Club: Last Season's Finish
Liverpool: Champions
Last season's double winner comes into the Fall/Winter campaign off the back of the most successful DFA season on record. They only dropped 3 points all season, and wrapped up the title with several games to spare. Such lofty heights are often a burden too great to bear; however, as anything less this term will be seen as regression.
They still look a difficult side to bet against, as their effortless collection of the Community Shield proved. Expect to see Liverpool at or near the summit late on.
Key Men: Gerrard, Torres
Predicted Finish: 1-3
Roma: Runners-up
An impressive performance last season, Roma will look to do one better in the league this Winter. Some inconsistent friendly performances may be the sign of destabilization after switching goalkeepers and shipping Alberto Aquilani to title rivals Liverpool. Some will point to their performances against Chelsea last season as their undoing, expect the Hall A Derby to prove pivotal to Roma's title ambitions once again.
Key Man: Totti
Predicted Finish: 1-3
Arsenal: n/a
An old club returns. For those of you old enough to remember, Arsenal graced the DFA way back in its second season. Under the same management as before, the Gunners are looking to mark their return in style. They've a top three finishing manager and a talented squad, but some toothless and disjointed friendly performances have given the critics some ammunition. Tinman was written off very early last season, and after a convincing campaign silenced the doubters. Will history repeat itself?
Key Men: Arshavin, van Persie
Predicted Finish: 3-5
Tottenham: n/a
Selected as a affront to two aging Milanese, an impotent Sicilian, and one actually quite good Florence club; or purely to wind-up other managers? You be the judge. Regardless, Spurs make their DFA debut under a manager that has known only Italian sides. Can he translate his run-and-gun offense to English? Will he suffer the same poor luck/form that saw our first mid-season retirement? Or will the GIMP's second most successful manager find renewed joy in North London?
Key Men: Lennon, Defoe
Predicted Finish: 3-5
Chelsea: 5th
Another season, another off-season filled with Chelsea hype. If one could top a table based upon off-season s-talk, then the league is already wrapped up. The occasional impressive friendly performance seems to spawn 20 more mid-game exits. Despite consistent inconsistency, Chelsea boast the strongest squad in the league, and in most matches that shines through seemingly in spite of their management. There is an unsettling inevitability when facing digital Drogba that at any moment he could throw 3 defenders to the ground and castrate your keeper en route to goal.
Key Men: Drogba, Ballack
Predicted Finish: 5-8
Barcelona: 6th
Last season's bottom club seeks redemption. Barca were better than their league position suggested, and this Winter's squad could turn some heads. Containing the finest starting 11 the DFA has ever seen, it's now or never for them. Especially with relegation looming large on the horizon. Could this be Barca's last season under current management?
Key Men: Messi, Ibrahimovic
Predicted Finish: 5-8
Bayern Munchen: n/a
The Stern des Sudens has returned to the DFA. This time under new management. The GIMP's most successful club are looking to solidify themselves as such, as Liverpool seek to claim that mantle away from Bavaria. A finely balanced side, Bayern can compete with the best of them, the unknown factor is their rookie manager. Can he handle the DFA and all the bitter blood it brings? If so, don't be surprised to see Bayern turning heads yet again.
Key Men: Klose, Ribery
Predicted Finish: 4-7
???: n/a
A founding father. A fine manager. An unannounced club. A title contender?
Key Man: the Rod
Predicted Finish: 1-4
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