The Premier League is back! After over two months of interesting transfer debate and activity, we are within reach of the opening weekend of the 2013-14 season. Here are my predictions for the final table.
1ST - CHELSEA
Jose Mourinho's return to Stamford Bridge makes Chelsea title favourites for me. Romelu Lakaku's development last season at West Brom has changed him for the better as he looks much more comfortable in this division.
But I believe Chelsea's squad is strong enough to win them the title as they will see this season as a great opportunity to do so. With Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement and Manchester City changing their manager, the 'Special One' could be in for a special season.
The only area Chelsea need strengthening is upfront and IF they can somehow land Wayne Rooney, then Blues' fans will see a beast of a team in the coming campaign.
2ND - MANCHESTER CITY
City are giving Chelsea a run for their money when it comes to the dismissal of managers! Roberto Mancini's sacking was completely undeserved and I am sure many people can agree with me.
In fairness, however, Manuel Pellegrini has brought in some quality, spending over £90m in the process. There will be high expectation on him and City fans will want the team to at least be in the running for title this year.
I think the title will be decided between Chelsea and City, but even all the signings Pellegrini has made, I back City to finish as runners up.
3RD - MANCHESTER UNITED
This is an interesting one. Sir Alex Ferguson's achievement's are very difficult for new manager David Moyes to top but he has a great squad left for him to work with.
Robin Van Persie singlehandedly won United the Premier League last season and the Community Shield this time around but there is also the potential departure of Wayne Rooney to think about.
If he does go, then Moyes will need to replace him. This year I think will be a transitional period for the Red Devils as the club will be getting over the loss of Ferguson. I think third in the league and a cup win will be a decent first attempt for Moyes at Old Trafford.
4TH - ARSENAL
I can only imagine the frustrations of Arsenal supporters with the club mainly selling and not buying anyone. Arsene Weneger deserves credit for getting them into the Champions League qualification stages, especially since the departure of Robin Van Persie to Man Utd a year ago.
But as most pundits will have said, the Gunners need world class talent in their team if they are to be considered title contenders again.
The Luis Suarez saga continues but if no-one is signed this transfer window I still expect Arsenal to finish in the top four this season because they usually hit form in the last 10 games or so of the campaign.
5TH - TOTTENHAM
My top-seven had been decided weeks ago and I stick by it but fourth and fifth spots were the hardest to predict. Spurs fans must be pig-sick of Arsenal finishing above them in the table almost every year. Andre-Villas Boas was particularly unlucky last year in that he got Tottenham's record points total, 72, but still missed out on a top four spot.
The biggest talking point at White Hart Lane is of course Gareth Bale. Read Madrid were willing to pay £85m to land the player and I think Spurs are stupid in not selling him. Get £85m in your bank account and you can buy two or three world class players with that money.
Villas-Boas has spent really well this summer and I think there is no reason why Tottenham cannot get in the top four - I just do not see them doing so.
6TH - LIVERPOOL
I thought Brendan Rodgers did well in his first season at Anfield. He had a dreadful start but did well to pick the team up and get them to a deserved seventh-placed finish. I believe Liverpool are making steady progress and the summer signings arguably suggest that.
The signing of goalkeeper Simon Mignolet from Sunderland was an excellent move as he is intended to be the long-term replacement for Pepe Reina, who is off to Napoli. Kolo Toure adds experience to the back four and Iago Aspas and Luis Alberto look promising.
However, Daniel Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho are my two players to watch this season. Whether Suarez stays or goes, these two players have took no time in adapting to life at Anfield.
7TH - EVERTON
Just like David Moyes at Old Trafford, Roberto Martinez has big shoes to fill at Goodison Park. He has probably deserved a step up from constantly avoiding relegation with Wigan and this is a fresh challenge for him.
Arouna Kone follows him to Everton along with Antolin Alcaraz and goalkeeper Joel Robles and keeping Marouane Fellaini and Leighton Baines will be a big bonus for them.
I expect the usual from Everton - a top six/seven finish, a good cup run and as always they will want to finish above Merseyside rivals Liverpool - third time lucky?
8TH - FULHAM
Fulham's 12th-placed finish last season was a step back from the previous campaign where they finished ninth. But the summer signings include Adel Tarrabt and Darren Bent, both on a season-long loan.
Martin Jol has done well since replacing Mark Hughes but I think Fulham will be the surprise package in a way this season. I think the players know they could have done better last season by Tarrabt in particular will be a big part of their season.
Comfortable in mid-table, not seriously troubling the teams for a European place but no real danger of relegation.
9TH - ASTON VILLA
If my memory is correct, I predicted Aston Villa to finish around or in the top 10 last season and I predict the same again. Paul Lambert's side did well towards the back end last season and Christian Benteke staying is a big boost for them.
Matthew Lowton was also influential in Villa's side and I not just talking about his stunning strike at Stoke either. He was consistent last season and I think with Premier League experience he will be even better this time around.
A top ten finish would probably delight Villa fans and if they have another good cup run, then this season could be one to remember.
10TH - WEST HAM
Tenth place was a brilliant finish for West Ham, especially with it being their first year back in the top flight. At Upton Park they proved a real match for the big teams and were difficult to beat for the most part for anyone.
Signing Andy Caroll and Stewart Downing can only help their cause this season. Caroll looked at home last season as the style of play from Allardyce's side really suited him more so than Rodgers at Liverpool.
If they continue the route they travelled down last season they should match their top 10 finish or even exceed it.
11TH - WEST BROM
Another top eight finish in the offering Steve Clarke? I personally doubt it as their fantastic start to the season is rather difficult to repeat. Look at Newcastle if you don't believe me.
Nicolas Anelka is in to replace Romelu Lakaku who has returned to Chelsea which I think it a good signing for them having coming close to double figures in pre-season. West Brom have a good squad in them and I think a steady mid-table campaign awaits them.
12TH - SWANSEA
Yet another team who I think will struggle to match last season's success. Michael Laudrup did tremendously well with Swansea last year and will want more of the same.
But once you prove you can bring success, there is more pressure on you to deliver good results the next time. Wilfred Bony is a big boost for the Welsh side and seems to partner with last season's top scorer Michu very well.
But two big questions must be asked. One: can Bony and Michu pair effectively in the Premier League? And Two: Can Swansea balance potential Europa League duties and their domestic campaign?
13TH - SOUTHAMPTON
Southampton seriously impressed me during their first season back in the Premier League and the style of football was very eye-catching. Signing Dejan Lovren from Lyon and, in the words of BBC Sport's Phil McNulty, "powerful midfielder" Victor Wanyama from Celtic are two boosts for the team and they can only go from strength to strength.
If Mauricio Pochettino's side keep taking the game to the opposition and score enough goals, with now England goalscorer Rickie Lambert proving he can find the net in all the English divisions, Southampton can be a real force to watch this season.
14TH - SUNDERLAND
Paolo Di Canio has brought a belief at Stadium of Light that the players and fans didn't feel as much when Steve Bruce or Martin O'Neill were at the helm. The major problem with the Black Cats last season was their mentality on the pitch where they seemed to settle for a draw even before kick-off.
Losing Simon Mignolet to Liverpool is a big loss but they still have a decent keeper in Keiren Westwood. Buoyed by the derby win at Newcastle before a battering off Aston Villa, Di Canio has almost signed a whole starting team, including Jozy Altidore and Modibo Diakite, and this could be seen as a make-or-break season for his team.
15TH - NORWICH
Norwich have really strengthened their attacking options this summer with the signings of Ricky van Wolfswinkel and Gary Hooper. If those two form an effective partnership then Chris Hughton's side should score enough goals to keep them out of trouble.
Nathan Redmond from Birmingham City also looks a decent proposition too as does Netherlands players Leroy Fer who is a highly rated midfielder. A season where Norwich should not be in serious danger of the drop zone.
16TH - NEWCASTLE
Newcastle have only signed Loic Remy from relegated QPR but he does have some quality about him and he is a goalscorer. The big question, however, is whether Joe Kinnear and Alan Pardew will actually work together.
Mike Ashley needs to invest in the club if Newcastle are to achieve anything this season and I have placed them 16th only because the teams around them have strengthened. Even though I have predicted them to finish this low in the table I do not seriously see them in danger of relegation.
17TH - HULL
Of the three newly promoted teams, I for some reason see Hull as having the best chance of staying up. Cardiff have invested this summer but so have Hull and they have an experienced Premier League manager in Steve Bruce.
The biggest profile signings would be Tom Huddlestone and Jake Livermore from Tottenham, one on a permanent deal and a season-long loan respectively. Danny Graham is arguably brought in to give the Tigers a striker as the goals were shared out last season.
18TH - STOKE
Mark Hughes has had mixed fortunes in his career. He did a decent job at Blackburn and Fulham but not so well at Manchester City and QPR. He, of course takes over from Tony Pulis who resigned in the summer.
Hughes' appointment can either be a good or a bad thing for Stoke. Stoke's style of play is more defensive than offensive and Hughes is arguably brought in to try and change that. However, as much as I could be wrong, Stoke hovered dangerously close to the drop zone last season and I can see that happening again.
19TH - CARDIFF
This one was also tricky. Malky Mackay did an excellent job at finally getting Cardiff into the Premier League and their fans have been waiting to be in the top flight for so long after just falling at the final hurdle in the past.
Cardiff have broken their transfer record three times and it is good to see they are preparing for the Premier League and they realise how tough it is going to be.
For me, it was a toss between Cardiff and Hull for who was going to survive and I know this may sound stupid, but the team who finishes second in the Championship usually does better in the Premier League than the league winners. But of course, I could be wrong.
20TH - CRYSTAL PALACE
Ian Holloway is back, ladies and gentlemen, and I think the Premier League has missed him. With Blackpool, he gave the top division a real go and even though they got relegated, he made lots of friends.
Crystal Palace are, unfortunately, on a lot of people's lips to go straight back down and I fall into that category. They have made signings, including Marouane Chamakh from Arsenal, but I question the overall quality of their team and whether or not they can cut it in the Premier League.
I would love to see Palace stay up - purely for Holloway - but I just do not see it happening.
