Each year Rant predicts the season ahead. Manchester United’s performance, the winners, the losers and the individual stars. There have been mixed results over the years – check out 2009/10, 2010/11, 2011/12, 2012/13 and 2013/14. This year is no different.
It has been a mixed season for United, with Louis van Gaal leading something of a renaissance at Old Trafford by qualifying for the Champions League, albeit without any silverware to show for the campaign. United missed out on the third place Rant forecast. Meanwhile, Rant’s prediction that United’s campaign would also include a Capital One Cup semi-final fell flat, although the Reds did make the FA Cup quarter-final.
On the playing front Robin van Persie was most certainly not United’s Player of the Year, while James Wilson’s breakthrough didn’t quite materialise in the first team. Andreas Pereira was a worth Reserve Player of the Year. Marcus Ashford made “big strides,” this season according to under-18s coach Paul McGuiness, but missed out to Axel Tuanzebe as the Young Player of the Year.
Domestically, Rant correctly predicted this season’s champions, Chelsea, and the make-up of the top four – although Arsenal beat United to third. Manchester City did not win the FA Cup, nor did Liverpool capture the Capital One Cup. Sergio Aguero had another fine season, although was beaten to Player of the Year by Eden Hazard. Ross Barkley largely disappointed at Everton, with Harry Kane capturing the Young Player trophy. Of the predicted sackings only Harry Redknapp left his job this season – a resignation.
Finally, in Europe, Sevilla and not Fiorentina won the Europa League, while either Barcelona or Juventus will take the Champions League on Saturday – not Real Madrid.
United’s Season
- Premier League: third – FOURTH
- Capital One Cup: semi-final – THIRD ROUND
- FA Cup: quarter-final – QUARTER-FINAL
- Player of the Year: Robin van Persie – DAVID DE GEA
- Reserve Team Player of the Year: James Wilson – ANDREAS PEREIRA
- Young Player of the Year: Marcus Rashford – AXEL TUANZEBE
Premier League Top Ten
- Chelsea – FIRST
- Manchester City – SECOND
- Manchester United – FOURTH
- Arsenal – THIRD
- Liverpool – SIXTH
- Everton – 11TH
- Tottenham Hotspur – FIFTH
- Newcastle United – 15TH
- Stoke City – NINTH
- Hull City – 18TH
Relegated
- Burnley – RELEGATED
- Leicester City – SURVIVED
- West Bromwich Albion – SURVIVED
Champions League
- Winners: Real Madrid – TO BE CONFIRMED
- Runners-up: Chelsea – TO BE CONFIRMED
Europa League
- Fiorentina – SEVILLA
FA Cup
- Manchester City – ARSENAL
Capital One Cup
- Liverpool – CHELSEA
Player of the Season
- Sergio Aguero, Manchester City – EDEN HAZARD
Young Player of the Season
- Ross Barkley, Everton – HARRY KANE
Sack Race
- Harry Redknapp, Queens Park Rangers – RESIGNED
- Ronaldo Koeman, Southampton – SURVIVED
- Sean Dyche, Burnley – SURVIVED
You’d have to be an idiot to bet on both the Champions League and the runner-up…
It wasn’t a bet, it’s a fun game we do every season. You’d have to be an idiot not to get that.