RBM Writer Predictions - This will be a transition season

We’re twenty four hours away from the beginning of another football season, and Everton have been quite the shambles, literally. New ownership late last season, a new manager, late transfers in and out and an unsettled squad still getting to know a new style while being only ‘70% physically prepared’ does not engender confidence in the fanbase.

The group here at Royal Blue Mersey share their predictions for the English Premier League, FA Cup and League Cup campaigns. Let’s hear your thoughts in the comments below for the following categories - EPL Top 6, Everton EPL, EPL Bottom 3, FA Cup Winner, Everton FA Cup, EFL Cup Winner, Everton EFL Cup, Golden Boot.

Tom -

EPL Top 6: Manchester City, Chelsea, Tottenham, Manchester Utd, Arsenal, Liverpool

Everton EPL: Seventh

EPL Bottom 3: Hull City, Burnley, Swansea City

FA Cup Winner: Man City

Everton FA Cup: Quarter-finals

EFL Cup Winner: Chelsea

Everton EFL Cup: Fourth round

Golden Boot: Sergio Aguero

Adam -

EPL Top 6: Manchester City, Tottenham, Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, West Ham

Everton EPL: 10th. I see the Toffees finishing behind the top 6 I noted, as well as Liverpool, Stoke City, and Leicester City (in no particular order). All the teams in that top 6 have significantly more talent than Everton, and Leicester City just has that something special that I don't see going away any time soon. The only team I could possibly see the Toffees catching is Stoke, but I suspect the late nature of Everton's signings will lead to a slow start, which gives Stoke a leg up.

EPL Bottom 3: Sunderland, Swansea City, Hull City. Nothing against David Moyes, but eventually Sunderland's run of good fortune in the face of minuscule talent has to end, right? Swansea is now without their captain and was downright dreadful for most of the final three quarters of last season -- I don't see that changing with any of the players they brought in to replace lost players. Hull didn't have much talent to begin with and is in the midst of significant turmoil -- hard to see them overcoming that.

FA Cup Winner: Leicester City

Everton FA Cup: Out in semifinals. By January, I suspect Everton will be in the midst of another average-at-best season, so Koeman will be happy to focus his efforts on the FA Cup. He'll get solid early returns on that investment, but the Toffees will eventually run into a big-time club that uses a first-team lineup, knocking them out.

EFL Cup Winner: Chelsea

Everton EFL Cup: Out in quarterfinals.

Golden Boot: Sergio Aguero. Pep Guardiola has brought in significant talent to help out the Argentinian striker, who will naturally miss some time through injury, but no other striker will be able to keep up with him when healthy. Zlatan Ibrahimovic won't have the legs to grind out goals in the Premier League at his age, Jamie Vardy is due to come back to earth, and Harry Kane will have to cope with playing Champions League football for the first time in his career.

Mike -

EPL Top 6: Manchester City, Arsenal, Tottenham, Chelsea, Manchester Utd, Liverpool

Everton EPL: 8

EPL Bottom 3: Burnley, Middlesbrough, Hull City

FA Cup Winner: Manchester City

Everton FA Cup: Round of 16

EFL Cup Winner: Liverpool

Everton EFL Cup: Round of 16

Golden Boot: Harry Kane

Matt -

EPL Top 6: Manchester United, Manchester City, Tottenham, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool

Everton EPL: 9th

EPL Bottom 3: West Bromwich Albion, Sunderland, Burnley

FA Cup Winner: Tottenham

Everton FA Cup: Semi-Final

EFL Cup Winner: West Ham

Everton EFL Cup: 4th Round

Golden Boot: Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Brian -

EPL Top 6: Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Leicester City, Tottenham, Manchester United

Everton EPL: 9th

EPL Bottom 3: Hull City, Watford, Sunderland

FA Cup Winner: Chelsea

Everton FA Cup: Semifinals

EFL Cup Winner: Manchester United

Everton EFL Cup: Quarterfinals

Golden Boot: Harry Kane

Sean -

EPL Top 6: Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham, Liverpool.

Everton EPL: 7th

EPL Bottom 3: Hull City, Burnley & Watford.

FA Cup Winner: Arsenal.

Everton FA Cup: Semi final.

EFL Cup Winner: Manchester United.

Everton EFL Cup: Quarter final.

Golden Boot: Sergio Agüero.

Troy -

EPL Top 6: Man City, Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham, Everton

Everton EPL: 6th

EPL Bottom 3: Hull, Burnley & Crystal Palace.

FA Cup Winner: Manchester United

Everton FA Cup: Quarter Final

EFL Cup Winner: Arsenal

Everton EFL Cup: Fourth Round

Golden Boot: Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Tyler -

EPL Top 6: Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham, West Ham United

Everton EPL: 9th

EPL Bottom 3: Swansea City, Burnley, Hull City

FA Cup Winner: Chelsea

Everton FA Cup: Quarter Final

EFL Cup Winner: Everton, why not?

Everton EFL Cup: First place

Golden Boot: Sergio Aguero

Ryan -

EPL Top 6: Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United, Leicester City

Everton EPL: 9th

EPL Bottom 3: Swansea City, Hull City and Middlesbrough

FA Cup Winner: Manchester City

Everton FA Cup: Quarter Final

EFL Cup Winner: Everton

Everton EFL Cup: Winner

Golden Boot: Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Calvin -

EPL Top 6: Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool.

Everton EPL: 10th

EPL Bottom 3: Hull City, Burnley and Swansea City

FA Cup Winner: Chelsea

Everton FA Cup: Quarter Finals

EFL Cup Winner: Arsenal

Everton EFL Cup: Quarter Finals

Golden Boot: Sergio Aguero

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