As the season gets underway, and each team jostles for early positions and bragging rights, it seems some teams are more prepared than others to write their names in English top flight division history. With every team in the Premier League having to recruit wisely in order to gain their desired league positions, the top 6 is very much up for grabs once more.
With Bolton and Stoke attempting to become part of the mix this year, the obvious top 6 teams must look over their shoulders to ensure that they get to the finish line with smiles on their faces. However some smiles will no doubt be broader than others.
The two sides of Manchester appear to be ready to battle it out from day one, with the sky blue club claiming top spot after just two games, via goal difference. However as the season progresses I feel Manchester United will show signs of unity, as shown in the community shield, with players like Rooney, Vidic and Ferdinand rallying the troops until the final game. Manchester City have finally seemed to invest their millions wisely, with Dzeko appearing to be finding his feet and Aguero filling in where his older Argentinean colleague appears to want to vacate for a sunnier climate.
With David Silva proving to be the Spanish playmaker that many so wished to see, and Nigel De Jong sweeping up, they surely will show doubters what almighty ability Man City now have in their artillery. For City, success is sure to come, yet this season? Perhaps not. The red side of Manchester have also invested wisely, in a new breed of younger flair players to fill the gaps that retirements have left, alongside strengthening the weak areas of the squad.
Rooney seems to be bonding positively with Welbeck, and with Hernadez and Berbatov providing other attacking options, the depth that United have seems to be unrivalled, which could take the title back to the red side of Manchester for another year.
Then we come to third and fourth position. Chelsea and Liverpool, for me, lack the required quality to challenge for the title this time around; yet will no doubt be up there by the end of the season. Liverpool have invested largely, and despite large money being thrown about too rashly at times on the likes of Carroll, it shows clear ambition for a club that disappointed for large periods last year. ‘King Kenny’ appears to have formed a solid squad, with Downing and Suarez providing the flair and pace that Liverpool seemed to be lacking last season.
This, alongside finally acquiring Jose Enrique, a very good left full back, this season they could be a force to be reckoned with. With the boost of an early season win against Arsenal already on their record books, I feel that fourth position is the least that they will produce. The team stopping Liverpool from the potential third position is Chelsea. This team of aging individuals can both amaze and frustrate at the same time, leaving the potential of this club undecided for now. They, again, will have exceptional days where they look like world beaters, and then find it tricky the following week against a passionate and strong team.
There are of course positive signs, with Torres appearing to be finding form once more after so many had written him off, and with good strength in depth within the squad, it seems that third position could be theirs. They constantly challenge for the title without really excelling, which shows that they are a good team, yet there is definite room for improvement. This could start with the signing of Mata, which could potentially provide an injection of younger blood and pace that is needed to make up for what Lampard or Drogba may now lack.