Thankfully August is upon us at last, to me this means one thing, the new Premier League season will begin on Saturday with Man City going to Spurs at 12.45pm.  Last weekend saw the start of the Championship and that has gotten me in the mood to see some top football again.

The Wold Cup was a welcome distraction from the usual summer of transfer speculation but now we are back to the real deal.  I know a lot of people don’t understand why someone would support their club over their country but that is the way it is for most of us.  After all, we support our clubs year round, not just every so often.  So well done to Spain for winning in South Africa, but roll on the real deal.

I thought I would take a little look at one or two of the clubs in the Premier League to see how well prepared they are for the next 10 months of competition.

Chelsea

Where better to start than last years double winners Chelsea.  Yossi Benayoun arrived earlier in the summer from Liverpool, a good buy in my opinion.  Some say letting Joe Cole go in the opposite direction on a free transfer was bad business but when you take Cole’s wage demands into account and you look at the players Chelsea have you can see why Ancelotti would go for it.  Although Chelsea have lost a few players including Ballack and Deco you’d have to say they are one of the favourites to win the league again this year.  Their home form is incredible.

Player to watch: Drogba

I was tempted to pick the likes of Essien but when it comes to Chelsea you just have to give it to Drogba, when he plays well, they play well.

Manchester United

Man United won the Charity Shield over the weekend showing Chelsea they will have to hang on tight to that trophy if they want to still have it come May.  Man United are a team that can always deliver.  You don’t win the league by beating the teams around you, in my opinion you win it by beating the “lower” teams, week in, week out and that is what is where Man United have their biggest strength.  they are so consistent, they just keep winning game after game and are impossible to write off.  The addition of Hernandez looks to be a great move and when you look at how the likes of Scholes can just keep getting better with age, you have to say that Man United fans have a lot to look forward to in the coming season.

Player to watch: Rooney

I am a big fan of Wayne Rooney’s attitude and if her can put the World Cup disappointment behind him then I don’t see why he can’t have as good a season as he did in the last campaign.

Arsenal

It is difficult for me to write an unbiased opinion on my beloved Arsenal but I shall try.  After the summer is over every fan hopes that their team will be stronger than it was last year.  I have seen almost all of our pre season games and I am unconvinced we are even as strong.  The addition of Chamakh up front is definitely an improvement, he is good in the air and can score a few scruffy goals which we need. Koscielny also looks like a good signing although I think he needs a few months in the gym, he is very slight for a defender. We also have players like Wilshire coming through. However, when I look at our defence it makes me need the loo. Vermaelen is back there alright but who will partner him, Koscielny or Djourou? We need cover back there. I won’t even say anything about the disaster that is our goalkeeping situation. I think repeating last years third place would be an achievement, especially with a captain who clearly wants to be elsewhere.

Player to watch: Van Persie

Can Robin have an injury free season? If so we might actually get to see him reach the heights he is capable of.

Manchester City

Man City have spent more money on players in the last two seasons than the rest of us (bar perhaps Chelsea) can imagine.  They have paid well over the odds on some players, like Adebayor, and have let other good players fall to the side, such as Ireland, so they will have to hope that they can make a team that works out of what they have.  For me the sale of Dunne last summer showed their shortsightedness, it will be interesting to see what happens with Milner and Balotelli over the coming days but their squad looks to big for my liking.

Player to watch: Milner

I know he has not signed yet but it looks like he will so if Villa fans will excuse me then I will go for Milner.  Will he be able to make it in a team of stars?

Newcastle

Back in the big leagues. We all know the massive fan base Newcastle have but will they be able to hold on to their Premier League position and start to climb the table?  Hughton did so well in the Championship last season that he has rightly been allowed to stay on but this is a different challenge and Newcastle fans are very unforgiving if things start to go wrong.  They have brought in the experience of Campbell and Dan Gosling to bolster their squad, two good buys I think.  They start off on Monday with a visit to Man United, no pressure on them there and a tough fixture out of the way.  If the players but in a good effort I think they will go on from their.

Player to Watch:  Carroll

He has been given the coveted number 9 jersey but can he do it in the big leagues?  Only time will tell.

Blackpool

This will be Blackpool’s debut season in the top tier of English football, a position they secured by winning the Championship last year, not an easy ask.  I think most of us will be cheering Blackpool on this season but will they be there to make up the numbers and have one or two shock results or will they really compete?  Veteran Jason Euell captains a side which boasts some experience at the higher levels.  Charlie Adam and Stephen Crainey have both played in the Scottish Premier League, however, most of the team’s experience is limited to the Championship.

Player to watch:  Keith Southern

Southern is the kind of midfielder every manager wants in his team.  He works hard, doesn’t complain and is one of the first names on Ian Holloway’s sheet. I really hope he steps it up for the Premier League.

So there is a brief rundown of some of the teams. The likes of Liverpool and Aston Villa (without Martin O’Neill who resigned yesterday) and Spurs are also going to compete at the upper end of the table. I would say it is between Man United and Chelsea for the title but the fight for the Champions League places and to avoid relegation will be hotly fought. I can’t wait.

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