.png)
Posted on 15 Aug 2009 at 10:05am By GavinoThe Beautiful Game drives sporting passions around the globe. When the English Premier League season kicks off today, fans will don their team’s shirts from the Caribbean to the Antipodes and this annual odyssey, which brings hope and fascination to millions, will begin. So here are my predictions.
This season, Manchester United will win its fourth consecutive league title and become the most successful English side, inching ahead of Liverpool with whom they currently share 18 championship titles.
Can Manchester United become English Champions again?
Liverpool dominated the closing stages of last season, making it the form team and the one favored by many pundits. Much will depend on the availability of Gerrard, Torres and Benayoun. Its squad depth is suspect over the 60 or so games played by the top teams each season and Alonso’s creativity will be missed. Liverpool will need to overcome its tendency to draw easy games at home if it is to win the title.
Chelsea also finished last season strongly and with a new manager playing slightly different tactics, they may have an edge. But didn’t we say that last year?
Arsenal managed to offload the inconsistent Adebayor and will have high hopes for Arshavin but they still need to add some strength to their midfield.
Manchester United sold Ronaldo to Real Madrid and also lost Tevez to Manchester City. But their replacements are no slouches. Valencia looks like class and Michael Owen is a proven goalscorer. Add to this the increased playing time for youngsters Gibson, Welbeck and Macheda and the team should be at least on a par to last season’s.
That should be enough for United to win the title, with Chelsea second, and Arsenal pipping Liverpool for third.
At the other end of the table, Hull City, Burnley and Wolves can make arguments for survival but, when reality sets in, they will all be headed back to the Championship.
In Spain, Real Madrid fans will be entertained by Ronaldo, Kaka and Benzema, but they will still be out sparred by the classy Barcelona.
Inter Milan will once again be crowned Italian champions, although they face a tougher challenge this year from Roma and AC Milan.
In Europe, Chelsea will finally get the breaks it needs to win the Champions League, overcoming high-spending Real Madrid in the final at the Bernabeu.
Doubtless, you will have different views…! But whatever happens, what a great year this promises to be for soccer, culminating in the greatest show on earth, the World Cup, in South Africa in July 2010.
Who’s going to win the Super Bowl?
After losing 1-0 to Burnley you really still think so?!!!
Mmm, big omission here – that club on tother side of the city. City have spent biilions of quid, surely have a chance? Course the over-hyped Premiership, particularly without Ronaldo, is not as important or entertaining as the real man’s game – rugby league! Leeds are on course to win yet another Super League and the Grand Final on 10 Oct at Old Trafford. Big game tonight against their only rivals St Helens.