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Of course, being the type of competition it is, it’s almost impossible to predict with any accuracy given the topsy-turvy results we get every week.
But here goes, the top-line thoughts.
Let’s start at the relegation end. OK, Sunderland and Boro are down, right? They just don’t appear to have a win in them. However, come to the crunch, the Black Cats have had a way of pulling off a couple of shockers at the last. I still think they’re gone, especially given the battle above them.
There’s been improvement to all the sides, especially Crystal Palace and Leicester who are seemingly pulling away with three wins apiece on the trot.
But what about Swansea? Paul Clement has made such a difference since taking over. He stopped the rot and despite three losses out of the last five, they look like a decent side and perhaps should have grabbed more than just six out of the last 15 points.
Watford, Burnley and West Ham are really struggling, but it just feels like the seven, eight and nine-point cushion will be enough for them to grab a result here and there and stay up. That leaves Hull.
They’ve also shown some improvement, but injuries and a lack of depth might just be their undoing.
So there you have it, not a very radical look, in fact it’s simply the current bottom three for me.
I’m not even going to look at “run-ins” because it’s impossible to constitute what an “easy” game is at this stage of the season.
OK, usually it’s the mid-table sides that have reached more or less what they need to survive, but are nowhere near what they need to hit a European spot.
But if you look at the likes of Stoke and West Brom, who are in that situation, they’re both banging out quality games.
The top four for me is a much harder proposition to have a go at forecasting.
Sorry, I think I should rephrase that – the top three after Chelsea Haha, yeah, I mean who can genuinely believe that the Blues will give up a 10-point lead with 10 games to go?
I know, I know, yes it’s happened before, but with a fully fit squad and strength on the bench, it would take a Diego Costa murder charge plus the midfield all contracting syphilis to spoil the inevitable title celebration.
But who’s gonna grab those all-important Champions League spots?
I think it’s probably safe to say Everton are just a bit too far off the mark to make it happen this year.
Just above them sit Arsenal, who have faded before their usual time.
They’ve got games in hand, but it appears that three or four key players have lost their fight and you never know who’s gonna turn up every week.
I’d say this is the year they don’t get their Champions League qualification trophy.
Manchester United have also got two in hand over Liverpool and will jump above them with six points, but I’m not convinced that they have found genuine rhythm, sometimes looking more like a mid-table team than a genuine top-end side.
Liverpool are rubbish one week then great another, as are Manchester City.
Spurs currently look like the real deal and I don’t think losing Harry Kane will dent their top four ambitions.
So, in this very surface analysis, I only have a page!
I’d say it’s Chelsea, then Spurs and City (in no specific order) and the fourth spot goes to United just ahead of Liverpool!
Of course things might look a bit different after the weekend given a couple of huge fixtures to look out for.
Lunchtime kickoff on Saturday sees the Merseyside Derby and on Sunday evening City travel to the Emirates the pressure’s on! Interested to hear your thoughts.