Who will win (and be relegated from) your league of choice in 2015/16?

[Aquavit]

It's been a long summer and there have been some interesting (even agonizing) transfers among Europe's top leagues this year. The good news is that Matchday 1 is nearly upon us, and just like last year I thought it'd be fun to make some predictions about our favorite leagues.

Last year I asked who you thought will win your favorite leagues. This year, who do you think will win and who do you think will be relegated from your favorite leagues?

The league I follow most closely is the Bundesliga. FC Bayern Munich are once again the reigning champions heading into their 50th year in the league. If they are able to retain their title, it'll mark the first time a team has won the Bundesliga in four consecutive campaigns.

I think FC Bayern can do it, but I'm not certain they will. I fear that their bald Spanish manager will draw a lot of unwanted attention to the team as he enters the last year of his contract, and that will really negatively impact the team. Last year I picked VfL Wolfsburg to win the Bundesliga, and they ended the season as runners up. The experience will serve them well as FC Bayern deal with the Guardiola situation, and I am going to pick Wolfsburg once again to win the league.

As far as relegation picks in Bundesliga, as much as I don't want to see it happen I think Hamburger will see their record run in the first division come to an end. They've been skating by on the narrowest of margins for the last few seasons, and I really doubt their ability to fend off the drop one more time. The other team that I think will get knocked out will be VfB Stuttgart. Stuttgart have a lot of young talent on the team, but they are not well managed and were also nearly relegated this year. I believe they'll also get dropped at the end of May.

That's my take on my league. What say you, DU Football room, about your favorite leagues?

[T_i_B]

1. In spite of much money Sheffield Wednesday have spent on new players....

...I don't see them getting promoted to the Premier League this season. I think it'll be somebody like Middlesborough or QPR winning the Championship. It's also very unlikely that I will be going to a match at Hillsborough this season given how much they've hiked up ticket prices.

Probably Chelski winning the Premier league. And as much as it pains me to say it, I think that Sheffield U****d will win League 1.

As to relegations, I think Leicester City from the Premier league. Possibly a couple of the newly promoted teams as well. And Rotherham United are my tip to be relegated from the Championship.

[BKH70041]

2. Oh crap! This again?!?

Yeah, give me time to think about it and I'll post my predictions of the upcoming EPL. I fear after the Gold Cup predictions I may have lost my touch.

But I'll always have my World Cup and last years EPL predictions (sigh).

[Ron Obvious]

3. EPL

I'm hoping the EPL will have a proper title race this year, and I think there's a good chance of it happening.

Chelsea seem weaker than last year, Arsenal have strengthened (but are still a couple of players short to mount a serious title challenge), Manchester City will be up there, and Manchester United, well, who knows? Will Spurs or Liverpool crack the top 4? Maybe

I'm going to say Manchester City for the title this year.

I'm going out on a limb a bit to say Aston Villa and Sunderland are both going down this year. It's time. Yoyo team Norwich will go down with them and Bournemouth will stay up by the skin of their teeth and provide many great moments all season. Watford will be comfortable in mid table.

[BKH70041]

4. EPL 2015/16

Champion: Chelsea

Top 5 (in alphabetical order): Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Man City, Man Utd

Relegation: Leicester City, Norwich City, Watford

Ok, once again we'll check back 05/15/2016 to find out.

Hope everyone has an enjoyable season!!

[T_i_B]

5. Who would have thought.....

....that Leicester would be top of the league by now!

My twitterfeed last night was full of Leicester fans who appear to have come out of the woodwork. Still it's a lot more enjoyable seeing Leicester fans retweeting Gary Lineker than it is to see Arsenal fans retweeting Piers Morgan.

[BKH70041]

7. You got me there.

LC finished strong last year. Guess it wasn't a fluke after all.

[T_i_B]

8. I also tipped Leicester for the drop

So I'm hardly one to talk.

Maybe we should have tipped Chelsea to go down instead?

[Aquavit]

9. Leicester

I'm really excited to see them at the top to of the table right now. We'll see if they can hang onto that top spot, but even if they don't win the league how fun would it be to see them in UCL next year?

[Lizzie Poppet]

6. My primary team's season just finished...

...and we won! Timbers supporter here, obviously. No pro/rel in MLS, for better or worse. I'd like to see it...but I see why they don't have it. Completely different financial structure, etc... But in any case, an epic year for us here in Portland...I'm still a bit giddy.

But I also follow the Premier League. I'm a Manchester City follower from a good ways back. I think they are still the favorites, for all the recent form has been sketchy. Injuries have been just horrible for the Cityzens this season, but if they can get Aguero and Kompany back soon, I still think they're the favorites. Arsenal are going to be tough, though...as are Leicester. I know a lot of people think the Foxes can't keep up their current form (and if their owners/front office are stupid enough to try to cash in on Vardy and/or Mahrez during the winter transfer window rather than ride them to a UEFA CL birth, they're short-sighted fools). I don't agree. That's a really coherent, well-coached team with tons of confidence. I'll not speculate on ManU(re)...I have standards.

On the other end of the table, I think Aston Villa are doomed, and that's sad. If I'm not mistaken, they have the longest current run in the FA w/o relegation...same boat as Hamburger. I'm also worried about Swansea. The Swans aren't in the relegation zone yet, but they're close...and falling fast. Fired their manager (foolishly, IMO), and look just awful right now...I think they're going down. That'll make me sad, as they're my second favorite team in the league after City, a club with some notable similarities (in terms of culture, etc) to my beloved Timbers. Hard to pick the other team that will go down. Norwich, perhaps...or Bournemouth's recent good form may be a fluke.

I agree with your take on the Bundesliga. Not that I'm as informed about that league as you are, so my opinion's not worth much...but that's how I see it, too.

[WhaTHellsgoingonhere]

10. Congrats Lizzy! I'm a big MLS fan, too. But it's January, so it's the...

second half of EPL.

My Gunners are sitting pretty, but that hasn't stopped them from collapsing down the stretch over the span of several years. What they have going for them this year is United and Chelsea are out of the picture. Leicester City has to be ecstatic that they won't be regulated. Moreover, they don't have the funds to land big transfers. I suspect Man City will be a huge hurdle to overcome for Arsenal. Hopefully, with consecutive FA Cup titles, they've learned how to finish.

Go Gunners!

[Bernie93]

11. Leicester EPL Champions

I think and wish that they can do it as a neutral, just because i don't see who deserves the titles except this awesome team ! If they win the EPL it means that $ is not the only way for success !