Premiership preview part 1.

Well, what eve of the season blog would be complete without some predictions eh?
Before I get onto the serious business of who will finish where (and why), I found some individual bets for City on Skybet which I thought made intersting viewing.
Unsuprisingly, we are 500/1 to win the Premiership, but more worryingly we are 50/1 to finish bottom!
However, they view us as 16/1 to finish fourth and a generous (in my opinion) 11/8 to end the season in the top ten.
But the bet which caught my eye at odds of 15/1 is City to finish top of the league given a forty point handicap. Assuming Chelsea cannot have as succesful a season as last year and I take them to win it with ninety points, then we would only need to finish up on fifty-one points for that to come in. Got to be worth a cheeky tenner??

Anyway, Premiership winners and losers as follows with part 1 featuring the top six:

Chelsea:
Anyone else going to win it then? Thought not. Added to the squad this season with Hernan Crespo's return, Asier del Horno and of course with the signing of SWP. Maybe closer than last season but Jose will still be lifting the title. Let's just hope SWP manages to collect a medal.

Arsenal:
A lot will depend on how they cope with the loss of Viera but it could be the making of Fabregas and Flamini in midfield. With Henry and the emergence of Reyes and van Persie they will always have plenty of goals in them. Wenger has a desire to reclaim the crown but it won't be enough - just.

United:
A trophy-less season, a hostile takeover, Rio's contract, it all added to a summer of discontent for United. Can this be continued into the season. Here's hoping. I don't think any team is quite good enough to challenge them for a top three position but I can't see them finishing higher. They will again come up (well) short in their holy grail pursuit of the Champions League but may have a favourable cup run depending on how many home ties against lower league opposition they are handed.

Liverpool:
They ended up concentrating on their Champions League campaign last season to the detriment of their league form, barely winning following European fixtures. This season, they will improve greatly but still won't be enough. Gerrard re-signing is obviously a big coup and Crouch is a favourite of mine but defensively they look suspect still.

Tottenham:
Could this be the year that Spurs finally achieve something? Although Frank Arnsen has gone to Chelsea, he has laid enough of a foundation and Martin Jol is a clever manager. Edgar Davids is a big signing for them in midfield and Jermaine Defoe will have a big season coming upto the World Cup. Will still lose silly games though.

Middlesbrough:
A club that maybe should have done better given the massive outlay by Steve Gibson over the years. They pipped us to the final UEFA position last year and another UEFA campaign could distract them this season. Will always have funds available and should still be good enough to be pushing a top six position.