It seems ages ago that Swansea won the play-off final against Reading, Man City beat Stoke in the FA Cup final and Barcelona taught the Mancunian Reds a lesson in the Champions League final doesn’t it?
After a summer dominated by England’s dominance on the cricket field, I for one welcome football back with open arms.
I, of course, have a vested interest in Championship football – at least or 1 more season – but due to competing demands on my time (I do have a day job you know!) didn’t get round to a Football League preview so my first piece of the season will focus on the cash hungry Premier League.
Firstly, as with any article like this, should be the predictions. From champions to relegation, this is my finishing order:
- Manchester United
- Manchester City
- Chelsea
- Liverpool
- Arsenal
- Tottenham
- Aston Villa
- Newcastle
- Sunderland
- Fulham
- Everton
- Stoke
- Bolton
- West Brom
- Wolves
- Swansea
- Wigan
- Norwich
- Blackburn
- QPR
It’s hard to look beyond Manchester United for the title. They have strengthened where they needed to in bringing in David De Gea to replace Edwin Van Der Sar and added to their outfield ranks with Ashley Young and Phil Jones, both of who will suit Uniteds style of play. Sir Alex Ferguson has resisted the temptation to wildly spend and has focussed on players to improve his already dominant team.
Manchester City, Uniteds blue neighbours, will hope that their sizeable investment in their playing squad will pay off but it may be a season too soon for them.
Chelseas personnel has not changed greatly but their new manager Andre Villas-Boas (AVB for anyone too lazy to type in full) should give the existing talent added impetus to mount a challenge. You do feel however that this may be the last one mounted by the current crop. The squad AVB (do you see what I did there?) has inherited is experienced (in footballing terms read old) and new blood will be needed to progress in the next few years.
Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham’s squads are of similar strength now, although the Anfield sides acquisition of Stuart Downing, along with their January signings of Suarez and Carroll should give them the edge, especially with Arsenal likely to lose the talismanic Cesc Fabregas and most dangerous forward in Samir Nasri.
In truth the middle 10 or so placed clubs could finish anywhere in mid table. Too strong to go down and nowhere near strong enough to mount a challenge for European places.
The relegation battle will be dominated by the promoted teams but Swansea have spent wisely and may cause more than a few shocks this year. QPR and Norwich will struggle – QPR seemingly have money to spend but haven’t done so while Norwich, although bringing in new faces, have tended to pick up players who did well at Championship level last term (in Vaughan and Morison) who will play alongside the bulk of a team who were League One stars 2 seasons ago.
Blackburn, Wolves and Wigan will struggle again this season and it is they who the promoted sides will be aiming to overcome in order to survive.
It promises to be an enthralling season as always and one to be eagerly anticipated. The battle for survival will go to the wire again and hers hoping that the top 3 or sides are within a few points of each other all the way through to the end of the season.
Enjoy it and good luck to your club – wherever they may play. We’ve been waiting since May but its back. Oh yes. Football’s back…
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