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Will the chase for the Barclays Premier League title be anything other than a
two-horse race? No. Will it still be a great season? Absolutely. I am
looking forward to the new campaign, even though I expect Manchester United
and Chelsea to be comfortably the best teams, with Chelsea far in front
unless United sign Dimitar Berbatov. There is plenty of intrigue in the
division and, with many clubs looking stronger, a lot of exciting football
will be played.
I am interested in how Tottenham Hotspur will fare under Juande Ramos and in
how Paul Ince, Tony Mowbray, Phil Brown and Tony Pulis cope as British
managers taking charge of top-flight teams for the first time. I am looking
forward to seeing exciting talent fresh to the league, such as Luka Modric,
Deco and Jô.
After a summer of speculation that players such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Frank
Lampard and Emmanuel Adebayor would be off, it is good to see that they all
decided to remain in England. Even Didier Drogba is still here and, with
Nicolas Anelka pressing him for his place in the Chelsea team, I am hoping
to see a hungrier and more committed Drogba than last term.
Even if the final places of most teams are broadly predictable, there could be
fireworks when managers feel the pressure. There are human dramas to add to
the ebb and flow of the matches. How will Luiz Felipe Scolari fare in the
glare of publicity and under the weight of expectation at Stamford Bridge?
Will the frustration of another season where Arsenal are close but not close
enough prompt Arsène Wenger to crack? And Sir Alex Ferguson and Roy Keane
are bound to lose their tempers. It is the nature of the game that any
manager whose club go through an indifferent period will come under
scrutiny. It may not be fair, but it is the nature of the beast and it adds
to the ferocity of the competition.
Top four? Same as usual. But I do not think that the gap between fourth and
fifth, or fifth and eighth, will be that large. At the bottom I fear that
Hull City will come close to Derby County's points total from last season,
11. But I do not subscribe to the theory that all three promoted teams will
go down. I am backing Stoke City to survive.
Will this be the year of “Respect”, as the FA hopes? It is important that
players improve their behaviour, but also that referees do not use the
Respect agenda as a green light to issue cards at every opportunity. The
spotlight will be on, but officials must understand that modifying behaviour
and attitudes is a gradual process. Each summer is full of change, but the
call for referees to show common sense as a new season gets under way - that
is a constant every year.
Arsenal
They will finish a long way behind the first two. Yes, the forwards are
excellent, but Manuel Almunia is not an inspiring presence in goal and they
cannot handle high balls played into the heart of the defence. They need
another centre back. Kolo Touré was average last season, Philippe Senderos
was poor and William Gallas even worse.
Cascarino's prediction: 3rd
Aston Villa
There are plenty of positives here. Martin O'Neill is a manager who squeezes
the best from his players. There is pace and power in the ranks and new
signings to solve the problem full-back positions, while Carlos Cuéllar is a
great buy. My concern is that they need another forward because John Carew
is always an injury risk.
Cascarino's prediction: 5th
Blackburn Rovers
Another big challenge. There are always unsettling times when a successful
manager leaves. Keeping Roque Santa Cruz, the Paraguay striker, is a must,
but the loss of Brad Friedel, the goalkeeper, to Aston Villa, will be felt.
They will not go any higher than fourteenth and without Santa Cruz they
could be battling the drop.
Cascarino's prediction: 14th
Bolton Wanderers
Keep it tight, try to nick a goal - they got away with it last year, but now
it is payback time for such a defensive attitude. Johan Elmander was a poor
purchase. I do not see an £11million forward, I see another Lilian
Laslandes, the Sunderland flop. If Bolton are relying on Elmander, they are
in trouble and they will slide into the Coca-Cola Championship.
Cascarino's prediction: 18th
Chelsea
They are the team to catch. They were so close to winning the title last
season, even with all the injuries and other problems they faced. They did
not even have a proper right back. Now, with a better manager and a better
squad, there are no negatives and they could win the title comfortably.
Cascarino's prediction: 1st
Everton
David Moyes's team are great overachievers. Andrew Johnson, who moved to
Fulham during the summer, is a big loss because of his workrate and nuisance
value up front, which made life easier for Yakubu Ayegbeni, who can be lazy.
Mikel Arteta and Leon Osman are excellent in midfield, but the squad is
small and injuries could cost the club a valuable European place.
Cascarino's prediction: 8th
Fulham
A lot of Roy Hodgson's signings are sound and they were desperately needed
because Fulham were second-rate last term. This season should be easier.
Bobby Zamora will be a good foil up front for Andrew Johnson, while Jimmy
Bullard is neat and tidy in midfield and is good enough to play for a bigger
club.
Cascarino's prediction: 15th
Hull City
It is an amazing achievement for them to get to the Premier League, but they
are a long way short all over the park. Bernard Mendy was a bad signing and
they seem to be looking for loan players. They do not keep you up - just ask
Leeds United. On this showing, Hull appear to be planning for next season's
promotion bid already.
Cascarino's prediction: 20th
Liverpool
Lots of movement up front, but I am worried that the full backs will sit,
which is no use because they need to act like wingers if Liverpool go with
three up front. If that happens, where is the width and where will the goals
come from, especially away from home? And will the manager really put the
league ahead of Europe?
Cascarino's prediction: 4th
Manchester City
Mark Hughes, the new manager, faces a tough task, with so many question marks
surrounding the club. Jô, Martin Petrov and Elano are talented players, but
Hughes's Blackburn Rovers team reflected his toughness and aggression and it
may take time, perhaps until Christmas, to mould City into a side who will
emulate his personality. Mid-table at best.
Cascarino's prediction: 11th
Manchester United
They can run Chelsea close, but only if they sign Dimitar Berbatov. He is the
key signing that would dramatically improve United's prospects. If the
transfer drags on, the more games without him, the smaller their chance of
winning the title. They need to hit the ground running because they will not
get away with a mediocre start.
Cascarino's prediction: 2nd
Middlesbrough
Keeping the club in the division last season after the departures of Mark
Viduka and Yakubu Ayegbeni - the equivalent of losing Cristiano Ronaldo and
Wayne Rooney - was an amazing achievement for Gareth Southgate. Stewart
Downing is still there and they have good youngsters, but if Afonso Alves
struggles, they could finish lower mid-table.
Cascarino's prediction: 12th
Newcastle United
A Kevin Keegan miracle would be reaching the top half. He has a tricky job on
his hands. Will the manager get Michael Owen and Mark Viduka on the pitch
often enough? Can he keep hold of James Milner? Newcastle seem to be more
interested in bolstering their defence, but I am worried about where the
goals will come from.
Cascarino's prediction: 13th
Portsmouth
They are strong defensively, even though I am not a big fan of Younès Kaboul,
but with David James in top form in goal, Portsmouth will be hard to beat.
Harry Redknapp, the manager, has built an organised yet dangerous team who
are progressing, and there should be plenty of goals from the
little-and-large strike partnership of Jermain Defoe and Peter Crouch.
Cascarino's prediction: 6th
Stoke City
They will be OK - just. Dave Kitson was a nice capture and the Britannia
Stadium could become like Portsmouth's Fratton Park - a venue that teams
hate to play at. Tony Pulis, the Stoke manager, has done very well wherever
he has worked and he has the knowhow to keep the club in the Premier League.
Cascarino's prediction: 17th
Sunderland
It will be touch and go again for them, near the relegation zone. Teemu Tainio
and Steed Malbranque were wise buys, but the signings of Pascal Chimbonda
and El-Hadji Diouf are a mystery because their personalities seem to embody
everything that Roy Keane dislikes. There could be stormy weather ahead, but
they should survive.
Cascarino's prediction: 16th
Tottenham Hotspur
Juande Ramos, the head coach, must replace Berbatov if he goes, but it is
equally crucial that Ledley King and Jonathan Woodgate stay fit in defence.
Not having a better goalkeeper cost Tottenham dear last term and that should
be rectified now, so they are set for a good season and will not be too far
behind the top four.
Cascarino's prediction: 7th
West Bromwich Albion
The defence is not up to it, despite the signings, and they have not got the
quality to outscore opponents. With Kevin Phillips gone to Birmingham City,
who gave him the longer contract he wanted, it is difficult to see where the
goals will come from. They will try to play attractively, but if they take a
whipping or two, their confidence will evaporate.
Cascarino's prediction: 19th
West Ham United
Just the same as 2007-08, but it must be hoped that, for Alan Curbishley's
sake, they suffer fewer injuries. Losing Craig Bellamy, who is out with a
hamstring injury, is a big blow, while Mark Noble needs to show more in
midfield. At least the capable Robert Green is still in goal. Overall, it
will be a season in line with expectations.
Cascarino's prediction: 10th
Wigan Athletic
They impressed me more than any other team in the second half of last season.
Steve Bruce has done brilliantly as manager and, after struggling last time,
Wigan will be one of the most underestimated teams in the division this
season. They have a few good players and could easily be the year's surprise
package. Unlikely to have to worry about a relegation battle.
Cascarino's prediction: 9th
Sound good to me, Tony!
Matthew Jones, Newcastle-under-Lyme, United Kingdom
even though i am a stoke city supporter and i may be accused of being biased, i think ur predictions are perfect, stoke city have done well in the transfer market and hull have done a derby to be honest, they have got and scared signed old big name players who arnt worth it anymore tbh.
levi tafari sheppard, dubai, england