form and Russia will also fancy their chances being the home side. Saudi Arabia have the weakest squad in the group and will struggle to pick up a point. Uruguay have the force of Suarez and Cavani up top and will be looking to fire from all cylinders as it is likely their last World Cup together; however I believe the Uruguay side is old and on it’s way out and will struggle to get through the group.

Winners: Egypt. 2nd Place: Russia

World Cup Group B:

Iran and Morocco would need a miracle to get through this group against the two European giants, I give them no chance. Spain and Portugal will be one of the most exciting games in the group stages, Portugal have the best player in the World and are recent European Champions, Spain will be looking to bounce back after their terrible recent major competition form.

Winners: Portugal. 2nd Place: Spain.

World Cup Group C:

France should demolish this group with ease, they have the best overall team in the competition, I would not expect them to drop a single point. The remaining 3 teams all have a chance of reaching the knockout stages, I give Denmark the best chance due to the quality of Christian Eriksen. Their star man got them through the qualifying stages and I expect a big moment from him to get them into the next stage.

Winners: France. 2nd Place: Denmark.

World Cup Group D:

Lionel Messi will be in his best form after falling one short last time, he also has something to prove after the recent Champions League disaster against Roma. Croatia are also a very strong side, the midfield of Rakitic, Modric and Kovacic is as good as any in the tournament. Nigeria and Iceland are the outsiders in this group and will need something exceptional to beat one of the other two sides.

Winners: Argentina. 2nd Place: Croatia.

World Cup Group E:

This is a great group, Brazil are one of the favourites to win the competition, Serbia and Switzerland are two steady European sides, whilst Costa Rica surprised everyone in the previous World Cup. I expect Brazil to win every single game, and I can see Serbia scraping through, but I would not be surprised if the other two teams finished as runners up.

Winners: Brazil. 2nd Place: Serbia

World Cup Group F:

Germany will 100% make it through this group, they are the holders of the competition and are the most consistent team in the World. Sweden made it through with a great team effort but lack the quality needed at this level. If South Korea are to go through they will need Heung Min-Son to provide some magic, which he is definitely capable of doing. I give Mexico the best chance of finishing as runners up, with a strong side and a young Hirving Lozano looking to prove a point.

Winners: Germany. 2nd Place: Mexico.

World Cup Group G:

If England and Belgium do not make it through this group then that would perfectly summarise their recent performances in major competitions, Panama and Tunisia provide no threat of any sort. The decisive game in this group is England vs Belgium, giving each other a real test before the knockout stages.

Winners: Belgium. 2nd Place: England.

World Cup Group H:

Colombia impressed everyone in 2014 with Star Man James Rodriguez, he will be confident in replicating his performances after a great season at Bayern Munich. Robert Lewandowski has received a fair amount of criticism from the media after his Champions League performances against Real Madrid, I expect him to bounce back and send Poland through rather than Japan or Senegal.

Winners: Colombia. 2nd Place: Poland.

KNOCKOUT STAGES:

Round of 16:

France defeat Croatia.

Spain defeat Egypt.

Portugal defeat Russia.

Argentina defeat Denmark.

Brazil defeat Mexico.

Belgium defeat Poland.

Germany defeat Serbia.

England defeat Colombia.

Quarter Finals:

France defeat Spain.

Brazil defeat Belgium.

Germany defeat England.

Argentina defeat Portugal.

Semi Finals:

France defeat Brazil

Germany defeat Argentina.

Final:

France defeat Germany. (I have many predictions for breakout stars, but to summarise I think Antoine Griezmann will steal the show before securing a move to Barcelona or Manchester United).