The Community Shield between Manchester United (Premier League Champions) and Portsmouth (FA Cup Champions) is just hours away, which means the start of the new season in the English Premier League is just days away.
The new edition of the Bleacher Report World Football Pundits is out. Last time out we caught up with three of our Pundits (Andrew McNair, Salaar Shamsi, and Jeff Harbert) to make random predictions for the new season, which can viewed here.
We continue to prove that Bleacher Report might be an open-source network, but our writers are just as capable and qualified with their opinions as other "pundits".
This time, we've brought Shyam Parthasarathi on board as well.
Andrew McNair is not only the Community Leader of the World Football Community, but he is also one of our oldest "experienced writers". McNair's opinion is very valuable, as he is regarded as one of the best writers in the whole network.
Salaar Shamsi is the Co-Community Leader in the World Football Community and a Senior Writer on the network.
Shyam Parthasarathi is another Senior Writer for the network, who is also our Arsenal correspondent, dubbed the community's most creative writer. Shyam's ability to write remains unmatched.
This time, we've asked our writers to make score predictions for Week One in the Premier League.
Every year, the top side from the Championship put on a show on the opening day. Remember Wigan Athletic vs Chelsea a few years back?
The Gunners will be fired up for the new season, West Brom will be under pressure on the opening day, Arsene Wenger's got a young team, and I think the Gunners will cruise to victory as WBA pick up a consolation goal.
Arsenal have it quite easy in their first fixture, so I can't see them failing against West Brom at the Emirates Stadium. West Brom have improved their defense with Marek Cech and Gianni Zuiverloon, but I feel that Arsenal have far too much firepower with Emmanuel Adebayor and Robin van Persie.
Bolton Wanderers vs Stoke City
Stoke plays football in Sam Allardyce's style, and I struggle to see them breaking down the masters at it. Bolton had a terrible year last season, and I'm backing them to get off to a winning start.
It should be a close game. Stoke, I feel, don't have the overall quality to last in the Premier League, despite signing Kitson, so I'm going for a home win. Bolton should claim all three points if Elmander fires, but Gary Megson needs to set an attacking formation.
Stoke City have just been promoted, but I can see them nicking a point against Bolton Wanderers, who have lost El-Hadji Diouf and a couple of other important first-team players, like Ivan Campo, and haven't adequately replaced them.
I think that it's going to be a struggle for Bolton this season, despite the £10 million acquisition of Johan Elmander and that will show from the first game this season.
Everton vs Blackburn Rovers
Both teams have been rather quiet in the transfer market, with less comings than goings. I feel both teams will slip down the table this season, but Everton are fighters and I'll back them to grind out the opening day victory.
Everton haven't been too active in the market, but they are being linked to big names like Alan Smith and Joao Moutinho. Blackburn, on the other hand, will need time to settle in with Paul Ince, and selling Bentley and Friedel isn't the best way to do so.
I predict a close game with the Toffees nicking it late in the second half.
Blackburn have lost David Bentley, but have kept hold of Roque Santa Cruz. This might not help them against Everton, who, at Goodison Park, are a formidable opposition. Everton haven't been all that active in the transfer market themselves, but I can see them scraping this fixture 2-1.
Newly promoted Hull will be up against it this season, and the opening day will be no exception. Fulham finished last season as one of the EPL's form teams, and I'm backing them to carry on that form into '08/'09.
Yes, Hull will probably be facing relegation this season but on the opening day at home, I'd back them to nick a point. They've got some quality in Geovanni and will hope to use Dean Windass to good effect.
Shyam Partharsarathi: 0-3
Roy Hodgson performed some sort of a miracle by keeping Fulham up last season and he has improved his squad over the summer. Hull City look very thin on numbers and don't look like they are going to stay up in my opinion. Fulham will win this comfortably, 3-0.
Middlesbrough vs Tottenham
After all the money that Spurs spent this season they have to be favourites for this clash. Middlesbrough have been mentioned as relegation candidates by some and a loss on the opening day will do little to settle the nerves on Teeside.
This is when Juande Ramos and Daniel Levy will realize money isn't everything. An exciting match is on the cards, but it should leave both teams with a point.
Modric and Bentley could impress on debut, as could be said for Emnes and Digard, but a goal a piece is probably going to be the outcome.
Shyam Partharsarathi: 0-1
Middlesbrough, according to some, might get relegated, but not according to me. They have a decent set of defenders, and they have a very good set of forwards headed by Afonso Alves.
Tottenham have to show that they are capable of breaking into the top-four, and although I don't see that happening, they should have enough to overcome Middlesbrough in their first fixture.
West Ham United vs Wigan Athletic
I'm not sure what to think of West Ham's chances next season, but I did back Wigan to go down so I better go with a home win.
It will be close game. The Hammers have landed Behrami, who is decent player, while Steve Bruce has brought Amr Zaki and Oliver Kapo to the JJB. I think the home team will just scrape it at Upton Park, but it will be close game never the less.
Shyam Partharsarathi: 0-1
Wigan have done very well to keep hold of Luis Antonia Valencia and Winston Palacios. West Ham, on the other hand, have weakened their squad, and I personally think that they're going to struggle this season. I expect Wigan to win this one, 1-0.
Sunderland have done some great work in the transfer market this summer, but they couldn't have asked for a harder baptism of fire. Liverpool look good to me, and I'm backing them for a title push this season.
I'm expecting a hard-fought game here. Roy Keane has strengthen his squad with good players like Chimonda, Malbranque, and Diouf, so I'd expect them to put up a fight but Liverpool will steal it at the end.
Shyam Partharsarathi: 1-2
This might well be the match of the weekend, with a new-look Sunderland taking on Liverpool. Liverpool might have to do without Javier Mascherano, who is not going to be available for awhile due to the Olympics. Sunderland have a decent record at home, but with Liverpool's new-look strike partnership, I think that they'll win this one.
Chelsea vs Portsmouth
Possibly the most interesting tie of the round. Portsmouth, like Sunderland, won't be thanking the Week One draw, but I think they might just get that, a draw.
The Scolari era's beginning will be marked by a narrow victory, and Pompey would be under pressure going into the game after the Shield, and the Blues will overpower them with the home advantage.
Shyam Partharsarathi: 2-0
Chelsea will probably continue their massive home undefeated streak here with a 2-0 win over Portsmouth. I think the South Coast side will do well to get into the UEFA Cup this season, but a game against a Chelsea team, which may be designed to attack, might well be a bit too much for them.
Aston Villa vs Manchester City
What should be an early UEFA Cup qualifying three pointer has 0-0 written all over it for me. Both teams, I believe, will improve this season, but they cancel each other out for me.
A brutal contest at Villa Park is expected, where Mark Hughes' team will be victorious for me.
Aston Villa will need a couple of games to settle down this season after the Gareth Barry saga comes to an end. Hughes will be of to a winning start.
Shyam Partharsarathi: 2-1
Aston Villa will win this one. Man City have a good squad of players, but Villa, under Martin O'Neill, are organized and are potent on the counterattack, in addition to being at home for this game. So, I think that Aston Villa will overcome Man City, 2-1.
Manchester United vs Newcastle United
Newcastle's recent record against the champions is pathetic to be honest, and I doubt it'll change for this one.
The Red Devils will be at home. They have some injury issues, but I'm positive they will beat a lacklustre Newcastle outfit, whom I believe will need three to four weeks to settle before they get back to winning ways.
Shyam Partharsarathi: 2-0
This will be a very interesting game, with Manchester United reportedly having as many as nine players out for this one (although, that figure sounds grossly exaggerated).
Man Utd will be at home, and Newcastle don't have an inspiring record at Old Trafford. In addition to all of this, I don't really think that Newcastle have the defense to stop Manchester United in any way or form, so I'll go for the Red Devils winning this one, 2-0.
Many Thanks to Andrew and Shyam for their predictions. Well, now you know who to put your money on!
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