Tottenham Hotspur

Manager: Andre Villas-Boas

First six fixtures:       Sun 18^th Aug: Crystal Palace (A)

Sun 25^th Aug: Swansea (H)

Sun 1^st Sep: Arsenal (A)

Sat 14^th Sep: Norwich (H)

Sat 21^st Sep: Cardiff (A)

Sat 28^th Sep: Chelsea (H)

We want to give it to them. We want to say Spurs will cast aside their bottle-job history like an overcoat on a sunny day and bask in the sweet, sweet glow of the Champions League. But… it may not be time to do this just yet.

With less than two weeks until the season begins, Spurs have yet to fulfil their needs in the transfer market. Roberto Soldado and Paulinho have been bought to deal with the centre midfield and forward problem areas, but the North-London outfit could still use some new centre backs and a left back.

It’s surely just a matter of time until Daniel Levy cashes in on Gareth Bale, and if he really, really wants to secure Champions League football next season, Spurs fans had better hope he has a few deals lined up on the sly. If not, it’s fifth place again, and a whole heap of ‘near, but yet so far’ misery for a third season running.

Key player: Moussa Dembele

Predicted position: 5^th

Top Tip: To win a major trophy – 2/1 with SkyBet

Arsenal

Manager: Arsene Wenger

First six fixtures:       Sat 17^th Aug: Aston Villa (H)

Sat 24^th Aug: Fulham (A)

Sun 1^st Sep: Tottenham (H)

Sat 14^th Sep: Sunderland (A)

Sun 22^nd Sep: Stoke (H)

Sat 28^th Sep: Swansea (A)

As much as we want to say Spurs will get fourth place, we want to say Arsenal won’t get it. Arsene Wenger’s inability to attract the top talent has been in question for a while now, and this is no doubt down to the Gunners’ failure to challenge for silverware and staunch refusal to budge on wage demands. While this stance is extremely admirable in the face of Qatari billionaires and Russian oligarchs, reality needs to set in.

Having said this, we think it may take a couple more seasons for the rot to set in. Unlike previous transfer windows, Arsenal have not sold any major stars (it could be argued they don’t have any) and with Spurs set to lose Gareth Bale and failing to invest in defence (as yet), they might just hold onto that Top Four place for a little while longer. Managing to sign Luis Suarez would be a big statement of intent from Arsenal, and one they need to make. Fast.

Key player: Santi Cazorla

Predicted position: 4^th

Top Tip: Olivier Giroud Arsenal top league goalscorer – 3/1 with BetVictor

Manchester United

Manager: David Moyes

First six fixtures:       Sat 17^th Aug: Swansea (A)

Mon 26^th Aug: Chelsea (H)

Sun 1^st Sep: Liverpool (A)

Sat 14^th Sep: Crystal Palace (H)

Sun 22^nd Sep: Man City (A)

Sat 28^th Sep: West Brom (H)

So, on the 17^th of August we will finally find out what all the fuss was about. A Sir Alex Ferguson-less Manchester United. You can bet anything other than a win will start murmurs about the suitability of David Moyes, such is the knee-jerk nature of the media these days.

Who have they actually bought? Well, nobody really. Young centre back Guillermo Varela has joined from Atletico Penarol, but apart from embarrassingly ambitious attempts to sign Thiago Alcantara and Cesc Fabregas, the revolving doors of Old Trafford have been very quiet.

Ferguson was always able to get an (on paper) less-than-impressive United side to perform and dominate the league; whether Moyes can remains to be seen. Don’t be surprised if United finish in third place for the first time since the 2004/05 season. We won’t be.

Key player: Robin Van Persie (sorry Wayne)

Predicted position: 3^rd

Top Tip: To do League double over Everton – 6/4 with Betfred

(Why not) Clive Owen to play Sir Alex Ferguson in biopic – 20/1 with Paddy Power

Manchester City

Manager: Manuel Pellegrini

First six fixtures:       Mon 19^th Aug: Newcastle (H)

Sun 25^th Aug: Cardiff (A)

Sat 31^st Aug: Hull (H)

Sat 14^th Sep: Stoke (A)

Sun 22^nd Sep: Man United (H)

Sat 28^th Sep: Aston Villa (A)

City have made a managerial change for this season, with one of their most famous figures leaving at the end of last term. Anything United can do... you get the drift. Roberto Mancini has been replaced by Manuel Pellegrini, the Chilean master tactician.

And in addition to this, the club has been busy in the transfer market, signing Fernandinho, Jesus Navas, Alvaro Negredo, and Stevan Jovetic. Where this leaves poor old James Milner is beyond us.

With an improved squad and a less volatile manager, City look like a good bet for more success this season, just maybe not in the Premier League. They have a wealth of attacking options, a solid defence, and an adept manager. It’s just a shame that one club looks to have bested them in each department…

Key player: Yaya Toure

Predicted position: 2^nd

Top Tip: City to win the FA Cup and Capital One Cup – 45/1 with Boylesports

Chelsea

Manager: Jose Mourinho

First six fixtures:       Sun 18^th Aug: Hull (H)

Wed 21^st Aug: Aston Villa (H)

Mon 26^th Aug: Man United (A)

Sat 14^th Sep: Everton (A)

Sat 21^st Sep: Fulham (H)

Sat 28^th Sep: Tottenham (A)

There it is sports fans. After 19 teams reviewed, Chelsea are the last ones standing. They haven’t won the title since the 2009/10 season, but they have the Special One back in the hot-seat and Roman’s quite happy to give him money for some of the world’s most attractive footballers. So why they’re after Wayne Rooney is a bit contradictory, but still.

With the signings of Andre Schurrle and Mario van Ginkel, the Blues have a wealth of attacking midfield talent, and if they can sign a top-class forward they will surely be the real deal next term. And even if they don’t manage to sign a striker by the end of the summer transfer window, Romelu Lukaku looked like a top Premier League player at West Brom last season, and could well be ‘the new Drogba’ that Chelsea had in mind when they signed him two years ago.

God knows he’s better than Fernando Torres.

Key player: Juan Mata

Predicted position: 1^st

Top Tip: Jose Mourinho to be sent to the stands during a Premier League match 2013/14 - 11/10 with Paddy Power

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