2010-2011 English Premiership

On the eve of another soccer campaign, the English Premiership must defend it's claim as the "Best League in the World". England's disastrous and embarrassing display at the FIFA World Cup in South Africa has cast a shadow over the Premiership's stake as the top league. Of course, the players that have made the Premiership the so called best come from all over the globe but it is the homegrown talent that bares the burden of lifting the English game to the highest level. Frank Lampard, John Terry, Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard plus others all played mediocre at best and awful at times in South Africa. Each of those players' teams are title contenders with Chelsea, (Lampard's and Terry's team), as defending champions. Manchester United and Liverpool, Rooney's and Gerrard's team respectively, both try to overcome obstacles from the previous season. Man. Utd.'s being Chelsea for one and finding new blood to invigorate championship hopes. Liverpool must overcome last year's terrible season with a new boss and ex-Chelsea man Joe Cole to liven up Anfield. Others coming to the front include the high spending Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur, Everton and the final piece of the classic "Big Four" clubs in England, that being Arsenal. (I'd have included Aston Villa but with their manager leaving on the eve of the season and more selling of talent, I believe they are a non-factor again)
Manchester City are just annoying in their never-ending spending on players and belief they can buy a title. I'll grant they are talent latent but cohesive is another question, as last season showed in the end. An unhappy Robihno along with others not getting playing time will doom this season and boss Roberto Mancini to an empty trophy cabinet this year.
Tottenham face a European campaign added to the fixture list and time will tell if they have the depth to cope. Their form away from home in the top of the table clashes will determine their final place this go around. Everton finished the last campaign very strong. Although they did not add in the transfer market, belief is there and David Moyes will have his troops ready. Matches at Goodison Park are never easy and the Blues could sneak up the table this season if overlooked by too many opponents.
Finally, Arsenal-the Gunners have spent carefully again over the summer and Arsene Wenger has shown in the past that he can find gems for his style of play for a modest investment. Marouane Chamahk-striker and Laurent Koscielny-defender have been solid in pre-season but the true test comes early as Arsenal start with a trip to Liverpool to face an eager Reds team wanting to stake claim they are back to contend. One game will not define this year but a bad result here coupled with any hangover effect and Arsenal could be out of it before Halloween. Key for the Gunners is, of course, Cesc Fabregas and his feelings during the season. Can Cesc truly give all and play focused on this team's goals and not those of his hometown Barcelona want. Along with his attitude comes his and Robin Van Persie's ability to stay injury free for the season as Arsenal's only real hopes of challenging for any titles. Arsenal did stay very much in the race until the final phases but it was those injuries that did finally do them in, along with horrific goalkeeping. That being said, if the goalkeeper position is not addressed, it is difficult to see the Gunners at the top at all. (Maybe a Cup win this year but not much else without a top GK) The final pieces to Arsenal's season come to the experienced and the young. Will Arshavin finally play to potential along with Theo Walcott? Can Samir Nasri raise his game to top level in the Premiership.? (he showed flashes last season) Or can the even younger Gunners, Kieran Gibbs and possibly Emmanuel Frimpong add another angle for Wenger to call upon to achieve success. More questions than answers for Arsenal.
At the other end of the Premiership table will be the fight to stay at the top level of English soccer. However, this season it seems that without surprises, it is cut and dry who will be making the "drop". West Bromwich Albion, Blackpool and Wolves all look the prime candidates for the fall. West Brom has been here twice before to only go back down in one season. Blackpool, although a romantics choice to stay, just doesn't have the resources to compete and Wolves look the same but with managerial issues, some saying Mick McCarthy won't last to Christmas.
It should all be intriguing and full of excitement as each Premiership season seems to surpass the previous. Sit back and enjoy what let's hope IS the "Best League in the World" and at least in some stadiums, vuvuzela-less soccer. Peace.

Predictions:
Premiership: 1. Man. Utd 2. Chelsea 3. Man. City 4. Arsenal 5. Everton 6. Liverpool
FA Cup: Liverpool vs. Everton, (if drawn together earlier-Everton)
Carling Cup: Chelsea
Champions League: Manchester United beats Barcelona