It's Almost Time

Well, it is almost here, the football season kicks off this weekend, with the Scottish Premier league starting earlier than normal. Every year the break seems to get shorter, but I am not complaining!!!
I must admit I can’t really get excited about the Scottish Premier league as it is just a two horse race. I think this year my money will be on Celtic to regain the Scottish crown. Ally McCoist is in charge at Ibrox, and the strength and depth of his squad is somewhat lacking. It will be interesting to see how Hearts and Dundee Utd progress this year after a decent showing last season, can either of them improve and challenge the top two? Anyway, hopefully it will keep me ticking along nicely for a couple of weeks until the other European leagues begin.

The Championship kicks off on the 5th of August, with Hull City entertaining Blackpool. I was really sorry to see Blackpool relegated from the premiership, they were entertaining to watch and scored plenty of goals. It is always hard to bounce back straight away and gain promotion back to the premiership. I think this is down to two major issues. One is keeping hold of the current players you have and the second is that the teams around you always want to beat a former premiership team, and try harder against them. Only a handful of teams have managed to gain promotion back into the premiership the following season after relegation and as much as I would like Blackpool to do it, I just can’t see it happening, and to make matters worse they have sold their key talisman, Charlie Adam to Liverpool. Saying that though, I think they might make it to the play-offs. They have signed Kevin Philips on a one year contract, and at this level, he still knows were the goals is. Also if they can keep hold of DJ Campbell who scored a few goals last season, then they should be able to score goals no problem.

So who will the main contenders be? Well the bookies have West Ham and Leicester as the favourites. I must admit I can see West Ham bouncing straight back up. I think appointing Sam Alledryce was a shrewd move, and he knows how to get the job done, and always makes his teams hard to beat, first and foremost. Leicester, with the clout they have and the big Swede, Sven, in charge must have a great chance this season. They have been busy in the transfer market already, signing some top quality players at this level and I can see them doing very well this season. Middlesbrough had a good final third of the season culminating in the total destruction of Cardiff City in Cardiff. I think Tony Mowbray is a good manager; however, I am not sure if he has the resources to sign some key players to make the final push into the top six. Also, it depends on how many players he can keep hold of, as there are rumours that the wage bill has to be cut drastically. Saying that though they have got some decent youngsters, so maybe an outside bet for the play-offs. As for the rest, I think Reading will be in the top half come the end of the season, they have a decent squad and a good manager in charge, but can they make the play-offs again with the competition fierce, I think they will just fall short and finish 7th or 8th. I also think Nott’m Forest will do well this season. I know a lot of people slater McClaren, but he is a good man manger. I mean let’s face it; Fergie would not have hired him years ago as his number two if he was rubbish. McClaren did a good job at Middlesbrough and an excellent job at FC Twente. Nott’m Forest snuck into the play-offs last season, and this season I think they will be stronger with McClaren at the helm and a few new additions.



I also think Southampton might do well. Again, like Leicester, they have lots of clout behind them and although I don’t think they will win the Championship, they could make the play-offs depending on the players they sign. As for Leeds Utd, last season they almost made the play-offs. Last season they scored goals for fun, but conceded a lot of goals too. If they can sure up the defence this season, then they will be contenders for sure. One team who I think might struggle is Birmingham. They have sold a few players and there is trouble with regard to their chairman. I think at best they will finish mid-table.



I know there will still be a lot more activity in the transfer market in the coming weeks but my predictions are as follows:-

Championship Winners:- West Ham

Runners up:- Leicester

Play-Offs:- Nott’m Forest, Leeds Utd, Southampton and Blackpool

I think Reading and Middlesbrough will just miss out.