Your bets for the rest of the season

**Gerrit** · 16/11/2006, 4:02 PM

With the season well over 25% far and with already some confrontations between the bigger teams passed, it may be a good moment to re-make predictions and bets, because by now we can safely make a judgement of the sides' strengths.

What do you guys predict? Will Linfield recover from their poor form and still grab the nr 1 spot in the end? Will it be their eternal rivals Glentoran taking the trophy back? Or maybe a surprise champion like Cliftonville, Dungannon or Crusaders?

Before the season I had guessed another Linfield triumph, but must say their display is not that impressing at all and the Glens seem much more competitive than last year.
Although it'd be nice to see another team than the 'big two' winning the league (maybe Cliftonville and Crusaders even have the potential to do it) I think Glentoran will win it this year. I even see it as very realistic to have a top-4 entirely made out of Belfast sides (Glens, Cliftonville, Crusaders and Linfield) with 4 Belfast teams entering the Setanta Cup. Portadown doesn't seem that competitive this season, so I only see Dungannon as a serious threat to the Belfast sides when it comes to grabbing the 4 Setanta slots.

**BleusAvantTout** · 16/11/2006, 9:57 PM

I reckon you would need to "tune in" better to the IL!!!

**David** · 17/11/2006, 7:02 AM

Linfield's poor form? No goals conceded in the last six games. Give me poor form like that for the rest of the season.

**Gerrit** · 17/11/2006, 10:02 PM

The last weeks were better (although those 6 clean-sheats did include a penalty shootout loss to Glentoran and a 0-0 draw with Ballymena) but the start of the season was more troubled than before, wasn't it? I mean, Glens are on top and seem to have it quite easy grabbing the points (may be a wrong impression though). Anyway, I've attended several games already and was mainly impressed by Crusaders who seem to have a very good side right after promotion (even though the opposition wasn't good, Crusaders left me a very good impression and a very good front they have)

I follow the IL from close range (attending games of different clubs regularly) but haven't seen Linfield yet this season... until tomorrow. I will be present at Suffolk Rd tomorrow

Have seen DC last week at Cliftonville (read my report at http://gerritonline.com/me) and although they had a good draw they weren't that impressing. I bet Linfield to win it tomorrow, but mainly hope for a good game and may the best win

**David** · 20/11/2006, 7:18 AM

December will tell the tale for the Glens in my opinion, they have had a relatively easy start to the campaign with Dungannon really the only team of note that they have beaten. Was delighted that Saturday at DC went well although how Health & Safety ever passed that away end is beyond belief. However well done to both clubs for the organisation that went into the game for it to go so well.