Fearless Predictions for the 07/08 Season

By: Greg | August 1st, 2007

I could go the boring, standard-issue route of predicting the season’s outcome, but I see no point in doing that. Prognostication when it comes to sport is relatively tough. There’s always a number of unanticipated factors that go into shaping a team’s season such as injuries, shock wins/losses, and mid season transfers. Therefore, I shall look into my crystal soccer ball, and based on some gut feelings, educated guessing, and downright outlandish fantasy, I hereby present you with my fearless predictions for the coming season:

Belenenses will finish second in the league this year. Why not start off with the second most shocking prediction I have for this season with The Blues from Restelo finishing ahead of not one, but TWO of the big three? O Belém have spent much of the offseason acquiring excellent, cheap Brazilian talent and have shored up their top goalscorer Dady with a contract extension. They finished behind Braga for fifth place last year but showed flashes of excellence during the Taça de Portugal final loss to Sporting and in the stretch run. I like the fact that they haven’t lost nearly as much as they’ve gained and Evandro Roncatto and attacking midfielder Rafael Bastos should inject some young, energetic creativity into the attack this year. Now while they will finish in second, they will actually complete the season in third place, because…

Porto will come in first place but will be relegated, handing the title to second place Sporting. Following up the second most shocking prediction with the most Earth-shattering forecast I have for you, I believe the charges stemming from the match fixing investigation Operation Golden Whistle will force serious action to be taken. As a result, Pinto da Costa’s boys will pay and be sent down a la Juventus and make the second division the “Liga sem Honra.” Even if they aren’t completely relegated, the title should be stripped and a massive point deduction should be taken a la AC Milan for the subsequent season.

Sporting will make some noise in the Champions League by surviving the group stages and shocking a big club in the first knockout round. Nani and Ricardo’s major departures aside, Sporting have managed to stay active in the transfer market and bring in some fresh talent. If they’ve proven anything, it’s that they can mold youngsters into men on the pitch. I think the youth combined with the leadership of players such as Derlei will allow Sporting to surprise a few teams on the European level. Their vigor should provide them with a bit more endurance against more experienced opponents and put them through to at least the first, if not second knockout stages, regardless of the group draw.

Dady will lead the league in scoring. If last year is any indication, this prediction basically goes hand-in-hand with my prediction of Belenenses’ surging towards the top of the table. When Dady scored last year, you could basically put a win for Belenenses in the bag. Since I’m a mathematical guy, I’m going to go ahead and assume that if (more often that not) Dady goal = Belenenses win, then Belenenses win = Dady goal. A lot of Belenenses wins SHOULD therefore equal a lot of Dady goals.

Here are a few quick hit predictions such as cup winners, European qualifying, and relegation spots…

League Champion: Sporting (via Porto being stripped)
Carlsberg Cup Winner: Benfica defeats Porto
Taça de Portugal Winner: Sporting defeats Braga
SuperCup Winner: Porto defeats Sporting
UEFA Champions League Group Stage spots: Sporting and Belenenses
UEFA Champions League Qualifiers: Benfica
UEFA Cup Spots: Braga, Nacional, and U.d.Leiria
Intertoto Cup: Boavista
Relegation bound: Porto and Académica

Let the mudslinging and craziness begin. Remember, most of these “predictions” have been made simply to stir discussion, so if you have any mud to sling, sling it gently at your “fearless” blog leader .