So the new football season is just a matter of days away, and I for one can't wait. Yes, I know the world cup has only just finished but for me the domestic season is much more exciting and entertaining.
I'm going to put my neck on the line and say which teams will end up celebrating in May, and which teams will be crying into there pies. Firstly, the Premier League...
Premier League: This is probably the easiest league to predict, as every season the same teams finish in and around the same places. There is no doubt that the Premier League has some of the best players in the world, but it is also one of the most predictable as well.
Contenders: The so-called "big four", Man United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool will be up there, as will money bags Man City. They will all be thinking that they have a chance of winning the title, and rightly so. But Liverpool don't have enough strength in depth to mount a serious title challenge, Arsenal, whether they sell Cesc Fabregas or not, have too young a squad to challenge and Manchester City's star studded squad may struggle to gel straight away. Like last season, the title will be contested between United and Chelsea. I think Chelsea will win as there is no African Nations Cup this year, so players like Drogba, Essien, Kalou and Mikel will stay with the squad which can only be a good thing.
Race for Europe: Harry Redknapp has recently said that his Tottenham side have a chance of winning the title. I think that 'Arry has been spending too much time in the sun and will have to settle for a top 6 finish at best. Aston Villa will be up there as usual. Should Martin O'Neill add more strength in depth to his sqaud then I'm sure they can push for the top four which could be funded by the rumoured £30 million sale of James Milner to Man City. Everton, who failed to reach Europe last season, will be hoping to get off to a better start than last season and book a ticket for the Europa League.
Mid-table medicority: There will be a lot of teams in this division that aren't good enough to reach Europe, but will be safe from relegation. Stoke, Birmingham and Sunderland will be comfortbaly safe in mid-table. Blackburn, Fulham, West Ham and Bolton will flirt with relegation at some point during the season but will have enough quality to steer clear.
Relegation candidates: This leaves fives team to battle it out to stay in the promised land. Blackpool will play with passion and could spring a surpise or two along the way but it won't be enough for them to stay up. Wigan ended last season with an 8-0 thumping against Chelsea which could lead to them having a poor start and struggle to get out of. Newcastle have bought well during the summer (Campbell, Gosling) and will stay up, as will Wolves, as Molineux became a bit of a fortress towards the end of last season, meaning black country rivals West Brom will leave up to there yo-yo team tag and return immediately to the Championship.
Championship: This is one of the toughest leagues to call. After all, who would've expected Blackpool to get promoted last season? 17 out of the 24 teams have had Premier League experience and, unlike last year with Newcastle and West Brom, there doesn't seem to be an over riding favourite to win the league. I make it that at least half the teams can realistically get promoted this season.
Contenders: Middlesbrough have bought a lot of players from the Old firm and, should the team gel quickly, theyll be there or there abouts. Kris Boyd inparticular looks like a great signing and wouldn't look out of place in the Premier League. The three relegated teams, Portsmouth, Hull and Burnley will be hoping to bounce back immediately, although it's easier said than done, and the three teams that lost in the play-offs last season; Leicester, Cardiff and Nottingham Forest will want to go one step better. Reading ended last season with a winning streak and are amongst the favourties to go up, as are Bristol City, who have recently bought England's number 1 goalkeeper, David James. Add big spenders QPR to the mix and you have ten teams who feel they have a chance of going up automatically. But ten into two doesn't go.
Play-off push: Sheffield United are usually in and around the play-offs by the end of the season, and this season will be no different. Newly promoted Norwich and Leeds will be hoping to copy Leicester from last season and carry on there momentum to mount a play-off push. Swansea narrowly missed out on the play-offs last season and will be hoping to make amends, while Roy Keane's Ipswich and Darren Ferguson's Preston will be wanting to improve on last season's disappointing mid-table finish.
Mid-table mediocrity: Derby had a lot of injury problems last season which saw them under achieve. They'll be hoping to do better, but they have an old squad which may struggle to cope with the physical demands of the Championship. Doncaster achieved there highest ever league finish last season by finishing 9th but will fall short this season. Barnsley were play-off contenders at one point last season but slipped away, while Coventry will again have a season of mid-table disappointment.
Relegation candidates: Scunthorpe did remarkably well to stay up last season, and did so largely due to the goals of Gary Hooper. However, he has been sold to Celtic, and his strike partner Paul Hayes to Preston and so it looks like there stay in the Championship will be no longer than two seasons. Crystal Palace stayed up by the skin of there teeth last season and there insecure finances may mean they will have to sell there star players. Newly promoted Millwall will also face a struggle, but there home form may be enough to keep them up. Watford ended last season poorly and there loan stars from last season, Tom Cleverley and Henri Lansbury won't be making a return, meaning the Hornets may well be going down.
League One: Leeds have proved that League One isn't as easy a division as people make out, taking three attempts to find the exit door. With some big teams in the division, can all of them get promoted?
Contenders: Southampton had ten points deducted last season and missed out on the play-offs. This season, starting on 0 like everyone else should see them get promoted, providing Rickie Lambert keeps banging in the goals. Charlton lost in the play-offs last season and will be a force to be reckon with. Huddersfield had an amazing home record last season, only losing once. If there away record can improve then they should mount a serious promotion challenge. Yorkshire rivals Sheffield Wednesday will be looking to bounce back from relegation at the first time of asking, but the last time they got relegated into this division, it took them three attempts to return. Colchester looked for a long time like they would be in the play-off picture last season but they ran out of steam at the end and ended up in mid-table.
Play-off push: Peterborough and Plymouth, both relegated from the Championship last season, will want to return but may have to do it through the play-offs. Swindon lost to Millwall in last season's play-off final and have lost top scorer Billy Paynter to Leeds, Bristol Rovers are usually around the play-offs, as are MK Dons. League Two champions Notts County have spent money this transfer window and could sneak in to the picture. Brighton will want to start next season in there new stadium in the Championship while Brentford could be a dark horse.
Mid-table mediocrity: Carlisle , Yeovil and Walsall flirted with the play-offs last year but fell short and this season will be the same. Oldham, Tranmere and Hartlepool flirted with relegation last season but will improve.
Relegation candidates: Newly promoted Rochdale, ended last season poorly but will have enough about them to stay up. Fellow promoted teams Dagenham & Redbridge and Bournemouth both have small budgets and will struggle to stay up. Exeter performed miracles to stay up last season, but may well suffer from second-season syndrome. Leyton Orient just stayed up but will be returning to League Two.
League Two: There'll be no big spenders like Notts County last season, which will mean a more equal playing field, and more exciting race for the title.
Contenders: Port Vale and Northampton ended last season with a charge for the play-offs which fell just short. That momentum could carry on to this season and could see them both get promotion. Chesterfield will be playing in a new stadium which could see inspire them to get promotion while Rotherham lost in last season's play-off final but with striker Adam Le Fondre, they have a constant goal threat. Relegated Wycombe and Southend will also be amongst the front runners.
Play-off push: Gillingham should be going for the title, but the sale of star striker Simeon Jackson to Norwich could cost them. Bradford, a team that were in the Premier League just 9 years ago, are a big fish in a small pond and will be a force to be reckoned with. Morecambe and Aldershot made the play-offs last season and will be there again, while Shrewsbury will be expected to reach the play-offs as a minimum. Bury were in the hunt for automatic promotion last season, but faded away badly and missed out on the play-offs.
Mid-table mediocrity: Stockport have good players to mount a play-off push, but there insecure financial state may scupper there chances. Burton Albion and Torquay will be hoping to build on last season's solid start in league football, while Accrington will continue to punch above there weight. Crewe and Lincoln, two big teams, will again fall short of the play-offs while Conference champions Stevenage will have a solid start to life in League football.
Relegation candidates: Macclesfield have one of the smallest budgets in the football league and survival will be deemed a success. Barnet and Hereford have young squads which struggled last season and could do this season too. Cheltenham just stayed up last season and will just stay up this, while new boys Oxford will have just enough to stay up.
So they're my predictions for the forthcoming season. I'm off to the bookies!
