One thing we can safely predict about the upcoming English Premier league season is that it's going to be interesting; very interesting.
At both ends of the table, as well.
After all, for a start it does look as if, at last, we are going to see an end to the 'Big Four' dominance. Even the most confident of the supporters of Man Utd, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal must admit that Manchester City have made some pretty good signings and are going to be very competitive this year.
And do Manchester United fans really believe deep down that they're going to be as strong this time around? Ronaldo, Tevez gone. Giggs, Scholes, Neville nearly gone. Hargreaves - who knows? No, the champions' supporters must be truly anxious - they have so much depending on Berbatov starting to justify his fee and Owen to validate his assertion that he's not injury-prone.
Everyone else must think that this season gives them a real chance to catch them up.
Having said that, though, Liverpool and Arsenal have hardly had tranquil summers, have they? Rafa Benitez has been desperately trying to hold on to his midfielders and cajole his board into giving him more money. Meanwhile Arsène Wenger has yet again been proving his genius by turning Kolo Toure's £150,000 incoming transfer fee into a £15 million outgoing one. Let alone getting even more money for Adebayor! On the other hand, he did try to bring back Viera. Did he not see him 'play' last season?
Chelsea are really the only one of the 'leading lights' to have enjoyed a settled break, so they might well be considered as bookies' favourites. They, though, have the complication of yet another new manager - and the formidable expectations of their owner to live up to. Of last year's top four clubs, Chelsea look to have the most goals in them; they just need their defence to rediscover a little of their once traditional 'meanness' and they could well win the title this year.
Manchester City, however, with their 'if it moves, sign it' policy have the chance of realistically competing at the top end of the table. Their 'spine' of the team is beginning to have a very strong appearance. Similarly, Everton and Aston Villa, so promising last year in completely differing ways, must think that if they can find a 10% improvement then the Champions' League beckons.
It does look, then, as if, for the first time in a long while, there could be six or seven teams in the shake-up for the top places. And what a refreshing change that will be. Add to that, the prospect of Spurs, West Ham, Fulham, and Blackburn, amongst others, chasing for Europa League spots at least and it all boils down to a fascinating league season.
And the other end promises to be just as competitive. Normally, of course, the pundits will automatically look at the three teams coming up from the Championship and confidently predict that at least two of them will probably go straight back again. But Birmingham and Wolves have experienced managers who know how to grind out results and players not likely to be phased by the step-up.
Not only that, but the way that Sunderland and, especially, Hull finished last season, you've got to think they'll struggle again this year. Stoke also have to survive that 'difficult second season'. It does look as if Burnley might find life tough but they do play attractive attacking football and have proved last year in cup competitions that they are quite capable of defeating Premier teams. If they can settle quickly, they might be able to surprise a few more. I hope they can - the Premier League can only be a better place with Burnley v Blackburn derby matches to spice it up!
The television experts love to keep shouting at us that the Premier League is 'the best in the world'. Certainly it's the best supported and the most watched on the box. It does show all the signs this season of being a lot more competitive as well - so it might just live up to its billing. It's certainly going to be well worth watching.
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