Also agree. Take West Ham for example. Only safe right near the end, partially because they successfully prioritised European Competition. They are playing at a higher standard of European competition next year, have lost their lynchpin player in Rice, already had quite an aging squad and seem even worse (if that is possible) in the transfer market than us, allegedly missing multiple targets or not willing to pay higher than market values with everyone knowing they have the Rice cash in the bank.
I have seen pundits saying Palace might be a dark horse - really? They have also lost their key player in Zaha, replaced by an unproven young Brazilian in Franca who was not a regular starter and quite likely to lose Olise due to his release clause. Not convinced over a whole season Hodgson maintains last year's performance let alone betters it.
Wolves seem to have real problems and seem to be willing to risk relegation to stabilise financially and I have a hunch that the Brighton bubble may burst.
Add to that the promoted sides, Burnley aside (due to having Kompany as boss), I would have thought it highly unlikely that Sheff Utd or Luton will come bursting into the league - success for them will be finishing 17th.
In my mind everyone other than the usual top teams, an improved Chelsea under Poch and Villa (who have invested well and have a good manager) are fighting it out from top-mid table to the bottom of the league.
I am not foolish enough to think that we cannot be dragged in and I don't expect it to be a season of thrills but I do think it is one of those seasons where there is as much chance of us finishing comfortably in 12th as there is going down. What happens between now and the transfer deadline for us and a number of clubs may dictate exactly where in that mix we end up.