Time To Do It All Again: My Premier League 2013/14 Preview

There's always something quite beautiful about August. Whether it's receiving those exam results you so desperately wanted (Good luck to all who are getting their A Level results this week, and hopefully you've made the right choice and are coming to Nottingham Trent University in September) soaking up the last rays of summer or just simply enjoying the holidays. For the majority in this country though, you cannot shy away from the simple fact that August is the month where we start the 9 month journey that is the domestic football season.

At first look, you might think that it is quite stupid to endure this repetitive process year after year. Look closer however and you will see why. Nowhere other than football is the scent of glory stronger. Nowhere other than football can you be hoping against hope that relegation is not for you even when you're 20 points adrift with ten games to play. Only in football, can you win the Premier League title, which has become the holy grail for many.

Which brings me to my season preview for 2013/14 and the defending champions: Manchester United. As a Liverpool fan I could unleash some inner bias for the sake of this post & give them no credit whatsoever. I will not do that. I respect Manchester United for what they have achieved just like I respect recently retired Sir Alex Ferguson. It doesn't mean that I have to like them! They currently have the leagues best striker in Robin Van Persie. They also have a new manager in David Moyes. There is no doubt after a successful ten years at Everton that he deserves the opportunity to manage one of the biggest teams in the world.

The New Man Utd Manager will be hoping for a successful first season.

The pressure though is ridiculously high and everybody outside of Manchester United has seemed to be determined to make it a uncomfortable welcome as possible. Take Jose Mourinho and his public admiration for Wayne Rooney. You'd have to be living under a rock not to realise that the Chelsea boss is playing mind games, trying to get under the new boys skin. If Sir Alex was still at the helm, Mourinho would not be doing this because he knows that it wouldn't work. Monday August 26th when United play Chelsea could be telling. If Mourinho wins the battle there it could set the tone for the rest of the season.

It'll be interesting to see what happens between now and then especially with the Rooney situation but even if he does stay, I personally believe also that Moyes must buy at least one midfielder. The simple reason being is that United's first 11 on paper at this time is not good enough to win the title this year. Chelsea have strengthened and with or without Rooney would look extremely strong in attack. Noisy Neighbours Manchester City have gone under the radar and with Fernandinho, Yaya Toure, David Silva & Jesus Navas in midfield, it now looks far better than United's current midfield by some margin. Of course it would be stupid to rule United out of anything, their squad still has depth and it looks like one of two young players are once again emerging. But I would argue that the same is happening elsewhere, not to mention the fact that the two players that Moyes has sought after most this summer, Thiago Alacantara & Cesc Fabregas have opted to stay away from Old Trafford. That being said many other continental players have refused to join the Premier League this summer so United aren't a single case of this! It's not a case of thinking United are a bad team, I just think there are a couple of teams at the moment that boast better teams than them. All can change thought by the time the transfer window shuts on September 2nd.

If there is a time that the era of United dominance is going to end then it will be this season. If it doesn't then we will be seeing Moyes in charge and winning many trophies for years to come. I hope he copes and gets time because he seems a reasonably nice bloke. It is my hope though that when September 1st comes round and Moyes brings his troops to Anfield that we'll be sending him into the international break with a lot to ponder!

So if I don't think United will win the title this year then who will? Well my pick is Chelsea. Petr Cech is not far away from his best form again, in defence they looked solid at the end of last year and that is helped by David Luiz looking like he has finally learned to defend properly under Rafa Benitez then Luis Felipe Scolari at the Confederations Cup! Their attacking midfield of Hazard, Oscar and Mata is the best in the whole league. Striker is the issue they must fix, if they get Rooney then job done but I'm sure Romelu Lukaku would do a decent job as well. The return of "The Special One" gives Chelsea all the aces. No man since Sir Alex Ferguson invented the concept of mind games has played them so well. It's one of the reason why Sir Alex has a lot of respect for the man. No man beat him to the Premier League title without defeating him in the mind games department that corresponding year. Arsene Wenger did it in his prime, Roberto Mancini just about pulled it off in 2012 & Mourinho did it for two seaons running. Meanwhile Rafa Benitez decided to present "facts" in 2009 and the rest as they say is history. Mourinho might be a pain in the backside at time, he might not be the most loyal man in the world. But one thing he most definitely is is a winner, along with the drive to achieve his way with whatever set of players he inherits. With a Chelsea team that looks stronger than the one that performed the miracle of all miracles in Munich, they would be the team I suggest you put a fiver on to win the league this season.

The self proclaimed "Happy One" will be looking for immediate success on his return to Stamford Bridge.

Don't rule out the blue side of Manchester either. Manuel Pelligrini has installed stability at the club, with them all pulling in the right directing for the first time since May 2012. The problems that Carlos Tevez and Mario Ballotelli gave the club are gone. Jovetic and Negredo, two very capable forwards in their own right have come in to assist Sergio Aguero. If they can return to the almost majestic defensive capabilities of the 2011-12 season, then they are in with an almighty shout. I do feel however that a League or FA Cup and progress past the group stages of the Champions  League will suffice the owners appetite for this season.

So what about the race for the place that carries so much significance these day, with the final Champions League spot up for grabs. 4th place looks like a wide open book this year and Arsenal Spurs along with Liverpool (yes Liverpool) are looking like the main protagonists. Again a lot can change by September 2nd but at the moment with Arsenal doing their classic tactic of waiting until the last minute and then panic buying after all the good players have gone, a Spurs side with or without Gareth Bale but definitely with quality new signings in Paulinho & Soldado, and Liverpool who even with the running saga that is Luis Suarez have strengthened their ranks. 16 years in a row Arsenal have made it into the Champions League. I think finally this year is where the bubble bursts. Liverpool will cause the surprise of the season and finish 4th. You might think that's blind optimism but with another signing or two (Winger Willian is rumoured to be joining) a bit of luck and down right hard work adapting to Brendan Rodgers style of football then I genuinely think we can upset the apple cart and get that 4th spot. Of course that man Suarez is imperative to this but we did cope well without him when he got banned when auditioning for the next Jaws film with Branislav Ivanovic!

Will either of these two knock Arsene Wenger out of the Top 4?

In other news, Everton have done well this summer & another manager in Roberto Martinez has earned his opportunity to manage a big club. Top ten should be a certainty for them along with Swansea, Norwich who have got a pretty potent strikeforce in Van Wolfwinkel and Gary Hooper, along with Southampton who now boast England new star Ricky Lambert. Maybe sacking Nigel Adkins wasn't such a bad idea after all!

The relegation battle will be one of the fiercest ones fought for years. Stoke look in danger with Mark Hughes not regarded as the finest manger around lets put it that way, not to mention the fact that by the end of last season team had finally figured Stoke out. Aston Villa might still have Christian Benteke but elsewhere their squad still looks weak, likewise at Sunderland and Newcastle (Where Alan Pardew will be the winner of the sack race because of the farce that is director of football: Joe Kinnear)

A lot of people have written off the promoted clubs. I would agree that Hull look very vulnerable to go straight back down, but Cardiff and Crystal Palace I'm not so sure. Palace have the trump cards in Ian Holloway and the legend that is Kevin Phillips ( I implore you put him as 1st choice sub in your fantasy league teams, he will get you goals), whilst Cardiff have Premier League experience in Craig Bellamy and a strong defense to help get them through. At the end of the day, I think Palace will go down, but Cardiff will survive and possibly quite comfortably.

There only target is survival.

So to finish this preview I shall put my full premier league table prediction below. I might not have covered every team (although West Ham fans bet you're excited anyway with Andy Carroll and Stuart Downing now in your ranks) so please don't shout at me but I hope you enjoyed reading and who knows maybe I'll check back in May 2014 and see if I got anything right!

The Premier League season is upon us. Time to go back to business. Strap in all, it's going to be a bumpy ride! Good luck to all, especially the team at Anfield!

                      'If you are first you are first. If you are second you are nothing.'
                                                            Bill Shankly
Premier League Final Table Prediction
1. Chelsea
2. Man City
3. Man Utd
4. Liverpool
5. Spurs
6. Arsenal
7. Everton
8. Swansea
9. Southampton
10. Norwich
11. West Brom
12. West Ham
13. Fulham
14. Newcastle
15. Cardiff
16. Sunderland
17. Stoke
18. Aston Villa
19. Crystal Palace
20. Hull

Sport: The Chance To Live Forever

Andy Murray. The first British winner of Wimbledon for 77 years. If you don't know that by now you live under a rock! An audience of over 17 million people tuned in to watch history being made on Centre Court and like everyone else I was made up for him. After going through so much professionally and personally it was a fitting triumph. But the thing that got me thinking in the aftermath of his victory was when Andrew Castle and later Sue Barker on the BBC uttered the word that is the main focus of this post. Immortality.

At first you would be forgiven to immediately suggest that the use of the word in any context is completely absurd. I mean, who has ever lived forever? Look closer though and you can gradually understand, therefore appreciating even more the scale of Murray's achievement. He is now immortal. In 100 years time, when people will be going to work on hover boards or by teleportation, whenever the subject of tennis comes up, the name Andy Murray will always get a mention no matter how many more Grand Slams he wins.

 The new favourite for BBC Sports Personality of the Year

That is one of the beauties of sport. It gives you the chance to be remembered long after you are gone, to live in the minds of people forever. To truly appreciate the manner of how and why you can be remembered for eternity you must look at different sports across the spectrum, to see incredible feats and drama that entertains millions.

Take WWE for example. Action based on a script, but the pain of in ring moves totally real. Despite this an audience of millions across America and indeed the whole world. Once a year they have an event that they promote as "The Showcase of the Immortals". Wrestlemania. As legendary commentator Jim Ross once said "The road to ever-lasting mortality runs through Wrestlemania".  If you look at the stats, only one man can truly claim to be immortal on that stage. Now if we called The Undertaker by his real name I bet you that the majority of you would not have a clue who is he. But because of the fact that he has dedicated himself to the cause for nearly 25 years, been physically capable of constructing his streak of 21-0 at Wrestlemania and generally being one of the best wrestlers of all time ensures that he will be remembered by people across the globe. Mark Callaway may not be immortal, but the Undertaker certainly is.

The Deadman is one of the best ever the grace the ring.

Sometimes it because of the conditions that you compete in and the rivalries that ensue that can bring you this more than just legend status. In the 1970s Formula One was in what many call a golden age. Fantastic wheel to wheel racing with the best drivers in the world, a jetset lifestyle us mere citizens could only dream of. Lest we forget that there was a sinister side as well. At the same time there was a 20% chance that a driver would die. It was on this backdrop that the short but legendary rivalry between Niki Lauda and James Hunt would begin. Lauda, one of the best developers of a car, knowing how to set it up to his standards perfectly. Hunt, a quick flamboyant young man, who lets say took a great interest in the females that were constantly around him! In 1976 they battled for the World Championship until a horrific crash where his car burst into flames left Lauda fighting for his life. What was he doing six weeks later? He was back in the car, taking the championship right to the last race. That where he achieved immortality. By showing his will to win and strength in the face of adversity, which at the end of the day is what Formula One is all about sealed his placed in the history book and this was even before he took his tally of World Championships to three by 1983. Hunt would also gain his right to live forever by defeating Lauda in the final race in Japan to become World Champion. Never mind that would be his only title, he remains one of the most talked about, loved British racing drivers ever, showing that even not the conventional lifestyle need stop on the way to sporting greatness. Ron Howard's new movie Rush, which is out in September tells this incredible story and you can watch the trailer here; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzNbGH1oZJc

One of Formula Ones greatest rivalries.

Perhaps football is the sport that it is most difficult to distinguish who is going to be remembered the most after they depart planet earth. Probably because the pool of elite players in football is far greater than any other sport. At the moment probably the only one who will definitely receive that accolade is Pele the Brazilian who by the majority is regarded as the greatest player ever. Others like Maradona George Best etc will follow suit. From the looks of it the best chance to achieve immortality in football is to win the World Cup. Take Neymar for example. Next year Brazil host the World Cup with himself as the star player. You've only got to look at the recent Confederations Cup to see what it's going to be like in the stands at the tournament especially when the host nation. If Brazil win the World Cup next year and Neymar is the star man he will almost certainly attract God like status in Brazil not to mention acclaim from across the footballing world. Brazil never forgets its Sporting heroes. Ayrton Senna anyone? Lionel Messi will also be keen to make his mark next year. A magician with the ball at his feet but has never really done anything special for his country Argentina. Win the World Cup next year; I have no doubt that he will become the best player of all time. Lose, and then he still has work to do!

Both will be hoping to achieve immortality next summer.

Team Sports seem the most difficult place to achieve singular greatness. Unless you are a sporting nut, you are not going to remember the entire Lions team that beat Australia, the Ashes squads that have triumphed over Australia in three out of the last four series, or the England team that won the World Cup in 1966. What you will do though is remember these teams and you will remember the defining moments in the matches they played, like George North's try in the first test, Kevin Pietersen's Ashes winning century in 2005 and Geoff Hurst hat-trick goal against West Germany. Through these moments a team will live on and the moments will be returned to further down the line.

England’s victorious 2005 Ashes Side but how many could you name in 50 years?

To conclude I shall return to Andy Murray. He still has good five or so years left in his career so who knows what the future holds or how many more Grand Slams he can win. One thing that I do know is because of what he did on Sunday the seventh of July 2013, he will be remembered by the public forever.

That, in the sporting world, is one of many ways to become immortal.