Ladies and gentleman, after what has been a long summer riddled with transfer drama, managerial changes, and even some seemingly detrimental pillaging taking place in England, it is finally time for the world’s best football league to start up again.
England’s Barclays Premier League is considered by soccer enthusiasts worldwide to be the most competitive, as well as the overall best. Boasting not only the best players that the footballing world has to offer, but also the best players.
Last seasons campaign was a very exciting and endearing one, but at the end of the day only one champion could be crowned, and that ended up being football behemoths Manchester United. And after a productive offseason in the transfer market and an undefeated record on their US Tour, managerial immortal Sir Alex Ferguson and his boys looks primed for a serious run at their record 20th BPL title.
This is my prediction for the top 4 slots in England this year, plus 3 teams on the fringe of qualifying for Europe.
1. Manchester United: As the reigning champions, it would be difficult not to predict United to come out and repeat their successes last season and win #20. Though the losses of veteran leaders Edwin Van der Sar and Paul Scholes will certainly be detrimental, Sir Alex more than compensated with his purchases in the summer transfer window.
The additions of Ashley Young, Phil Jones, and Spanish international keeper David De Gea, this injection of spritely youth is just what the doctor ordered. Also, with rumors of Inter man Wesley Sneijder still constantly circulating around the club, his signing is beginning to look more and more ilk a reality. Though they will be pushed to the brink by cross-town rivals Manchester City, as we saw in the pre-season Community Shield match, United’s resiliency, drive, and style will bring them the title.
2. Manchester City: Since the Eastlands club miraculously came into money a few years back, it seems like it has been an endless spending spree. This offseason in particular bringing in the likes of Argentinian super stud Sergio Kün Aguero, Stefan Savic, and Gael Clichy, obvious improvements have been made. Yet manager Roberto Mancini still feels he needs two more players to accomplish his title-winning aspirations.
3. Chelsea: The London side is always going to be in the top 3, more than likely. It was difficult for me not to put them in the two slot, but I felt as if this was finally the year City made a serious push. Remaining relatively quiet in this summer’s transfer window, the Blues, under new boss Andres Villas Boas, have seemingly came in under the radar (for once). The only real news circulating around the camp occurred when they signed their new Portuguese manager from FC Porto, and the only signings they have made are Barcelona’s Oriol Romeu and 18-year old Belgian wonder kid Romelu Lukaku.
With an aging core consisting of Drogba, Lampard, Anelka, Ahsley Cole, and John Terry, plus the inconsistency that is El Nino, Chelsea’s hopes of finishing top of the table rest on their new head man, and his ability, or lack there of, to bring this team together and get them playing as one. If he is to live up to the comparisons many are drawing about him, he has got to do something substantial with this Chelsea side. As the 7th coach in the last 8 years, if you don’t get results at this club, you are out…..no pressure.
4. Tottenham: I know this is not who you probably expected to see in the final Champions League spot, or maybe you did. Harry Redknapp’s boys had an awesome campaign last year, and I remember telling myself that they were only one year away from becoming an elite contender both in England and Europe. With the Luca Modrid transfer saga seemingly over, and the reassurance that he will stay at White Hart Lane evident, Spurs are going to be the side that opponents will not look forward to facing this season. They have potential to play serious spoiler for clubs like Liverpool and Arsenal.