The very long wait is finally over and what could be a champagne season is upon us. This could be the first time in Premiership history that we have a genuine four team title race.
All the major players have claims while the very strong looking Tottenham and dark horses Blackburn, will be eyeing Champions League football.
Sir Alex Ferguson has spent a fortune this summer in a quest for another treble. They have an embarrassment of riches up front while he could field three separate midfields. United still look a little short at the back for me, but with so much talent going forward, who cares? The title is theirs to lose.
Chelsea have had a horrendous close season. There have been contract problems with John Terry and Frank Lampard, which has only half been resolved. Robben has had his head turned by Real Madrid and they have failed to ship out flops Shevchenko, Wright-Phillips and the creaking Makelele.
Steve Sidwell, Claudio Pizzaro and Flourent Malouda were shrewd signings, but is it enough? They are still screaming for a right back and another centre half despite Tal Ben Haim’s move from Bolton.
Liverpool have been well tipped up this season and it’s easy to see why. Rafa Benitez has staked his job on this season’s Premier League campaign. Ryan Babel is class as is Fernando Torres, but no one can be sure how he will settle in. Remember Morientes?
They have a top notch midfield and if they can start well and not fall too far behind they have every chance especially if United focus on Europe. Rafa might have to wait one more year, but they are close.
Arsene Wenger has the luxury of getting on with the job without any pressure this season. With the departures of Henry and Ljungberg, no one is expecting them to do anything. The last time this happened Arsenal had the legendary “Invincibles” season.
Has everyone forgot the fact the Gunners have the best kids in the world? Maybe we should label them this season’s dark horses? No for that award look no further than Blackburn.
Mark Hughes has shrewdly assembled a quality squad and their first eleven can beat anyone on their day. Remember how close they came to beating Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-final?
Like Rafa Benitez, Martin Jol has to justify a huge transfer outlay this season. Spurs have spent nearly one hundred million quid since the Dutchman arrived and it’s now payback time. In short fifth place is not good enough.
The battle to avoid the drop will be just as fierce as the quest for European football. As many as ten teams will be happy to get forty points before they can play without any pressure.
I must be the only person who thinks Sunderland will be involved. If they were managed by anyone but a top four manager or Roy Keane, you would say they would be nailed on for a struggling campaign. The squad looks thin and short of quality. But the Keane factor has dazzled many.
The same goes for Derby. Even their manager Billy Davies accepts they are still a few bodies short, but has everyone forgot what Reading did last season? The Rams squad is no worse than the Royals was this time last year and in Davies they have one of the very best motivational managers. Unfortunately they have a tough start to the season, but they could survive. For me Wigan are nailed on for relegation. Any team that has Titus Bramble stopping and Emile Heskey scoring the goals is in big trouble. Of the rest Birmingham still lack Premiership quality and Steve Bruce is more than capable of sending them down, while Fulham and Reading could be anything. They are as likely to finish tenth as bottom. The same goes for Sven’s men Man City. And at 5/1 to go down, they are worth a tenner of anyone’s money.
The Championship
The annual cavalry charge to the promised land is fully of twists and turns but is always great theatre.
This season sees the usual questions thrown up: How will the relegated sides do? Can Wolves realize their potential? Will West Brom yo-yo back up? Will their ever be a goal in the Tractor Derby?
Of the relegated sides Sheffield United would be nailed on for promotion but for the fact they are managed by Bryan Robson. He rightfully earned legend status for his playing career but as a manager he is a bit of a joke.
That said the signing of James Beattie could turn out to be inspired and save for Phil Jagielka he does have the same squad who were unlucky to go down. But how they will respond to being cheated into this lower league is anyone’s guess. They also have a tough start. Charlton are the bookies favourites and Alan Pardew has a well balanced squad. The signing yesterday of Izale McLeod was a masterstroke. He is a potential Premiership star. Pardew felt he ran out of time last season and they have a huge chance to get back up. Wolves and West Brom just missed out last season but the old rivals are moving in opposite directions. One of England’s richest men Steve Morgan has bought the club but hasn’t needed to splash the cash this summer. Mick McCarthy worked wonders last season and if they are there abouts in January, Morgan’s wallet could be a vital ingredient. West Brom have sold most of their stars and Tony Mowbray has plenty of squad strengthening to do. At the moment they are not a patch on twelve months ago. Southampton will again be knocking on the door as will Watford who still have a smart squad and some money to spend. The big shakers this summer have been Leicester. New owner, manager and squad. Of course if they gel they could fly, but if Martin Allen couldn’t get MK Dons promoted, why should he do better in a much harder division?
Barnsley and QPR are already staring relegation in the face. The two smallest clubs Scunthorpe and Colchester could again surprise and force a bigger name down. Maybe this is the season Burnley’s luck runs out?
League One
Chelsea are 3/1 to be leaders of the Premiership on August 31st. Nottingham Forest are the same price to win League One. I know which bet I would rather have.
Colin Calderwood is drinking in the last chance saloon after two failed promotion attempts. And let’s be honest they blew it last time. The problem is, this year they have a weaker squad in a tougher league. Neil Lennon will add bite to the midfield but he won’t be playing every game, and they look mentally brittle under pressure.
Millwall were well tipped last season only for a horror start to kill their campaign. But they finished like a train after Easter and at 12/1 they are value to win the league. They are not alone in eyeing a championship campaign.
Doncaster have been on an upward curve for some time and now they are settled at their new home, they will take the world of beating. The same can be said for Swansea who should be able to shake off the loss of Lee Trundle. Oldham’s young Owls tired at the end of a long season, but they should make the play-off’s at least, twelve months later.
You can forget Leeds going up especially with a fifteen point deduction. The 5/1 on them being relegated is much more tempting. Southend and Luton will be confident of bouncing back while Carlisle could be this season’s dark horses.
At the bottom cash strapped Bournemouth and Northampton look nailed on to go down while Cheltenham and Swindon will join Leeds in the battle to stay up.
League Two
Last year this division enjoyed a vintage campaign, with every issue being resolved on the final day of the season. This time around there is not the same strength in depth, but that shouldn’t mean we are in for a boring campaign.
All eyes will be on Peterbrough who have been backed off the boards to win the title. Darren Ferguson gets his first chance to follow in daddy Sir Alex’s footsteps as he takes charge of an expensive squad. The money has been spent, the wages wagered and now the talking must be replaced with goals. They SHOULD walk it, but this division has a habit of biting expensively assembled teams on the butt. After performing a miracle at Macclesfield, Paul Ince is now in charge at MK Dons. They really should have gone up last season and should manage it this time around.
The lack of depth is summed up by the fact that Rochdale, who have been in the bottom tier for the last 34 years, are third favourites. Dale will do OK, but Wycombe are a much better side. Paul Lambert has done a great job in the manager’s chair and the signing of Gary Holt could edge them the title. At 16/1 they are a smashing each way bet.
Relegated Bradford and Chesterfield will be in the mix, while Notts County fans could finally have a campaign to enjoy.
Promoted Dagenham have the shrewd John Still in charge and they will have no relegation worries. The same cannot be said for Morecambe who might become the first promoted side to go straight back down.
They might be joined by Barnet, with Bury and Hereford looking over their shoulders.
By Roscoe
Webcam
