18 Aug 2026 10:12:04
Who's up for some predictions?
PL: Can't see us higher than 3rd but we'll be a lot more entertaining and solid.
Winners: Arsenal, sigh.
CL: Quarter finals. A lot depends on the draw but I don't think we've got the squad for number seven yet.
Winners: PSG. They seem to peak at the right time and can't see them being beaten.
LC: Early knock out due to resting first team.
Winners: Chelsea. No European comps so they will have plenty of player recouperatio time to focus on this.
FA: I just have the feeling this could be ours this year. Not our main priority of course but our new players will be fully integrated, AI's tactics and fitness demands will be solidified and long term injuries back into contention.
18 Aug 2026 10:37:09
I think we'll win the league, get to at least the quarter final in the CL, but with a bit of luck the final.
The domestic cups depend on the other 2. Can't see us targeting them if we are challenging for the league and CL. Probably quarter final in both.
18 Aug 2026 10:45:07
I think 2nd in the League (Arsenal winners).
FA Cup 4th round (Chelsea winners).
Carabao Cup Quarter Finals (Arsenal winners).
Champions League winners, number 7! Ekitike coming back in around February time will be such a huge boost!
18 Aug 2026 10:48:35
Good cup run in all 3 cups, and top 4 would be ok this season.
18 Aug 2026 10:58:25
League: 3rd spot. We will go through a bad patch at some point, but I see a strong second half to the season (Winners Arsenal).
CL: Semi Finalists (Winners PSG).
FA Cup: 3rd round exit due to injury crisis round Christmas and getting Arsenal away (Winners Chelsea).
League Cup (Winners Manchester United to keep Carrick in the job as he lives up to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer this season).
18 Aug 2026 11:01:55
I think we'll come 2nd and win the Champions League, and that's absolutely fine because that's the one I want this season. Iraola's football will bring the atmosphere back and that counts for a lot in that competition.
We're more than capable of winning the league as well, but it's a tough ask to expect everyone to stay fit. If we get Barcola in and a proper DM, I will change my tune. Either way though, we're adding Madrid 2027 to Madrid 2019.
18 Aug 2026 11:04:05
Honestly, it depends on the business we do before the end of the window. There'll be a lot of games this season, and the squad still feels really thin to me. Who we sign will have a big impact over the course of the season, especially when injuries come into play. If we bring in 3 players (+ replacements for those who end up leaving), then I can see 3rd minimally. If not, then 4th will be a struggle.
In cups, I can see Iraola's style having more success. CL semi-final, potentially. League Cup Quarter, as I think they'll give a lot of time to younger players. FA Cup semi-final or higher. All of these depend on us adding to the squad before the transfer window shuts. I think Iraola needs backing in the market for us to see the full potential of the system.
18 Aug 2026 11:07:00
I just want top 4 lads, everything else after that is a massive bonus.
18 Aug 2026 11:12:17
Couple of wingers and a top class CDM (Fabinho in his prime) and we have every chance to win the league.
18 Aug 2026 11:12:44
I think we finish 4th, but it will be tough and scrapping it out with Utd, Spurs and Villa! Arsenal, City and Chelsea to finish above us comfortably. Not being a killjoy, but City's and Arsenal's squads have far more depth than ours, and it's going to take time to adapt to our new playing style - I predict a fair few bumps and inconsistency in our results all season.
Chelsea will benefit massively from no Europe.
I reckon we can be a force in Europe and if we get a kind draw keeping us apart from PSG we can go a fair distance.
Although I'd love to say we are gonna be challenging for the title, I think in reality this will be a season of transition and top 4 with a decent Champions League run would be an acceptable outcome once we play decent football.
18 Aug 2026 11:17:23
No idea to be honest.
As it stands the squad is very weak with massive gaps, especially on the right flank. And we have too many players who are coasting (Macca, im looking at you).
There's going to have to be a lot of wheeling and dealing in the final stage of the window to address the issues in the squad.
That doesn't suggest we are going to win the league.
Last two league wins were with very settled squads and minimal changes in the summers before.
Plus, throw in the fact that our players will have a fair way to go to get to the fitness levels required for Iraola's tactics, then I just can't see us winning the league.
I think we will be top 4 and have a good run in all the cups and maybe win one though.
Really looking forward to watching us play exciting football again more than anything though, the amount of times I fell asleep watching Slot ball last season was ridiculous.
18 Aug 2026 11:18:16
13/2 to win the league and 12/1 to win the CL. How much is everyone betting?
18 Aug 2026 11:20:35
Prem- we just pip Assnil with one game to go- champs.
Carabao- we beat Everton in the final 4-2.
FA Cup- 1nil over Man City (Araujo gets the winner with 3 minutes to go).
CL- Liverpool Assnil final 3--1 to us. A brace for Chiesa!
What. A. Season.
18 Aug 2026 11:27:56
4th would be generous and can easily see us dropping out of the Champions League places through our inactivity this summer.
Unless you have a season where all your opponents fall off, you can't win the league if you can't defend and are weak in midfield. Unfortunately for us, we are weak in midfield, we can't defend and it's unlikely that Arsenal are going to fall off.
We'll concede too many goals and are far too weak in midfield again.
Last 32/16 of the Champions League at best, we won't win domestic cups as our squad depth is too shallow.
Another season written off under the word "transition".
18 Aug 2026 12:38:47
Predictions? Lots of ups and downs throughout the season, ride our luck in a fight for top 4. Early exit in both cups and perhaps we get as far as R16 in CL.
But really, I have no real sense other than an expectation that this will be a transition season.
So, will take the most positive outcomes possible, with the target of the bare minimum of a top 4 finish.
18 Aug 2026 12:41:05
I can't do predictions, mainly because I always think we'll win every game.
I'd be disappointed if we're not top 4.
18 Aug 2026 12:42:35
I'm with Metal Mickey on this, with occasional moves towards VV when the fatigue of the inactivity in the window kicks in.
18 Aug 2026 14:10:02
Strange as it may sound, I feel like we're in a somewhat similar position to where we were in 2004. Following a disastrous mid-season slump, we find ourselves with a new, tactically astute manager who's not afraid to make the big changes necessary to grind out results, with a style that may be more effective in European/cup games, particularly whilst the squad adjusts to the new format, rotation and intensity.
So I think top 5 and a very good Champions League run, possibly with an early exit from at least 1 domestic cup.
But my main concern is not how we do in the competitions, it's how we finish as a team.
There's going to be issues, we know that. Iraola can't iron out 12-18 months of bad coaching in a handful of weeks, so I expect a bit of a roller coaster, but by the new year I want to see some improvement in the squad's assimilation into Andoni's system, and then a vast improvement by the tail end of the season, particularly from a defensive standpoint in the midfield and with pressing as a unit.
This is one of those seasons where there's a whole lot up in the air, plenty of new managers, particularly amongst the top teams. It's going to be very interesting to see how it plays out.
18 Aug 2026 14:28:28
Top 4 and I'd be delighted.
Our midfield is too weak, and we still have the issue at Rb if Frimpong picks up an injury before Bradley is back.
Arsenal with Guimaraes, Rice and Odegaard look crazy strong, plus their defensive solidity.
No way we beat them to the PL. Even Spurs will have more bite than us with Tonali and Fernandes.
Top 4 and quarters in the CL is kind of where I think we may land.
18 Aug 2026 14:39:48
With this squad as it is, we might win a minor trophy. That's it.
18 Aug 2026 15:01:46
Historically we stink in the FA Cup, so 4th round for me. Chelsea running out winners, stopping Arsenal from doing the double.
We tend to fare better in the League Cup, so going to say quarter-finalists but dropping out by Christmas to focus on #7. Chelsea also winning the LC.
CL - winners.
EPL - 3rd. Arsenal winning at a canter.
18 Aug 2026 15:11:29
We will win. Everything. ?
18 Aug 2026 15:44:36
Jk, I have put £10 on Champs League. Got an odds booster bonus, so got 14/1.
{Ed025's Note - im good at betting WYR and i have calculated that at those odds and allowing for bonuses and price fluctuations...you have just lost £10 mate.. :)
18 Aug 2026 16:37:53
5th. I see Man City, Man Utd, Arsenal and Chelsea finishing above us.
FA Cup - a surprising good run, as we have not been too clever in the FA Cup apart from the Chelsea win - semi-finals at least.
Carabao - early exit.
CL - QF at best. We have not got the squad or the midfield to win old big ears.
18 Aug 2026 18:35:17
As the squads stand now, Utd will not finish ahead of us. That much I am certain of.
{Ed025's Note - i would not put money on that FM..
19 Aug 2026 07:57:39
Ah c'mon Ed.You have us ahead of City but behind Utd? ?
{Ed025's Note - im so unsure what Liverpool we will get FM, i think Maresca will struggle so im ruling out City but United improved last season and i think it will be close between you so i would not put money it mate, new manger, loss of your talisman and up to now poor recruitment could bite you in the arse mate...but we will see..
19 Aug 2026 08:39:52
The talisman you said earlier was bloody brutal last year Ed? ?your reaching buddy.Not a hope that United team finish ahead of us.
{Ed025's Note - there are no guarantees in football FM thats all im saying, you won the league 2 years ago (albeit the worst one in modern history) then added 2 £100m superstars and after a great start struggled to make the top 4, nothing is set in stone my friend..