The Start of Something Special

The English Premier League is back this week and the excitement that comes with watching great football (mostly great, we do get some 6 nils from City along the way) is soaring high with every passing day. The quality of the league is generally getting better every year and it finally appears that there are enough good teams to stop City making a mockery of the title race in early April. For the first time in many years there genuinely seem to be 7 or 8 teams who on their day can beat the living lights out of any team including Man City.

5 titles in the last 6 seasons make them the bookies favourite and with sound reason but I somehow feel that this won't be their year. That treble last season was a great achievement (they not only won the 3 trophies that matter but also the 115 charges to go with it) and even as a Man Utd fan I will have to grudgingly tip my hat to the genius of Pep and the backroom staff at Man City. It's not the lack of motivation that makes me doubt their credentials, it's simply the hangover of playing so many games last season (61 to be precise) that makes the start of this season a potential slippery slope for them (can ask Liverpool if in doubt) and as great as they are I don't see anyone producing 15 match winning streaks in the EPL this season.

That brings me to the contenders, Arsenal have strengthened well and will look to take the initiative from the off. There will be an air of expectancy this time around at the Emirates and that makes me nervous about their chances. Liverpool were largely poor last season and if their record under Klopp is anything to go by they will surely be in the mix this time around. Europa League can make things complicated, but I won't be surprised if Liverpool don't take that competition seriously especially if they start the season well on domestic front. A lot of people are sleeping on Chelsea but no European distractions make them a dark horse for the league. Poch is a good coach and he will have a hungry group and most importantly time on his disposal to make a proper dash at the league. Spurs, Brighton and Villa will be sure shot party poopers for all the big boys and no one will relish the away fixtures at these grounds. Newcastle will be underwhelming as they will most likely be overwhelmed by the prospect of being in the Champions League.

Now on to my beloved Man Utd and their prospects for this season. United (and yes of all the United's in the world only Man Utd should be referred as just United) have recruited well and addressed key gaps in the team but apart from Mason Mount none of their new players have any prior experience of English football and I don't think that they realise it yet but by signing for United they have handed in their right of being allowed the settling in period that any new player would normally get in a new league. However that is what you sign up for when you decide to join the most scrutinized club in world football. Ten Hag has smartly played down any title expectations and rightly so, this is just his second season and he is operating with one hand tied as Glazers are still in charge of the club.

This United team however are a very exciting combination of youth and experience and I won't put it past them to do an Arsenal from last season, particularly if they get off to a flying start. Away games against Tottenham and Arsenal form part of the opening five fixtures, win those and suddenly the buzz around Man Utd will be the talk of every town.

I simply cannot wait for EPL to begin and all the drama to unfold. Here's hoping that we get a cracking season of Premier League football and also a massive prayer for United to be involved in the top end of the table at the business end of the season.