Can Man Utd make it 3 in a row?

I was meant to write this article last weekend, before the premiership kicked off. But unfortunately I was down the coast in Sorrento in a friend’s beach house, recovering from a round of golf and an afternoon wine tasting. I’m sure you can now understand why I didn’t get round to it. Still, I’m here now, and super psyched that the football season has begun. Also, I think we could do with a break from cricket on this blog!

To business then. Regular readers will know that I’m a Manchester City fan. And as such, I’ve been looking forward to this season with salivating anticipation, if that makes sense. As I’ve just been reminded, 11 years ago, at the start of the 1998/1999 season, City were building up for their assault on the then Division 2 [League Two] title. My early childhood hero, Georgi Kinkladze had just departed for Ajax, and things didn’t look good. Still, we had Paul Dickov and Kevin Horlock, among others! Surely things could only get better?

And so they did. 10 years and many ups and downs later, City, having spent over £100 million in transfers, begin their attempt to break into Fortress Top Four. It got off to a great start against Blackburn last weekend, and with 1 away win, they have exactly half the number of away wins they attained all season last year! Things are definitely looking up. City should continue their progression with a win at home to Wolves this weekend, but the big question on everyones lips is whether they have the ability to break into that top four.

Being a City fan, I am blessed with depressing realism, and although I would love them to do well, my head thinks that we’ll come just short. 5th or 6th would be just grand, and also the minimum set out by City’s chairman. Out of the top 4, it is Chelsea who have lost the least and gained the most. It will be interesting to see how Carlo Ancelotti goes in his first season of English Football, but he comes with a glittering track record, and although Chelsea haven’t (yet) spent big this season, they still possess a squad of world class players.

If I was a Man Utd fan, I’d be a little concerned. It’s very hard to replace a key player, but it is nigh on impossible to replace someone like Cristiano Ronaldo, so critical was he to Man Utd’s style of play. In order for them to defend their title, Fergie will have to come up with a complete change in tactics. Michael Owen was a fantastic bargain (and I predict and hope that he will do very well and play himself back into the England side) but to me, they seem a bit light on numbers, with too many players either in the twilight of their careers or at the dawn.

Following close behind we have Arsenal and Liverpool. Liverpool will, I fear, suffer the same plight as last season. They will always do well, but it seems their squad still seems a little light to mount a serious title challenge. Despite some corners of the media writing off Arsenal, they will still be more then a handful. Although they’ve lost 2 key players (Toure and Adebayor – both to City), Arsene Wenger is a very shrewd character, and having seen them obliterate a lackluster Everton on the opening day, it would be a brave man to bet against them not finishing in the top 4.

Down at the bottom, it could be anybody’s guess. The feeling is that the newly-weds; Burnley, Wolves and Birmingham may all struggle, and they will be joined by Hull and Stoke. My feeling is though, that it will ultimately be Hull, Wolves and Burnley that face the drop.

So the official PKHT Commentary Box Predictions®:

Winner: Chelsea
Runner-up: Man Utd
Champions League: Liverpool, Arsenal
5th/6th: Tottenham, Man City
Closely followed by: Aston Villa, West Ham and Everton
Relegation Candidates: Hull, Burnley and Wolves. Maybe Stoke.