The EPL season is set to begin on Saturday morning at lunch time. Sunderland and Tottenham open up what is surely going to be one of the better seasons in recent memory. First off, a lot of the teams in the EPL have strengthen. Manchester United and Liverpool has shown the most about of ambition going into the current season, spending large amounts of cash to mount a new title challenge. Chelsea have been relatively quiet, no big names like Shevchenko or Ballack this summer, but they still splashed some cash on a Frenchie and a Brazilian. Arsenal lost arguably the best player in recent years in the Premier League in Henry. Filling his shoes (or at least trying to) is Da Silva, who is of decent talent.
Out of the top 4 we see Tottenham, who will be striving to oust massive rivals Arsenal form the top 4 this year. Picking up Darren Bent, and keeping Dimitar Berbatov have showed ambition to oust their north London counterparts. Liverpool blue boys Everton have shown willing to improve on their sixth place effort by buying Leighton Baines from Wigan.
Newcastle will have a new look this year beginning with their new manager. Sam Allardyce joins the Magpies after his tenure at Bolton ended last season. Big Sam will be looking to improve on Newcastle's mediocre performance last year. With a healthy Michael Owen, and new signings like Joey Barton and Mark Viduka, Newcastle will be looking to secure European football once more.
As for the newly promoted teams, the most likely to succeed is Sunderland. Relegated at the end of the 05/06 season, they are back, and with a new outlook. Roy Keane, Manchester United's former Captain, has turned Sunderland into a powerhouse in the Championship, and will be looking for a great year in the Premier league. Birmingham City also went down in the same year, but like Sunderland, are back for more. Steve Bruce's side will be looking to hold onto a place in next years league. Derby will have the toughest challenge, and I don't seem them staying up.
Now for the Predictions: Du Du Duh
1. Chelsea - Strong side, good players.
2. Liverpool - Will surprise this year, could even win the league
3. Manchester United - I don't see Ronaldo being the same as last year
4. Arsenal - Will be good without Henry
5. Tottenham - Just not a top 4 team, yet...
6. Newcastle - Good team, good fans, good manager
7. Everton - Good signings, good teams as a whole
8. Portsmouth - Great manager, decent players
9. Aston Villa - Good Manager, ambition
10. Manchester City - Sven, Sven, Sven, nuff said
11. Reading - No Sidwell
12. Blackburn - MEH
13. Fulham - Not enough gas in the tank
14. Bolton - A New Sam, but still going to be a hard season.
15. Sunderland - Roy Keane, but needs time to adapt
16. West Ham - TRASH
17. Birmingham City - Steve Bruce will keep them up
18. Middlesborough - No more Viduka, not sure about Yakubu either
19. Wigan - ROFL
20. Derby - Just not good enough, good Championship team
Chelsea, if healthy, I predict as Champions in May. Liverpool will be a close second. They have shown great ambition this summer. I wouldn't be surprised if Liverpool win it actually. If they beat Chelsea in week 2, anything could happen. It's hard not having Man U at 2, let alone 1, but they are going to have team problems. Way to many midfielder's, starting to have to many Ego's, turning into the Chelsea of last year. They couldn't entirely be winners in May. But I can't see Ronaldo being that good this year. If he is, then expect a strong chance.
This year is going to be special I think, and the title chase is going to being a thing of beauty. Liverpool have it all to gain, Chelsea and Man U have it all to lose. Many pundits are plotting a Liverpool Championship. I will wait till May to see what happens, but its a big possibility.
Cheers everyone, and enjoy the season. Good Luck to your teams.
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