Summers are so boring without Football. Two and a half months of torturous wait has finally come to an end. Barclays Premier League has kicked off. The teams have changed quite a lot in the transfer window. The "Big Four" were relatively quiet in the transfer market as compared to the top Spanish clubs. Will the balance of power shift too? Time will tell.
Here are my predictions for the new season-
1. Wolverhampton Wanderers: Wolves won the Championship last term and played attractive Football. They are a club with rich history. So, its great to have them back in the Premiership. Their key player is Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, a former Manchester United youth player. He was Championship's top scorer in the last couple of seasons. Wolves will bank on him to carry his wonderful form to the Premiership.
2. Birmingham City: Birmingham earned promotion by playing organized Football. They weren't pretty but were effective. Expect them to park the bus in front of goal to grind out results.
3. Burnley: Burnley's story has been a fairytale. They had an amazing Carling Cup run last term. They proved to be a nemesis for London's Premier League clubs. They knocked out Fulham, Chelsea and Arsenal on their way to the Semi finals where they nearly knocked out Tottenham. Their performance in the League was superb as well which got them to 5th spot in the table. They knocked out Reading and Sheffield United in the Playoffs to book a Premier League berth. I expect Turf Moor to host many memorable clashes this season. This is one team I'll be following with a lot of interest.
4. Hull City: Hull had a dream start to their debut Premier League season but it ended in a nightmare. They won only one of their last 22 league games. The points accumulated at the start of the season saved them from relegation. Things don't look too bright for them this term either. Phil Brown has been unable to convince many of his transfer targets to join him at the KC Stadium. The likes of Michael Owen, Fraizer Campbell and Bobby Zamora have snubbed them. A shock deal for Real Madrid starlet Alvaro Negredo may well be in the pipeline. Even if the deal materializes, Hull City will remain a top relegation candidate.
5. Portsmouth: Those days seem decades away when Pompey were winning the FA Cup and had top quality players like Defoe, Crouch and Johnson in their ranks. Throw in, lack of transfer activity, ownership issues and lack of discipline among players, in the mix and you have a top contender for relegation. Harry Redknapp left the club last season and his successor Tony Adams was sacked. Paul Hart then guided the club to safety and the club has stuck with him. But, he faces a mammoth task to keep the club in the Premiership. They look particularly light weight up front after selling Peter Crouch. Top players like David James and Niko Kranjcar will have to play a massive role to keep the club in the Premiership.
6. Stoke City: Football purists criticized Tony Pulis' approach last season. They were physical in their approach and Rory Delap's long throws were not the prettiest route to goal. But, it has to be said that it was effective. In the end, Stoke got a respectable mid table position. They haven't done much in the transfer market but they have kept majority of their squad together. They will employ the same approach this season: physical, well organized and hard to beat. Add to that, the wonderful atmosphere at Britannia Stadium and I think they'll stay up again.
7. Wigan Athletic: Wigan have undergone a lot of changes over the last seven months. Steve Bruce, who did a magnificent job with them, left the club to join Sunderland. Wigan lost two influential players in January: Wilson Palacios and Emile Heskey. Luis Valencia left the club in July to join Manchester United. Amr Zaki's loan wasn't extended due to disciplinary issues. Now, Wigan have a new look to their line-up. Their new manager, Roberto Martinez, has no experience of managing a Premier League club although he is widely regarded as one of the brightest young managers. He had a wonderful spell at Swansea and Wigan fans will be hoping for the same when he picks up the reins at the DW Stadium.
I expect the above 7 clubs to be trapped in relegation dogfight. The likes of Hull City, Portsmouth and the newly promoted sides are looking highly vulnerable.
8. Sunderland: The English Football's yoyo club is finally enjoying an extended run in the Premier League. Sunderland have money and they have appointed a good manager, Steve Bruce. Sunderland opted not to sign Djibril Cisse after his loan spell expired. But, they have brought in Darren Bent and Fraizer Campbell. Although Bent has been criticized a lot but he scores goals. Then, Bruce may pull a rabbit out of the hat by using his contacts in South America to unearth some promising young players as he did with Wigan. Combining all factors, a mid table place seems to be a safe bet as far as Sunderland are concerned.
9. Bolton Wanderers: Bolton's decent showing last season was largely due to excellent performances by Kevin Davies and Matt Taylor. Bolton won't change their style of play. It may not be pleasing to the eye but it has served them well. The hoof ball merchants should secure a mid table berth again.
10. Fulham: When Roy Hodgson arrived at Fulham in 2007-08, they were in shambles. They were a top contender for relegation. But, Hodgson miraculously guided them to safety. His hard work reaped benefits last term when a well organised Fulham side booked a place in the UEFA Europa League. The key to their performance was their defense and in particular Brede Hangeland. If Fulham hold onto him then they have a wonderful chance of securing a respectable position in the table. A big concern for Hodgson must be the lack of goals. The likes of Andy Johnson and Bobby Zamora need to step up. I think it'll be very difficult for them to repeat last season's heroics simply because their squad isn't big enough to cope up with the pressure of playing in multiple competitions. It happened with Portsmouth last season and it may happen with Fulham this time.
11. Blackburn Rovers: Last season, Blackburn appointed inexperienced Paul Ince as their manager. But, he failed and Blackburn were left fighting relegation. Experienced campaigner Sam Allardyce arrived and guided the club to safety. Although Big Sam's teams play physical and dull Football but his methods have been very effective. He guided a mediocre Bolton side to UEFA Cup qualification a few years ago. I expect more of the same at Blackburn. Blackburn have lost their best striker, Roque Santa Cruz, to Man City. But, his last season was blighted by injuries. Blackburn coped well in his absence. They have brought in promising Chelsea youngster Franco Di Santo on loan and are linked with Real Madrid's Alvaro Negredo. It'll be a massive coup if Blackburn pull off the deal. I'd expect them to finish near 10th spot in the table.
12. West Ham United: Gianfranco Zola and Steve Clarke did a wonderful job at West Ham last season after starting off in a shaky manner. West Ham have a lot of good players in their side like Robert Green, Matthew Upson, Carlton Cole, Scott Parker and Dean Ashton (if fit). They have kept the core of their squad together this summer. If these players play to their potential then West Ham have a wonderful chance of qualifying for the Europa League.
13. Aston Villa: Aston Villa had a golden opportunity to break the Big Four monopoly last season but they blew it when it mattered. Martin O'Neill took a gamble to rest his big guns for a UEFA Cup clash. It backfired and Villa got knocked out of the competition. After that Villa's season got worse after each and every game. Wins became hard to come by and Villa eventually surrendered the fourth spot to Arsenal. Villa's rock in defense Martin Laursen had to retire this summer because of injury problems while Gareth Barry raised a few eyebrows by moving to Man City instead of Liverpool. Villa's attack looks great though with the likes of Carew, Agbonlahor, Young, Heskey, Milner and new signing Stewart Downing, in their ranks. Still, I feel that last season was their best chance to get to the Champions League and they may not get another chance as Man City and Tottenham are looking stronger.
14. Everton: I am amazed to see the progress Everton have made under David Moyes. He has a small budget to operate under while his competitors splash the cash around. Even under tight financial constraints, Moyes achieved 5th spot in the table and took his team to the FA Cup final last season. Those feats will be difficult to achieve this season as their rivals Man City and Tottenham are looking stronger. Everton have been badly hit by injuries as well. Key players Arteta, Jagielka and Yakubu are out. But this is not the end of Everton's problems. Their best defender Joleon Lescott is being pursued by Man City and it seems that the cash rich club will get their man in the end. So, responsibility falls on the shoulders of Tim Cahill and Marouane Fellaini to guide the team through this difficult period. It won't be easy for Everton to defy the odds this time but they have done it before and they can do it again.
15. Manchester City: Cash fuelled Manchester City have invested heavily in the transfer market. They, along with Real Madrid, have contributed to the inflation in the transfer market. Man City became the richest club in the World last year when Abu Dhabi United Group purchased the club. They had little time to do something in the transfer market but pulled off a stunning coup by signing Robinho from Real Madrid. This year they had full transfer window to invest and they have invested heavily. Roque Santa Cruz, Carlos Tevez, Emmanuel Adebayor, Gareth Barry and Kolo Toure have all arrived while some want-away players have left. All the new arrivals are proven Premier League players. Add Robinho and Stephen Ireland to the likes of Adebayor, Tevez and Santa Cruz and you have, perhaps, the best attacking unit in the Premier League, on paper. But, the big question is, will these players gel quickly enough to allow City to break into the top four? I don't think so. Football is a funny game. You may have 11 best players out on the pitch but they need to play as a team. I think City may break into the top four after one or two seasons but this time they'll be left fighting for a UEFA Europa League spot. A major reason is the lack of defensive options at Hughes' disposal. City leaked in goals last season and need to strengthen the back four. This is exactly why Hughes was so desperate to get Terry. He failed to lure the England captain and has turned his attentions to Everton's Joleon Lescott. Another problem that confronts Mark Hughes is that there are too many strikers at the club. He'll have to keep everyone happy which is easier said than done. There is huge pressure on Mark Hughes to succeed otherwise he may find himself searching for a new job. Having said that, it is possible that their big guns click at the right time to gatecrash the Big Four party. Manchester City will provide a totally new dimension to this season. Can money buy success? This question will be answered soon.
16. Tottenham Hotspur: No transfer window is complete without frantic transfer activity at White Hart Lane. This window has been a bit different though. Although Spurs were linked with the likes of Huntelaar and Vieira but they couldn't bring them in. Still, Spurs are a formidable team on paper. Their defense doesn't look too bad with Woodgate, King, Corluka and new boy Bassong in the squad. They have a good midfield. The pace of Lennon, the strength of Palacios and the vision of Modric complement each other perfectly. Add four top class strikers, Defoe, Keane, Pavlyuchenko and new signing Peter Crouch, to the mix and you get a squad that can go the distance in the Premier League. Spurs had a good squad on paper for many years and they spent heavily too but couldn't force their way into the top four. Defensive errors, managerial instability, inconsistency etc have been the reasons for their downfall in the past. But now they have an experienced manager, Harry Redknapp, who almost took them to Europe from bottom place in the table last season. They have a settled squad too and lack of transfers may prove to be a boon for them. I think Spurs will be the one of the main contenders for that elusive fourth spot in the table.
17. Arsenal: Arsenal is a big club but they have had four consecutive trophyless years. Their fans are getting impatient. Last year, Arsenal were out of the title race by Christmas. They reached the latter stages of cup competitions but couldn't force the issue when they came up against the top sides. Arsene Wenger's decision to sell Toure and Adebayor to rivals Man City hasn't helped the situation. It seems that all is not well in the Arsenal boardroom. It is quite clear that Wenger doesn't have the money to buy big players. I think he is doing a fantastic job with his current players. He has brought in Thomas Vermaelen to toughen up the defense which has been Arsenal's biggest weakness for the last 3-4 years. Arsenal's squad looks so thin that a couple of injuries to key players might end their title dreams but if they keep themselves injury free then they have one of the best attacking units. Van Persie, Arshavin, Fabregas, Walcott and Nasri are names that any manager would love to have in his squad. The return of Eduardo and Rosicky is like a couple of new signings. Many people have tipped Arsenal to crash out of the top four but I think that they can even challenge for the title if key players remain fit.
18. Liverpool: The way Liverpool ended their last season was simply phenomenal. Not only Gerrard and Torres but the likes of Alonso, Kuyt and Benayoun were magnificent. It has given Liverpool fans the belief that they can bring the Premier League trophy to Anfield. But, Liverpool have lost a key player, Xabi Alonso, to Real Madrid. He was the creative force in the midfield last season and allowed Gerrard the freedom to attack. The likes of Lucas and Mascherano lack Alonso's qualities. Liverpool have brought in Alberto Aquilani from Roma to compensate for Alonso's loss. Although he is a talented lad but he is unproven and has a poor fitness record. It'll be interesting to see how he performs in a more physical league. Another new signing is Glen Johnson who is a promising right back. To make way for him, Alvaro Arbeloa has been shipped to Real Madrid. I think Liverpool lack a decent backup for Torres. Voronin hasn't set the World alight with his performances and N'Gog is unproven. The fitness of Gerrard and Torres will be a key to Liverpool's chances of winning the Premier League. But, I think last season was Liverpool's best chance to win the league and they may not get another chance this time because their squad is not big enough to go the distance.
19. Chelsea: Chelsea are the only Big Four club who haven't lost key players in the transfer window which makes them people's favourite to lift the title. Zhirkov and Sturridge are welcome additions to the squad. Although, the personnel on the pitch will be the same but Abramovich's revolving door policy has meant that Carlo Ancelotti will be Chelsea's 5th manager in three years. It'll be interesting to see how quickly Ancelotti adapts to the Premier League and how quickly Chelsea adapt to his diamond formation. Pre-season signs have been positive. The usual suspects, Lampard, Terry and Drogba will be pivotal for Chelsea's chances this season. Chelsea's biggest problem is their ageing squad. Most of their key players are on the wrong side of thirty. It'll be interesting to see if these players have the legs to grind out results week in and week out. I think they'll be United's biggest challengers for the Premier League crown.
20. Manchester United: The Champions, Manchester United usually enter a competition as favorites. But, it's different this time. The best player in the World, Cristiano Ronaldo, has been transferred to Real Madrid. Another important player Carlos Tevez has switched to the blue half of Manchester. That makes United the underdogs for a change but it will be a big mistake to write United off. After all, we are talking about a club that has won three back to back Premier League titles, a club that appeared in two consecutive Champions League finals, a club that is managed by arguably the best manager of all time. Ronaldo's transfer left United with 80m to spend which Sir Alex chose not to. It is an inflated market and the wise man thought that he won't get value for money this time. He brought in young and promising players like Antonio Valencia and Gabriel Obertan along with free agent Michael Owen. The shock capture of Owen may prove to be a masterstroke by Fergie as the England striker is a proven goal scorer. The other new boy, Antonio Valencia, is a proven Premier League player. He will be looked upon as Ronaldo's replacement. But, I think it is impossible for one player to replace Ronaldo. The whole team will have to step up to replace Ronaldo. Wayne Rooney will be the focal point of United's attacks while Dimitar Berbatov needs justify his price tag. Then, there are young strikers like Macheda and Welbeck who were wonderful last season and can only improve. It'll be interesting to see how much time youngsters like Gibson, Tosic, Obertan, Petrucci and January arrivals Ljajic and Diouf get on the pitch. These players can only benefit from the presence of Giggs, Scholes and Neville on the training ground. It is a big season for Ben Foster as well who may finally get an extended run in the first team. The strongest aspect of United's game last season was defense. If the likes of Vidic, Ferdinand, Van Der Sar and Evra remain fit at crucial times this season then United can expect more silverware. I think United have the experience and a big enough squad to finally knock Liverpool off their perch. It'll be an unbelievable achievement for the legendary manager who is, perhaps, building his last squad at Manchester United.
Predicted league table
1. Manchester United
2. Chelsea
3. Liverpool
4. Arsenal
5. Tottenham Hotspur
6. Manchester City
7. Everton
8. Aston Villa
9. West Ham
10. Blackburn Rovers
11. Fulham
12. Sunderland
13. Bolton Wanderers
14. Stoke City
15. Wigan Athletic
16. Birmingham City
17. Hull City
18. Wolverhampton Wanderers
19. Portsmouth
20. Burnley
Here are my predictions for the new season-
1. Wolverhampton Wanderers: Wolves won the Championship last term and played attractive Football. They are a club with rich history. So, its great to have them back in the Premiership. Their key player is Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, a former Manchester United youth player. He was Championship's top scorer in the last couple of seasons. Wolves will bank on him to carry his wonderful form to the Premiership.
2. Birmingham City: Birmingham earned promotion by playing organized Football. They weren't pretty but were effective. Expect them to park the bus in front of goal to grind out results.
3. Burnley: Burnley's story has been a fairytale. They had an amazing Carling Cup run last term. They proved to be a nemesis for London's Premier League clubs. They knocked out Fulham, Chelsea and Arsenal on their way to the Semi finals where they nearly knocked out Tottenham. Their performance in the League was superb as well which got them to 5th spot in the table. They knocked out Reading and Sheffield United in the Playoffs to book a Premier League berth. I expect Turf Moor to host many memorable clashes this season. This is one team I'll be following with a lot of interest.
4. Hull City: Hull had a dream start to their debut Premier League season but it ended in a nightmare. They won only one of their last 22 league games. The points accumulated at the start of the season saved them from relegation. Things don't look too bright for them this term either. Phil Brown has been unable to convince many of his transfer targets to join him at the KC Stadium. The likes of Michael Owen, Fraizer Campbell and Bobby Zamora have snubbed them. A shock deal for Real Madrid starlet Alvaro Negredo may well be in the pipeline. Even if the deal materializes, Hull City will remain a top relegation candidate.
5. Portsmouth: Those days seem decades away when Pompey were winning the FA Cup and had top quality players like Defoe, Crouch and Johnson in their ranks. Throw in, lack of transfer activity, ownership issues and lack of discipline among players, in the mix and you have a top contender for relegation. Harry Redknapp left the club last season and his successor Tony Adams was sacked. Paul Hart then guided the club to safety and the club has stuck with him. But, he faces a mammoth task to keep the club in the Premiership. They look particularly light weight up front after selling Peter Crouch. Top players like David James and Niko Kranjcar will have to play a massive role to keep the club in the Premiership.
6. Stoke City: Football purists criticized Tony Pulis' approach last season. They were physical in their approach and Rory Delap's long throws were not the prettiest route to goal. But, it has to be said that it was effective. In the end, Stoke got a respectable mid table position. They haven't done much in the transfer market but they have kept majority of their squad together. They will employ the same approach this season: physical, well organized and hard to beat. Add to that, the wonderful atmosphere at Britannia Stadium and I think they'll stay up again.
7. Wigan Athletic: Wigan have undergone a lot of changes over the last seven months. Steve Bruce, who did a magnificent job with them, left the club to join Sunderland. Wigan lost two influential players in January: Wilson Palacios and Emile Heskey. Luis Valencia left the club in July to join Manchester United. Amr Zaki's loan wasn't extended due to disciplinary issues. Now, Wigan have a new look to their line-up. Their new manager, Roberto Martinez, has no experience of managing a Premier League club although he is widely regarded as one of the brightest young managers. He had a wonderful spell at Swansea and Wigan fans will be hoping for the same when he picks up the reins at the DW Stadium.
I expect the above 7 clubs to be trapped in relegation dogfight. The likes of Hull City, Portsmouth and the newly promoted sides are looking highly vulnerable.
8. Sunderland: The English Football's yoyo club is finally enjoying an extended run in the Premier League. Sunderland have money and they have appointed a good manager, Steve Bruce. Sunderland opted not to sign Djibril Cisse after his loan spell expired. But, they have brought in Darren Bent and Fraizer Campbell. Although Bent has been criticized a lot but he scores goals. Then, Bruce may pull a rabbit out of the hat by using his contacts in South America to unearth some promising young players as he did with Wigan. Combining all factors, a mid table place seems to be a safe bet as far as Sunderland are concerned.
9. Bolton Wanderers: Bolton's decent showing last season was largely due to excellent performances by Kevin Davies and Matt Taylor. Bolton won't change their style of play. It may not be pleasing to the eye but it has served them well. The hoof ball merchants should secure a mid table berth again.
10. Fulham: When Roy Hodgson arrived at Fulham in 2007-08, they were in shambles. They were a top contender for relegation. But, Hodgson miraculously guided them to safety. His hard work reaped benefits last term when a well organised Fulham side booked a place in the UEFA Europa League. The key to their performance was their defense and in particular Brede Hangeland. If Fulham hold onto him then they have a wonderful chance of securing a respectable position in the table. A big concern for Hodgson must be the lack of goals. The likes of Andy Johnson and Bobby Zamora need to step up. I think it'll be very difficult for them to repeat last season's heroics simply because their squad isn't big enough to cope up with the pressure of playing in multiple competitions. It happened with Portsmouth last season and it may happen with Fulham this time.
11. Blackburn Rovers: Last season, Blackburn appointed inexperienced Paul Ince as their manager. But, he failed and Blackburn were left fighting relegation. Experienced campaigner Sam Allardyce arrived and guided the club to safety. Although Big Sam's teams play physical and dull Football but his methods have been very effective. He guided a mediocre Bolton side to UEFA Cup qualification a few years ago. I expect more of the same at Blackburn. Blackburn have lost their best striker, Roque Santa Cruz, to Man City. But, his last season was blighted by injuries. Blackburn coped well in his absence. They have brought in promising Chelsea youngster Franco Di Santo on loan and are linked with Real Madrid's Alvaro Negredo. It'll be a massive coup if Blackburn pull off the deal. I'd expect them to finish near 10th spot in the table.
12. West Ham United: Gianfranco Zola and Steve Clarke did a wonderful job at West Ham last season after starting off in a shaky manner. West Ham have a lot of good players in their side like Robert Green, Matthew Upson, Carlton Cole, Scott Parker and Dean Ashton (if fit). They have kept the core of their squad together this summer. If these players play to their potential then West Ham have a wonderful chance of qualifying for the Europa League.
13. Aston Villa: Aston Villa had a golden opportunity to break the Big Four monopoly last season but they blew it when it mattered. Martin O'Neill took a gamble to rest his big guns for a UEFA Cup clash. It backfired and Villa got knocked out of the competition. After that Villa's season got worse after each and every game. Wins became hard to come by and Villa eventually surrendered the fourth spot to Arsenal. Villa's rock in defense Martin Laursen had to retire this summer because of injury problems while Gareth Barry raised a few eyebrows by moving to Man City instead of Liverpool. Villa's attack looks great though with the likes of Carew, Agbonlahor, Young, Heskey, Milner and new signing Stewart Downing, in their ranks. Still, I feel that last season was their best chance to get to the Champions League and they may not get another chance as Man City and Tottenham are looking stronger.
14. Everton: I am amazed to see the progress Everton have made under David Moyes. He has a small budget to operate under while his competitors splash the cash around. Even under tight financial constraints, Moyes achieved 5th spot in the table and took his team to the FA Cup final last season. Those feats will be difficult to achieve this season as their rivals Man City and Tottenham are looking stronger. Everton have been badly hit by injuries as well. Key players Arteta, Jagielka and Yakubu are out. But this is not the end of Everton's problems. Their best defender Joleon Lescott is being pursued by Man City and it seems that the cash rich club will get their man in the end. So, responsibility falls on the shoulders of Tim Cahill and Marouane Fellaini to guide the team through this difficult period. It won't be easy for Everton to defy the odds this time but they have done it before and they can do it again.
15. Manchester City: Cash fuelled Manchester City have invested heavily in the transfer market. They, along with Real Madrid, have contributed to the inflation in the transfer market. Man City became the richest club in the World last year when Abu Dhabi United Group purchased the club. They had little time to do something in the transfer market but pulled off a stunning coup by signing Robinho from Real Madrid. This year they had full transfer window to invest and they have invested heavily. Roque Santa Cruz, Carlos Tevez, Emmanuel Adebayor, Gareth Barry and Kolo Toure have all arrived while some want-away players have left. All the new arrivals are proven Premier League players. Add Robinho and Stephen Ireland to the likes of Adebayor, Tevez and Santa Cruz and you have, perhaps, the best attacking unit in the Premier League, on paper. But, the big question is, will these players gel quickly enough to allow City to break into the top four? I don't think so. Football is a funny game. You may have 11 best players out on the pitch but they need to play as a team. I think City may break into the top four after one or two seasons but this time they'll be left fighting for a UEFA Europa League spot. A major reason is the lack of defensive options at Hughes' disposal. City leaked in goals last season and need to strengthen the back four. This is exactly why Hughes was so desperate to get Terry. He failed to lure the England captain and has turned his attentions to Everton's Joleon Lescott. Another problem that confronts Mark Hughes is that there are too many strikers at the club. He'll have to keep everyone happy which is easier said than done. There is huge pressure on Mark Hughes to succeed otherwise he may find himself searching for a new job. Having said that, it is possible that their big guns click at the right time to gatecrash the Big Four party. Manchester City will provide a totally new dimension to this season. Can money buy success? This question will be answered soon.
16. Tottenham Hotspur: No transfer window is complete without frantic transfer activity at White Hart Lane. This window has been a bit different though. Although Spurs were linked with the likes of Huntelaar and Vieira but they couldn't bring them in. Still, Spurs are a formidable team on paper. Their defense doesn't look too bad with Woodgate, King, Corluka and new boy Bassong in the squad. They have a good midfield. The pace of Lennon, the strength of Palacios and the vision of Modric complement each other perfectly. Add four top class strikers, Defoe, Keane, Pavlyuchenko and new signing Peter Crouch, to the mix and you get a squad that can go the distance in the Premier League. Spurs had a good squad on paper for many years and they spent heavily too but couldn't force their way into the top four. Defensive errors, managerial instability, inconsistency etc have been the reasons for their downfall in the past. But now they have an experienced manager, Harry Redknapp, who almost took them to Europe from bottom place in the table last season. They have a settled squad too and lack of transfers may prove to be a boon for them. I think Spurs will be the one of the main contenders for that elusive fourth spot in the table.
17. Arsenal: Arsenal is a big club but they have had four consecutive trophyless years. Their fans are getting impatient. Last year, Arsenal were out of the title race by Christmas. They reached the latter stages of cup competitions but couldn't force the issue when they came up against the top sides. Arsene Wenger's decision to sell Toure and Adebayor to rivals Man City hasn't helped the situation. It seems that all is not well in the Arsenal boardroom. It is quite clear that Wenger doesn't have the money to buy big players. I think he is doing a fantastic job with his current players. He has brought in Thomas Vermaelen to toughen up the defense which has been Arsenal's biggest weakness for the last 3-4 years. Arsenal's squad looks so thin that a couple of injuries to key players might end their title dreams but if they keep themselves injury free then they have one of the best attacking units. Van Persie, Arshavin, Fabregas, Walcott and Nasri are names that any manager would love to have in his squad. The return of Eduardo and Rosicky is like a couple of new signings. Many people have tipped Arsenal to crash out of the top four but I think that they can even challenge for the title if key players remain fit.
18. Liverpool: The way Liverpool ended their last season was simply phenomenal. Not only Gerrard and Torres but the likes of Alonso, Kuyt and Benayoun were magnificent. It has given Liverpool fans the belief that they can bring the Premier League trophy to Anfield. But, Liverpool have lost a key player, Xabi Alonso, to Real Madrid. He was the creative force in the midfield last season and allowed Gerrard the freedom to attack. The likes of Lucas and Mascherano lack Alonso's qualities. Liverpool have brought in Alberto Aquilani from Roma to compensate for Alonso's loss. Although he is a talented lad but he is unproven and has a poor fitness record. It'll be interesting to see how he performs in a more physical league. Another new signing is Glen Johnson who is a promising right back. To make way for him, Alvaro Arbeloa has been shipped to Real Madrid. I think Liverpool lack a decent backup for Torres. Voronin hasn't set the World alight with his performances and N'Gog is unproven. The fitness of Gerrard and Torres will be a key to Liverpool's chances of winning the Premier League. But, I think last season was Liverpool's best chance to win the league and they may not get another chance this time because their squad is not big enough to go the distance.
19. Chelsea: Chelsea are the only Big Four club who haven't lost key players in the transfer window which makes them people's favourite to lift the title. Zhirkov and Sturridge are welcome additions to the squad. Although, the personnel on the pitch will be the same but Abramovich's revolving door policy has meant that Carlo Ancelotti will be Chelsea's 5th manager in three years. It'll be interesting to see how quickly Ancelotti adapts to the Premier League and how quickly Chelsea adapt to his diamond formation. Pre-season signs have been positive. The usual suspects, Lampard, Terry and Drogba will be pivotal for Chelsea's chances this season. Chelsea's biggest problem is their ageing squad. Most of their key players are on the wrong side of thirty. It'll be interesting to see if these players have the legs to grind out results week in and week out. I think they'll be United's biggest challengers for the Premier League crown.
20. Manchester United: The Champions, Manchester United usually enter a competition as favorites. But, it's different this time. The best player in the World, Cristiano Ronaldo, has been transferred to Real Madrid. Another important player Carlos Tevez has switched to the blue half of Manchester. That makes United the underdogs for a change but it will be a big mistake to write United off. After all, we are talking about a club that has won three back to back Premier League titles, a club that appeared in two consecutive Champions League finals, a club that is managed by arguably the best manager of all time. Ronaldo's transfer left United with 80m to spend which Sir Alex chose not to. It is an inflated market and the wise man thought that he won't get value for money this time. He brought in young and promising players like Antonio Valencia and Gabriel Obertan along with free agent Michael Owen. The shock capture of Owen may prove to be a masterstroke by Fergie as the England striker is a proven goal scorer. The other new boy, Antonio Valencia, is a proven Premier League player. He will be looked upon as Ronaldo's replacement. But, I think it is impossible for one player to replace Ronaldo. The whole team will have to step up to replace Ronaldo. Wayne Rooney will be the focal point of United's attacks while Dimitar Berbatov needs justify his price tag. Then, there are young strikers like Macheda and Welbeck who were wonderful last season and can only improve. It'll be interesting to see how much time youngsters like Gibson, Tosic, Obertan, Petrucci and January arrivals Ljajic and Diouf get on the pitch. These players can only benefit from the presence of Giggs, Scholes and Neville on the training ground. It is a big season for Ben Foster as well who may finally get an extended run in the first team. The strongest aspect of United's game last season was defense. If the likes of Vidic, Ferdinand, Van Der Sar and Evra remain fit at crucial times this season then United can expect more silverware. I think United have the experience and a big enough squad to finally knock Liverpool off their perch. It'll be an unbelievable achievement for the legendary manager who is, perhaps, building his last squad at Manchester United.
Predicted league table
1. Manchester United
2. Chelsea
3. Liverpool
4. Arsenal
5. Tottenham Hotspur
6. Manchester City
7. Everton
8. Aston Villa
9. West Ham
10. Blackburn Rovers
11. Fulham
12. Sunderland
13. Bolton Wanderers
14. Stoke City
15. Wigan Athletic
16. Birmingham City
17. Hull City
18. Wolverhampton Wanderers
19. Portsmouth
20. Burnley
