The Beautiful Game

So Liverpool are out of the title race. Spurs are going to win the league and Everton are going to get relegated.

Well that is the story of the Barclays Premier League table if you look at it today. The first three matches have been played and there have been more than a few shocks. Manchester City look a tight unit, Burnley are world beaters and Michael Owen has forgotten where the goal is.

However, that is the classic knee-jerk reaction that some Fantasy Football managers would adopt when they pick Abou Diaby from Arsenal because he scored two against Portsmouth at the weekend (he only scored 4 goals in 36 matches in 2008/2009). The football season throws up numerous shocks at the start, players gaining fitness and learning to play new systems and with new team-mates. Just think about Hull last season in the Barclays Premier League.

What I think is the interesting thing this year is that the difference between the top teams and the rest of the division is becoming less, and the competitiveness of the 'mid-table' Barclays Premier League teams is growing each season. The TV cash and sponsorship is still growing the game at the elite level and will continue to do so as brands invest more in players and passions (of which football is one of the greatest) and broadcasters pin more and more of their strategy on top tier live rights.

But for me the big change has come with the power shift to Spain's La Liga as Manchester United and Liverpool have lost two key players to that league and although Chelsea are still strong (and I believe will be Champions) they have not been able to strengthen as more and more players choose La Liga over the Barclays Premier League. Meanwhile, Manchester City have eaten away at the Arsenal Squad with the signings of Adebayor and Toure.

With the Big Four not being able to strengthen as much as they would like, and emerging teams like Spurs, Sunderland, Aston Villa and Manchester City all spending big I expect more of the Big Four to lose games.

I still believe that the usual suspects will be there or thereabouts come May, with maybe Manchester City crashing the party, but I can see the required points total for the champions being lower than recent seasons and more teams taking points off the Big Four, I think the United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool will each lose 4-5 games. I might even be so bold as to say within a couple of seasons it will be more a Super Seven...  

Loading mentions Retweet

For the last few weeks there has been endless speculation about the coming season. Will Manchester United suffer without Tevez and Ronaldo? Can Burnley continue to beat Barclays Premier League opponents as they did in last seasons Carling Cup? Will Carlo Ancelotti unite the Chelsea millionaires?!

Almost daily there have been predictions on what the final outcome will be come May, and following the flurry of interest that surrounds Fantasy Football League selections it felt that I should also host my own prediction. So here goes..

Champions: Chelsea. Without losing any key squad members and the momentum from the back end of last season when all seemed lost I can see Chelsea winning back the title. In Terry, Lampard and Anelka they have a strong core and additions of Zhirkov and Sturridge will add an extra dimension to their attack. Solid, consistent and a winner at the helm. Think United will push them close but it's Chelsea for me.

Champions League: Manchester United, Liverpool and Manchester City. The City prediction is a bold one, and fully dependant on their start. They have lots of goals in them, Barry and Toure are great signings and if Hughes can sign one transfer window central defender they have a strong squad. A lot depends on the first few games. If they get a good start and get confident and the pressure eases then its game on and think they can break the top four.

Surprise Package: Sunderland. I think Steve Bruce has bought well and Kenwyne Jones, Fraizer Campbell and Darren Bent will score goals - Lee Catermole is also one step and learning to control his agression away from a senior England place. Bruce has a great knowledge of South American football and da Silva could prove the difference to his defence. I see them causing a few upsets and going close in both the domestic cups.

Relegation: Hull City, Portsmouth and Birmingham. Poor old Pompy, too many good players have left and unless they get loads of cash in January they are going to be in trouble. Think even by then it could be too much for them. Hull showed great spirit last season but by the turn teams had found them out, and sadly for Phil Brown that will continue and the new boys in town will push on and survive. Well, that said apart from Birmingham. I just dont see them having the firepower to stay up. It will be close but think they will always be there or thereabouts and get sucked in towards the end of the season.

Loading mentions Retweet